Offered as part of the Five College Archives Digital Access Project, many key documents from the history of Amherst College are contained within this remarkable collection. The site consists of four smaller collections: Annual Catalogues, 1822-1900; Coeducation Collection, 1870-1998; Edward and Orra White Hitchcock Papers; and Snell Family Papers. In this last collection, visitors can look over...

The Massachusetts Historical Society provides this online exhibit on the abolitionist movement in Boston, both prior to and during the Civil War. The website includes seven distinct sections, each highlighting manuscripts, photographs, and artifacts. One section touches on William Lloyd Garrison's Liberator, an important antislavery newspaper; visitors can read the entire first issue of the...

Ed Judice was raised on Long Island, and he began his long career in photography at the age of 13 when he took a job sweeping floors in a local photo studio. After this, he served in the Army and then moved to New York, where he did commercial work for ad agencies and a range of magazines. He came to live in western Massachusetts, and this digital collection from the University of Massachusetts...

From Newburyport all the way to New Bedford, Massachusetts has many places steeped in a rich and interesting maritime past. Recently, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places and Maritime Heritage Program created this interactive guide to the maritime history of the Bay State. The site spares no punches, as it opens with a lovely photograph of the Boston Light Station on...

Massachusetts has long been a leader in the conservation and preservation movements. From early attempts to create an Emerald Necklace around Boston to the battle to save the Old State House, the commonwealth has rich, fascinating tales and experiences. This wonderful travel itinerary was created by the National Park Service's Heritage Education Services in partnership with the Massachusetts...

For many people, Massachusetts' role in the Civil War may be summed up by the impressive sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens that dominates one corner of the Boston Common. It depicts Colonel Robert Shaw leading the 54th Regiment (which was made up of African Americans) down Beacon Street in 1863 before they went off to battle in South Carolina. Those persons looking to learn more about the role...

With thousands of items in their collections, the Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) is able to call on several centuries of fascinating historical items, and each month they share a new item on their "Object of the Month" webpage. Here visitors will find a digital image of the item, along with an interpretive essay, and a list of suggested readings. Recently profiled items include a Civil...

The first railroad in Massachusetts was chartered in 1826 and since that time the commonwealth has seen dozens of operators expand and contract their operations. Interestingly enough, by 1836 railroad corporations had to submit reports of their activities to the Secretary of the Commonwealth and in 1871 a Railroad Commission was established to oversee these companies. This wonderful digital...

What buildings were in the Fenway area of Boston in 1908? How about in Worcester in the 1870s? The state of Massachusetts has answers to these questions via its collections of real estate maps from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. All told, the State Library's collection includes over 200 atlases, covering 6,500 maps from 12 counties and more than 80 municipalities. Assisted by funds from...

The story of Provincetown, Massachusetts is part of the earliest European settlement of the United States. Stretching back almost four centuries, the tales of this town include whaling, artists, creative theater, and of course, the Pilgrims. This website was created to preserve the history of this unique place, and it is made possible by a generous donation from the Ken Weiss Schwab Charitable...