GC GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL
Massachusetts. Council.
Agency history record.
During the colonial period (1629-1686) certain current or
former assistants or magistrates who constituted the upper
house of the General Court functioned executively under the
governor as a standing council, as defined in 1629 (Mass Recs
1: 361, 38), 1636 (1: 167), and 1639 (1: 264)
In 1686, the 1629 charter having been revoked, the General
Court ceased to function and governing power was in a
crown-appointed Council and president (Thomas Dudley, 1686)
and then governor (Edmund Andros, 1686-1689). After the
deposition of Andros and a brief interim government by the
Council for Safety of the People and Conservation of the Peace
(Apr.-June 1689), charter government was reinstated: the
governor, deputy governor, and assistants elected in 1686
(Mass Recs 5: 513) resumed office, the assistants as Council
serving both as executive body under the governor and as upper
house of the General Court.
From 1692, under the provincial charter, a Council of
twenty-eight was elected annually from its membership by the
General Court, again with dual legislative and executive
roles. In Aug. 1774 it was displaced by councillors appointed
by royal writ of mandamus to serve under Gov. Thomas Gage,
until the British evacuated Boston in Mar. 1776. Meantime the
General Court, discharged by Gage in Sept. 1774 and
reconvening in July 1775 after an interim of three successive
provincial congresses, elected its own Council to serve as its
upper house and as executive body without governor.
Under the 1780 Constitution the Council (known variously as
Executive Council or Governor's Council) serves as an advisory
executive body presided over by the governor and assembled at
his discretion (Const Pt 2, C 2, S 1, Art 4), consisting of
the lieutenant governor and originally nine chosen annually by
the General Court from among those elected to serve either as
senators or councillors (S 3, Art 2). Const Amend Art 13
(1840) provided for legislative election of councillors from
the population at large, with a residence requirement of five
years immediately preceding election. Amend Art 16 (1855)
provided for popular election of councillors, one from each of
eight districts.
Election became biennial per Amend Art 64 (1918)
By its constitutional and statutory authority to advise the
governor, the Council approves appointments of judicial and
quasi-judicial officers (Const Pt 2, C 2, S 1, Art 9),
notaries (Const Amend Art 4), and constitutional officers if
vacancies occur when the legislature is not in session (Amend
Art 17); also removal of justices of the peace and notaries
(Amend Art 37). It approves the adjournment or prorogation of
the General Court (Const Pt 2, S 1, Art 6), granting of
pardons, including commutations and respites (Art 8), and
warrants authorizing expenditures from the Treasury (Art 11);
it also witnesses the governor's certification of state
election results (MGLA c 54, s 116)
Over time the Council acquired additional statutory
authority requiring its advice and consent for various
gubernatorial and other executive appointments and the fixing
of salaries thereof; also for various fiscal acts and
contracts made by the executive branch. With a few
exceptions, such authority was repealed by St 1964, c 740.
NAME AUTHORITY NOTE. Series relating to the agency
described above can be found by searching the following access
point for the time period stated: 1629-
present--Massachusetts. Council.
1. Administering state government. 2. Counseling governors.
I. Massachusetts. Executive Council. II. Massachusetts.
Governor's Council. III. Massachusetts Bay Council.
035: GC3
ID: MASVAH0040-A
Massachusetts. Council.
Executive records, 1650-1977.
60 cubic ft. (191 v.) Index: 0.31 cubic ft. (1 box) Copies
(series microfilm): 1 cubic ft. (100 microfilm reels ; 35
mm.) Copies (reading room microfilm): 0.38 cubic ft. (38
microfilm reels ; 35 mm.) Copies (1765-1766 transcript): 1
file folder. Copies (1686-1780 transcript): 12 cubic ft. (24
boxes)
Arranged chronologically by date of meeting.
Microfilm (to 1962, lacking v. 38 (1814-1816), 1946,
1952-1956; some duplication) included with series.
Microfilm (to 1899, lacking v. 38; some duplication)
available in Archives reading room.
Sept. 11, 1765-Feb. 13, 1766: Ms. transcript (to be sent to
British Privy Council?) included with series.
Vol. 2-25 (1686-1780): Ms. transcript (with lists of items
omitted) included with series.
