Other Institutions to Explore
New England is home to many institutions that collect and care for materials that document Massachusetts, New England, and American history. This list provides an introduction to the historical resources available for research at repositories other than the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Genealogy/Family History
New England Historic Genealogical Society
The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) is the best place to begin researching your New England ancestors. The NEHGS library has a strong collection of published genealogies and local histories, as well as genealogical experts on staff. Visit the NEHGS website for more information. If you are unable to visit Boston, review the research services section of their website.
New England Historic Genealogical Society
101 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
617-536-5740
research@nehgs.org
The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, a division of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, holds most post-1840 official birth, death, and marriage records for towns in Massachusetts. Their genealogy page explains how to access and request copies of vital records for genealogical research.
Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon St., 1 st Fl.
Dorchester, MA 02125-3105
617-740-2600
vital.recordsrequest@state.ma.us
The Massachusetts State Archives
The Massachusetts State Archives holds important materials for genealogical research including passenger lists, census schedules, and military records. Explore their Researching your Family's History page for more information about their genealogical holdings.
Massachusetts State Archives
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
617-727-2816
archives@sec.state.ma.us
The National Archives and Records Administration
The National Archives and Records Administration maintains a Northeast Regional Branch in Waltham, Massachusetts. The holdings of this branch include federal census records, passenger arrival lists, and Revolutionary War military service records.
Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center
380 Trapelo Road
Waltham, MA 02452-6399
781-663-0130
boston.archives@nara.gov
Local Libraries
Many Massachusetts public libraries have rich local history collections which should not be overlooked for community and genealogical research. The Massachusetts Library & Information Network maintains an online directory of Massachusetts public libraries.
The best place to begin a search of published sources on local history in New England is the Bibliographies of New England History series, published by the Committee for a New England Bibliography. This series provides a bibliography for each of the six New England states and a New England regional volume, as well as several supplemental volumes, with extensive entries arranged by county and town. These volumes are available at many area libraries.
The New England Historic Genealogical Society has the best centralized collection of published Massachusetts and New England local histories.
Historic Sites and Homes
Massachusetts Historical Commission
Researchers often confuse the Massachusetts Historical Society with the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC). The MHC is the state agency responsible for the oversight and preservation of historic sites and homes in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
617-727-8470
mhc@sec.state.ma.gov
Boston Landmarks Commission
The Boston Landmarks Commission maintains a list of resources for researching historical properties in Boston, including contact information for the various goverment agencies that hold relevant collections of materials.
Historic New England
Historic New England owns and operates as museums many historic homes throughout New England. Historic New England also provides an Old House Maintenance Adviser service for advice about the preservation and renovation of historic properties.
Historic New England Administrative Offices
141 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02114
617-227-3956
The American Alliance of Museums
The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) produces The Official Museum Directory, a comprehensive listing of museums that includes historic sites and homes. The directory is published by National Register Publishing and is available at many public and academic libraries.
Military Records
Published Records
The standard compilations of Massachusetts Revolutionary and Civil War veterans are Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, prepared and published by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1891, and Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War, compiled and published by the Adjutant General, 1931. These books, available in many libraries, indicate when and with what regiment war veterans served. Several commercial genealogy websites also provide electronic access to the information in these volumes.
NPS Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
The National Park Service Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System contains very basic facts about men who served in both the Union and Confederate Armies and Navies during the American Civil War. The information in the database was gathered from records that are indexed to many millions of other documents about Union and Confederate Civil War soldiers maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration.
Massachusetts State Archives
The Massachusetts State Archives holds official military records covering conflicts dating from the 17th through the 20th centuries. As of Autumn 2020, the collections of the Massachusetts National Guard Museum & Archives moved to the Massachusetts State Archives and are now part of that collection.
Massachusetts State Archives
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
617-727-2816
archives@sec.state.ma.us
The Massachusetts Adjutant General's Office
The Massachusetts Adjutant General's Office holds a large collection of military records relating to all military servicemen and women involved in engagements beginning with the Mexican War.
Military Records Branch (post-1940 records)
50 Maple Street
Milford, MA 01757
508-233-7780
military.records@state.ma.us