|
|
|
|
Departments - Archival Center |
Town Hall, Lower Level
71 Mount Vernon Street
Winchester, MA 01887
781-721-7146
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
Office Hours:
First Tuesday of the month, 7-9 p.m.
Second Thursday, 1-3 p.m.
Third Thursday, 3-5 p.m.
N.B.: As the Center is staffed by volunteers, it may be closed without notice. |
NEW ! Wright-Locke Farm: A History in Pictures
This booklet, lavishly illustrated from the collections of the Archival Center, includes historic photographs – some dating back to 1900 – and historical background on the Wright-Locke Farm. It is available at the Center, the Engineering Department, and Book Ends for $10. The proceeds from sales of this booklet will assist the Center to fulfill its mission of documenting Winchester's history and making it available to the public.
MISSION: The Archival Center collects and preserves materials that document all aspects of Winchester history and the lives of its residents; assists research into Winchester history by facilitating public access to the information contained within the collection; provides historical information to other municipal departments and town officials; and collaborates with the Public Library, Town Clerk, Historical Society, and Historical Commission in promoting community awareness and participation in documenting local history.
COLLECTONS: The collections include primary and secondary documents (manuscripts, typescripts, print materials, photographs, maps, research reports, artworks, misc. newspapers, published histories, oral histories) on such subjects as town government, schools, waterways, public events, biography and family history, architecture, military service, churches, clubs and organizations, industry and business, and more. The Archival Center also houses some records of the Winchester Historical Commission.
DONATIONS: Gifts of materials relating to local history are gladly received, as are electronic copies of scanned photos or documents. Loans of materials for the Center to make copies are also welcome. To arrange donations, see the Donation Form.
ACCESS: All visitors must be supervised by one of the part-time volunteers who staff the Archival Center. Patrons who cannot visit the Archival Center during its open hours may request individual appointments by phone or e-mail. Such appointments are made by individual volunteers at their discretion.
No original materials are allowed out on loan. However, patrons may usually order copies (see fees).
RESEARCH ASSISTANCE: Mail requests for research assistance are welcome but will be evaluated for possible costs and time constraints. Volunteers will answer mail, phone, and e-mail requests for research assistance that require no more than fifteen minutes. Fees for copies may apply. Allow two weeks for a reply.
For in-depth research, patrons will be referred to a local researcher with whom independent arrangements may be made.
GENEALOGY
The Town Clerk's Office keeps all vital records, which date from 1850 when the town was incorporated.
The Archival Center has some family files and a variety of resources for researching family history.
The Winchester Public Library has local newspapers on microfilm that are partially indexed and some published genealogies and local history books in its Local History Room. Residents with a library card may access the the Ancestry Library database at the library and the Heritage Quest site from their homes. The library also subscribes to the New England Historic Genealogical Society's Web site, which has a collection of databases (mostly New England, some New York and other areas) that can be searched. For instructions, click here.
For cemetery records, contact
Wildwood Cemetery 781-721-7142
34 Palmer St., Winchester
or
Calvary Cemetery (through Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden) 1-888-919-7926.
HOUSES:
A survey of buildings built before 1917 was assembled by the Winchester Historical Commission in the 1970s. A copy is available at the Public Library. Additional information and photographs may or may not be available at the Archival Center. Blueprints and plans are rare. We accept plans and photographs into the collection.
Historic Homes: The only restriction regarding historical houses in Winchester is that some may be subject to the demolition-delay bylaw. All questions regarding historic homes or districts should be directed to the Winchester Historical Commission.
For assessment data on all current properties, see the online database provided by the Board of Assessors.
LINKS
Winchester Historical Commission
Winchester Historical Society
Arlington Historical Society
Massachusetts Archives
Massachusetts Historial Commission
Middlesex Canal Association
Woburn Historical Society
FEE SCHEDULE
Photocopies .20
Scanned image (non-profit) $5.00
Scanned image (commercial, for-profit) $50.00
Plus materials charges:
Sending scanned image by e-mail or burning to CD supplied by patron no charge
Color or B&W print on photographic paper
8.5x11 $5.00
4x6 or 5x7 $2.00
CD supplied by the Archives $3.00
Photographic print from a negative
5x7 $5.00
8x10 $10.00
Photographic print from an original [if service is available]
5x7 $10.00
8x10 $15.00
Postage and handling $3.00
In exceptional cases fees may be waived
In return for waiving fees, a copy of the publication must be lodged with the Archives.
Whether a fee is required or not, the applicant must complete and sign a reproduction agreement form before copies are made, unless the image is a public record.
Archival Reproduction Request Form
|
|
|
