Massachusetts Resources
Here are some resources that are available for
genealogical research in Massachusetts:
For vital records, write to:
- Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
470 Atlantic Ave. 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02210-2224
Phone: (617) 753-8600
- They have birth, marriage, and death records since 1906, and a divorce index since 1952. Call (617) 753-8606 for costs. For earlier records, check with The Massachusetts Archives of the Commonwealth, listed below. For divorce records, you can also check with the Registrar of the Probate Court in the county where the divorce was granted. The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics is open Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. for making copies of records, and from 9:00 a.m. to noon and 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 for research.
For information on State Archives & Libraries, write to:
- Archives of the Commonwealth
Reference Desk
220 Morrissey Boulevard
(Columbia Point)
Boston, MA 02125
Telephone: (617) 727-2816 or (617) 727-8730
- Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00, Saturday 9:00-3:00, closed Sunday and all state holidays.
- They have state census records from 1855-1870, federal census records from 1790-1910, maps, land records, probate records, court records, tax records, cemetery records, church records, military records, and birth, death, and marriage records from 1840 to 1905.
For information on state Genealogical Societies, write to:
- Massachusetts Genealogical Council
c/o New England Historic Genealogical Society
101 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116-3007
Phone: (617) 536-5740
- Massachusetts Society Of Genealogists, Inc. (MSOG)
P.O. Box 215
Ashland, MA 01721
- Publication: Massog: A genealogical magazine for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- Bristol County Chapter (MSOG)
34 Chicopee Street
New Bedford, MA 02745
- Hampden Chapter (MSOG)
25 Edison Drive
Ludlow, MA 01056
- Middlesex Chapter (MSOG)
244 Flanders Road
Westborough, MA 01581
- Publication: The News Mix.
- Worcester Chapter (MSOG)
27 Brigham Hill Road
Grafton, MA 01519
- Massachusetts Historical Society
1154 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: (617) 536-1608
- New England Historic Genealogical Society
101 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116-3007
Phone: (617) 536-5740
