If you’re currently practicing social distancing, you’re staying at home to protect not only your family but other families. You might find yourself with some extra free time. Why not delve into your family history project? Bonus: you can keep in touch with your relatives via phone and tell them what you’ve found about your family.
Here are library resources that can help you research your family history from the comfort of your home:
HeritageQuest
This online resource provides access to the following collections:
- US Census records (1790-1940),
- family history books and city directories, and
- obituaries (1800s-current) through Newspapers.com.
You will need your library card number to log into this database from home.
Winchester Star
Has your family lived in town for years? You might want to look through the digitized Winchester Star for mentions of your family. Newspapers are great resources for life events, including birth and marriage announcements and obituaries.
American Ancestors Digital Collections
Has your family lived in New England for a long time? You might want to search through the New England Historic Genealogical Society‘s digital collections online. The digital collections offers many resources including church records, city directories, deeds, local histories, vital statistics records, and wills.
Massachusetts State Archives
Has your family immigrated to the area? You might want to search through the Massachusetts State Archives for resources such as passenger lists, vital records, and more. Use the Researching Your Family’s History at the Massachusetts Archives guide to check out the resources available.
Still have questions? Send us an email at [email protected].