Membership Certificate for the Salem Marine Society, c. 1800
Catalog Number SAMA 2520

The Salem Marine Society was founded in 1766 by a group of captains from Salem and Beverly. Its purpose was to provide assistance to the members of the Society if they became ill or met with other difficulties and to assist the widows of deceased members. In addition, the Society encouraged mapping of the coastline in order to improve local navigation. In the 1790s, the society sponsored the placement of buoys in Salem Harbor, and the construction of a beacon on Baker's Island, thus improving the safety of vessels in the harbor.

The certificate of membership was designed by Abijiah Northey, Jr. in 1797, and depicts scenes that would have been very familiar to Salem captains. Click on an image to find out more about the scenes on the certificate!

The Salem Marine Society is still in existence. Today, it is made up of the descendants of its seafaring founders and it continues its charitable mission.