MassHistorical

Massachusetts Historical Society is the first historical society in America. Founded in 1791 to "collect, preserve, and disseminate materials for the study of American history, " the MHS is celebrating 225 years of collecting, protecting, and sharing American history, life, and culture.

The MHS collections are particularly well-known for extensive holdings of personal papers from three presidents: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. The collections contain many famous documents including Paul Revere's own account of his famous ride and Abigail Adams’s famous "Remember the Ladies” letter to John Adams, where she advocates for the rights of women to be included in the founding of the United States. In addition, the MHS holds several imprints of the Declaration of Independence, and Thomas Jefferson's architectural drawings, among many other treasures.