Summary: The Council (under the governor except 1775-1780)
functioned as the executive counterpart of the upper house of
the General Court under the colonial charter, 1629-1686; as
the executive (sole) government, 1686-1689; and both as upper
house of the General Court and executive body, 1689-1692,
under the provincial charter, 1692-1774, and in the
Revolutionary period, 1775-1780. (There was a rival
crown-appointed Council under Gov. Thomas Gage, 1774-1776.)
Under the 1780 Constitution it is an advisory executive body
to the governor separate from the General Court. Executive
records (formerly known as: Council records) document the
Council's executive function during the colonial (1650- 1656,
and stray entries, 1660-1661 only), intercharter (1686-1687
only), provincial, and Revolutionary periods; and under the
1780 Constitution, which mandates a signed register of council
actions (Const Pt 2, C 2, S 3, Art 5)
For early Revolutionary records see: Massachusetts.
Provincial Congress. Proceedings, 1774-1775 ((M-Ar)1704X) and:
Massachusetts. Council. Transcript of letters concerning the
Governor's Council, 1774-1776 ((M-Ar)55X)
For corresponding legislative records see: Massachusetts.
General Court. Proceedings of the Governor and Company of the
Massachusetts Bay, 1629-1686 ((M-Ar)1700X); and:
Massachusetts. Council. Legislative records, 1689-1833 ((M-
Ar)1701X)
Records from 1686 are transcripts: v. 2-11 (1686-1747) from
the British State Paper Office, 1846-1851. From 1689 (not in
this series) to 1776, many originals are in: Massachusetts.
Office of the Secretary of State. Massachusetts archives
((M-Ar)45X), v. 81-86. (For exact dates and listing of those
serving simultaneously as legislative records (i.e., series
(M-Ar)1701X)) see finding aid below.) From 1776 source
document is: Massachusetts. Council. Minutes ((M-Ar)329). See
that series for detailed description of contents.
Indexes: Alphabetical by name for v. 11-13, 16-22
(1742-1759, 1765-1778) included with series.
Finding aids: Table of contents or index in volumes.
Finding aids: Volume list for: Massachusetts archives, v.
81-86 (see above)
1686 (Dudley) records from other sources published in:
Massachusetts Historical Society. Proceedings, 2nd ser. 13
(1899)
1686-1689 (Andros) records from other sources published in:
American Antiquarian Society. Proceedings, n.s. 13 (1899-1900)
Spine title: Council records.
Vol. 1-94 (1650-1881) bound as numbered (v. 74 in 2);
thereafter bound annually only.
Agency history record (CStRLIN)MASVAH0040-A describes the
history and functions of the Council.
Location: Massachusetts Archives. 220 Morrissey Boulevard,
Boston, MA 02125.
Location: Active records: Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Governor's Council. State House, Boston, MA 02133.
035: (M-Ar)327
035: GC3
ID: MASV89-A159
SPECIAL GUIDE NOTE. Topics included in this series
relating to the built environment are as follows:
construction, and in some cases, destruction of roads,
bridges, wharves, and dams; construction and maintenance of
fortifications; construction and maintenance of state
institutions (prisons, hospitals, schools); enlargement of the
State House; proposals and subsequent action relating to
location and construction of railroads, railroad bridges, and
the Hoosac Tunnel; and canals. These are documented through
minutes of Council meetings; in some instances, reports,
warrants, and contracts are read into the minutes. Series is
indexed in this guide under the following subjects:
1. Massachusetts State House (Boston, Mass.) 2. Bridges--
Massachusetts--Design and construction. 3. Canals--
Massachusetts. 4. Dams--Massachusetts-- Design and
construction. 5. Fortification--Massachusetts. 6. Public
buildings-- Massachusetts--Design and construction. 7. Public
buildings--Massachusetts-- Maintenance and repair. 8.
Railroads--Massachusetts--Design and construction. 9. Roads--
Massachusetts--Design and construction. 10. Tunneling--
Massachusetts. 11. Wharves--Massachusetts--Design and
construction. 12. Executive records. 13. Minutes. 14. Hoosac
Tunnel (Mass.)
Massachusetts. Council.
Council files, 1784-1983.
87.32 cubic ft. (250 doc. boxes)
Arranged chronologically.
