Massachusetts timeline
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Harvard University Founded
The Early History of Harvard University Harvard University, which celebrated its 350th anniversary in 1986, is the oldest institution of higher... Read more
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Massachusetts Government Act
The Massachusetts Government Act (citation 14 Geo. III c. 45) was passed by the Parliament of Great Britain and became a law on May 20, 1774. The... Read more
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Siege of Boston
In the immediate aftermath of the battles of the 19th, the Massachusetts militia, under the loose leadership of William Heath, who was superseded... Read more
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Paul Revere is Stationed at Castle Island, Massachusetts
The island got its name from the fact that every fort located here was always informally known as "The Castle." Quickly appreciated for its... Read more
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Paul Revere Opens The Revere Copper Company
The Revere Copper Company was North America's first rolled copper mill. It was started by Paul Revere in 1801 in Canton, Massachusetts and... Read more
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Maine is the 23rd State Admitted to the Union
On March 15, 1820, Maine became the twenty-third state in the Union. Originally a province of Massachusetts, Maine is noted for its picturesque... Read more
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Douglass and Anna Murray Arrive in New Bedford
NEW BEDFORD — The arrival of Frederick and Anna Murray Douglass in New Bedford on Sept. 16 of 1838 was unexceptional, but their four-year stay in... Read more
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Pemberton Mill Collapse
What is likely the worst industrial accident in Massachusetts history occurred on January 10, 1860. A large mill located in Lawrence collapsed... Read more
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First Volume of 'Little Women' is Published
Looking for a bestseller, a publisher asked Alcott to write a book for girls. Although reluctant at first, she poured her best talent into the... Read more
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Emma Mills Nutt Becomes the World's First Female Telephone Operator
When the first commercial telephone exchange began service in January 1878, teenage boys were hired as the first operators. However, the young men... Read more
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The Bussey Bridge Train Disaster
The recent terrible disaster at the White River bridge, on the Central Vermont railroad, was paralleled, and, with the exception of the fire... Read more
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The Pledge of Allegiance is First Published in 'The Youth's Companion' Magazine
The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), a Baptist minister, a Christian socialist, and the cousin of socialist... Read more
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Dr. Seuss is Born
Theodor Seuss Geisel was born in Springfield, Massachusetts to Henrietta Seuss and Theodor Robert Geisel. His father, the son of German immigrants,... Read more
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Grover Shoe Factory Disaster
Located on the corner of Main and Calmar streets in the largely Swedish neighborhood of the Campello section of Brockton, the Grover factory burst... Read more
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T. S. Eliot Attends Harvard University
As a freshman, his courses were so eclectic that he soon wound up on academic probation. He recovered and persisted, attaining a B.A. in an... Read more
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First Issue of 'Boy's Life' is Published
In 1911, George S. Barton, of Somerville, Massachusetts, founded, and published the first edition of Boys' Life magazine. It was edited by 18-year... Read more
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Sacco and Vanzetti are Executed
Sacco and Vanzetti: for a generation of Americans, the names of the two Italian anarchists are forever linked. Questions surrounding their 1921... Read more
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The Architects' Collaborative (TAC) Formed
The Architects' Collaborative (TAC) was an American architectural firm formed by Walter Gropius and seven younger architects in 1945 in Cambridge,... Read more
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John F. Kennedy Elected to Massachusetts' Eleventh Congressional District
After World War II, Kennedy had considered the option of becoming a journalist before deciding to run for political office. Prior to the war, he... Read more
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John F. Kennedy is Elected to the U.S. Senate
When he returned home, Jack was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his leadership and courage. With the war finally coming to an end, it... Read more
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The SS Andrea Doria Collides with MS Stockholm
A little after 11:00 p.m., the Stockholm struck the Doria, delivering a fatal blow. The impact opened such a gaping hole in the Doria's side that... Read more
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Eastern Air Lines Flight 375 Crashes
Eastern Air Lines Flight 375, registration N5533, was a Lockheed L-188 Electra aircraft that crashed on takeoff from Logan International Airport in... Read more
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2007 Boston Gay Pride Parade
Boston – The City of Boston has approved Boston Pride’s proposal for a new parade route in 2007. The 2007 parade, scheduled for Saturday, June 9,... Read more
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2008 Boston Gay Pride Parade
Bostonist was among the throng that lined Charles Street all day Saturday for Boston Pride's annual parade. We saw a lot of feathers, leather,... Read more
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2009 Boston Gay Pride Parade
In defiance of Boston’s meteorologists, the weather for the 2009 Boston Gay Pride Parade dawned bright and warm; and after a week of soggy weather,... Read more