Skip to main content

Boston (Mass.). Common Council

 Organization

Historical note

The City Charter (Chapter 121 of the Acts of 1821) established the form of government as a Mayor; a Board of Aldermen, consisting of eight elected at large; and a Common Council, of forty-eight elected by wards; to be called when conjoined, "the City Council.” The Mayor and Aldermen were vested with the administration of the police, and executive power of the corporation generally, with specific enumerated powers. All other powers belonging to the corporation were vested in the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council exercised by concurrent vote.

Found in 17 Collections and/or Records:

City Council proceedings

 Collection
Identifier: 0100.001
Scope and Contents note The City Council proceedings includes official records of the Board of Aldermen, 1822-1909; the Common Council, 1822-1909; and the Boston City Council, 1910-2015 with gaps. This collection has been divided into 5 series: Series I - Board of Aldermen; Series II - Common Council; Series III - City Council; Series IV - Published minutes; and Series V - Dockets filed separately. The Board of Aldermen series includes minutes of the meetings of the Aldermen from 1822-1909; indexed...
Dates: 1822-2016
Found in: City of Boston Archives / City Council proceedings

City Council reports and publications

 Series
Identifier: 0100.015
Dates: 1804-1990 with gaps
Found in: City of Boston Archives / City Council reports and publications

Common Council badge

 Item — Box SB - 025: [Barcode: 00000482]
Identifier: 0100.011
Scope and Contents note

Badges were issued to members of the Common Council. Includes badge of Lyman H. Bigelow who served on the Common Council in 1884.

Dates: 1884
Found in: City of Boston Archives / Common Council badge

Final proceedings of the Common Council, 1875

 Item — Publications PB 009
Dates: Other: 1875
Found in: City of Boston Archives / 0100.015, City Council reports and publications

Final proceedings of the Common Council, 1876

 Item — Publications PB 009
Dates: Other: 1876
Found in: City of Boston Archives / 0100.015, City Council reports and publications

Final proceedings of the Common Council, 1877

 Item — Publications PB 009
Dates: Other: 1877
Found in: City of Boston Archives / 0100.015, City Council reports and publications

Final proceedings of the Common Council, 1866

 Item — Publications PB 009
Dates: Other: 1866
Found in: City of Boston Archives / 0100.015, City Council reports and publications

Objects

 Collection
Identifier: 0300.003
Scope and Contents

Objects kept in the custody of the City Clerk. Includes a gold pen belonging to the Clerk of the Common Council from 1845, the baton used by the Chief Marshals at the parades celebrating the 250th and 350th anniversary of the settlement of Boston, the city seals of Boston, Roxbury and Hyde Park, a minor's bootblack badge and a minor's newsboy badge.

Dates: circa 1845-1980
Found in: City of Boston Archives / Objects

Personal records of Members of the Board of Aldermen and Common Council 1861-1890

 Collection
Identifier: 0300.013
Scope and Contents note The Record Commissioners during the years 1891-1894 compiled the “Personal Records” of the members of the Board of Aldermen and Common Council. The collection includes forms from members of the City Councils from 1861-1890. Gaps do exist throughout this span. The publication “A Catalogue of the city councils of Boston, Roxbury, Charlestown…” printed by order of the City Council, 1909 contains a list of all the members of the City Councils from 1822-1909 with a biographical notes number....
Dates: compiled circa 1891-1894
Found in: City of Boston Archives / Personal records of Members of the Board of Aldermen and Common Council 1861-1890

Proceedings of the Common Council at the close of its last meeting with the address of President Harris, 1869

 Item — Publications PB 005
Dates: Other: 1869
Found in: City of Boston Archives / 0100.015, City Council reports and publications

Proceedings of the Common Council at the close of its last meeting with the address of President Ingalls, 1870

 Item — Publications PB 005
Dates: Other: 1870
Found in: City of Boston Archives / 0100.015, City Council reports and publications

Proceedings of the Common Council at the close of its last meeting with the address of President Lewis, 1867

 Item — Publications PB 005
Dates: Other: 1867
Found in: City of Boston Archives / 0100.015, City Council reports and publications

Proceedings of the Common Council at the close of its last meeting with the address of President Rich, 1871

 Item — Publications PB 005
Dates: Other: 1871
Found in: City of Boston Archives / 0100.015, City Council reports and publications

Proceedings of the Common Council at the close of its last meeting with the address of President Shepard, 1873

 Item — Publications PB 005
Dates: Other: 1873
Found in: City of Boston Archives / 0100.015, City Council reports and publications

Proceedings of the Common Council at the close of its last meeting with the address with the Address of President Dickinson, 1872

 Item — Publications PB 005
Dates: Other: 1872
Found in: City of Boston Archives / 0100.015, City Council reports and publications

Reports of controverted elections in the Common Council of the City of Boston from 1827 to 1887, inclusive, 1887

 Item — Volume 8
Dates: Other: 1887
Found in: City of Boston Archives / 0100.015, City Council reports and publications

Resignation of Mr. Hilliard as President of the Common Council, 1847

 Item — Publications PB 005
Dates: Other: 1847
Found in: City of Boston Archives / 0100.015, City Council reports and publications

Staff Interface | ArchivesSpace.org | Hosted by Lyrasis Lyrasis Logo