Underrepresented Communities
MHS Collections and Resources
This web portal showcases the Massachusetts Historical Society’s collections and resources documenting individuals and communities who have traditionally been unrepresented in the historical record. In addition to thousands of pages of digitized content, this site provides access to relevant exhibitions, digital features, study materials, and other items available via the MHS website. Note that the lists provided are not intended to be exhaustive, and that more materials relating to underrepresented groups can be found across the MHS website and catalog.
Note that some items here may contain images or language that is considered outdated, inappropriate, or racist today.
Websites and Exhibitions
Web exhibitions, web companions to physical exhibitions, and special features on collections or subject groups.
Digitized Collections
Fully or partially digitized collections containing materials relating to marginalized groups, arranged by topic.
Thanks to a grant from an anonymous organization, the MHS was recently able to digitize over 30,000 pages of material relating to the history of marginalized groups. These and many other materials are represented in the collections below.
African American History
- 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment Photographsphoto collection
- 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment Carte de Visite Albumphoto collection
- Nathaniel T. Allen Papersmanuscript collection
- Nathaniel T. Allen Photographsphoto collection
- Association of Officers of the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment Carte de Visite Albumphoto collection
- Association of Officers of the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Recordsmanuscript collection
- Boston Anti-Man-Hunting League Recordsmanuscript collection
- DeGrasse-Howard Papersmanuscript collection
- DeGrasse-Howard Photographsphoto collection
- Home for Aged Colored Women Recordsmanuscript collection
- Juvenile Anti-Slavery Society Recordsmanuscript collection
- Laws of the African Society, Instituted at Boston, Anno Domini 1796item
- New England Freedmen's Aid Society Recordsmanuscript collection
- Norwood Penrose Hallowell Papersmanuscript collection
- Portraits of American Abolitionistsphoto collection
- "Queries Respecting the Slavery and Emancipation of Negroes in Massachusetts, Proposed by the Hon. Judge Tucker of Virginia, and Answered by the Rev. Dr. Belknap"item
- Portrait of Samuel Shrimptonitem
- The School for Colored Girlsitem
- The Selling of Joseph: A Memorialitem
- Trustees of Donations for Education in Liberia Recordsmanuscript collection
Gender and Sexuality
- Rose Dabney Forbes Papersmanuscript collection
- Charles Edward French Diariesmanuscript collection
- Home for Aged Colored Women Recordsmanuscript collection
- Massachusetts Association Opposed to the Further Extension of Suffrage to Women Recordsmanuscript collection
- Sarah Gooll Putnam Diariesmanuscript collection
- Society for the Employment of the Female Poor Trustees' Reportsmanuscript collection
- Twentieth Century Medical Club Recordsmanuscript collection
- Woman's Education Association (Boston, Mass.) Recordsmanuscript collection
Native American History
- Book of Sketches Made at Fort Marion, St. Augustine, Fla.item
- Benjamin Colman Papers, 1641-1806manuscript collection
- Indian Industries League Papersmanuscript collection
- Kingsmill Marrs Photographsphoto collection
- Society for Propagating the Gospel Among the Indians and Others in North America Recordsmanuscript collection
- Vocabulary of the Muscogee (Creek) languageitem
Economic Disenfranchisement in New England
- Boston Overseers of the Poor Recordsmanuscript collection
- Luman Boyden Missionary Journalsmanuscript collection
- Charlestown Overseers of the Poor Recordsmanuscript collection
- Home for Aged Colored Women Recordsmanuscript collection
- Humane Society of Massachusetts Recordsmanuscript collection
- Roxbury Almshouse Recordsmanuscript collection
- Roxbury Neighborhood House Association meeting minutesitem
- Society for the Employment of the Female Poor Trustees' Reportsmanuscript collection
Immigration and U.S. Colonization Abroad
- Maria Revere Balestier Papersmanuscript collection
- Luman Boyden Missionary Journalsmanuscript collection
- Everett-Noble Papersmanuscript collection
- Nathaniel T. Allen Papersmanuscript collection
- Nathaniel T. Allen Photographsphoto collection
- Society for Propagating the Gospel Among the Indians and Others in North America Recordsmanuscript collection
- Trustees of Donations for Education in Liberia Recordsmanuscript collection
Subject Guides
Overviews of MHS collections containing materials relating to underrepresented groups.
Explore More
In addition to the items listed above, other collections, books, and artifacts concerning these and other marginalized groups can be found by searching ABIGAIL, the library catalog, as well as the Collection Guides. In addition, a long-term project to reframe and re-describe our collections to promote a more complete representation of the individuals in our archive, as well as a more accurate and unbiased presentations of their stories, is ongoing.
For more information on MHS initiatives regarding equity, please refer to our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement.