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Commonwealth Museum   Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin
Commonwealth Museum Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin

Pillar of the Community


After the Civil War, Lewis Hayden continued to serve in ways that infl uence life in Boston to this day.

Photographs of Lewis Hayden
Lewis Hayden  
-  State Library of Massachusetts

A page from the Journal of the House dated Tuesday, March 4, 1873, detailing a proposal by Lewis Hayden and committee members for a constitutional amendment to allow women to vote and hold office, an effort that was unsuccessful until the twentieth century.

Journal of the House . . . 

Election to the Massachusetts General Court

In 1873: Hayden was elected to the Massachusetts General Court and served one term. Among his interests was the issue of women’s suffrage. Some abolitionists did not want to dilute their efforts and preferred focusing on the political rights of newly freed male slaves. Lewis and Harriet Hayden also favored women’s rights.

Commemorating the Boston Massacre
In 1858 abolitionists began the annual commemoration of the Boston Massacre to recognize Crispus Attucks, of black and native ancestry, the fi rst to die in the American Revolution. Many activists in the black community submitted petitions for a monument to Attucks. Eventually a monument recognizing all victims was placed on Boston Common. Lewis Hayden played a prominent role in this effort.


A photograph of Lewis Hayden’ s petition for a monument commemorating Crispus Attucks and the Boston Massacre

Hayden Petition . . .

A photograph of an Act establishing the salary of the Messenger, 1859. Lewis Hayden’s salary was determined by this legislation. Massachusetts Archives

Boston Massacre Memorial . . .

Paul Revere’s copper engraving plate depicting the Boston Massacre, showing British soldiers firing on American colonists.

Boston Massacre  Engraving Plate . . .