It is wise to acquaint yourself with any repository in Massachusetts which you might visit by writing to the appropriate archive or library in advance.
Most, if not all, Massachusetts repositories have published materials that introduce its collections and research policy.
Massachusetts archives and historical agencies also have Internet sites that provide the same information. Some even have downloadable databases for some or parts of their collections.
Massachusetts Archives
- National Archives – North East Region, Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center, 380 Trapelo Road, Waltham, Massachusetts, 02452-6399; Phone: (781) 663-0130; Fax: (781) 663-0154; E-mail: waltham.archives@nara.gov . Serves Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
- Commonwealth Museum and State Archives Building, 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125; (617) 727-2816, fax 288-8429; As the Massachusetts State Archives, the repository holds all state copies of vital records (1841-95); passenger lists for the Port of Boston (1848-91); federal census records (state copies, 1850-70, with 1880 on microfilm) with all supplemental federal schedules and state censuses for 1855 and 1865; legislative records from the General Court with land grants, petitions, tax records (1643-1787); Eastern land records for the settlement of Maine; human service institution records,; all military records for the state through the Revolution; records of human services institutions; and Judicial Archives beginning with colony era courts to mid-nineteenth century courts.
Massachusetts Museums
Massachusetts Libraries
- Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01202; The Cooke Collection of eighteenth and nineteenth century church and cemetery records here also includes abstracts of newspaper notices of marriages and deaths; the personal records of ministers; and vital records which supplement the Systematic Series. Serves Massachusetts, Vermont, and Hudson Valley, New York, as well, since the area was a major conduit for movement north and west. The Berkshire Family History Association, Box 1437, Pittsfield, MA 01201, is connected with the Athenaeum and provides a research service in the collections for its members.
- Massachusetts Library Directory
- Boston Public Library, Copley Square, Boston, MA 02117 ; Both the Social Science Reference Department and Microtext Department have important collections for genealogical research. The former holds family genealogies and vertical file material not found elsewhere. Microtext has an extensive collection of census records for New England; copies of National Archives’ Boston ship passenger arrival lists 1820-91; and indexes for 1848-90; 1899 and 1902-6; probate records for Middlesex, Suffolk, and Hampshire counties; Suffolk Court of Common Pleas; town records; newspapers, including the Boston Evening Transcript and indexes; and city directories from over 200 cities and towns in the United States.
- State Library of Massachusetts, 341 State House, Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133; Ph: 617.727.2590 ; Its genealogical collection includes extensive newspaper collections and indexes; town and county histories; town and county maps and atlases; and city directories back to 1787.
Massachusetts Historical & Genealogical Societies
For almost every state there is a state genealogical society, a state genealogical council, or both. In addition to their own work, state-level groups sometimes help coordinate the efforts of local societies within the state. Their publications, newsletters and quarterlies, supplement those produced by the local societies.
- New England Historic Genealogical Society, 101 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116-3087; Founded in the mid-nineteenth century, the society is an extremely active center for New England family research, with an extensive collection of local and family histories, educational programs, and superior publications, including the Register, a quarterly periodical, and Nexus, a bi-monthly newsletter, both distributed to the membership. Library facilities of open stacks (except for manuscripts and rare books) and microfilm collections of New England town and vital records are available on a per-day basis for a $10 fee (free for members). The book loan department makes materials available by mail to members for a small fee, a four-volume catalog provides access to the circulating books. A research service is available to the general public for a fee.
- The Pilgrim Society, 75 Court Street, Plymouth, MA 02360; Connected with the Pilgrim Hall Museum which holds the Plymouth County Court Record Books from 1686-1859, the collection focuses on the Pilgrim experience in Plymouth.
- General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Four Winslow Street, Plymouth, MA 02360; As the national headquarters for state organizations of descendants of Mayflower Pilgrims, it presently publishes the Mayflower Quarterly and the five-generation project. There is a research library available.
- Massachusetts Historical Society, 1154 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215; Main number: (617) 536-1608. , Although not a genealogical library, the collection includes rare books, personal papers, manuscripts, particularly the Thwing Collection of Early Bostonians, and rare books focusing particularly on Boston, Massachusetts and New England.
- American Antiquarian Society, 185 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609; collection specializing in printed sources of American history prior to 1877.
- Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc., PO Box 215, Ashland, MA 01721-0215; Phone: 508-892-1225
- Essex Institute Library, 132-134 Essex Streetm, Salem, MA 01970;
Largest collection of Essex County original source material and a good collection of published genealogies and town histories for Essex County. This private library, open to annual membership or for a daily fee, currently has the pre-1800 Essex County Court records. There is no fee charged for patrons using only the Essex County court records. - Massachusetts Valley Historical Museum Library and Archives; Springfield Library Genealogy Department, 194 State Street, Springfield, MA 01103; Serving the western portion of the state extremely well, this collection (formerly at the Springfield Public Library) holds an excellent local archives for Springfield and vicinity starting in 1636. This is one of the better collections of ethnic materials available-French Canadian, Irish, and black. Volunteers answer mail inquiries. Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society, Inc., Box 80206, Forest Park Station, Springfield, MA 01108, is a membership organization functioning in connection with the museum
- Central Massachusetts Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 811, Westminster, MA 01473
