Hyde Park Historical Society

The Hyde Park Historical Society promotes the study of Hyde Park’s history and works to preserve the memory of the people and events connected to the former town, now a Boston neighborhood. It collects books, manuscripts, pictures and objects of historic interest, and it shares research through publications and online collections, including a history of the Hyde Park library, a Black history pamphlet and an annotated account of how local streets got their names.

The society was formed on March 15, 1887, and its original constitution still defines its mission. Its materials highlight local stories with national significance. Camp Meigs in Readville trained the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first official African American units in the U.S. armed forces, and in 1870, 47 Hyde Park women led by the Grimké sisters voted in an election, 50 years before the 19th Amendment.

What to Know

• A Women of Hyde Park walking guide, part of the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail, maps the homes of seventeen notable local women.
• The society became a 501(c)(3) organization in 2021, so donations are tax deductible.
• A mailing list keeps members and supporters informed about society news.