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The Boston Public Library
contains extensive collections of materials of interest to the genealogical researcher,
and because of its large holdings, the collection is not limited to one physical area.
Materials can be found throughout the research collections (i.e. McKim Building). Primary
locations are Microtext, Social Sciences and
the research collection stacks, although staff may refer
patrons to other subject departments as well. All materials are required to be used within
the library.
SERVICES
Correspondence
The Library receives numerous forms of requests daily in every subject department. All
forms of correspondence are handled and responded to in the order in which they are received. The staff cannot
undertake genealogical or heraldic research, nor can it check our holdings to determine if
they contain passages or sections of genealogies pertinent to a particular family.
Telephone
Telephone queries are gladly received; however, staffing levels necessitate giving
in-person queries a higher priority. Your patience is greatly appreciated. We regret that
detailed checking of materials cannot be done by telephone. Staff can only provide limited
searching of sources.
Photocopies
Arrangements can be made to photocopy pages of certain of our published genealogies and
armories, but only if citations to author, title, and specific pages are provided.
Requests for photocopies must be made in person or in writing. Telephone requests will not
be accepted.
Photocopies can be made from most volumes within the Library, unless prohibited by the
condition of the volume. Photocopy machines are located throughout the library.
Computers
Computers are available for genealogical research in the Social Sciences and Microtext
Departments.
LOCATION OF MATERIALS
Curators' Notes
Material described below outline the major categories of genealogically related items
available and include a small selection of the titles available in the Library's subject
departments and collections. Many titles, other than those in microform, must be obtained
from the closed stacks by submitting a request slip with the pertinent
information to the Book Delivery Desk. Volumes will be delivered to the seat number you
choose within Bates Reading Hall; turnaround time is approximately 15-30 minutes. Some
materials are stored off-site -- please call ahead for details.
This is a highly selective list of the collected resources available within the Boston
Public Library. Acquisition is ongoing and the staff welcomes recommendations of
particular works.
Please consult with a librarian if you have difficulties locating any of the works noted
herein.
All locations are in the McKim Building:
| Department |
Abbreviation |
| Government Information |
Gov |
| Microtext |
Micro |
| Book Delivery - Closed Stacks |
BD |
| Social Sciences |
Soc |
ARMORIAL FAMILIES AND HERALDIC RESOURCES
Micro, Soc, BD
The Social Sciences Department maintains an index of family coats-of-arms, chiefly from
the British Isles, with over 20,000 entries. The Library also holds works on public and
official heraldry in addition to collected European family heraldry.
BIOGRAPHICAL RESOURCES
This is a partial listing of collected biographical/historical information. Some
collections provide brief to detailed informational entries, while others give
bibliographic notes to locate further sources. The Social Sciences Department and the Rare
Books and Manuscripts Department should be consulted for information about holdings of
personal and family papers.
Biographical Dictionaries and
Bibliographies
Micro, Soc, BD
- Biography and Genealogy Master Index
- Black Biographical Dictionaries
- British and Irish Biographies
- Clark's Boston Blue Books, 1878-1937
- Harvard Class Reports, 1833-present
- Social Registers, 1900-present
- World Biographical Archives
- World Biographical Index
Genealogical Dictionaries and
Gazetteers
Micro, Soc, BD
- Colonial Families in the United States of
America
- Gazetteer of the State of Massachusetts
- Genealogical Dictionary of the First
Settlers of New England
- Genealogical Notes...of Some of the First
Settlers of Connecticut and Massachusetts
GENEALOGIES AND FAMILY HISTORIES
Micro, Soc, BD
The Library attempts to collect, by purchase or gift, nearly all of the published
genealogies of New England families or of families of New England origin.
The Social Sciences Reference Department maintains a separate catalog of family
genealogies which includes analytics and vertical file materials not represented in the
Research Library Catalog, although researchers are advised to refer to the Research Catalog for recently acquired
titles. Materials are requested through the Book Delivery Desk, unless otherwise noted.
This collection of genealogies is supplemented by such titles as the microform Local
History and Genealogy collection, and electronic resources such as Ancesty: Library Edition (available only within the library).
