Historian Peter Drummey Reflects on Nearly Five Decades Preserving Massachusetts History
After 47 years dedicated to safeguarding and interpreting the past, Peter Drummey is retiring as chief historian of the Massachusetts Historical Society this week. Drummey’s tenure has spanned a remarkable period of technological and societal change, from the introduction of the first portable computer in the research room to hosting a visit from former U.S. President George H.W. Bush.
Founded in 1791 in the attic of Faneuil Hall, the Massachusetts Historical Society has long served as a vital repository of historical records, initially focused on the Revolutionary War. Today, the institution’s mission has broadened to encompass a more diverse range of historical figures and to develop civics curricula for students in Massachusetts. Drummey’s career has been deeply intertwined with this evolution.
“Being a librarian is a helping profession, and I think it’s maybe not as appreciated as it should be,” Drummey remarked while carefully handling treasured materials at the society’s headquarters on Wednesday. His role, he explained, has been that of a “catalyst of scholarship and learning,” facilitating access to the past for countless researchers, students, and writers.
For Drummey, engaging with history isn’t merely an academic exercise; it’s a deeply personal connection. He described speaking with him about figures from the 18th century as akin to revisiting old friends, fueled by the intimate details revealed in their letters and manuscripts. “Some of these people — it’s romantic to say so — I feel like I know better from what they wrote in the past about what they were like, and what motivated them, than people I know very well in the present,” he said.
His fascination with history began in his youth, growing up in Duxbury, Massachusetts, just across the bay from Plymouth. “If you grow up across the bay from Plymouth, as I did in Duxbury, there’s 400 years now — 350 years when I was growing up — of history around you,” he explained.
Throughout his career, Drummey has not only assisted researchers but also actively expanded the society’s archival collection, forging relationships with individuals and organizations offering local historical treasures. His path to becoming a historian was somewhat circuitous, initially intending to become a children’s librarian after serving in the military during the Vietnam War and attending library school at Columbia. However, he found himself irresistibly drawn to the power of archival materials.
He recalled seeking a sense of remove from the turbulent world of the 1970s. “I had hard enough lessons about what the world looked like when I was young to want to be in a place that was essentially otherworldly and removed,” he said. Yet, he quickly recognized the Massachusetts Historical Society’s commitment to connecting the past with the present, particularly through lectures examining the historical roots of dissent during the Vietnam War era.
Drummey believes that studying past periods of “bitter political division” can offer valuable perspective on contemporary challenges. “We can look at those times perhaps more objectively and more calmly than we do things in the present or the immediate past,” he noted. He cautioned, however, that in an age of information abundance, individuals often selectively interpret historical facts to support pre-existing narratives.
He emphasized his commitment to nonpartisan archival work, viewing the Massachusetts Historical Society as a space for informed and civil discourse, even among those with differing political views. “I’ve always looked at the Massachusetts Historical Society as essentially a place where people even with differences over politics — especially over politics — could come together and have both an informed discussion, but also a civil discussion,” he said.
Kanisorn Wongsrichanalai, the society’s director of research, will succeed Drummey as chief historian. Reflecting on his time at the society, Drummey fondly remembered curating materials for President Bush’s visit, including an engraving of the first building at Yale University, Bush’s alma mater.
However, his greatest satisfaction came from assisting the countless individuals who sought his expertise. “I can’t tell you how much a pleasure it has been to meet literally thousands of people here,” he said, underscoring the deeply human connection at the heart of his life’s work.
