R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Massachusetts
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Obituaries
Periodicals
Probate Records
Societies
Taxation
Town Records
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

OBITUARIESLook this term up in the glossary.

Obituaries in New England can generally be found in the local town or county papers. Many obituaries for Boston and the surrounding area can be found in:

Boston Athenaeum. Index of Obituaries in Boston Newspapers, 1704-1800. Boston: G. K. Hall and Co., 1968. (FHL book 974.46/B1 V28b; film 823596; computer number 257663.)

American Antiquarian Society. Index of Obituaries in Massachusetts Centinel and Columbian Centinel, 1784 to 1840. Boston: G. K. Hall and Company, 1961. (FHL book 974.4 V42i; fiche 6051402–06; computer number 91394.) The obituaries are abstracts of the news items and are listed alphabetically.


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PERIODICALSLook this term up in the glossary.

The major periodicals and magazines helpful for Massachusetts research are:

The American Genealogist (formerly: Families of Ancient New Haven). 1923-. Published by David L. Greene, P.O. Box 398, Demorest, GA 30535–0398. (FHL book 973 D25aga; some volumes are on films, beginning with film 1425624; computer number 84191.)

Essex Antiquarian. 13 vols. 1897-1909. Published by the Essex Antiquarian, Salem, MA. (FHL book 974.45 B2a; vols. 1-4 on films 599729-30; computer number 213215.) This source has information on families of Essex County, mostly Salem and some Lynn.

The Mayflower Descendant. 1899-1937, 1985-. Published by the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 376 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116, Telephone: 617–266–1624. (FHL book 974.4 D25md; vols. 1–34 are on films, beginning with film 01250; computer number 261210.) Issues are devoted to information on Mayflower descendants, with genealogical history, places, and dates.

The Mayflower Quarterly. 1935-. Published by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, P.O. Box 3297, Plymouth, MA 02361. Telephone: 508–746–3188. (FHL book 973 D25mq; computer number 261240.)

The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. 1847-. Published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society. (FHL 974 book B2ne; compact disc 33 pt. 1–9; some volumes on film; computer number 231574.) This has a cumulative index to 1995. Includes genealogies, vital record extracts, church records, local genealogical histories, and New England source material.

For nationwide indexes to some of these and other family history periodicals, see:

PERiodical Source Index Resource Guide (PERSI). Ft. Wayne, Ind.: Allen County Public Library Foundation, 1987-. (FHL book 973 D25per; fiche 6016863 [set of 40](1847-1985); fiche 6016864 [set of 15](1986-1990); computer number 658308.) Indexes thousands of family history periodicals. Annual indexes have been published yearly since 1986. For further details see the PERiodical Source Index Resource Guide (34119).

For more family history periodicals, study the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

MASSACHUSETTS - PERIODICALSMASSACHUSETTS - GENEALOGY - PERIODICALSMASSACHUSETTS, [COUNTY] - PERIODICALSMASSACHUSETTS, [COUNTY] - GENEALOGY - PERIODICALS

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