A variety of resources exist in western Massachusetts and across New England for the historian, genealogist, or dedicated history enthusiast. Our Resources Guide for Local History will help you begin exploring the history of the Pioneer Valley.

For researching the history of your house, check out this resources list: House Histories.

Governmental Resources

Clerks of Cities and Towns can provide you with birth, death, tax information, selectmen’s/city council minutes, maps, and a variety of other records depending on the town.  Visit this page for a listing of clerks in Massachusetts. 

County Registry of Deeds maintains house and land purchases and sales, bank mortgages, plans of land and other (often historic) maps. Most offices will make copies for you, for a price. Visit the Massachusetts Registry of Deeds page for a listing of the location and contact for all registries, by county.  To find which registry services your town, visit this page.

Massachusetts Archives Visitors are welcome to visit the archives and a reading room and duplication services are available on site. Link to a finding aid to the Archive’s holdings. Requests for information may be directed to: Address: 220 Morrissey Blvd., Boston MA 02125; Phone: (617) 727-2816; E-Mail: archives@sec.state.ma.us, Website: www.sec.state.ma.us./arc

Online Repositories

Below are other online repositories that also provide access to and interpret the history of Massachusetts.

Digital Public Library of America – holdings related to Massachusetts
Digital Commonwealth
Massachusetts Historical Society – Online Collections
American Centuries
Gold Rush Stories
 Springfield’s Plural History