1855-2004
Guide to the Photograph Collection
Abstract
Archival photographs relating to the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Sources
Tucker, Louis Leonard. The Massachusetts Historical Society: A Bicentennial History 1791-1991 (Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1995).
Collection Description
The Massachusetts Historical Society Archives photographs document the history and activities of the MHS from approximately 1855 to 2004. Included in the collection are photographs of officers, staff, and members; meetings and other events; collections; and buildings associated with the Society. Photographers represented in the collection include David Bohl, George M. Cushing, Alfred Eisenstaedt, and Charles Stearns, among others.
Detailed Description of the Collection
I. MHS buildings, 1791-1899
Between 1791 and 1899, the MHS inhabited six locations in downtown Boston. From 1791-1792, the Society was located in the building of the Massachusetts Bank (formerly known as the Manufactory House) at what is now the corner of Hamilton Place and Tremont Street. From 1792 to 1794, the Society moved to rented quarters in the northwest corner of the attic of Faneuil Hall. Charles Bulfinch's Tontine Crescent on Franklin Street (demolished in 1858) served as the headquarters from 1794 to 1833. The fourth and fifth homes of the Society were on Tremont Street, adjacent to King's Chapel Burial Ground. From 1833 to 1872, the Society was located in the second floor and attic of the Provident Institution for Savings building, which it purchased in 1856. In 1873, the Society constructed a new five-story building on the site, leasing the ground floor to the Suffolk County Probate Office and Registry of Deeds and occupying the rest of the building until 1897. In 1897, the Society sold this building to the city of Boston and moved to temporary quarters at 73 Tremont St. until the completion of its new headquarters in 1899.
Massachusetts Bank building
Copy photographs of engravings and 3 engravings.Tontine Crescent, 1855
Photographer unidentified.Tontine Crescent
Engravings and halftones.Tontine Crescent, Franklin Place, Boston, 1898
Produced by the Iconographic Society.Etching.Tontine Crescent, 1902
Halftone reproduction of image 21.06, published in the Boston Budget, 1902.28-30 Tremont Street, 1847
Lithographed sheet music cover.Boston Museum and first Tremont Street building.
30 Tremont Street
Reproductions and graphics.First Tremont St. headquarters of the MHS.
30 Tremont Street
Artist unidentified.Pen-and-ink sketch.First Tremont St. headquarters.
28-30 Tremont St., 1868
Photographer unidentified.Stereoviews.28-30 Tremont St., 1868
#21.20 is a 1928 copy print.30 Tremont St., 1840
Taken by Samuel Bemis.Copy photograph of an 1840 daguerreotype.30 Tremont St., ca. 1872
Taken by William T. Clark.30 Tremont St., 1872 or 1873
Photographer unidentified.30 Tremont St., 4 Apr. 1899
Taken by William H. Drew.28-30 Tremont St.
Photographers unidentified.30 Tremont St., ca. 1903-1904
Photographer unidentified.II. 1154 Boylston Street, 1899-2004
On 9 March 1899, the members of the Massachusetts Historical Society gathered at 1154 Boylston St. for the first meeting in their new headquarters. Designed by Edmund March Wheelwright, formerly Boston's city architect, the building was described in the newspapers of the day as an "Ornament to Boston" and "one of the most beautiful of modern buildings." This series comprises exterior and interior views of the building, as well as photographs of major construction projects that took place in 1970 and 1999-2004.
A. Neighborhood and exterior views
New building of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 9 Mar. 1899
Taken by George M. Cushing.Photograph of illustration from the Boston Herald.New building of the Massachusetts Historical Society, ca. 1901
Taken by George M. Cushing.Copy photograph from unknown source.Hotel Carlton [now Berklee College of Music], with 1154 Boylston St. visible
Taken by George M. Cushing.Photograph of a postcard.Boylston Street from the front of the MHS, Mar. 1929
Taken by Robert H. Pearman.Site of Hotel Carlton from back windows of MHS, Aug. 1910
Taken by Charles Stearns. Copy photograph (21.29b) taken by George M. Cushing.Hotel Somerset, taken from Waterston Room, Oct. 1903
Taken by Charles Stearns. Copy photograph (21.30b) taken by George M. Cushing.1154 Boylston St., taken from roof of the Studio Building, Ipswich St., Oct. 1905
Taken by Charles Stearns. Copy photograph (21.31b) taken by George M. Cushing.Hemenway Apartments, Oct. 1973
Taken by George M. Cushing.1154 Boylston St., ca. 1900
Photographer unidentified.1154 Boylston St., ca. 1910
Photographer unidentified.1154 Boylston St., 1917
Taken by R. H. Pearman.1154 Boylston St., ca. 1917
Taken by George M. Cushing.1154 Boylston St., June 1930
Taken by George Brayton.1154 Boylston St., ca. 1932
