Colonial Society of Massachusetts

The Colonial Society of Massachusetts is a nonprofit educational foundation and historical society established in 1892 for the study of Massachusetts history. Its principal chronological focus extends from the settlement of Massachusetts through the early nineteenth century, encompassing subjects associated with the Pilgrim and Puritan settlements, Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth, political and religious development, social life, commerce, conflict, and the wider intellectual and institutional history of early New England. The society is best known for scholarly publication and convening rather than for operating a museum, archive, or commercial visitor attraction. It publishes documentary and interpretive material concerning the early history of Massachusetts, with subjects ranging from the Pilgrim Fathers to figures such as the pirate Captain Thomas Pound. The organization does not maintain a library or manuscript collection of its own. Information about portions of its publication output, including material covering the period from 1710 to 1939, is catalogued in a guide maintained by the Massachusetts Historical Society. A major part of the society's academic role is its support for The New England Quarterly, which it sponsors in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Boston. The journal provides a venue for research on New England history and culture and extends the society's reach beyond its own membership and meetings. The society also convenes scholarly conferences and other academic gatherings, encouraging the exchange of research among historians and related scholars. Its educational work includes encouraging the teaching and study of colonial Massachusetts in schools, organizing workshops for teachers, and promoting the circulation of research among graduate students. These activities give the society a public-education and professional-development function in addition to its historical publications. It does not generally provide genealogical research assistance. The society's headquarters are located at 87 Mount Vernon Street on Boston's Beacon Hill. The premises are closed to the general public, so its public presence is primarily mediated through publications, academic events, educational initiatives, partnerships, and membership activities. Some of its meetings have also taken place at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Membership practices have changed substantially since the organization's foundation. At first, eligibility was limited to descendants of Massachusetts Bay or Plymouth colonists. From 1950 onward, membership was opened to anyone with an interest in colonial Massachusetts, broadening the society from a hereditary association into a more inclusive scholarly and educational organization. Among its notable members have been Thomas R. Adams, Charles W. Akers, Charles Evans, John Grinold, Philip F. Gura, John Elbridge Hudson, Leonard Woods Labaree, Franklin Pierce Rice, and Walter Muir Whitehill. The society also administers the Whitehill Prize in Early American History. The award honors Walter Muir Whitehill, who served as the society's editor from 1946 to 1978, and reflects the organization's continuing emphasis on rigorous research in early American history. Overall, the Colonial Society of Massachusetts functions as a specialist learned society: it preserves and disseminates historical knowledge through documentary publication, scholarly collaboration, conferences, teaching support, graduate engagement, and recognition of historical scholarship.

Founded in 1892, the Colonial Society of Massachusetts was created as a learned organization dedicated to studying the history of Massachusetts from its settlement through the early nineteenth century. Its original membership model reflected the genealogical and social traditions of many nineteenth-century historical societies: membership was initially restricted to descendants of Massachusetts Bay or Plymouth colonists. The society therefore combined historical inquiry with an inherited connection to the colonial past. Over time, its activities developed around scholarly communication rather than the operation of a public historical site. The society issued publications concerning early Massachusetts and New England, including documentary material and studies on subjects that range from the Pilgrim Fathers to less conventional aspects of colonial and early American history, such as the career of Captain Thomas Pound. It does not maintain a library or manuscript collection, and its publication record has consequently been an especially important expression of its institutional purpose. The Massachusetts Historical Society maintains a guide to some of the society's publication collections covering 1710 through 1939. The organization broadened its membership in 1950, when it opened participation to anyone interested in colonial Massachusetts rather than limiting it to descendants of the early colonies. This change marked an important transition from a primarily hereditary membership structure toward a wider intellectual and educational community. The society's academic network includes cooperation with the University of Massachusetts Boston in sponsoring The New England Quarterly. It has also convened scholarly conferences and supported the exchange of research among historians and graduate students. Its educational initiatives have included efforts to encourage the study of colonial Massachusetts in schools and workshops for teachers. These programs show an institutional interest in both specialist scholarship and the preparation of educators who introduce early Massachusetts history to students. The society's headquarters are at 87 Mount Vernon Street on Boston's Beacon Hill. The building is not open to the general public, and some meetings have been held at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Accordingly, the society's work is encountered principally through its publications, journal partnership, academic meetings, educational programs, membership, and prizes rather than through regular public visitation. Walter Muir Whitehill was the society's editor from 1946 to 1978. The Whitehill Prize in Early American History was established in his honor and remains associated with the society's commitment to high-quality scholarship. The organization also has a record of recognizing or including prominent historians and bibliographical scholars among its members, including Thomas R. Adams, Charles W. Akers, Charles Evans, John Grinold, Philip F. Gura, John Elbridge Hudson, Leonard Woods Labaree, Franklin Pierce Rice, and Whitehill. The Colonial Society of Massachusetts does not function as a genealogical help desk and does not generally answer individual genealogy inquiries. Its historical mission is instead pursued through organized scholarship, documentary publication, educational support, and the creation of forums in which research on colonial and early national Massachusetts can be developed and shared.

• 1978

  End of Whitehill's editorship

  [1]Colonial Society of Massachusettsen.wikipedia.org

  Walter Muir Whitehill's period as editor concluded after more than three decades of service.

• 1950

  Membership opened beyond colonial descent

  [1]Colonial Society of Massachusettsen.wikipedia.org

  Membership eligibility expanded from descendants of Massachusetts Bay or Plymouth colonists to anyone interested in colonial Massachusetts.

• 1946

  Walter Muir Whitehill begins editorship

  [1]Colonial Society of Massachusettsen.wikipedia.org

  Walter Muir Whitehill became the society's editor, a role he held through 1978 and one later commemorated by the Whitehill Prize in Early American History.

• 1892

  Society founded

  [1]Colonial Society of Massachusettsen.wikipedia.org

  The Colonial Society of Massachusetts was established as a nonprofit educational foundation for the study of Massachusetts history from settlement through the early nineteenth century.

A specialist learned society focused on research, publication, teaching, and scholarly exchange concerning Massachusetts history from settlement through the early nineteenth century.

• Scholarly publications · 1895

  Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts

  The society publishes documentary and scholarly material on the early history of Massachusetts. Its subject range includes the Pilgrim Fathers, colonial institutions and communities, and other figures and episodes connected with Massachusetts and early New England. The society's publications are a principal means by which it contributes research without maintaining its own library or manuscript repository.

• Academic journal

  The New England Quarterly

  A scholarly journal sponsored by the Colonial Society of Massachusetts in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Boston. It provides a platform for research on New England history, culture, and related fields, extending the society's academic mission through an ongoing periodical publication.

• Historical scholarship award

  Whitehill Prize in Early American History

  An award named for Walter Muir Whitehill, who served as the society's editor from 1946 to 1978. The prize reflects the society's support for distinguished research in early American history.

1. 1Colonial Society of Massachusettsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Colonial Society of Massachusetts official websitecolonialsociety.org