This Week @MHS
Join us for a program this week! Here is a look at what is going on: - Tuesday, 29 January, 5:15 PM: Better Teaching through Technology, 1945-1969, with Victoria Cain, Northeastern ...
Our building at 1154 Boylston Street is currently closed to both staff and the public in an effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Our library staff is currently working remotely without physical access to the Society's collections. However, the MHS library staff is working hard to make as many collections and services accessible as we can.
Here at our remote reference desk you will find that growing list of resources available in a single, unified list. Please note that this page will be steadily evolving as our team assembles and improves our remote resources.
Have suggestions? Please contact the remote reference desk coordinator at reference@masshist.org.
The MHS library staff who can usually be found behind the reference desk at 1154 Boylston are available remotely to assist you with your research! Please don't hesitate to reach out for individualized assistance.
The MHS provides digital access to our collections in a variety of ways through thematic resources, digital publication projects, digital content linked to collection guides, digitized public domain materials, and subscription databases. We will be updating this section regularly as we work to make resources available during the MHS closure period.
Many catalog records for single items contain links to digital versions of those items. A search in our online catalog ABIGAIL for the phrase "Click here to view this item" in quotation marks using the Keyword Anywhere search option will return over 950 items that have digital versions linked to their catalog entries.
In recent years, the MHS has piloted full or partial digitization of manuscript and visual material collections using the online collection guides as a delivery system. Look for the blue digital content indicator next to the collection guide link and/or collection guide subsection as you browse in order to locate digital facsimiles.
The MHS has been publishing since 1791 and many of its pre-1930 (public domain) publications are available full-text online.
Visit our Online Resources portal to find a full slate of thematic resources range in type from interactive displays of entire collections to digital companion sites for past exhibitions.
The MHS offers digital editions of several documentary publications projects:
The MHS collections can be found in subscription databases that may be available through other research libraries. Catalog records in ABIGAIL indicate whether a specific collection has been included in a subscription database. Evans and Shaw-Shoemaker call numbers indicate whether a print item may be found in the Early American Imprints series I and II. Below is a list of the subscription databases that contain MHS materials.
For an itemized list of all MHS collections represented in these databases (with the exception of Early American Imprints) click here.
Spring 2020 Note: Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Adam Matthew Digital has extended the offer of free trial access to its databases for a twelve week period. More information, and instructions for submitting a request for trial access, may be found on the Adam Matthew Digital website.