#21.42 taken by C. P. Shepardson; others taken by an unidentified photographer.1154 Boylston St., 1949
Taken by George M. Cushing, Jr.1154 Boylston St., 1984
Taken by David Bohl.1154 Boylston St., 1991
Taken by David Bohl.#21.48 is a color photograph.B. Interior views
Conservation lab, basement, 1984
Taken by David Bohl.Lobby, [1899]
Photographer unidentified.Lobby, 1960
Taken by George Cushing.Lobby, looking toward street, 1984
Taken by David Bohl.Room 101 (Seminar Room), 1960
Taken by George M. Cushing.Room 103 (Orientation Room), 1899
Photographer unidentified.Ellis Hall, mantel, 1899
Photographer unidentified.Negative print.Ellis Hall, 1917
Taken by R. H. Pearman.Ellis Hall, Apr. 1925
Taken by R. H. Pearman.Ellis Hall, 1960
Taken by George M. Cushing.Ellis Hall, 1960
Taken by George M. Cushing.Ellis Hall, [1960]
Taken by David F. Lawlor.Ellis Hall, 1991
Taken by David Bohl.Catalog Room, 1984
Taken by David Bohl.Room 201 (Red Room), 1902
Taken by Charles Stearns.Room 201, 1920
Photographer unidentified.Room 201, with council members around table, 1954
Taken by Alfred Eisenstadt for Life magazine.Room 201, 1984
Taken by David Bohl.Second floor stair lobby, ca. 1949
Taken by David F. Lawlor.Room 205 (Oliver Room), 1960
Taken by George M. Cushing.Room 205 (Oliver Room), 1960
Taken by George M. Cushing.Dowse Library, ca. 1857
By H. Billings & H. Wright Smith.Engraving.Dowse Library, 1917
Taken by R. H. Pearman.Dowse Library, 1984
Taken by David Bohl.Room N-205 (old Special Libraries stacks), 1984
Taken by David Bohl.Third floor landing decorative painting
Photographer unidentified.Fifth floor stacks, 1984
Taken by David Bohl.1154 Boylston Street, 1899
Taken by H. H. Sidman.Plates from American Architect and Building News.C. Construction photographs, 1970-2004
Rear of MHS building prior to construction of Shattuck Wing, [1970]
Taken by George M. Cushing.Groundbreaking for construction of Shattuck Wing, 27 Apr. 1970
Taken by George M. Cushing.Construction of Shattuck Wing, [1970-1971]
Photographer unidentified.Color photographs.Construction of Shattuck Wing, [1970-1971]
Photographer unidentified.Color slides.MHS roof and balcony, [ca. 1997]
Photographer unidentified.Color snapshots.Construction of ramp, [1999]
Photographer(s) unidentified.Color and black-and-white snapshots.Interior construction projects, [2000-2004]
Photographer(s) unidentified.Color and black-and-white snapshots.Contact sheets of construction images, [1999-2004]
Photographer(s) unidentified.Contact sheets of construction images, [1999]
Photographer(s) unidentified.First floor renovations, Feb. 2001
Taken by Don Farrell.Color snapshots.First floor rooms after renovations.
Post-renovation interiors, 2001-2004
Taken by Peter Vanderwarker.Color photographs.III. MHS functions, 1941-2002
This series comprises photographs taken at public events of the Massachusetts Historical Society, including afternoon meetings, annual meetings, spring receptions, and annual dinners.
150th Anniversary Banquet, 24 Apr. 1941
Taken by Thomas A. Slater.#21.851c is a negative print with identifications supplied in ink.Meeting of the Society in the Dowse Library, [1950s]
Photographer unidentified.Black and white snapshots.Meeting of the Society, 1954
Taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt for Life magazine.Adams Papers reception, 22 Sep. 1961
Taken by George M. Cushing.This meeting was held 22 September 1961 to celebrate the publication of four volumes of the Diary and Autobiography of John Adams. Speakers included Lyman H. Butterfield, Thomas James Wilson, Paul Herman Buck, Julian Parks Boyd, and Samuel Flagg Bemis.
Party for Clifford K. Shipton, Apr. 1963
Taken by Philip N. Preston for the Boston Globe.Photograph of Mr. & Mrs. Clifford K. Shipton, Thomas Boylston Adams, and Stephen T. Riley.
Spring reception, 1963
Taken by Geo. Saito.Photographs of Malcolm Freiberg & Barbara (Mrs. Endicott) Peabody.
Meeting in Ellis Hall, 1966 or 1967
Photographer unidentified.Visit of Russian churchmen, Mar. 1975
Taken by J. Robert Nelson.Color snapshots.Afternoon meeting, 10 May 1990
Photographer unidentified.Bicentennial banquet, 17 May 1991
Taken by Alan Kidawski.Those photographed include Peter Gomes, Henry Lee, Thomas Boylston Adams, Oscar Handlin, Bernard Bailyn, Pauline Maier, and Edward M. Kennedy.
Witness to America's Past, Apr.-Aug. 1991
Taken by the Museum of Fine Arts.Photographs from the Society's bicentennial exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts.
Annual dinner, 5 Nov. 1998
Taken by Alan Kidawski.Contact sheets only.Those photographed include Robert MacNeil (speaker), William Fowler, and Henry Lee.
Annual dinner, 10 Oct. 2002
Photographer unidentified.Color transparencies and contact sheet only.Those photographed include George H. W. Bush (speaker), David McCullough, William Fowler, and Amalie Kass.