HANDBOOKS AND MANUALS
Soc, Micro
The Library's resources include guides to research techniques and sources of information
for both the novice and experienced researcher.
LOCAL HISTORIES AND OTHER RESOURCES
The Library attempts to collect published histories of New England towns and cities. The
Library also holds an extensive collection of county histories, many of which include
genealogical and biographical entries for noted families and citizens. This collection is
also supplemented by the Genealogy and Local History Collection.
Maps and Atlases
Micro, Soc, BD
Among the Library's map holdings is a particularly strong collection of Boston and
Massachusetts maps.
- Irish Townland Maps (for selected
counties), 1846
- Bromley Atlases
- Street Guides (Historical and current)
- Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
City Directories
Micro, BD
The Boston Public Library has one of the most comprehensive collections of city
directories in the country.
NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS
The Library has extensive newspaper holdings from Massachusetts and from major New England
cities, as well as selected titles from the rest of the United States and Europe. Titles
may be found in the Research Catalog. Most newspapers are usually not indexed by
subject.
Newspapers
Micro
- Boston Globe, 1872-present
- Boston Evening Transcript, 1830-1941
- New York Times, 1851-present
- Times of London, 1785-present
Periodicals
Micro, Soc, BD
The periodicals collection also covers a wide range of subject publications from the 18th
century to the present. Some titles of interest to the genealogical researcher include:
- American Periodicals Series, 1700-1900
- Essex Institute Historical Collections
- Massachusetts Historical Society.
Collections and Proceedings
- New England Historic and Genealogical
Register
- Publications of the Colonial Society of
Massachusetts
Periodical Indexes
Micro, Soc
- Genealogical Periodicals Annual Index:
Key to the Genealogical Literature
- Index to American Periodicals Series
I-III
- Periodical Source Index
OFFICIAL RECORDS AND RELATED INDEXES
Federal Records
Micro
- Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940
- Population Censuses, 1790-1920 (New
England)
- New England Naturalization Petitions
Index, 1790-1906
Land and Probate Records
Micro, Soc
- Book of Possessions (Boston)
- Suffolk Deeds, 1653-1697
- Middlesex County Probate, 1648-1871
- Suffolk County Probate, 1636-1852
Massachusetts Records
Micro, Soc, Gov
- Boston City Documents
- Boston Town Records
- City of Boston Lists of Residents (Voter
Lists), 1861-present
- Early MA Records--Middlesex
County--through 1830
- Plymouth Colony Records, 1633-1692
- Records of the Court of Assistants of the
Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, 1630-1692
- Records of the Governor and Company of
the Massachusetts Bay, 1638-1686
Cemetery Descriptions
Soc
Among other resources of this type, the Library's collections include gravestone
inscriptions, epitaphs, and inventories of graves in Boston's historic burying grounds.
The Library also continues to acquire published transcriptions of gravestone inscriptions
from cemeteries throughout New England.
Military Records and Histories
Micro, Soc, BD
- Negro in the Military Service of the
United States, 1639-1886
- Massachusetts Soldiers in the French and
Indian Wars, 1744-1755
- Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the
Revolutionary War
- Naval Officers in the Revolutionary War
- Officers of the Continental Army
- Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783
- Revolutionary War Rolls of All New
England States
- Abstracts of Graves of Revolutionary
Patriots
- Massachusetts Volunteer Records,
1812-1814
- Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the
Civil War
- Civil War Unit Histories
- Regimental Histories of the Civil War
- Black Soldiers, Black Sailors, Black Ink
Military Indexes and Bibliographies
Micro, Soc, BD
- Bibliography of Military Name Lists,
pre-1675-1900: A Guide to General Sources
- General Index to Compiled Military
Service Records of Revolutionary Soldiers
- Index to Compiled Service Records of
Volunteer Union Soldiers, CT, MA, NH, RI, VT
- Indexes to Pension Applications
- Roster of Confederate Soldiers
- Roster of Union Soldiers
Passenger Lists and Indexes
Micro, Soc, BD
The Library collects transcribed passenger lists and related records, in addition to
microform copies of official lists and indexes, primarily for ports of New England and for
New York City.
