A few short years after its founding in 1883, DRHS began to collect objects made, used, or owned in the Duxbury area, including the regional area of Plymouth County, and especially those towns that may have once been within the old boundaries of the town of Duxbury. The current collection ranges from about 1640 to present, with Native American archaeological material dating earlier.
The Society’s collections are diverse and include furniture, ceramics and glass, household items, paintings, textiles and clothing, metal ware, personal items and ephemera, agricultural tools, and trade utensils, among others. The Drew Archival Library houses historical photographs, prints and works on paper, ephemera, books and documents. The Society also considers its historic houses to be part of the collections.
The DRHS uses its collections as the basis for exhibitions, programs, and publications, providing a unique perspective on the community’s social, political, economic, cultural and industrial history. All objects chosen for DRHS collections must meet criteria, including adherence to mission, authenticity, applicable laws, and professional standards and procedures.
Adopted from DRHS Collections Management Policy, Adopted by the Board of Trustees, March 6, 2012.
