Overview
Do you have early New England ancestry? Find them in colonial-era church records at the Congregational Library & Archives! Whether your ancestors were seventeenth-century Puritans, nineteenth-century abolitionists, or part of the modern-day Congregational church, the Congregational Library & Archives holds records created by local churches, individuals (such as sermons, diaries, and correspondence), and larger associations. Join American Ancestors experts for a day of genealogical research at this important repository! Our experts will help you plan your research for the day with a pre-trip consultation, and they’ll be there with you during the trip to provide additional support. Whether this is your first trip to the Congregational Library & Archives or one of many, American Ancestors will help you make the most of your time there while also enjoying the company and camaraderie of fellow researchers!
About the Congregational Library & Archives
The Congregational Library & Archives is home to 225,000 items covering Congregational history and more. It is a designated archive of the Congregational Christian Churches and holds major institutional records of the denomination, as well as rare newspapers from the Christian Connection. It also holds many sets of seventeenth-century documents and full collections from large churches such as Boston’s Old South and Park Street churches. Please explore their online catalog, Finding Aids, and their project New England's Hidden Histories: Colonial-Era Church Records.
This program includes:
- 30-minute virtual consultation via Zoom, scheduled prior to the day trip
- Tour and orientation by Congregational Library & Archives staff
- Lunch (provided)
- Research assistance by American Ancestors experts while at the repository
Please note: registration does not include transportation to or from the repository. Additionally, any items you would like to have pulled for your research will need to be requested prior to the trip. More instructions will be sent ahead of the event.
Participant Form
Please fill out your Participant Form linked below as soon as possible, and no later than August 28. It will help our genealogists to prepare for your pre-tour consultations, which will be scheduled to take place the week before the event.
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/c3e1a524203f40f2a9ae479839e145e3
Schedule
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
9:30 a.m.: Tour and Orientation by Congregational Library & Archives Staff
10:30 a.m.: Personal Research
12:00 p.m.: Lunch (provided)
1:00 p.m.: Personal research
4:30 p.m.: Program concludes
*Schedule subject to change
Directions
The Congregational Library & Archives are located at 14 Beacon Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02108.
Find helpful information about parking and public transportation here: https://www.congregationallibrary.org/directions-contact-information.
When you arrive, the entrance to 14 Beacon has a handy entry kiosk outside the front door. Open the brass door, tap the screen, and you will see a button for the Congregational Library. Tap the button, and then someone will buzz you in! From there, take the elevator or the stairs to the second floor.
