Massachusetts Archives and Libraries

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Massachusetts

Archives and Libraries

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Archives & Libraries Societies Find a FamilySearch center

These repositories preserve sources, maintain indexes, and provide services to help genealogists document their ancestors who lived in Massachusetts.

● For additional information, see also Massachusetts Repositories

Wiki Articles on Major Repositories for Massachusetts

Allen County Public Library (Ft. Wayne IN) · American Antiquarian Society · Berkshire Athenaeum · Boston Massachusetts Family History Center · Boston Public Library · Dedham Historical Society Library · Harvard University Houghton Library · Haverhill Public Library · Jones Library · Massachusetts Historical Society · Massachusetts State Archives · National Archives at Boston · New England Historic Genealogical Society · New York Public Library NY · Onondaga Historical Association Library (Syracuse NY) · Peabody Essex Museum · Pittsfield Federal Records Center · Plymouth Public Library · Registry of Vital Records and Statistics · Springfield History Library and Archives · State Library of Massachusetts · University of Massachusetts Amherst Library · Vermont Historical Society (Barre VT) · Western Reserve Historical Society (Cleveland, OH)

Online Records of Massacusetts

Massachusetts Online Genealogy Records Links to online databases and indexes that may include vital records, biographies, cemeteries, censuses, histories, immigration records, land records, maps, military records, naturalizations, newspapers, obituaries, or probate records. Search archives of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, index. For list of databases, click here Massachusetts Archives Collection (1629 - 1799) American Antiquarian Society in Worcester National Repositories American Antiquarian Society 185 Salisbury Street Worcester, Massachusetts 01609-1634 Telephone: 508-755-5221 Fax: 508-753-3311 E-mail: Library@americanantiquarian.org Website: American Antiquarian Society The AAS is best known for its U.S. newspaper collection of over 18,000 bound volumes 1704-1820, history, genealogy, Bibles, maps, biography, directories, Native Americans, women, canals, railroads, photos, manuscripts. National Archives at Boston National Archives at Boston (in Waltham) 380 Trapelo Road Waltham, MA 02452-6399 Phone: (781) 663-0130 Fax: (781) 663-0154 E-mail: waltham.archives@nara.gov Website: National Archives at Boston Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont documents, photos, and maps of 80 federal agencies, War of 1812, fortifications, coastal facilities, World War II research at Harvard and MIT, federal bankruptcy courts, First Circuit Court of Appeals, Navy, Coast Guard, westward expansion, ethnology, genealogy, Revolutionary War, Civil War, captured German records, territorial papers, censuses, passenger arrival records for Boston and New England, Canadian border crossings. Pittsfield Federal Records Center 10 Conte Drive Pittsfield, MA 01201-8230 Telephone: 413-236-3603 Fax: 413-236-3609 E-mail: frc@nara.gov Website: Pittsfield Federal Records Center The Pittsfield Center has CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT federal government agency and court documents. Their large genealogy microfilm collection has been transferred to the Berkshire & Athenaeum; listed below. NEHGS 101 Newbury St in Boston New England Historic Genealogical Society 101 Newbury Street Boston, Massachusetts 02116-3007 Telephone:  617-536-5740; Library 617-226-1231 Fax: 617-536-7307 E-mail info@nehgs.org Website: AmericanAncestors.org Best overall collection for New England vital records and probates, and excellent collection for Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, and Europe. The manuscript collection for members only has diaries, letters, account books, business papers, church and town records, sermons, maps, wills, deeds, unpublished town and family genealogies, photos, and papers of the region's best genealogists since 1850. Statewide Repositories Massachusetts Historical Society Library Massachusetts Historical Soc Library in Boston 1154 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02215-3695 Telephone: 617-536-1608 Fax: 617-859-0074 E-mail: Contact Us Website: Massachusetts Historical Society Excellent historical materials, original town records, newspapers and genealogies. This collection does not repeat the New England Historic Genealogical Society collection. Massachusetts State Archives Massachusetts State Archives in Boston 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, MA 02125 Phone: (617) 727–2816 E-mail: archives@sec.state.ma.us Website: Massachusetts Archives Division Government records, censuses, military records, land records, naturalizations, divorces, probate, name changes, and adoptions. Only 18 of the 328 volumes of the excellent Massachusetts Archives Collection, aka Felt Collection, of 1629-1799 history are indexed online. The Archives' online searchable collections include: The Massachusetts Archives Collection Database (1629-1799) serves as a searchable, descriptive index and catalog for documents of eighteen volumes of the Massachusetts Archives Collection. Index to Passenger Manifests (1848-1891) Index to Vital Records (1841-1910) Digital Commonwealth, Explore digitized photographs, maps, postcards, manuscripts, books and artifacts from libraries, museums and archives across Massachusetts. Registry of Vital Records and Statistics 150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor Dorchester, MA 02125 Telephone: 617-740-2600 for general information, but not to obtain certified copies E-mail: vital.recordsrequest@state.ma.us for general