Day Trip to the Congregational Library & Archives
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!
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.
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.
Schedule
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.