Special Research Collections at Old Colony Historical Society

in Taunton, Massachusetts:

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The “Old Colony” refers to the old Plymouth Colony—today’s Plymouth, Barnstable, and Bristol Counties. Our society was founded to preserve the history of this entire geographic area, but today we specialize in the city of Taunton and the surrounding towns that were once part of Taunton. Some categories of research that our archives and library contain are:

Published and unpublished family histories for Southeastern MA families (especially before 1850)

Vital Records for the Commonwealth of MA and the State of RI

Taunton Daily Gazette and other newspapers on microfilm (early 19^th century to present)

Taunton City Directories (from 1850 to present)

Mason Machine Works (textile machinery and locomotives)

Glenwood Range Co. and the stove industry

Taunton Police Records (late 19^th century)

Gen. Darius Nash Couch (Civil War) military and natural history

Taunton High School Cadet Corps and Yearbooks

Early Ironworks

Davol Glass Plate Negatives taken in Taunton and surrounding towns

Papers of Sen. John Parker

Rev. Samuel Hopkins Emery (author of The History of Taunton) diary and notebooks

GAR Post Records (Civil War)

Reed & Barton and the silver industry

Maps and atlases

Annual Holiday Displays on Taunton Green

Court Records

Wills, probate records, diaries, and early proprietor’s records

Decorative arts and architectural history

Over 5,000 postcards and 7,000 photographs

Follow this link to find out about our research by mail program and library.

Please contact the Society for more information, and thank you for your interest.