Isaiah Thomas Founds the American Antiquarian Society

Though founded well after the Revolution, the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester — created by Isaiah Thomas — became one of the most important repositories of Revolutionary-era documents. Thomas's personal collection of newspapers, pamphlets, and printed material from the war years formed its core holdings.

The AAS today holds the largest collection of printed material from pre-1876 America. Its Revolutionary-era holdings include editions of the Massachusetts Spy, Continental Congress proceedings, and countless pamphlets that shaped colonial opinion. Thomas understood that preserving these documents was itself a revolutionary act.