Local History Resources

Genealogical research can be both the most rewarding and the most frustrating experience of your life. The key to successful research is information, and a great deal of genealogical help can be found at the Medford Public Library. The Library offers resources related to Medford history and genealogy as well as guides to family history research, internet sources, and information about other important agencies.

The following are some of the resources available at the Medford Public Library

Medford Records

The Library maintains a reference collection of materials related to the history of Medford including:

• City Directories/Voters Lists 1869 - Present
• Federal Census Data (1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, and the 1865 censuses are on microfilm)
• Maps of Medford
• Massachusettes Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War
• Massachusettes Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines of the Civil War
• Medford Historical Register
• Medford High School Year Books 1915 - Present
• Medford Mercury 1880 - Present(on microfilm)
• Vertical file of clippings, articles, and other publications about Medford history and residents
• Vital records to 1850 for Medford and 60 other Massachusettes cities and towns

Please visit the Reference Department for more information

Through the Minuteman Library network, the Medford Public Library offers access to the many genealogical sites available via the Internet. MLN maintains links to 30 of the most popular genealogical sites including:

• Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites
• Family Search
• Familt Tree Maker
• Massachusettes Genealogy
• Massachusettes Resources from Roots
• New England Historic Genealogy Society
• RootsWeb.com
• Social Security Death Index
• USGen Web Project
• U.S. National Archives

The Library maintains a non-circulating local history collection of several thousand volumes, including histories of New England, Massachusetts, and individual cities and towns in the region. The collection also includes histories of Massachusetts military regiments, records of local organizations, family histories, and vital records from cities and towns.

This collection is listed in the MLN online catalog. Topics can be searched by author, title, subject, or keyword. Please see a Reference Librarian for assistance.

The Library’s circulating collection contains a large number of guides to genealogy and family history. These books are located in the adult section in 929.1. New titles are frequently added to the collection. Some of the most popular topics include:

• Beginning Genealogy
• Ethnic Genealogy
• Genealogy on the Internet
• Long Distance Genealogy
• Oral History
• Photographic Sources
• Techniques for Avanced Researchers
• Writing and Publishing Family Histories