Overview
Join American Ancestors experts at the Massachusetts State Archives for a day of genealogical research! The Massachusetts Archives holds the official records created by Massachusetts state government. Holdings are organized by agency and date from 1629 to the present.
Along with records reflecting the structure of state government and special colonial and early state materials prior to 1800, Massachusetts Archives also holds a number of record groups that are helpful in family history research including:
- Vital statistic records (Massachusetts births, deaths and marriages from 1841-1930)
- Census records
- Federal: Microfilm 1790-1880, 1890
- State: 1855, 1865
- Passenger Lists for the port of Boston, 1848-1891
- Military Records
- Probate records in the Probate and Divorce Judicial Court records
- Naturalization (citizenship) records
- Divorce records in the Probate and Divorce Judicial Court records
- Adoption records
- Documents about Native Americans
- Records from prisons and state institutions
This program includes:
- 30-minute virtual consultation viz Zoom, scheduled prior to the day trip
- Tour and Orientation by Massachusetts State 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.
Participant Form
Please fill out the Participant Form linked below as soon as possible, and no later than August 5. This will allow our genealogists to prepare for your pre-tour consultation and to help you make the most of your consultation time. We cannot guarantee that we can schedule a pre-tour consultation if we receive your form after August 5.
https://form.jotform.com/242036343581149
Requesting Materials
Please email your requests to archives@sec.state.ma.us a week in advance to help their staff prepare for our visit. Please be sure to mention that you are part of the "August 23 American Ancestors group visit". You will be able to make requests on-site as well, but please note that it may take them some time to pull the records if they are requested day-of.
You can view an overview of the Massachusetts State Archives Collections here: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/archives/collections/mass-archives-collection.htm
You can explore a detailed Collections Guide here: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/archives/collections/collections-guide.htm
Schedule
Friday, August 23, 2024
9:00 a.m.: Tour and Orientation by Massachusetts State Archives Staff
9:30 a.m.: Personal Research
12:00 p.m.: Lunch (provided- boxed lunches from Panera)
1:00 p.m.: Personal research
4:30 p.m.: Massachusetts State Archives closes
*Schedule subject to change
Reading Room Policies and Tips
- Register at the reference desk. Photo identification is required.
- All personal belongings, including handbags, briefcases, waist packs, bags, containers, jackets, hats and coats must be placed in lockers.
- Pencils must be used to take notes. No pens or other permanent markers are allowed.
- Notebooks, papers, books, etc., used in the reading room are subject to search upon leaving the reading room.
- Food, drink, or smoking are not allowed.
- The Reading Room closes promptly at 4:30. Vault pulls cease at 4:00 and all vault materials must be returned to the vault by 4:15
- Bring laptops/phones/tablets, charging cables
- Leave any papers/binders in your locker
- Flash drive encouraged to save microfilm images
- No-flash photography is allowed in Reading Room
Directions
The Massachusetts State Archives is located at 220 Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester, MA 02125.
By Car
- From the north:
Rt. 3/1-93 to Exit 15 (Morrissey Blvd./JFK Library).
Turn left at the bottom of the ramp.
Follow signs for UMass Boston/JFK Library.
- From the west:
Rt. I-90 to Rt. I-93 South.
Follow signs for UMass Boston/JFK Library.
- From the south:
Rt. 3/1-93 to Exit 13B.
Continue north on Morrissey Blvd.
Follow signs for UMass Boston/JFK Library.
Free parking is available to approved Archives, Mass. Historical Commission, and Commonwealth Museum patrons only. All unapproved vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense.
Visitors must register their vehicle(s) immediately upon arrival at the Archives Security Desk.
By MBTA
Take the MBTA Red Line to JFK/UMass station and board the #1 shuttle bus.
Ask the driver to be dropped off at the Massachusetts Archives/JFK Library bus stop, which is about a two minute walk from the Archives building. The bus is free and runs every five minutes from the train station.
