Welcome to the Mass History Commons, a portal to all the organizations, institutions, services, and business that together make up Massachusetts local and public history — a directory, map, and knowledge base that we can all use and all build on. The Commons is a project of the Massachusetts History Alliance. (Credits for the site)

The Commons: a very Massachusetts place where cows once grazed communal gras. The Commons: those aspects of life and the world we own or use in common, resources we must all steward. Knowledge and experience are almost as precious as the air we breathe, and here we can share and steward them. Though it’s now open, the Commons isn’t “done” — it will never be done. It will be alive only so long as we work on it together.

The Mass History Commons is envisioned to be the online and year-round counterpart of the annual Massachusetts history conference: a place to network, ask, learn, share, explore, be amazed, get some ideas, laugh, and commiserate. Please explore. And please, also, participate. This will only work if many people bring their little bit of knowledge to it so we can all profit. We emphasize: don’t reinvent the wheel, bring what’s already happening, what you are doing and using.

At the Public Square, which we imagine to be a cafe, you will find all items interactive: Conversations on the Commons, other virtual meetings, webinars, and lectures (we will host yours if you’d like), and the listserv.

In the Library, you will find all things information: curated lists of online resources about any aspect of our incredibly varied field (yes, the Commons will welcome your additions! we have a form for that …), our media archive with Conversations and Webinars, news, and who knows what else in the future.

The Directory is a database of history organizations, institutions, businesses, and services that make up our field. Imagine being able to say, “I need a fife band,” .. and be able to find one, or “I would love to talk to someone about third grade curricula,” and there ya go, not one but three people who have indicated that they are willing to do just that. We can build all of that, together, just fill out the forms…You will even be able to edit your own profile once it’s there.

All those profiles are linked to the Map — where we can explore what’s where, what kind of history is nearby. Again, this will be as strong as the number that sign up. We hope e hope the Map and Directory will be used extensively by the public.

Finally, at Town Hall, right here, you will find the office and admin stuff, as well as politics (that is, advocacy for public history), and also how to join the team!

The Commons team