Old Colony Historical Society

66 Church Green

Taunton, MA 02780

Genealogy and Local History Research

Andrew D. Boisvert, Archivist and Library Manager

The “Old Colony” refers to America’s first English settlement, the Plymouth Colony—today’s Plymouth, Barnstable, and Bristol Counties. Our Historical Society was founded in 1853 to collect and share the history of this entire geographic area, but today we specialize in the city of Taunton and the surrounding towns. Raynham, Dighton, Norton, and Mansfield were set off from Taunton and portions of Assonet, Easton, Berkley and Lakeville were once part of Taunton.

Our genealogical holdings include families from southeastern Massachusetts and are strongest for the time period before 1850. Research collections include more than 7,000 volumes in our non-circulating library, over 400 linear feet of archival material, and over 12,000 images. Museum collections numbering more than 12,000 historical artifacts are an additional source for research on the Taunton region. More about the research collections

We invite you to read more about our Research by Mail program before contacting the OCHS.

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Visiting the William T. and Mary L. Hurley Library

· Research appointments are appreciated, and will facilitate your visit.

· Staff will gladly assist patrons in locating source material from the Society’s collections on premises.

· The Library is located on the second floor of the Old Colony Historical Society; materials can be brought to researchers on the first floor, which is wheelchair accessible, as needed.

· The Society welcomes donations of patrons’ completed work if it relates to the Old Colony region for the benefit of future researchers. Please contact the staff in advance of a proposed donation.

Fees

Society members: Free

Students researching assigned projects: Free

Genealogical research on premises: $7.00 per day

All other research: $4.00 for adults; $2.00 for children 12-17; $2.00 for seniors 65+

Library Use Policies

• Pencils or patrons’ laptops only for taking notes, no pens
• No food or drink permitted on second floor; ask about first floor
• Briefcases and large bags not permitted
• No smoking anywhere in the building
• Photography or scanning may be allowed only with prior written permission
• No sticky notes permitted
• Please handle all materials carefully, with clean hands or gloves (provided), and do not write on, erase, lean on, fold or trace materials
• Do not touch the front of a print or photograph; handle by edges as needed
• Please use one archival folder at a time and keep materials in their original order
• Staff will assist with fragile items
• Staff only may re-shelve books and call materials from the archives

Facilities and Equipment

Microfilm/fiche reader and printer (copies 25¢ each)

Photocopying machines (staff operated; please see fees below)

Scanners (staff operated; please ask about fees)

Digital camera and copy stand (staff operated; please ask about fees)

Wireless internet capability with patrons’ laptop computers (free with admission)

Copies

Non-Members: 25¢ per page Color copies (members) $1.00 per page

Members: 15¢ per page Color copies (non-members) $2.00 per page

Students: 15¢ per page

• Please fill out copy order slips, including your name and pages to be copied
• Bring materials to be copied to the front office or ask the staff to do so
• Last call for photocopies is 3:30 p.m. daily
• Title pages are always copied unless patrons request otherwise

· The reproduction of entire works is generally not done

• Staff will copy limited amounts of non-copyrighted material which is in good condition and will keep copies in front office until patron check-out time

Images

Photographs, postcards, digital images and other types of pictures may be allowed for patron use according to our Image Reprographic Policy. Please ask the Director.

Thank you for your interest in research at the Old Colony Historical Society