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| In 1892 the Massachusetts legislature passed "An Act to Authorize the Preparation for the State Library of an Index of Current Events" (St. 1892, c.140). Commonly called the "Zimmer Index", it was intended to be a card index to "current events" which would be of use to Massachusetts legislators and to the public. |
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| Coverage of the Index |
Time Period
The index generally covers the years 1878-1937, although there are selected entries for earlier and later dates. Different newspapers were indexed for different periods of time. The Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Boston Journal were the papers which were indexed most consistently.
Content
As an index to current events of interest to legislators and citizens of the Commonwealth, various types of events are covered. They include:
- Obituaries (these comprise a large percentage of the index).
- Political conventions, platforms, and events.
- Speeches and letters of prominent persons, especially from Massachusetts.
- Dedications of memorials and buildings.
- News of taxation, strikes, riots, wars, floods, etc.
- Visits from foreign dignitaries.
Newspapers Indexed
Boston Advertiser
Boston Globe
Boston Herald
Boston Journal
Boston Post
Boston Transcript
Cambridge Chronicle
Dorchester Beacon
New York Post
New York Times
Somerville Journal
Springfield Republican
Worcester Telegram
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