Purpose: To protect bird life and encourage the planting and growing of trees
Date: April 5, 1919
(Original document available here)
By virtue of the authority and under the direction of the law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which for humane, scientific and artistic reasons encourages the planting and growth of trees, shrubs and vines, both for the sake of the beauty they have in themselves and from the desire also to protect bird life which has need of foliage for its refuge, for the beautifying of our landscape and byways, and to direct attention to the value and desirability of the song birds, Saturday, the twenty-sixth day of April, is hereby set apart as Arbor and Bird Day.
It is recommended that the Friday preceding be observed in the rural and suburban schools of the Commonwealth by exercises appropriate to the day, and that the occasion be observed and commemorated by the planting of trees, shrubs and vines wherever they may bring a beneficial influence to any part of our domain.
Given at the Executive Chamber, in Boston, this fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and nineteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and forty-third.
Citation: Messages to the General Court, Official Addresses, Proclamations and State Papers of His Excellency Governor Calvin Coolidge
The Coolidge Foundation gratefully acknowledges the volunteer efforts of Craig Eyermann, who prepared this document for digital publication.