Historical Sketch

The first members of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association (MCMA) met in Boston, Mass. in March 1795 to draft a constitution and elect Paul Revere as president. The meeting was called to address the problem of runaway apprentices and to draft a petition to the state legislature on this matter, but instead established the MCMA as an organization to promote the mechanical arts and provide funds for members' widows and families. The MCMA was later incorporated in 1806.

A similar organization, the Associated Housewright Society (AHS) in the City of Boston was established in August of 1804. The AHS sought to protect and promote housewright artisans, provide aid to members' widows, and ensure that the system of apprenticeship was not abused. Whereas the MCMA required proof of apprenticeship in any of the mechanical arts (e.g. silversmithing, carpentry, architecture), the AHS would only accept master housewrights or sons of housewrights as members. By the 1830s, many housewrights held memberships in both the MCMA and the AHS. Because of the costs, many opted to maintain only their membership with the MCMA. In 1837, the last meeting of the AHS was held, and the books and records of the AHS library were transferred to the Mechanic Apprentices' Library at the MCMA.

The Mechanic Apprentices' Library was established in 1820 by MCMA member William Wood. The books focused on the practical mechanical arts and served as a resource for young apprentices in their crafts. The library thrived until it was dissolved in 1892 and the books distributed throughout repositories in Boston.

In 1829, the MCMA established an evening school in the mechanical arts; it functioned until 1859. In 1900, the first classes of the MCMA Trade School began. The Trade School provided classes in electrical wiring, drafting, and carpentry, among many others. During World War I, the enrollment dropped substantially, and the school closed in 1917. Following this closure, the MCMA promoted classes held at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.

The MCMA organized exhibits of mechanical crafts held at various places in Boston, including a series of exhibits at Quincy Hall and the first Mechanics Hall (built in 1857 on Bedford and Chauncy St.). In 1880, a new Mechanics Hall was built by the MCMA on Huntington Ave. and West Newton St., which served to house yearly MCMA exhibits, as well as classes, traveling exhibits, and conferences.

Within the membership of the MCMA, a separate association was formed to revitalize interest and participation of past governing board members. The Paul Revere Association was composed of past governing board members who met annually to plan events and dinners. Often their events focused on historical topics related to the mechanical arts.

Following the sale of Mechanics Hall in the 1950s, the MCMA occupied many homes until finally settling in Quincy, Mass. in 1988. The MCMA is still functioning today as a charitable organization with funds established to promote the mechanical arts and support mechanic artisans.