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ONLINE RESOURCES		 Home > Online Resources > Research Guides >

  • Genealogy Research
    at Memorial Hall Library

see also:

For information about Andover history/genealogy, please contact:

    Kimberly Lynn
    978-623-8401 x36
    klynn@mhl.org

Getting Started

If you're just starting to research your family history, you may be surprised at how complicated genealogical research can be. Memorial Hall Library has some great books on getting started in genealogical research under the call number 929.1. Books on Heraldry (family crests) are under the call number 929.6, in both the reference and the circulating collections. We also have several videos on beginning genealogical research - see a librarian for titles.

The Andover Room

The Andover Room is a special collection housing Memorial Hall Library's collection of genealogy and local history materials. These materials may be used in the building only. The following is only a sampling of what this collection contains: 

Town & Vital Records

  • Andover Birth Records 1649-1914
  • Andover Death Records 1650-1914
  • Andover Marriage Records 1646-1914
  • Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 (located in the reference collection)
  • Treasurer's Records 1767-1874
  • Tax Lists 1670-1849 (later for some areas)

(For more recent records, contact the Town Clerk's office at 978-623-8255)

Directories/Street Lists

Family Histories

Our collection contains a number of published family histories, as well as the Abbott notebooks, local family histories compiled by genealogist Charlotte Abbott.

Military Records

Newspapers

  • Andover Advertiser (newspaper) 1853-1881
  • Lawrence American (newspaper) 1875 -1907
  • (Andover) Townsman (newspaper) 1887 -
  • (Lawrence) Eagle Tribune (newspaper) 1940 -

Immigration/Passenger Lists

Maps

Maps of Andover and the surrounding area back as far as 1692.

Andover 1692

Historical maps reproduced from the Atlas of Essex County, published by D.G. Beers & Co. in 1872:

Yearbooks

Andover High School yearbooks from 1916 - present (some years missing).

 

We have circulating CD-ROMs of some of these types of records. See a Reference librarian for a list of titles.

CD-ROMs

Click to see catalog record and request online

American Genealogical Sources:

Other Genealogical Sources:

Internet Sites

When using the Internet for genealogy, it's important to consider the source. There's often no way to tell if the person posting information has done proper research and documentation - it's best to use this kind of information only as a starting place for your own research. Here are a few good starting places for genealogy on the Web:

American Ancestors (in library)
The databases of the New England Historic Genealogical Society with over 110 million names.

Ancestry Library (in library)
U.S. Census 1790-1930, plus hundreds of genealogy books & directories

Cyndi's List
Compiled by Cyndi Howells, Cyndi's list is one of the most comprehensive genealogy sites out there. See the Massachusetts section for links to online vital records, newspapers, immigration records, and more.

Family Search
The Church of Latter Day Saints maintains this popular genealogy site. Use it to search for your ancestors within LDS' records, or to share your research with other genealogists.

Genswap
This site provides links to available online records, but is most useful for its list of volunteers throughout the country who are willing to help you with your research.

Heritage Quest (in library & remote access)
U.S. Census 1790-1930, plus thousands of full-text books, Periodical Source Index, and Revolutionary War pension applications

RootsWeb: Massachusetts Genealogy
Part of the US GenWeb project, this site provides links to all sorts of resources for MA genealogy research. For other states, go to www.genweb.org, then choose a state.

Other Area Resources

Andover Historical Society
Main Street
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 475-2236
The Andover Historical Society houses microfilm, yearbooks, transcripts of town meetings, over 100,000 photographs, and much more.

Essex Society of Genealogists
P.O. Box 313
Lynnfield, MA 01940-0313
781-334-5411
This organization helps people trace their family roots, offers genealogy courses, and provides speakers to advise researchers on genealogy resources and methods.

Haverhill Public Library
99 Main Street
Haverhill, MA 01830
(978) 373-1586
The Haverhill Public Library has an excellent genealogy collection, including some materials for NH. Call the Haverhill Library for the hours this special collection is available for use.

Lawrence History Center
6 Essex Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
978-686-9230

Massachusetts Archives
220 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
(617) 727-2816
The MA archives hold vital records, passenger lists, census schedules, military records, Plymouth Colony records, and more.

National Archives - New England Region
380 Trapelo Road
Waltham, MA 02452-6399
(781) 647-8104
The New England National Archives holds microfilm Federal census schedules from 1790-1910, Soundex indexes, naturalization records, passenger arrival lists for Boston and other area ports, and more.

 
Last updated: October 05, 2012
Home URL: http://www.mhl.org/
Full URL: http://www.mhl.org/resources/guides/genealogy.htm
?section=4.3
Memorial Hall Library   2 N. Main Street   Andover, MA 01810    rdesk@mhl.org   p:978-623-8400   f:978-623-8407