European and Other Record Collections
Micro
- American Loyalist Claims
- British Record Society
Cornish Probate Records, 1800-1857
Hereford Probate...1407-1581
- Griffith's Valuation of Rateable Land,
1846-1864
- Records of the Diocese of Louisiana and
the Floridas, 1576-1803
- Surname Index for 1796 Spinning Wheel
Premium Entitlement
Lists of Ireland
- Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society
Archives
VITAL RECORDS, NOTICES, AND INDEXES
This is only a brief listing of works. More detailed lists of contents are available at
departmental Reference Desks and in the Research Catalog.
Vital Records
Micro, Soc, BD
- Holbrook's MA Vital Records (list of BPL holdings)
- Marriage Indexes to the Columbian
Centinel, 1784-1840
- Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to
1700
- Published Vital Records for Massachusetts
Towns to 1850
Obituary Printed and Card File
Indexes
Micro, Soc
- Boston Evening Transcript, 1875-1941
- Boston Globe and Boston Herald,
1953-1969; 1975-
- Columbian Centinel, 1784-1840
- Gavit's American Deaths and Marriages,
1784-1829
- Military Death Index (Korean and Vietnam
Wars) on CD-ROM
- New Bedford Obituary Index, 1900-1968
- New York Times, 1858-1978
- The Times of London, 1951-1975
OTHER COLLECTED RESOURCES
Micro, Soc
- American Genealogical-Biographical Index
- Boston Almanac, 1836-1871
- Boston Evening Transcript Genealogical
Pages and Index
- Hartford Times (CT) Genealogy Columns,
1940-1967
- Lloyd's Captains Register, 1851-1949
- National Inventory of Documentary Sources
in the United Kingdom and Ireland
- National Inventory of Documentary Sources
in the United States
Part 1-Federal Records
Part 2-Manuscript Division at the Library
of Congress
Part 3-State
Archives/Libraries/Historical Societies
Part 4-Academic and Research Libraries
and Other Repositories
- Passenger Lists of the Holland-America
Line, 1900-1940
- Shaker Collection
The Boston Public Library staff would like to suggest the following facilities to
supplement your genealogical research:
New England Historic Genealogical Society
99-101 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
617-536-5740
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Family History Library
150 Weston Avenue
Weston, MA 02193
781-235-2164
Registry of Vital Records and
Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st floor
Dorchester, Ma. 02125-3105
617-740-2600
(vital records from 1921-present)
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Archives
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Columbia Point
Boston, MA 02125
617-727-2816
(vital records from 1841-1920)
National Archives and Federal Records
Center
New England--Waltham Branch
380 Trapelo Road
Waltham, MA 02154
781-663-0130
National Archives and Federal Records
Center
New England--Pittsfield Branch
100 Dan Fox Drive
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-236-3600
General Information
Access
A library card issued within Massachusetts is required for access to all closed-stack
materials in the McKim Building.
Patrons without such a library card may get one, free of charge, at the Book Delivery Desk
on the second floor or at either of the library's Circulation Desks, located near the Boylston and Dartmouth Street entrances.
Metro Boston Library Network member libraries include the public libraries of Boston,
Chelsea, Malden, selected middle and high school libraries within the Boston Public
Schools system, and Roxbury Community College.
Photocopy Charges
Self-service copies from microforms depend on size, $.25 minimum per copy.
Microfiche Duplicates
$ .50 each*
Microfiche Duplicates can be made where not restricted by copyright.
Photocopiers (paper)
$ .15 (coins or printcard)
Printing (from computers)
$1.00 (printcard),
$ .25 (black and white),
$ .75 (color)
PLEASE ASK A LIBRARIAN FOR ASSISTANCE OR FURTHER INFORMATION
This information was revised by:
Mary Devine, Social Sciences Department
Marta Pardee-King, Social Sciences Department
Henry Scannell, Microtext Department (Revised 5/15/06)
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