The MHS Fund provides the Society with unrestricted operating support which is used every day to provide the resources necessary to move our top priorities forward. With your support, the Society is able to produce nationally important exhibitions, offer educational programs for visitors of all ages, share our collections with researchers around the world, and provide for the upkeep and care of our facilities. Current-use gifts to the MHS Fund help ensure that the Society fulfills its mission every day. Donate now.
With your MHS Fund donation of $500 or more, you will join the Society's most generous donors, who are committed to supporting its mission--and who enjoy a full year of social, cultural, and educational experiences reserved for this select group. Consider becoming a member of one of the giving circles and you, too, can take advantage of the privileges that the MHS offers to its closest friends.
During his illustrious career Robert Treat Paine (1731-1814) not only signed the Declaration of Independence, but served on the prosecution for the landmark Boston Massacre and Shays’ Rebellion trials. His collection of personal, business, and legal papers speak to these significant moments in the nation’s founding.
Give
$500 - $1,249
A prominent minister and historian, Jeremy Belknap (1744-1798) founded the MHS in 1791. His papers, which form the nucleus of the Society’s collections, include correspondence with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington, as well as historical documents that he collected for his research and ministerial writings.
Give
$1,250 - $4,999
One of the most significant writers of the founding era, Mercy Otis Warren (1728-1814) is best known for her 1805 three-volume history of the Revolution. Her papers include manuscript copies of her plays, poems, and correspondence with key figures of the time, particularly the Adamses.
Give
$5,000 - $9,999
A tradesman and entrepreneur, Paul Revere’s (1735-1818) papers include family correspondence and business records, as well as three separate accounts of his famous “midnight ride.” The MHS also holds a number of important examples of his work, such as a pine tree penny, silver urn, and original copy of the Boston Massacre engraving.
Give
$10,000 - $19,999
Celebrated as the author of American independence, Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was also the third U.S. President. The Society’s Coolidge Collection of Thomas Jefferson Manuscripts includes his correspondence with other Founding Fathers, a handwritten draft of the Declaration of Independence, Farm and Garden Books, and architectural drawings.
Give
$20,000 - $49,999
Widely considered the nation’s “founding couple,” John (1735-1826) and Abigail (1744-1818) Adams were the second U.S. president and first lady. Their papers, and those of their descendants, comprise the Society’s largest and most significant collection. Highlights include John’s notes on the Boston Massacre, draft of the Declaration of Independence, and correspondence with his “dearest friend,” Abigail.
Give
$50,000 and up
You may be able to increase the value of your contribution to the MHS. Ask your Human Resources department if your company offers a Matching Gift program.
If you would prefer to contribute by mail, please print an MHS Fund reply form to send in with your check or credit card payment.
To contribute gifts of securities, please e-mail the Development department or call 617-646-0543 for more information.
The MHS is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions up to $499 are fully tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. Contributions of $500 and above are tax deductible based on benefits.
Donate now
We are grateful for gifts in any amount to support current activities and new initiatives.
Become a member
Our members are integral to all that we do.
The History and Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society Tour is a 90-minute docent-led walk through our public rooms. The tour is free, open to the public, ...
The History and Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society Tour is a 90-minute docent-led walk through our public rooms. The tour is free, open to the public, ...
The Liberator’s Legacy explores popular memory of William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and their fellow abolitionists in the decades following the Civil ...
In the summer of 2017, the Center for the Teaching of History at the MHS offered several professional development workshops for educators, including a program on World War I, and a three-day event ...
On August 15, 1824, the General Marquis de Lafayette, one of the great heroes of the American Revolution, returned to the United States for the first time in forty years, kicking off a nearly thirteen ...