IV. MHS collections items
Adams family seals
Taken by George M. Cushing.Dowse Library table
Taken by Dadmun Co., Boston.MHS printed and microform publications and manuscript stacks, 1984
Taken by David Bohl.Wetmore manuscripts, ca. 1915
Taken by R. H. Pearman.MHS artifacts, 1954
Taken by Alfred Eisenstadt for Life magazine.Photographs of Emancipation Proclamation pen with bronze hands of Lincoln; Charles Sumner's Senate chair (2); and the Edes family punch bowl.
V. MHS members, officers, and staff, 1855-
A. Individual portraits
John Adams, Nov. 1953
Taken by Thomas B. Hollyman for Holiday magazine.Lyman H. Butterfield
Photographer unidentified.Lyman H. Butterfield and Wendell Garrett
Photographer unidentified.Malcolm Freiberg, 1960s
Stephen T. Riley, ca. 1954-1976
Rebecca Scott, 1999
Louis Leonard Tucker
Warren Wheeler, Nov. 1948
B. Group portraits, 1854-1997
Delegates from the MHS to the Semi-Centennial Celebration of the New York Historical Society, 20 Nov. 1854
Photographer unidentified.Shown: William P. Lunt, Robert C. Winthrop, and George E. Ellis.
Group of members of the Massachusetts Historical Society, May 1855
Taken by J. A. Whipple.Reduced copy and later heliotype copy.Group of members of the Massachusetts Historical Society, May 1855
Taken by J. A. Whipple.2 original prints and a reduced mounted copy.Copy 21.845a was given by the photographer.
Group of members of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 11 Aug. 1858
Photographer unidentified.Photograph taken at Frederic Tudor's home in Nahant, Mass.
Meeting of the Massachusetts Historical Association [sic], 11 Aug. 1858
Published by American Stereoscopic Co., Philadelphia.Group of members of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 11 Aug. 1858
Photographer unidentified.Photographs taken at Frederic Tudor's home in Nahant, Mass.
Members of the MHS at the home of Robert C. Winthrop, 10 June 1869
Photographer unidentified.Members of the MHS at the home of Robert C. Winthrop, 10 June 1869
Photographer unidentified.MHS staff watching the Hindenburg from the roof of 1154 Boylston St., 9 Oct. 1936
Photographer unidentified.Visit of MHS staff and members to Peter Oliver's estate, Middleborough, Mass., [1950s?]
Photographer unidentified.Black and white snapshots.MHS staff, 1950
Photographer unidentified.Shown: [Mr.] Oatley, Warren Wheeler, Winifred V. Collins, Marjorie Bruce, Stewart Mitchell, Augusta Hitchcock, Isabelle Davis, and Stephen T. Riley.
Party at Stephen T. Riley's home, 12 Sep. 1959
Photographer unidentified.Snapshots.Appointment of Richard W. Hale as Archivist of the Commonwealth, 1961
Photographer unidentified.Shown: Clifford K. Shipton, Robert E. Moody, Kevin H. White, Lyman H. Butterfield, Richard W. Hale, Walter M. Whitehill, Malcolm Freiberg, and Stephen T. Riley.
MHS staff unpacking George F. Hoar papers, Nov. 1961
Taken by George M. Cushing, Jr.Shown: Stephen T. Riley, Wendell Garrett, John Cushing, Lyman Butterfield, Malcolm Freiberg, and Warren Wheeler.
Adams Papers staff, 1966
Photographer unidentified.Shown: Glynn Marini, Marc Friedlander, Lynne G. Crane, Lyman Butterfield, and Susan F. Riggs.
Stephen T. Riley's retirement party, 29 Dec. 1976
Taken by George M. Cushing.Douglas Cochrane & William Davis Taylor with logbook and scale model of the Columbia, 19 July 1982
Taken by Ted Dully.Adams Papers staff, 1984
Taken by David Bohl.Shown: Celeste Walker, Gregg Lint, and Joanna Revelas.
MHS director and Council, 1990
Taken by Roger Farrington.Shown: Louis L. Tucker, James Barr Ames, Thomas Boylston Adams, F. Douglas Cochrane, Henry Lee, and others.
Presidents of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 1990
Taken by Roger Farrington.Shown: James Barr Ames, Thomas Boylston Adams, F. Douglas Cochrane, and Henry Lee.
MHS staff Christmas party, 1997
Photographer unidentified.MHS staff Christmas party, 1997
Photographer unidentified.MHS director and council
Taken by David Bohl.Contact sheet.VI. Images used in MHS publications
Discovery of America, 1975
Photographer unidentified.Pro Bono Publico: the Shattucks of Boston, 1971
Taken by G. M. Cushing.Sibley's Harvard Graduates
Stephen Thomas Riley, the Years of Stewardship, 1976
Taken by G. M. Cushing.VII. Film negatives
Negatives for many of the photographs in this collection. These are arranged into the series established above, but have not been individually enumerated.
Preferred Citation
Massachusetts Historical Society Archives photographs, Massachusetts Historical Society.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.