Genealogy & Local History

Please contact the Reference Department at 413-662-3133 in advance if you wish to view items in our vault collection. Resources on microfilm or fiche are available during all library hours. These can be found through our catalog.

Local History

We do a limited amount of research for those who cannot visit our library. All requests must be made in writing by email or postal mail (mailto:genealogy@northadams-ma.gov). We do not accept phone inquiries. Please clearly state what you seek, what you know that will help us identify the information (i.e. death date if you want an obituary), and your name and contact information. There is a $3.00 charge per question when an exact date is given, or a $24 per hour (in 1/4 hour increments) for general research. Fees are due whether or not the search is successful.

Questions may be mailed to our Special Collections/Reference Department or c/o North Adams Public Library, 74 Church St., North Adams, MA 01247

Image Collections

Combined Photographs from North Adams Public Library, North Adams Historical Society and MCLA Local History Collections.

Finding Aids / Box Lists
Indexes
Special Editions of The Transcript

All of these special editions are in newspaper storage in the Historical Room on the third floor. The articles may be found by date in The Transcript microfilm in the Reference Department.

August 4, 1978
Bicentennial: 1778 – 1878 – 1978

November 19, 1993
Sesquicentennial Edition
History of The Transcript
History of Northern Berklshire
Vignettes (random stories)

1995
North Adams : Massachusetts’ Smallest City
April 18: Part I 1895 – 1940
August 28: Part II 1941-1945
October 27: Part III 1946-1995

March 29, 1996
Capturing the Berkshires : A Tribute to Randy Trabold

August 30, 1996

Capturing the Berkshires : Historical Photos of N. Berkshires

March 31, 1999
Local Heroes : Len Radin, Cyndi Candiloro, William Collette, Shirley Collette, Eunice Tassone, Tom Leonessio, The Aladdins, David Park, Polly Dickerson, George Coope, Ernest Rosasco, Lorraine Maloney, David Dally, John Gaudreau, Unity Planers, Linda Freeney, Jennifer Dowling, Joseph Wolfe, Barbara Hutchinson, The Women’s Exchange, Faith Scarborough, Francis Hayden, Carol Hess

 

Genealogy

  • Vital Records (Births, Marriages, Deaths) and Indexes (Microfiche)
    • North Adams 1878-1917 (with gaps)
    • Adams; 1763-1907 (with gaps)
  • Personal War Sketches (Microfilm)
    • Grand Old Army of the Republic (Civil War)
  • City of North Adams Annual Reports 1874-1990 (Microfilm)
  • North Adams City Directories 1875-76, 1879 to present; missing 1891-95 (Microfilm)
  • The North Adams Transcript and other local newspapers 1844 to present (Microfim)
    • The Advocate (Williamstown) May 1981 – January 1983
    • The American Historical Review 1895-1993 (with gaps)
  • Massachusetts Federal Census 1800 (Print)
  • Heads of Families, U.S. Census 1800 for several states (Print)
  • Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (17 volumes) (Print)
  • Massachusetts in the Army & Navy, 1861-65 (2 Print Volumes)
  • Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailor & Marines in the Civil War (8 Print Volumes)
  • Family Genealogies in vault
    • George Spear, Jenks Ancestry, Gallup, Bradford, Babbit, St. Jean and Trahan And More (See catalog)

CD-ROMS at Library including Family Tree Maker (Ask at Reference Desk)

  • World Family Tree, pre 1600-present
  • Local and Family Histories: Massachusetts, 1620-1930
  • Local and Family Histories: New England 1600s-1900s
  • Family History: Mid-Atlantic Genealogies 1340-1940
  • Family History: Southern Biographies and Genealogies 1500s to 1940s
  • Marriage Index: Massachusetts, 1633-1850
  • Military Records: Massachusetts Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1782
  • Military Records: U.S. Soldiers 1784-1811
  • Passenger and Immigration Lists: Boston, 1821-1850
  • Passenger and Immigration Lists: Irish Immigrants to North America, 1803-1871
  • Selected U.S./International Marriage Records 1340-1980
  • Vital Records: Social Security Death Index 1937-1998
  • Census Record: Massachusetts, 1850
  • Census Index: Massachusetts, 1870
  • Vital Records Massachusetts 1850 and 1870
  • Vital Records: Social Security Death Index, 1937-1998
  • World Family Tree: European Origins, pre-1600 to 1998
  • Land Records: AL,AR, FL, LA, MI, MN, OH, WI, 1709-1907
Veterans in North Adams Cemeteries

Advent Cemetery c.1835 (Ahab & Ruth Hill Cemetery)
3 Miles West on Old Military Rd.

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