收集政策

The collecting policy of the Massachusetts Historical Society reflects the Society’s mission as an independent research library that collects, 保存, 使访问, and communicates manuscripts and other materials that promote the study of the history of Massachusetts and the nation. The MHS primarily acquires manuscript collections of permanent historical value created by individuals or 家庭 with strong connections to Massachusetts and, 在较小程度上, 组织记录. 在收集, the MHS builds on the great strength of its existing manuscript collections, and focuses on materials that elucidate the role of Massachusetts in the wider history of the United States.

Recognizing that today is tomorrow’s past, Tthe MHS does not have a chronological cut-off date for acquisitions. The geographical scope of the Society’s research collections emphasizes Massachusetts, but covers a much wider area through the colonial and early national period. For the second half of the twentieth century and beyond, the MHS actively acquires collections in focused subject areas (the Society’s environmental history initiative, 例如), but typically does not collect genealogical resources, 当地历史资料, 或者商业记录, except as additions that enhance existing collections. For personal papers created during this period, the MHS seeks to collect a representative sample of those kept by Massachusetts individuals and 家庭 who played a unique role or whose papers document a unique or underrepresented aspect of American life where the documentation of those experiences make up a significant part of the collection.

The MHS strives to collect from a broad community, including those who are often underrepresented in the historical record. 为此目的, the MHS seeks to work with local communities to ensure that all segments of the Commonwealth’s population are documented. The Society recognizes the strengths and collecting areas of other regional and national archives, 库, 和博物馆, and works cooperatively with other collecting repositories to ensure that research materials are placed in the most appropriate home.

在可能的情况下, the Society acquires coherent collections of manuscripts, 而不是单独的文档. 建立协会的收藏, acquisitions seek to supplement existing strengths and/or fill gaps in existing holdings. The MHS accepts deposits of research materials that are open to investigators under the same terms as the collections that it owns and that meet the same rigorous standards of evaluation. 卫生部寻求, 但不要求, financial support from donors for processing, 保存, 以及收藏的永久存储.

虽然次于手稿, the Society holds a large and important collection of published materials that support research in the collection by staff and researchers alike. The Society holds early and rare Massachusetts imprints including broadsides and pamphlets; new additions to this collection are actively sought. 报纸, 连续出版物, 雕刻, and maps are a major resource for researchers, but collecting in this area is secondary to manuscripts and imprints mentioned above. The MHS also holds modern secondary books critical to the interpretation of the Society’s manuscript collections. This part of the collection is used heavily by both staff and researchers, but collection development in this area has become overly reliant on books given to the Society as gifts. The MHS makes targeted purchases for this segment of the collection in order to provide the best sources currently available for researchers.

MHS收藏艺术品, 历史文物, 照片, and numismatics only as they complement or enhance its holdings. Priority is given to 照片 that document individuals, 家庭, or organizations whose papers or records are held by the MHS. Art and artifacts are not collected for their intrinsic value, but rather for their use in historical interpretation of the Society’s research collections and for use in exhibitions.

The MHS 利记手机官网 Committee reviews the 收集政策 on a regular basis and changes or additions to the policy are forwarded to the 校董会 for its approval.