We recently received a reference request regarding keys to the
city of Boston. Our caller is researching a small brass key with
Old City Hall, Faneuil Hall, Bunker Hill Monument, and Old South
Church depicted in relief on the head. It is clearly a "key to
the city" but otherwise it provides few clues regarding date or
circumstance. Her calls to the Mayor’s Office and the City
Archives have yielded little information.

In addition to helping this researcher with her specific key, I
am interested in keys to cities in general.  I assume that most
American cities have given keys to various dignitaries and public
servants over the years, thereby ceremonially recognizing these
individuals for their civic contributions. When I worked at the
AFL-CIO Archives they had a collection of keys to cities that had
been given to various AFL-CIO presidents when they toured the
country giving speeches.  It was fascinating to see them all
lined up next to each other, since they tend to have city
landmarks or some other symbolic image embossed on the head.

Does anyone out there have more information on the tradition of
bestowing city keys?  Do you have city keys in your collection?
Has anyone ever seen any scholarly research on the subject that I
might turn to?  The topic doesn't present itself to information
searches since "key" and "city" are such generic terms.

Thanks in advance.

Rainey Tisdale
Collections Manager
The Bostonian Society
206 Washington Street
Boston, MA  02109-1773
617-720-1713 x24
617-720-3289 Fax

For more information about The Bostonian Society, or to become a
member, visit our website: www.bostonhistory.org

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