About the Museum:
For nearly 46 years (1943 - 1987), the Massachusetts Archaeological Society (MAS) maintained the Bronson Museum in Attleboro. By the late 1980's MAS decided to seek new quarters with the potential for developing a larger museum for its expanding collection of over 90,000 artifacts, at that time, and for providing a facility for public education.
In 1988, James Read of the Read Sand and Gravel Corporation donated an excellent site in downtown Middleborough. The Robertson Factory building at 17 Jackson Street was renovated as a museum complex of 21,000 sq ft for exhibits and other operations. The new museum was named in honor of Dr. Maurice Robbins, the founder of the MAS.
Today the building has been completely transformed into an office, gift shop/book store, museum, collections conservation area, workshop, lecture hall and library. The collection now numbers approximately 150,000 artifacts. A "Room of Respect" for artifacts of a culturally sensitive nature has been constructed as well as a new archive room. The lecture hall and gallery were dedicated in 2000 in honor of the late Dr. Barbara Luedtke. A newly expanded section in the rear of the building serves as the MAS library. We are nearing completion of a display area for a major exhibit " A Walk Through Time". The exhibit showcases each of the major periods in New England's Native past