Summary: By its constitutional and statutory authority to
provide advice and consent to the governor, the Council
approves, among others, the appointments of judicial and
quasi-judicial officers, the adjournment or prorogation of the
General Court, the granting of pardons, and warrants
authorizing expenditures from the Treasury. Council files
contain letters and memoranda submitted by state agencies and
offices communicating their intent to take actions that
require the approval of the governor and his council as well
as resolutions and orders issued by the governor and council.
The content of the files varies over time as do the actions
that require approval. Through the mid-1960s, files relate to
the following activities: appointing persons to executive and
judicial positions, accepting resignations of officials,
fixing salaries, authorizing Treasury warrants, approving bond
issues, approving leases and rental agreements, collecting or
waiving fees for licenses, approving transfer of prisoners and
warrants for execution of condemned persons, granting of
pardons (but see also: Council pardon files ((M-Ar)328)), and
witnessing certificates of examination of the return of votes.
After 1964, when most of the Council's statutory authority was
repealed (St 1964, c 740), files consist mainly of approvals
of Treasury warrants and of judicial appointments and
resignations.
Boxes numbered: 0-249.
Agency history record (CStRLIN)MASVAH0040-A describes the
history and functions of the Council.
Location: Massachusetts Archives. 220 Morrissey Boulevard,
Boston, MA 02125.
Location: Active records: Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Governor's Council. State House, Boston, MA 02133.
035: (M-Ar)378
035: GC3
ID: MASV89-A168
SPECIAL GUIDE NOTE. Topics included in this series relating
to the built environment are as follows: requests and
subsequent action relating to construction of roads, bridges,
wharves, and dams; construction and maintenance of
fortifications; construction and maintenance of state
institutions (prisons, hospitals, schools); enlargement of the
State House; proposals and subsequent action relating to
location and construction of railroads, railroad bridges, and
tunnels, especially the Hoosac Tunnel; and canals. These are
documented through warrants, correspondence, petitions to the
Council, reports, contracts, and specifications. Series is
indexed in this guide under the following subjects:
1. Massachusetts State House (Boston, Mass.) 2. Bridges--
Massachusetts--Design and construction. 3. Canals--
Massachusetts. 4. Dams--Massachusetts--Design and
construction. 5. Fortification--Massachusetts. 6. Public
buildings--Massachusetts--Design and construction. 7. Public
buildings--Massachusetts--Maintenance and repair. 8.
Railroads--Massachusetts--Design and construction. 9. Roads--
Massachusetts--Design and construction. 10. Tunneling--
Massachusetts. 11. Wharves--Massachusetts--Design and
construction. 12. Executive records. 13. Hoosac Tunnel (Mass.)
Massachusetts. Council.
Treasury warrants, 1776-1824.
7.17 cu. ft. (21 doc. boxes)
Arranged chronologically.
Summary: By its constitutional authority to provide advice
and consent to the governor, the Council approves warrants
authorizing expenditures from the Treasury (Const Pt 2, C 2, S
1, Art 11). Treasury warrants, 1776-1824, are original
warrants signed by governor, councillors, and the treasurer,
and include the name of person or office receiving funds,
purpose of payment, and date of issue. Included are Treasury
warrants authorizing payment of Massachusetts regiments,
retired soldiers receiving pension, councillors, 1802- 1806,
and members of the Senate, 1803. Also included are two
volumes containing copies of warrants for 1816 and 1817. They
include the same information as signed warrants but are
unsigned. For 1837-1934 see Registers listing Treasury
warrants ((M-Ar)776).
Agency history record (CStRLIN)MASVAH0040-A describes the
history and functions of the Council.
Location: Massachusetts Archives. 220 Morrissey Boulevard,
Boston, MA 02125.
035: (M-Ar)772X
035: GC3
ID: MASV89-A166
SPECIAL GUIDE NOTE. Topics included in this series relating
to the built environment are as follows: roads and bridges,
fortifications, state institutions, and the State House.
Series is indexed in this guide under the following subjects:
1. Massachusetts State House (Boston, Mass.) 2. Bridges--
Massachusetts. 3. Fortification--Massachusetts. 4. Public
buildings--Massachusetts. 5. Roads--Massachusetts. 6.
Warrants.