Favorite Places

This list was created from submissions to the NEAPG email list with the purpose of informing members of repositories and/or sources not commonly used in genealogical research. Descriptions of holdings are by no means comprehensive, but rather are intended to share those sources that may be missed in the typical search. To add your favorite place to the list, email us at neapg@neapg.org (public mail list) or at dianegravel@roadrunner.com.

Connecticut

Archdiocese of Hartford Archives

Maria Medina, Archivist

134 Farmington Ave

Hartford, CT 06105

(860) 541-6491

Microfilmed parish records are available with no known restrictions; however, an appointment is necessary. Note that the Diocese of Bridgeport does not have centralized records at this time. Those records are held at local parishes.

Maine

Library of the Franco-American Genealogical Society of York County

McArthur Public Library

270 Main St.

Biddeford, Maine 04005

207-284-4181

http://www.mcarthur.lib.me.us/history_genealogy.htm

In addition to family genealogies, the collection contains a large number of vital records, including volumes of Canadian and American marriages; the Loiselle files; the Moncton files of marriages; and the Drouin books (indexed by male surnames) and a separate set of Drouin microfiches (indexed by female surnames), covering marriages for the entire Province of Quebec (from the 1700's to the 1930's).

Maine Historical Society Library

510 Congress St. (temporary home)

Portland, Maine 04101

(207) 774-1822

http://www.mainehistory.org/library_holdings.shtml

The collection contains catalogs and indexes, including an excellent obituary index; published genealogies; manuscripts; state, county and town histories for Maine and other New England communities; biographical resources (including the multi-volume series Maine Families in 1790 and Ring's Index to State-of-Mainers, an index to biographical compilations of Maine people who appear in approximately 50 books in the MHS collections); numerous lineage society records, vital records ( including Maine Vital records and pre-1892 and 1892–1954, available on microfilm for every Maine town); cemetery records and transcriptions (including Maine Old Cemetery Association); town reports; city directories; misc. military records for New England; periodicals; several microfilmed historic newspapers; misc. immigration records; misc. land & probate records; as well as some Canadian and ethnic resources.

Springvale Public Library

Genealogy Room

443 Main St.

Springvale, Maine 04083

207-324-4624

http://www.springvalelibrary.org/genealogy.htm

When you don’t want to drive into a city, the Genealogy Room at the Springvale Public Library is a little gem. It specializes in Northern New England materials. The collection includes Maine town histories and family histories; Maine vital records (pre-1892 and 1892-1936 on microfilm); local Sanford-Springvale vital records; newspapers; photos; voter registrations from 1935; maps; Mayflower Families and early immigrants; and numerous genealogical periodicals.

Massachusetts

Houghton Library

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA 02138

617-495-2441

http://hcl.harvard.edu/libraries/#houghton

The library has a rich manuscript collection and is open to the public.

Massachusetts Archives

220 Morrissey Boulevard

Boston, MA 02125

(617) 727-2816

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcidx.htm

Institutional records (state alms houses, schools, prisons, hospitals, etc.) are woefully underutilized sources. Registers provide basic personal information, and case histories may also be available. These records have been microfilmed and are available through the FHL. Ann S. Lainhart’s book, A Researcher's Guide to Boston, contains further information on these records (see Appendix 7). Ann is currently transcribing records of the Boston Female Asylum, a private institution (1800-1866) that took in over 800 girls, trained them and placed them as servants in homes all over New England.

Massachusetts Grand Lodge of Masons

186 Tremont Street

Boston, MA 02111

617-426-7040; 800-882-1020 (within Massachusetts)

http://www.massfreemasonry.org/

The Masons’ membership card file dates to the 1700s. Cards include date of birth and residence at time of membership.

Northeastern University School of Law

400 Huntington Avenue

Boston, MA 02115(617) 373-3332

http://www.slaw.neu.edu/library/

Holdings include Superior Court reports (on the top floor), published for each state, with case summaries and indexes. The library is open to the public. No appointment is necessary.

Phillips Library

Peabody-Essex Museum

East India Square

161 Essex Street

Salem, MA 01970-3783

978-745-9500; 866-745-1876

http://www.pem.org/museum/library.php

The maritime collection is superb for research pertaining to those involved in the maritime trade in New England prior to 1900. The collection is also a real treasure trove for Essex County research, and includes most town histories for most Massachusetts towns, as well as hundreds of printed genealogies for New England families. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful. Public hours are very limited.

Worcester Area Libraries

The libraries of the Worcester area have published a pamphlet, “Where in Worcester,” which lists local institutions and their holdings. Repositories include the Worcester Public Library, Worcester City Clerk’s Office, Massachusetts National Guard Museum and Archives, American Antiquarian Society, Worcester Historical Museum, Worcester Probate Court, Worcester Register of Deeds, and the Guy Burnham Map and Aerial Photography Library at Clark University. Many repositories routinely add guides and finding aids to their websites (e.g., the Worcester Public Library’s guide to their Local History & Genealogy Collection).

New Hampshire

Tuck Library

New Hampshire Historical Society

30 Park Street

Concord, NH 03301-6316

603-228-6688

https://www.nhhistory.org/library.html

The library has an outstanding manuscript collection, including original church records, family papers, diaries, account books and Justice of the Peace records. These sources are particularly helpful with “brick wall” problems when the search is expanded beyond the surname to include the surrounding community.