Old Colony Historical Society

Housed in the 1852 Bristol Academy building designed by Richard Upjohn, the museum contains extensive collections representing the history of the Taunton region of Massachusetts. As one of the oldest historical societies in New England, we have had more than 150 years to collect over 12,000 objects given by the local community. Special collections include portraits, silver, military artifacts, firefighting equipment, Rogers Groups, stoves, toys and dolls, furniture, and Native American artifacts. Some highlights include a 1667 Jeremiah Dummer silver cup, a ca. 1800 fire wagon, the 1635 Thompson fowling gun, and the 1729 Crossman Chest. Guided tours are offered daily. Please contact us to set up group tours at 508-822-1622.

Library and Archives

The library and archives contain major genealogical holdings as well as local history material, newspapers, maps, and images. We specialize in research materials pertaining to Southeastern Massachusetts prior to 1850, with special concentration on Taunton’s early European settlers. The library is open daily for on-site research. Follow this link to learn more about our research collections.

A research by mail service is also available for resources housed within our building. Fees are $20 per hour plus 25 cents per photocopy, or $15 per hour for OCHS members. Limited requests will be accepted via e-mail; please be as specific as possible, and be sure to give your postal mailing address. More lengthy requests should be submitted through regular mail. Please follow the link to learn more about research resources in our facility before sending your inquiry.

Programs and Services

The Society runs an active membership program with lectures, workshops, and other special events.

It is also engaged in research and publishing. We offer some of these publications and specialty merchandise for sale.

Please contact the Society for more information on:

Programs for students from kindergarten through graduate school
Volunteer and internship opportunities
Group tours or illustrated talks for your organization
Meeting or lecture space rentals for your organization
Reproduction of images in our collection
Potential donations to the OCHS
Research requests

Thank you for your interest in the Old Colony Historical Society

general contact email: OldColony@oldcolonyhistoricalsociety.org
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This site was created on December 27, 2001; updated May 14, 2013