We are excited to announce a new featured article. The article, The Massachusetts State Guard in the Boston Police Strike of 1919, highlights how the Massachusetts State Guard played a pivotal role in restoring order during the 1919 Boston Police Strike, with their intervention marking a crucial turning point in quelling the unrest. As one historian later noted, they “credited the arrival of the State Guard as the turning point, when order began to be restored to Boston,” following the chaos that overwhelmed the volunteer police force.
The article is developed by the prestigious author Professor Barry M. Stentiford. Professor Stentiford is a distinguished academic and military professional, currently serving as the Director of the Advanced Strategic Leadership Studies Program at the US Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies School of Advanced Military Studies. With a Ph.D. in History from The University of Alabama and a rich background in strategic studies, including degrees from the U.S. Army War College and other prestigious institutions, Stentiford has dedicated his career to the study and teaching of military history and strategy. His professional experience spans over a decade at a civilian university before joining the faculty at the School of Advanced Military Studies in 2009, where he has significantly contributed to courses on operational art, strategic leadership, and the strategic context of operational art. As an Army Reserve Officer, Stentiford has held several key positions, including Command Historian and battalion commander. His research interests focus on non-regular US military forces, Southeast Asia, and Disestablishment, with notable publications such as “The War on Terror in the Southern Philippines” and “The American Home Guard: The State Militia in the 20th Century,” reflecting his expertise in these areas.
The article on “The Massachusetts State Guard in the Boston Police Strike of 1919” provides a comprehensive historical account of how the Massachusetts State Guard, initially formed during World War I to address local crises, played a pivotal role in restoring order during the strike. When Boston police walked off the job, widespread lawlessness ensued, and volunteer policemen, mainly middle-aged men from the upper class, were quickly overwhelmed. In one key incident, a large mob in Scollay Square overpowered the volunteers, but the arrival of the State Guard’s First Troop of Cavalry turned the tide. With sabers drawn, the cavalry charged the crowd, dispersing the mob and rescuing the police force. Governor Calvin Coolidge’s decision to deploy the Guard, which included infantry and cavalry units, proved crucial in restoring order throughout the city and showcased the Guard’s vital role in maintaining civil stability during a major crisis.
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