information, but not to obtain certified copies Website: Registry of Vital Records The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics maintains birth, marriage, and death records that occurred in Massachusetts from 1926 to the present. Vital record events have been registered in Massachusetts towns since 1635. Earlier records to at least 1840 are available at the city or town where the event occurred. Statewide collection began in 1841. Records for events that occurred from 1841-1925 are available at the Massachusetts State Archives.The Registry also maintains an index of divorces from 1952 to the present. Copies of Massachusetts divorce records are available from the probate court where the divorce was obtained. At the Registry Research Room you can use their birth, marriage, death and divorce indexes, and examine their vital records, and make extracts. Also, researchers (I.D. is required) may order certified copies of vital records: in person at the Registry by mail using their mail order form (pdf) for an additional fee by telephone, by fax, or online through the Internet via the private company VitalChek Massachusetts. State Library of Massachusetts State Library of Massachusetts in Boston State House, Room 341 24 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02133 Phone: (617) 727–2590 Fax: (617) 727–5819 Website: State Library of Massachusetts Published books, periodicals, state and town histories, government publications, city directories, maps, tax records, newspapers and indexes. Regional Repositories Berkshire Athenaeum Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield 1 Wendell Ave Pittsfield, MA 01201 Telephone: 413-499-9480 Fax: 413-499-9489 E-mail: pittsref@cwmars.org Website: Berkshire Athenaeum Pittsfield Public Library Best genealogical respository in western Massachusetts, including newspapers, books, and family histories. Now includes the former Pittsfield Federal Records Center's 71,000 microfilms of censuses, Revolutionary War pension and bounty land warrants, service records 1784-1901, Mexican War, Civil War, World War I, New England naturalizations, 1791-1966, passenger arrivals at Boston, New York, Philadelphia and east coast ports, Canadian border crossings, Indian enrollment cards, Russian Consular records, Barbour Collection for Connecticut, and Vermont vital records index. Boston Massachusetts Family History Center 150 Brown Street Weston, Massachusetts 02493-2604 Telephone: 781-235-2164 Website: Boston Massachusetts Family History Center The largest Family History Center in New England. They have published town and county histories of New England, social histories, vital records, family histories, and major indexes. Boston Public Library Boston Public Library 700 Boylston St. Boston, MA 02116 Phone: (617) 536–5400 Fax: (617) 536–4306 E-mail: info@bpl.org Website: Boston Public Library Their collection includes New England newspapers, city directores, town records, county and local histories, and genealogies. Dedham Historical Society Library 612 High Street Dedham, MA 02027-0125 Telephone: 781-326-1385 E-mail: society@dedhamhistorical.org Website: Dedham Historical Society Great collection of manuscripts including deeds, vital and town records from the 15 towns created from old Dedham (south of Boston). Harvard Univ Houghton Library in Cambridge Harvard University Houghton Library 15 Quincy St Cambridge, MA 02138 Telephone: 617-495-2440 E-mail: Ask a Librarian form Website: Houghton Library Manuscripts and rare books from many nations, but especially New England, Britain and Europe, historical archives of publishing history, political and missionary archives, paintings and artifacts. Largest volume of primary historical documents. Haverhill Public Library Haverhill Public Library 99 Main Street Haverhill, MA 01830 Telephone: 978-373-1586 E-mail: hpl-ref@mvlc.org Website: Haverhill Public Library Special Collections One of New England's largest collections of original manuscripts, books, genealogical periodicals, and surname folders, local history collection, genealogy databases, Massachusetts vital records to 1910, federal and state censuses, 9,000 New England town and family histories. Jones Library Jones Library in Amherst 43 Amity Street Amherst, MA 01002 Telephone: 413-259-3090 E-mail: Ask a Librarian form Website: Jones Library The Boltwood Collection includes 20,000 documents, genealogies, family folders, genealogy periodicals, newspapers, and local histories with an emphasis on Amherst and the Pioneer Valley. Peabody Essex Museum Peabody Essex Museum Phillips Library Phillips Library 1 Second Street (temporarily) Peabody, MA USA Telephone: 978-745-9500, or 866-745-1876 For the Hearing Impaired: 978-740-3649 E-mail: research@pem.org Website: Peabody Essex Museum Essex County books, manuscripts, and government records such as probate records, customs records, and maritime records. Can often help find trans-Atlantic ship logs, and ship images. Plymouth Public Library 132 South Street Plymouth, MA 02360 Telephone: 508-830-4250 E-mail: Contact Us Website: Plymouth Public Library Almost all published histories and genealogies of early Massachusetts settlers are here. Springfield History Library and Archives (formerly Connecticut Valley Historical Museum Library) 21 Edwards Street Springfield, Massachusetts 01103 Telephone: 800-625-7738 E-mail: wmshlibrary@springfieldmuseums.org Website: Springfield History Library and Archives Can help identify Massachusetts emigrants headed west using vital records, land records, and probate records from many New England towns. They also have French Canadian records, the Loiselle Index, New York passenger arrivals, computer databases, over 20,000 genealogy books, 6,000 microforms, 50,000 photos and 2.5 million