TheMassachusetts Magazine was published inBoston,Massachusetts, from 1789 through 1796.[1][2] Also called theMonthly Museum of Knowledge and Rational Entertainment, it specialized in "poetry, music, biography, history, physics, geography, morality, criticism, philosophy, mathematics, agriculture, architecture, chemistry, novels, tales, romances, translations, news, marriages, deaths, meteorological observations, etc. etc." It was intended as "a kind of thermometer, by which the genius, taste, literature, history, politics, arts, manners, amusements and improvements of the age and nation, may be ascertained."[3] Founded byIsaiah Thomas, the magazine was also published by Ebenezer T. Andrews (1789-1793), Ezra W. Weld (1794), Samuel Hill (1794), William Greenough (1794-1795), Alexander Martin (1795-1796), Benjamin Sweetser (1796), and James Cutler (1796). It was edited by Isaiah Thomas,Thaddeus Mason Harris (1795-1796), and William Bigelow (1796).[4] Contributors includedJoseph Dennie (asSocialis),William Dunlap,Benjamin Franklin,Sarah Wentworth Morton (asPhilenia),Judith Sargent Murray[5] (asConstantia), andChristian Gullager.[6] Sheet music was published with some issues, including compositions byHans Gram.
The Massachusetts Magazine was published inSalem, Massachusetts from 1908 through early 1918. The periodical was founded by Frank A. Gardner, M.D.,[7] Charles A. Flagg (of theLibrary of Congress), and Albert W. Dennis. The Editor was Rev. Thomas Franklin Waters, the noted researcher and author of Ipswich, MA. With a quarterly publishing schedule, the magazine was "devoted to History, Genealogy, and Biography."[8]
A regular theme dealt with "Pilgrims and Planters" written by Lucie M. Gardner. Too, the magazine included research papers. An example would be the articles in the regimental history series, such as "Col.John Glover's Marblehead Regiment" (author, Dr. F.A. Gardner) that is found in Vol. I, No. 1. Gardner did a series of these "monographs" with the 25th of the series appearing in Vol. XI, No. 1 (January, 1918).[9] In Vol. VIII, No.1, the theme was celebrating the centennial year (post the closing of the War of 1812) starting with an essay byJohn Davis Long (32nd Governor of Massachusetts) and others.[10]
The series on Regimental History used those units present at theSiege of Boston.[11] In the first five volumes, additional material related to participation by Massachusetts appeared in a series, Department of the American Revolution.[12]
Other advisory editors includedThomas Wentworth Higginson, John M. McClintock (publisher ofThe New England Magazine),[13][14] andGeorge Sheldon (preservationist).
The Essex Antiquarian (Sidney Perley)[15] reported this aboutThe Massachusetts Magazine: "This magazine is intended to be the official organ of several of the colonial societies."
Volume VI, No. 4 - pages 159-190 provided a serial addition from F.M. Thompson who described vigilante activity in Montana from a first-hand view. One incident involvedTalk:Henry Plummer and his gang of ruffians who were hanged. F.M. returned to Massachusetts and was a Judge in Greenfield, MA. This portion of the TMM was taken by Montana as the content for their book,A Tenderfoot in Montana in 2004. List of F.M.'s series:Judge Francis M. Thompson.
