Online Collection circa 1845 In 1840, William A. Castleman posted this notice offering a reward for the capture of George Jackson (Dudley), an enslaved man who had escaped.

Online Collection 1843-10-02 Elected officials often offered a monetary reward as a way of obtaining information about a crime or criminals.

Online Collection 1912 This lavishly decorated vehicle appeared in a parade celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of Bernardston, Massachusetts.

Online Collection 1912 This parade celebrated the 150th anniversary of the founding of Bernardston, Massachusetts.

Online Collection 1912 The Bernardston residents of 1912 recalled with fascination and pride the dress, customs, and hardships of their ancestors and incorporated them into a horse-drawn float celebrating the 150th anniversary of the town’s founding.

Online Collection

Online Collection circa 1875 The shooting of these five men in Monson, Massachusetts, was blamed on excessive alcohol consumption by the shooters.

Online Collection 1954-03-25 Three weeks after the hydrogen bomb was detonated in the Pacific, soldiers at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, saw a simulated atomic bomb.

Online Collection 1800–1820 This tavern sign hung high on a post next to the road to beckon travelers to the Stratton Tavern in Northfield, Massachusetts.

Online Collection 1932 Antonin Wysocki came to the United States from Poland in 1887, and worked for some years as a farm laborer in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, before establishing his own onion farm and warehouse.

Online Collection 1996 Jeanne Brink, an Abenaki basketmaker from Vermont, made this modern wood splint basket.

Online Collection circa 1915 An Abenaki artisan made this ash splint basket in the early 20th century, probably for the tourist trade.

Online Collection An Abenaki artisan created this candleholder from wood splints and braided sweetgrass.

Online Collection circa 1865 This lithograph is a portrait of President Lincoln within the text of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Online Collection 1839 These school return reports spurred the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to pass laws to improve its schools and led to a universal education system.

Online Collection 1911 New Salem, in Western Massachusetts, was land granted in 1734, to the residents of Salem in Eastern Massachusetts.

Online Collection circa 1910 Built in 1890, the Academy of Music was the first municipally-owned theater in the country.

Online Collection 1905 This view of Northampton, Massachusetts, shows the Baptst church, an elementary school, and the Academy of Music.

Online Collection 1751–1757 This page from the account book of Deerfield, Massachusetts, storekeeper Elijah Williams (1712-1771) includes purchases and payments by Abijah Prince (c1706-1794), a free African American man.

Online Collection 1755–1759 These pages from Elijah Williams’ account book show the purchases and methods of payment of Abijah Prince, a free African American man who lived in Deerfield, Massachusetts.