Title:
Building inspection plans, 1889-1987
Creator:
Massachusetts. Division of Inspection
Description:
The Division of Inspection and its predecessors have been responsible for fulfilling the requirements dating from St 1888, c 316 for review and certification of all construction and renovation plans for buildings allowing public access in Massachusetts (but excluding Boston proper, until the passage of St 1943, c 544, s 3). These plans are copies submitted for approval. --St 1972, c 802 delegated immediate responsibility for approval of construction and renovation to the local level (except for state-owned buildings), and repealed (s 28, effective 1975) the provision for central filing of plans (MGLA c 143, s 15). Nevertheless, some post-1974 plans are included, though chiefly for state-owned buildings. In 1999 it was determined that building plans acquired through the approval process were no longer to be considered of permanent value. --For plans created by the inspectors themselves, before the provisions of St 1893, c 199 stipulated specifically that such plans be provided by the erector or architect of the building, see: Massachusetts. Inspection Dept. Building plans by police inspectors, 1888-1895 (bulk 1888-1892) ((M-Ar)2480X).They include vertical and horizontal dimensions; layout and names of rooms and spaces; methods of construction; materials to be used and equipment to be installed; details of electrical, plumbing, and mechanical installation, and heating and ventilation systems; and details of interiors and decorative features. Buildings include hospitals, hotels and boarding houses, office buildings, theaters, churches, schools, and all other types of public structures. Certificates of approval and other supplementary documents are often included with plans; they and the plans themselves generally indicate date, building location, architect, and owner.
Digital Origin:
All index cards for Building inspection plans, 1889-1987 were digitized from June - August 2018 by the Massachusetts Archives. Some building plans have been digitized and are included in the digital repository. Originals for the entire series (both cards and plans) are located at the Massachusetts Archives.
Date:
1889-1987
Type of Resource:
Image
Format:
building plans
Extent:
Originals: 7300 cubic ft. (ca. 60,000 technical drawing sets) and approximately 37,000 accompanying index cards ; Digital surrogates: extent pending
Subject:
Building inspection--Massachusetts
Subject:
Public buildings--Massachusetts
Subject:
Massachusetts--Politics and government--1865-1950
Subject:
Massachusetts--Politics and government--1951-
Collection Information:
Part of Collection: Record Group PS9 (Division of Inspection)
Language:
en
Preferred Citation:
Building inspection plans, 1889-1987. (PS9 / Series 306X) Massachusetts Archives. Boston, MA. Accessed [insert date accessed in format DD MM YYYY]. [insert URL of resource].
