- State Library of Massachusetts
Proclamation for a Day of Thanksgiving
Issued by Governor John Hancock, 1783
In November 1783, Governor John Hancock issued the displayed proclamation to establish an upcoming day of thanksgiving and prayer. Different from the Thanksgiving holiday we know today, proclamations like these were used by government or church leaders to celebrate a bountiful harvest or victorious event. In this instance, Congress had recommended that all states observe December 11 as a day of thanksgiving in response to the conclusion of the Revolutionary War.
As a complement to our new exhibit, Raising the Alarm: Revolutionary Broadsides at the State Library, each month an item from that exhibit is on display in our Collection Spotlight case. This month’s proclamation is on exhibit from November 4 through November 30. Visit us to see it and read more about a colonial day of thanksgiving in our blog.
