The MTA launched the MTA History Project in 2023 to collect, archive and share with members stories, artifacts and lessons from its 178-year history. Through this project, stories about the MTA’s past struggles and successes will be made available on the website under Our History in the About MTA section, as well as through member messages and, eventually, at a university-based archive.
As part of this initiative, the vast majority of digitized copies of MTA publications were released to the public domain, covering the period from 1848 through 1976. They are available on the HathiTrust website by searching for the Massachusetts Teachers Association under "collections." Members are encouraged to take a look at them.
Much has changed through this history. Gone are the days when MTA publications were supported with ads from the oil industry and Coca-Cola, and when union leaders extolled the virtues of corporal punishment or had to debate whether women would be allowed to join. However, many concerns and priorities have remained consistent. Members have long demanded a voice in how to make schools – and now colleges – work better. Members have long fought for respect. The MTA looks forward to making more of these stories available in the future, and to collecting stories from members as part of this initiative.
For more information, visit massteacher.org/history.
