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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000093751-97-000022.txt : 19970124
<SEC-HEADER>0000093751-97-000022.hdr.sgml : 19970124
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000093751-97-000022
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		19970123
SROS:			BSE

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STATE STREET BOSTON CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000093751
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				042456637
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07511
		FILM NUMBER:		97509373

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 FRANKLIN ST
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6177863000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 FRANKLIN STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	STATE STREET BOSTON FINANCIAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19780525
<REPORTING-OWNER>

COMPANY DATA:	
	COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			O KELLEY RONALD L
	CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001017406
	STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	 []
<RELATIONSHIP>OFFICER

FILING VALUES:
	FORM TYPE:		5

BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
	STREET 1:		STATE STREET BOSTON CORP
	STREET 2:		225 FRANKLIN STREET
	CITY:			BOSTON
	STATE:			MA
	ZIP:			02110
	BUSINESS PHONE:		6177863000

MAIL ADDRESS:	
	STREET 1:		STATE STREET BOSTON CORP
	STREET 2:		225 FRANKLIN STREET
	CITY:			BOSTON
	STATE:			MA
	ZIP:			02110
</REPORTING-OWNER>
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 5 - DECEMBER 1996
<TEXT>

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 5
ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
( ) Check box if no longer subject to Section 16.
Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instructions 1(b).
( ) Form 3 Holdings Reported
( ) Form 4 Transactions Reported
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person
   O'Kelley, Ronald L.
   225 Franklin Street
   Boston, MA  02110
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
   State Street Boston Corporation
   STT
3. IRS or Social Security Number of Reporting Person (Voluntary)
   
4. Statement for Month/Year
   December 1996
5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year)
   
6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
   ( ) Director  ( ) 10% Owner  (X) Officer (give title below) ( ) Other
   (specify below)
   Executive Vice President, CFO and Treasurer
7. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting (Check Applicable Line)
   (X) Form filed by One Reporting Person
   ( ) Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Table I -- Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned                                                 |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
1. Title of Security         |2.    |3.  |4.Securities Acquired (A)         |5.Amount of        |6.Dir |7.Nature of Indirect       |
                             |Transaction|  or Disposed of (D)              |  Securities       |ect   |  Beneficial Ownership     |
                             |Date  |Code|                                  |  Beneficially     |(D)or |                           |
                             |      |    |                  | A/|           |  Owned at         |Indir |                           |
                             |      |    |    Amount        | D |    Price  |  End of Year      |ect(I)|                           |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
<S>                          <C>    <C>  <C>                <C> <C>         <C>                 <C>    <C>
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
<CAPTION>
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Table II -- Derivative Securitites Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned                                                   |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
1.Title of Derivative   |2.Con   |3.   |4.  |5.Number of De |6.Date Exer|7.Title and Amount  |8.Price|9.Number    |10.|11.Nature of|
  Security              |version |Transaction rivative Secu |cisable and|  of Underlying     |of Deri|of Deriva   |Dir|Indirect    |
                        |or Exer |Date |Code| rities Acqui  |Expiration |  Securities        |vative |tive        |ect|Beneficial  |
                        |cise Pr |     |    | red(A) or Dis |Date(Month/|                    |Secu   |Securities  |(D)|Ownership   |
                        |ice  of |     |    | posed of(D)   |Day/Year)  |                    |rity   |Benefi      |or |            |
                        |Deriva  |     |    |               |Date |Expir|                    |       |ficially    |Ind|            |
                        |tive    |     |    |           | A/|Exer-|ation|   Title and Number |       |Owned at    |ire|            |
                        |Secu    |     |    |           | D |cisa-|Date |   of Shares        |       |End of      |ct |            |
                        |rity    |     |    |  Amount   |   |ble  |     |                    |       |Year        |(I)|            |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
<S>                     <C>      <C>   <C>  <C>         <C> <C>   <C>   <C>           <C>    <C>     <C>          <C> <C>
Employee Stock Options (|63.5000 |12/19|A*  |36,000     |A  |12/19|12/18|Common Stock|36,000 |       |36,000      |D  |            |
right to buy)           |        |/96  |    |           |   |/97- |/06  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
                        |        |     |    |           |   |12/19|     |            |       |       |            |   |            |
                        |        |     |    |           |   |/99  |     |            |       |       |            |   |            |
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Employee Stock Option (r|44.0000 |12/21|    |           |   |12/31|12/20|Common Stock|35,000 |       |            |   |            |
ight to buy)            |        |/95  |    |           |   |/96- |/05  |            |       |       |            |   |            |
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
                        |        |     |    |           |   |12/31|     |            |       |       |            |   |            |
                        |        |     |    |           |   |/00  |     |            |       |       |            |   |            |
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
</TABLE>
Explanation of Responses:
* Employee stock option granted pursuant to State Street Boston Corporation 
1994 Stock Option and Performance 
Unit Plan exercisable in 33 1/3% installments over a 3-year period commencing 
12/19/97.
SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
/s/Ronald L. O'Kelley
DATE
1/14/97

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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