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Resources
The Winchester Archival Center
The Winchester Archival Center is located in Town Hall. The Center was first opened in 1975, and is maintained by the town as a research center for the various historical collections of the town: books, maps, photographs and douments. Information available at the Archival Center includes business and personal papers relating to the Whitney Machine Shop, the Vinson-Owen Collection (in conjunction with the National Skaters Hall of Fame), the Winchester Historical Commission's Inventory of Historic Buildings, Winchester Directories of Residents and Tax Lists, genealogical source materials and town public records prior to 1900. http://www.winchester.us/archivalcenter
Hours: First Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Second Thursday of the month, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Third Thursday of the month, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Or by appointment by calling 781-721-7146.
Email us at
archives@winchester.us
The Winchester Public Library's website is www.winpublib.org.
Also try http://www.winchestermass.org. Here they maintain a group of photographs from the archives online
http://www.winchestermass.org/archive1.html
And The Civil War Round Table of Greater Boston
http://www.cwrtgb.com
Other Local Sources For Genealogical Research
A selective list of Boston area archives and research libraries, including hours and access by MBTA.
- Boston Public Library (Research Library)
Copley Square; 617-536-5400
Hours: Mon-Thurs 9 am - 9 pm; Fri & Sat 9 am - 5 pm; Sun 1 pm - 5 pm (Oct.-May)
www.bpl.org
- The Microtext Dept. has census records for Massachusetts; passenger arrival lists for the port of Boston (1820-1943; 1848-1891 is indexed); early city directories from New England and selected U.S. cities; files of Colonial, U.S. and Mass. newspapers from 1704; indexes to obituaries found in selected Boston & New England newspapers (1704-1840 & 1875 to date). Genealogies of New England families, and histories of New England towns and cities are located in the Research Library.
- Family History Centers (L.D.S. Church Branch Library)
2 Longfellow Park, Cambridge; 617-491-4749.
(across from the H.W. Longfellow House on Brattle Street)
Hours: Wed 6 pm - 9 pm; Saturday 9 am - 1 pm.
And:
15 Ledgewood Place, Belmont; 617-489-9375;
Hours: Tues-Thurs; 7 pm—9 pm; Sat 9—noon.
emailBelmont.FHC@verizon.net
- Each library has computer access to the main catalog of books and 2 million microfilm reels available on loan from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City; these include city and town records, family genealogies and town histories from all over the world. Fee of $5 for each roll ordered and the loan period is 30 days.
- Federal Records Center (Northeast Branch of the National Archives)
380 Trapelo Rd, Waltham; 781-663-0130
Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 7 am—4:30 pm; Thurs to 9 pm; 1st & 3rd Sat of the month 7 am 4:30 pm (except preceding a Mon holiday).
http://www.archives.gov/northeast/boston
- Among its holdings: U.S. Census from 1790 through 1930; passenger lists for the ports of Boston, New Bedford, Portland, Providence; naturalization records for immigrants living in New England; military records. See their web site for details on their records. They also hold classes on searching their various records.
- Massachusetts State Archives
220 Morrissey Blvd, Boston (T - JFK/UMass) 617-727-2816
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am—5 pm; Sat 9 am—3 pm.
www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcgen/genidx.htm
- They hold Mass. vital records from 1841 through 1915. Records prior to 1841 are held by the local cities or towns. They have one of the largest collections of 18th c. and 19th c. newspapers published in Boston and other localities. Other collections are muster rolls from 1710 through the Revolutionary War, Civil War records, lists of alien passengers entering the port of Boston (1849-1890), state census for 1855 and 1865 and microfilm of Mass. city and town records. They also have the first series of probate records for the counties of Essex, Suffolk, Middlesex, Plymouth, Duke and Worcester. Note: Probate records from 1895 to present are at the new Suffolk Co. Courthouse on New Chardon St. (T - Haymarket).
- New England Historic Genealogical Society Library
101 Newbury St, Boston (T - Copley Sq.) 617-536-5740
Hours: Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sat 9 am—5pm; Wed 9 am—9pm; closed Mondays and Saturdays preceding a Monday holiday.
www.newenglandancestors.org
- Charge of $15 per visit for non-members to use the library. Although emphasis is on New England and eastern Canada records and genealogies, there are collections for other parts of the country. They have an extensive collection of CD-ROMs and records on microtext. NEHGS now orders microfilm on loan from the Family History Library at Salt Lake City at $6 per roll for NEHGS members. Another benefit for members is access to on-line databases. See their web site for a current list.
- Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mt. Vernon St., 1st floor, Dorchester (Next to Bayside Expo Center. T - JFK/UMass) 617-740-2600
Research Hours: Mon - Fri 9 am—12 pm & 2 pm—4:30 pm;
Counter hours: Mon - Fri: 8:45 am—4:45 pm.
www.mass.gov/dph/bhsre/rvr/rvr.htm
- Repository for Mass. birth, marriage and death records from 1916 to the present. Fee for in-person research is $9 per hour. Copies of records are $42.50 each.
- In Addition:
- Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research ed. by Marcia D. Melnyk. 4 th ed. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999. An excellent guide to civil, church, newspaper and court records and library and society genealogical holdings.
© Compiled by R. Bairnsfather. Updated March 2006.
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