Treasures Gallery
The Massachusetts Experiment in Democracy: 1620–Today
Five of our nation’s historical treasures are on display in the Treasures Gallery.
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a leading figure in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. As governor, he came to Massachusetts on the ship “Arbella in 1630, bringing with him the Colony’s Royal Charter. In his famous sermon, “A Model of Christian Charity,” Winthrop envisioned the Puritan settlement in New England as a “City upon a Hill” that would serve as a divinely ordained example for all of the world to follow.
Five of our nation’s historical treasures are on display in the Treasures Gallery.
Increase Mather
Increase Mather was a prominent Puritan minister, author, educator, and an influential figure in both Massachusetts colonial government and the administration of Harvard College. Mather’s efforts were instrumental in procuring a new charter, the 1691 Charter of the Province of Massachusetts Bay following the Glorious Revolution in England in 1688.
Five of our nation’s historical treasures are on display in the Treasures Gallery.
John Adams
As a lawyer, diplomat, and statesman, John Adams holds a position of preeminence among the founding fathers of our nation. Throughout his career, Adams dedicated himself to establishing and protecting the rights of the people. The principal author of the Massachusetts Constitution, Adams served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, as George Washington’s Vice President, and as the second President of the United States.
Five of our nation’s historical treasures are on display in the Treasures Gallery.
Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams was, in the words of Thomas Jefferson, “truly the Man of the Revolution.” Educated at Harvard, Adams would find his true calling as a radical, polemical writer, and politician. He was a delegate to the convention which drafted the Massachusetts Constitution, under which he would serve as a Senator and member of the Council, Lt. Governor, and Governor.
Five of our nation’s historical treasures are on display in the Treasures Gallery.
John Hancock
Perhaps best known for the flamboyant signature he affixed to the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock was truly one of the most pivotal figures of the American Revolution. A wealthy merchant by profession, Hancock dedicated himself to the patriot cause, serving as President of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, President of the Second Continental Congress, and as the first Governor under the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780.
The 1629 Charter of Massachusetts Bay
Also known as the Winthrop Charter, this manuscript was brought from England to the New World by John Winthrop on the ship Arbella in 1630. The Puritans founded Boston under this charter.
The 1691 Charter of the Province of Massachusetts Bay
The American revolution began in Massachusetts as colonists rebelled against British violations of this charter. In his famous portrait by John Singleton Copley, Samuel Adams defiantly points to this manuscript.
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1780
Authored by John Adams, this is the oldest written constitution still functioning as a structural foundation of government in the world. The beginnings of the American civic structure are put forth in this document, and it was perhaps the most important template for our Federal Constitution.
The Bill of Rights
One of the original 14 copies (one for each new state, one for Congress), this priceless manuscript is signed by John Adams. The copy kept by Congress is now on display in the rotunda of the National Archives.
The Declaration of Independence
One of the original 14 authentic copies authorized by Congress in 1777, it is the first document to publicly identify the signers of the Declaration. It was printed by Mary Katherine Goddard, the first female post master in the United States, and is signed by John Hancock.