manuscripts including diaries, and account books. UMass Amherst Library University of Massachusetts Amherst Library 154 Hicks Way Amherst, MA 01003 Telephone: 413-545-0284 E-mail: ref@library.umass.edu Website: UMass Amherst Libraries, and their Online Guide to Genealogy Very large set of biographies, genealogies, and never-published histories, and church, business, fraternal, insurance, and manufacturing records. They also have the Massachusetts Archives Collection  microfilms, Franklin, Hampshire, and Suffolk counties' probate records, especially Connecticut River Valley towns. Outside of Massachusetts Repositories Allen Co Public Library IN Allen County Public Library 900 Library Plaza Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802 Telephone: 260-421-1225 E-mail: genealogy@acpl.info Website: Genealogy Center ACPL This is the second-largest genealogy collection in the United States and the largest genealogy collection in a public library. Its holdings include more than 350,000 printed volumes and 513,000 items on microfilm and microfiche. It has a premier genealogical periodical collection, local histories, genealogies, databases, military, censuses, directories, passenger lists, ethnic sources, and Canadians. They have a great eastern seaboard and Massachusetts collection. New York Public Library New York Public Library in Manhattan U.S. History, Local History & Genealogy Irma and Paul Milstein Division First Floor, Room 121 Schwarzman Main Branch Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street New York, New York 10018-2788 Telephone: 212-930-0828 E-mail: histref@nypl.org Website: NYPL home page The Genealogy Division has an outstanding collection of American history at national, state and local levels; international genealogy and heraldry in Roman alphabets; Dorot Jewish collection; manuscripts, photos; New York censuses, directories, vital records, Revolutionary War soldiers, Irish in America, and Massachusetts records. Onondaga Historical Association Library 321 Montgomery Street Syracuse, New York 13202 Telephone:315-428-1864 Fax: 315-471-2133 E-mail: Contact Us Website: Onondaga Historical Association Collections and Archives 10,000 family folders for northeastern families, including many from Massachusetts. Vermont Historical Society Leahy Library VT Historical Soc Leahy Library in Barre VT Vermont History Center 60 Washington Street Barre, Vermont 05641-4209 Telephone: 802-479-8509 Fax: 802-479-8510 Email: vhs-library@state.vt.us Website: Vermont Historical Society Leahy Library Their collection includes a comprehensive name index of Massachusetts people, strong collection of family and town histories of New England, vital records, cemetery transcripts, genealogical periodicals, manuscripts, maps, and photos. Western Reserve Historical Society Western Reserve Hist Soc in Cleveland OH 10825 East Boulevard Cleveland, Ohio 44106-1788 Telephone: 216-721-5722 x1509 Fax: 216-721-0645 E-mail: reference@wrhs.org Website: Family History and Genealogical Research The Western Reserve was a large part of Ohio at first intended for settlement by Connecticut Revolutionary War refugees. The Research Library at the Western Reserve Historical Society History Center  is the premier repository for Cleveland, Ohio and the Connecticut Western Reserve  history material. This important collection includes original land records, as well as many genealogies, biographies, histories, and Bibles from Pennsylvania, New York, and New England. Includes over 20 million manuscripts for genealogical research and northeast Ohio history. They have the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of Shaker materials. Other important collections include the American Civil War, and the automotive industry. Kermit J. Pike, A Guide to the Manuscripts and Archives of the Western Reserve Historical Society (Cleveland, Ohio: Western Reserve Historical Society, 1972). WorldCat 483574; FHL Book 977.1 A3p. Western Reserve Historical Society. History Library. Card Catalog to the Manuscripts Collection in the Library of the Western Reserve Historical Society (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974). WorldCat 865891564; FHL Films 934566-69; 934617-18. Family History Centers Some of the above collections are partially duplicated at the Family History Library and its branch Family History Centers around the world. Most centers can help you by: Giving you limited, personal, one-on-one research suggestions (but they do not do research for you) Providing access to genealogical records through the premium online Internet FHC Portal for free. Offering free how-to classes (varies by location) Fostering contact between genealogical enthusiasts There are several centers located in Massachusetts, for example: Franklin Massachusetts Family History Center 91 Jordan Rd Franklin MA 02038 USA Telephone: 508-553-0977. Each center is staffed by volunteers and has varying hours and services. Telephone in advance to verify their hours. To locate one of these 4,500 centers in your own neighborhood, see Find a Family History Center. For Further Reading Historical Records Survey (Massachusetts). Preliminary Edition of Guide to Depositories of Manuscript Collections in Massachusetts (Boston, Massachusetts: Historical Records Survey, 1939). At various libraries (WorldCat). FHL Book 974.4 A2hg. This work lists major manuscript collections and their locations. Carroll D. Wright, Report on the Custody and Condition of the Public Records of Parishes, Towns, and Counties (Boston, Massachusetts: Wright and Potter, 1889). At various libraries (WorldCat). FHL Film 865449 item 2; Fiche 6046869; Book 974.4 A3cr. Gives a brief description of the town records that existed in 1889 and which may still be available. References