Humane Society of Massachusetts Records 1786-2004 Guide to the Collection Work on this collection was sponsored by the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Two cartons of rescue and case reports, 1980-1995, are stored offsite and are closed to researchers until Jan. 1, 2020.

Table of Contents Collection Summary Historical sketch Collection description Acquisition Information Restrictions on Access Organization Detailed Description of the Collection Preferred Citation Access Terms Materials Removed

Collection Summary

Historical sketch

The Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was established in 1786 to rescue the survivors of shipwrecks and ships in distress. The Society maintained lifeboats and rescue stations along the Massachusetts seashore and provided instruction in lifesaving. It is widely considered the precursor to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Society later expanded its efforts, supporting the Asylum for the Insane and the Boston Lying-In Hospital, and rewarding individuals for heroic personal rescues with medals and monetary awards. The Society remains in existence today.

Collection description

The records of the Humane Society of Massachusetts from 1786-2004 consist of meeting minutes, rules, bylaws, membership lists, treasurer reports, account books, bills, estate inventories, lifesaving and rescue case reports, correspondence, and newspaper clippings. Lifesaving and rescue case reports make up the bulk of the collection with references to the reports found in numerous parts of the collection. The case reports include detailed information regarding rescue attempts, victim's names, and medals awarded. Society correspondence consists of letterbooks and loose correspondence relating to all aspects of the Society and its business including rescue cases, medals awarded, and supplies purchased. Correspondence includes letters written mostly by the recording secretary and other members such as Robert Bennet Forbes, B.W. Crowninshield, Thomas Motley, Jr., Edward H. Faucon, and Sidney W. Burgess.

The administrative records include the Society rules and bylaws that have changed over the years, the act of incorporation, monthly and annual meeting minutes, and membership lists. The financial records of the Society include treasurer reports, account books and records, property information and records, bills and vouchers, and audited financial statements including records of the Society's endowment and investments. Newspaper clippings and publicity reports consist of articles of shipwrecks, resuce attempts, medal recipients, and publicity of members of the Society.

Acquisition Information

The bulk of the early material was given to the MHS as a gift by William Caleb Loring in March 1914 including early rescue case reports, from 1899-1909, and most of the 18th and 19th century materials. The majority of the 20th century marterials were deposited by the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Dec. 1996 and in Jan. 2007.

Restrictions on Access

Two cartons of rescue and case reports, 1980-1995, are stored offsite and are closed to researchers until Jan. 1, 2020.

Organization of the Collection

The collection is organized into the following series:

Detailed Description of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Humane Society of Massachusetts records, 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.

Items Removed from the Collection

Photographs and other visual materials have been removed to the MHS Photo. Archives.

Printed materials have been removed and cataloged in ABIGAIL.

Medals have been removed and have been cataloged in ABIGAIL individually.