The following archives, libraries, and societies have major collections or services helpful to genealogical researchers.

• Massachusetts State Archives at Columbia Point

220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
Telephone: 617–727–2816

• National Archives—New England Region

380 Trapelo Road
Waltham, MA 02154
Telephone: 617–647–8100
Fax: 617–647–8460

• Massachusetts Historical Society Library

1154 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02215
Telephone: 617–536–1608
Fax: 617–536–1608

• Peabody Essex Museum

132 Essex Street
Salem, MA 01970
Telephone: 508–744–3390
Fax: 508–744–0036

• State Library of Massachusetts

State House, Room 341
Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02133
Telephone: 617–727–2590
Fax: 617–727–5819

• New England Historic Genealogical Society

101 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
Telephone: 617–536–5740
Fax: 617–536–7307

• Boston Public Library

Copley Square
Boston, MA 02117
Telephone: 617–536–5400
Fax: 617–536–4306

Historical Records Survey. Preliminary Edition of Guide to Depositories of Manuscript Collections in Massachusetts. Boston: Historical Records Survey, 1939. (FHL book 974.4 A2hg; computer number 465031.) This work lists major manuscript collections and their locations.

Wright, Carroll D. Report on the Custody and Condition of the Public Records of Parishes, Towns, and Counties. Boston: Wright and Potter, 1889. (FHL book 974.4 A3cr; film 865449 item 2; fiche 6046869; computer number 311411.) Gives a brief description of the town records that existed in 1889 and which may still be available.

Computer Networks and Bulletin Boards

Computers with modems are important tools for obtaining information from selected archives and libraries. Computer networks serve as another type of library. The Internet, certain computer bulletin boards, and commercial on–line services help family history researchers:

• Locate other researchers
• Post queries
• Send and receive E-mail
• Search large databases
• Search computer libraries
• Join in computer chat and lecture sessions
  

Look for computerized research tips and information about ancestors from Massachusetts in local, state, national, and international sources. The list of sources is growing rapidly. Most of the information is available at no cost.

Addresses on the Internet change frequently. As of September 1997, the following sites are important gateways linking you to many more network and bulletin board sites:

• USGenWeb

http://www.usgenweb.com/
A cooperative effort by many volunteers to list genealogical databases, libraries, bulletin boards, and other resources available on the Internet for each county, state, and nation.

• Roots–L

http://www.rootsweb.com/roots-l/usa/
A quality list of sites and resources that includes a large, regularly updated research coordination list.

For further details about using computer networks, bulletin boards, and news groups for family history research, see the United States Research Outline (30972), 2nd ed., “Archives and Libraries” section.

FamilySearch™

The Family History Library and some Family History Centers have computers with FamilySearch™. FamilySearch is a collection of computer files containing several million names. FamilySearch is a good place to begin your research. Some of the records come from compiled sources; some have been automated from original sources.

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[FamilySearch^TM: Research Guidance
Version of Data: 6/9/2001]