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Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth is the principal public information officer of the government of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is the equivalent of what most other states call the Secretary of State.
| Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
| Government of Massachusetts | |
| Style | His Honor/Her honor |
| Status | Chief administrator Registrar of deeds Records officer Constitutional officer |
| Residence | None official |
| Seat | State House, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Nominator | Nominating petition, Political parties |
| Appointer | Popular vote |
| Term length | Four years, no limit |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Massachusetts |
| Formation | Original post: August 23, 1629[1] Current form: October 25, 1780 |
| Unofficial names | Secretary of State |
| Website | www |
The Secretary of the Commonwealth oversees the Corporations Division, the Elections Division, the Massachusetts Archives, the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the Public Records Division, the Securities Division, as well as the State Records Center.
William F. Galvin has held the office since 1995.
Qualifications Edit
Any person seeking to become Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must meet the following requirements:[2]
- Be at least eighteen years of age
- Be a registered voter in Massachusetts
- Be a Massachusetts resident for at least five years when elected
- Receive 5,000 signatures from registered voters on nomination papers
List of secretaries of the Commonwealth (1780 to present) Edit
| No. | Secretary of the Commonwealth | Party | Years | Electoral/appointed history | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | John Avery, Jr. | Pro-Administration/Federalist | January 1, 1780 – June 7, 1806[3] | Succeeded Samuel Adams, who had been Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts Bay from August 15, 1776, until January 1, 1780. Avery died in office, June 7, 1806.[3] |
| 2 | Jonathan L. Austin | Democratic-Republican | 1806 – 1808 | [data unknown/missing] | |
| 3 | | William Tudor | Federalist | 1808 – 1810 | [data unknown/missing] |
| 4 | Benjamin Homans | Democratic-Republican | 1810 – 1812 | [data unknown/missing] | |
| 5 | Alden Bradford | Federalist/National Republican | 1812 – 1824 | [data unknown/missing] | |
| 6 | | Edward D. Bangs | National Republican/Whig | 1824 – 1836 | [data unknown/missing] |
| 7 | | John P. Bigelow | Whig | 1836 – 1843 | [data unknown/missing] |
| 8 | John A. Bolles | Whig | 1843 – 1844 | [data unknown/missing] | |
| 9 | | John G. Palfrey | Whig | 1844 – 1848 | [data unknown/missing] |
| 10 | | William B. Calhoun | Whig[4] | January 1848[5] – 1851 | [data unknown/missing] |
| 11 | | Amasa Walker | Whig | 1851 – 1853 | [data unknown/missing] |
| 12 | Ephraim M. Wright | Whig | 1853 – 1856 | [data unknown/missing] | |
| 13 | Francis De Witt | Know Nothing | 1856 – 1858 | [data unknown/missing] | |
| 14 | Oliver Warner | Republican | 1858 – 1876 | [data unknown/missing] | |
| 15 | | Henry B. Pierce | Republican | 1876 – 1891 | [data unknown/missing] |
| 16 | | William M. Olin | Republican | 1891 – April 15, 1911 | Died in office April 15, 1911. |
| Acting | Isaac H. Edgett | Republican | April 15, 1911 – April 28, 1911.[6] | Edgett, was the First Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth under William M. Olin. As the First Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth Edgett became the acting Secretary of the Commonwealth upon Olin's death. Edgett served as the acting Secretary of the Commonwealth[7] until Albert P. Langtry was elected by the Massachusetts legislature to serve out the remainder of Olin's term. | |
| 17 | | Albert P. Langtry | Republican[8] | April 28, 1911[6] | Elected by the Legislature, on April 26, 1911, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William M. Olin. Langtry assumed the office of Secretary of the Commonwealth on April 28, 1911.[6] |
| 18 | | Frank J. Donahue | Democratic[8] | January 15, 1913 – 1915 | [data unknown/missing] |
| 19 | | Albert P. Langtry | Republican | 1915 – 1921 | [data unknown/missing] |
| 20 | | Frederic W. Cook | Republican[9] | 1921 – 1949 | [data unknown/missing] |
| 21 | Edward J. Cronin | Democratic | 1949 – November 24, 1958 | Died in office on November 24, 1958. | |
| Acting | J. Henry Goguen | Democratic | December 1, 1958 – January 20, 1959 | [data unknown/missing] | |
| 22 | Joseph D. Ward | Democratic[10] | January 20, 1959 – 1961 | [data unknown/missing] | |
| 23 | | Kevin H. White | Democratic | 1961 – December 20, 1967 | First elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964 to a four-year term after the length of terms was extended. Resigned to become Mayor of Boston. |
| 24 | | Jack Davoren | Democratic | 1967 – 1974 | [data unknown/missing] |
| 25 | | Paul H. Guzzi | Democratic | 1975 – 1978 | [data unknown/missing] |
| 26 | | Michael J. Connolly | Democratic | 1979 – 1994 | [data unknown/missing] |
| 27 | | William F. Galvin | Democratic | January 1, 1995 – present | [data unknown/missing] |
See also Edit
References Edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Secretaries of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- ^ "Records of the governor and company of the Massachusetts bay in New England. Printed by order of the legislature". Boston, W. White, printer to the commonwealth. 1853.
- ^ "How to Run for Office in Massachusetts" (PDF). Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. March 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ^ a b Roberts, Oliver Ayer (1901), History of the Military company of the Massachusetts, now called the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts 1637-1888. Vol. II - 1738-1821, Boston, MA: Alfred Mudge & Son, Printers, p. 196
- ^ William B. Calhoun at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on October 6, 2007.
- ^ Dexter, Franklin Bowditch (1912), Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College With Annals of the College History, Vol. VI September; 1805 - September; 1815, New Haven, Ct: Yale University Press, p. 629
- ^ a b c Boston Daily Globe (April 29, 1911), LANGTRY IN NEW OFFICE. The Netherlands Club Pays Him a Visit and Presents Him a Bunch of Roses., Boston, Mass: Boston Daily Globe, p. 9
- ^ Boston Daily Globe (April 18, 1911), HOUSE RECORDED FOR INCOME TAX Walker Asks Reconsideration--- Senate Adopts 54-Hour Bill. Insane Hospital Inquiry Killed--- Anti-Lorimer Resolution. IMPORTANT EVENTS AT STATE HOUSE YESTERDAY., Boston, MA: The Boston Daily Globe, p. 1
- ^ a b "FOSS AND FROTHINGHAM WIN" (PDF). The New York Times. September 27, 1911. p. 2. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ "MANY SEEK OFFICE IN MASSACHUSETTS". The New York Times. August 9, 1922. p. 6. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ . Holy Cross Magazine. Archived from the original on September 5, 2004. Summer 2003. Retrieved on October 6, 2007.
- "The States" (PDF). National Association of Secretaries of State. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- "Special Collections - Burrill File". State Library of Massachusetts. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
External links Edit
- Official site
- Office of the Secretary of State, hdl:2452/35811. (Various documents).