John W. Ragle Archives Room

This is an image of the Will of William Dummer, Acting Royal Governor of Massachusetts, 1723-1728 and 1729-1730, who bequeathed his property in Essex County, Massachusetts, so that a free school could be erected and supported.

This is an image of the Act of Incorporation for Dummer Academy that was signed in 1782 by John Hancock, then Governor of Massachusetts; Samuel Adams, President of the Massachusetts Senate; and Daniel Gorham, Speaker, House of Representatives,…