MHS Commitment to History
History is filled with a wide range of voices and lived experiences. To fully understand and present the historical record, the MHS will openly address historic disparities, encourage healthy debate, and include voices that provide additional insight into the events and experiences of our shared history.
As part of this work, the MHS recognizes that it has a duty to inquire, consider, and support the perspectives of staff and the communities we serve as they reflect the entire American experience. The core values of our work center on open-minded inquiry as we collect and communicate materials and resources that foster historical knowledge.
We are committed to the preservation and presentation of a collective history of the people of Massachusetts and the nation. We are guided by the belief that a full and fair interpretation of the past must uphold historical truths, must encompass a wide range of voices and lived experiences, and must not suppress information that may make some uncomfortable.
We acknowledge the dedication and commitment of individuals who worked to build the MHS into the remarkable institution it is today. At the same time, we recognize that Society, like many others in the field, formerly drew from a narrower range of custodians of historical memory. As with America, our funders and supporters have shifted and changed over time, and in our work, we strive to keep pace with these additional contributors and incorporate their stories into our collection
As a prominent collector and curator of Massachusetts history, we understand the power the MHS wields in shaping the discourse surrounding American history. While the Society has been at the forefront of cutting-edge historical research for decades, we see it as our responsibility to continue to expand the understanding of what is traditionally considered to be “historically significant” and to ensure our collection includes voices and forms of documentation that were previously undervalued.
As a special collections library and a public history institution, our current collections are freely available to all. We encourage everyone to share their observations, interpretations, and ideas among many audiences. We provide a forum for difficult conversations and new topics, we host discussions that delve into these histories in all their complexities, and we welcome people from all backgrounds to attend, question, and contribute.
Because of our commitment to a full presentation of the historical record, we aim to be open and fair in all that we do. We practice and encourage transparent communication in all interactions. We continue to seek, engage, and employ people of all backgrounds as we foster a culture of respect, openness, learning, integrity, and honesty—especially in the face of the sometimes difficult historical truths our organization must preserve and present.
As the MHS endeavors to collect and relate the multiple perspectives and stories that comprise American history, the principles of curiosity, open-mindedness, and life-long learning require us to continuously re-examine our current understanding to assess and incorporate new information. In supporting our employees, we are committed to that same open-mindedness and curiosity in setting staff and institutional priorities.
As with history itself, this statement is a living document that will necessarily evolve as we continue to examine our institution's role in a changing nation.