Local History & Genealogy

In our Local History Room, we have volumes of Annual Town Reports, many of the street listings, assessors' lists, and other Town publications. We also have genealogies of local families, histories of other towns and of Massachusetts, and some books by local authors (notably Joseph Allen). We also house the library's history in this room. Materials are kept locked within the room, and appointments for viewing the items are strongly recommended. (In the case of rare or fragile items, appointments are mandatory.) The Local History Room can also be booked as a quiet study room, though local history use takes priority. If you have a particular interest or inquiry, please ask the Adult Services staff, as not every item is cataloged or listed here, or may be shelved elsewhere.

Genealogies
Local Histories

There is more material available by appointment at the Northborough Historical Commission and the Northborough Historical Society. They hold newspaper clippings, photos, and other primary source material. The Northborough Historical Society Museum Page provides an overview of their collection.

The Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS) allows you to search the Massachusetts Historical Commission database for information on historic properties and areas in the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth History Collaborative provides access to information about Massachusetts-based historical societies and libraries that care for materials of cultural and historic value. 


                                                                           
Digital Commonwealth provides access to photographs, manuscripts, books, audio recordings, and other materials of historical interest that have been digitized and made available by members of Digital Commonwealth, a statewide consortium of libraries, museums, archives, and historical societies from across Massachusetts.