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the Society’s collections, include correspondence with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington, as well as historical documents that he collected for his research and ministerial writings.
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$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.
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$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.
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$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.
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$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.
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$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 send a check made payable to the MHS to 1154 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215.
To contribute gifts of securities, please e-mail the Development department or call 617-646-0518 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.
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Our members are integral to all that we do.
Building Closed:
Building Closed
Monday, 24 December 2018
Building Closed:
Christmas Day
Tuesday, 25 December 2018
Building Closed:
Building Closed
Wednesday, 26 December 2018
This panel aims to begin an interdisciplinary conversation in transgender history. What is the state of the field of transgender studies in history, archiving, and 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, ...
Samuel Seabury’s consecration in 1784 signaled a transformation in the organization of American Protestantism. After more than a century of resistance to the office ...
It was a rainy day in May 1839 and John Quincy Adams, stuck inside, was amusing himself writing poetry. He was trying to imitate the Roman poet Horace, and outdo the English poet Alexander Pope. ...
In June 1854, the Boston City Missionary Society appointed a Methodist Episcopal clergyman named Luman Boyden to serve as missionary to the poor in East Boston. The 48-year-old Boyden (pictured above, ...
