The Massachusetts Historical Society is one of the nation’s most respected research libraries. Our extraordinary collections provide an unparalleled record of American history and are enjoyed by scholars and the public alike.
The MHS possesses a remarkable assembly of personal papers of three presidents, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. The collections also contain accounts of the lives of thousands of ordinary Americans.
Explore the collections
The collections are available to all in person, online, and through exhibitions and programs. Learn more about doing research at the MHS.
Use these tools to view highlights, digital collections, and other online resources.
Browse a selection of objects from the Society's vast collection showcasing a range of items—from iconic treasures to quirky historical artifacts. You can limit your search by topic or format.
Browse web presentations by subject, era, or medium, or see a list of all of our online resources.
Library Closed; Galleries Open:
Labor Day
Saturday, 2 September 2017
Building Closed:
Labor Day
Monday, 4 September 2017
The History and Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society Tour is a 90-minute docent-led walk through our public rooms. The tour is free, open to the public, ...
The Liberator’s Legacy explores popular memory of William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and their fellow abolitionists in the decades following the Civil ...
In his long, cosmopolitan life, Galbraith wrote thousands of letters. Richard P. F. Holt has selected the most important of these and made them available in print for ...
On Monday, 21 August 2017, a solar eclipse will occur! Many people in Boston are looking forward to 2:46 pm when they will (weather permitting!) experience what it is like when the ...
Today we return to the 1917 diary of Gertrude Codman Carter. You may read the previous entries here: Introduction | January | February | March | April | May June | July Gertrude ...
