Every property and each acre protected by The Trustees has an intriguing history; it is the mission of the Archives and Research Center (ARC) in Sharon to preserve, document, and share these histories. We care for the manuscripts, architectural drawings, photos, books, and ephemera that tell the stories of our properties, the organization itself, and our role in the land trust movement, providing researchers, educators, Trustees staff, and the broader public access to thousands of historical documents, images, and artifacts.

Our collections cover a range of historical contexts—everything from Colonial dairy practices to the China Trade to the origins of the land trust movement—revealing not just the history of our reservations and our role in the land trust movement, but the society and times in which they existed.

Expand Our CollectionsThe Trustees was founded in part so that people could develop relationships with the special places of Massachusetts. Whether you grew up next door to one of our properties or recently visited one for the first time, the ARC believes that you are an important piece of Trustees history. We are always happy to hear from people that would like to share their documents, pictures, art, objects, or other materials related to our reservations. Please contact us if you would like more information on how you can contribute to Trustees history.