FEE SCHEDULE AND PROCEDURES FOR RESEARCH AT

THE OLD COLONY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Taunton, Massachusetts

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Research by Mail 

MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS

$15.00 per hour, with a one-hour minimum, plus 25c per photocopy

 

Patron’s authorization of the research fee is requested to accompany research projects; we will invoice patrons for services as rendered. Generally, inquiries require approximately one to two hours of investigation.

 

Whenever possible, we encourage patrons to visit the Society and undertake their own research. In the event that this is not possible, we are able to conduct limited amounts of genealogical research for patrons by mail.

 

When submitting a request, please be sure to supply all pertinent details, including names, dates and especially places, since events (birth, marriage, death) in Massachusetts are recorded in the town/city in which they occur.

 

Special Research Collections:

 

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. 

 

7,000+ volume, non-circulating library, containing the following:

 

Basic genealogical reference materials, (Torrey’s New England Marriages…, Savage’s Genealogical Dictionary…, Round’s Abstracts of Bristol County Probate Records….

 

Published Vital Records (Massachusetts prior to 1850), some unpublished records

Federal Massachusetts Census Indices, 1810-1850

Published family genealogies

Military reference works (Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors… [Revolutionary and Civil Wars] Regimental histories)

Town/city/county histories

Taunton City Directories, 1850 to the present

Maps and Atlases (Bristol County, Taunton)

Published and unpublished family histories for Southeastern MA families (especially before 1850)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 (1848-2001)

Mormon IGI on microfiche for all New England states, assorted others and Canada

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 19th 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

Rev. Wilton E. Cross Collection of photographs, postcards, books and papers

John Daggett Collection (of Attleborough) manuscripts

GAR Post Records from Taunton (Civil War)

Sons of Union Veterans Post Records from Taunton

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

 

Equipment                           

Microform reader/printer (Copies 25 c each)

Microfiche reader

Photocopying machine (staff operated)

 

Fees                           

Genealogical research on premises: $7.00 per day

(Society members no charge)

All other research $4.00 per day

Students researching assigned projects: no charge

 

Photocopy Rates                 

Non-Members:         25c per page

Members:                  15c per page

Students:                    15c per page

Acid-free paper:       35c per page

(Sales Tax included where applicable)

 

The Society reserves the right to refuse to duplicate any historical material it deems too fragile to undergo the photocopying process.

 

The reproduction of entire books is discouraged; however, arrangements on a case by case basis may be made with the Director to duplicate uncopyrighted works, contingent upon staff schedules. There is a labor charge for this service.

 

Please Note                          

We regret that we are unable to provide instruction in genealogical techniques. However, genealogical “how to” reference books are available.  Library staff will gladly assist patrons in locating source material from the Society’s collections on premises.  A list of local professional genealogists is available upon request.

 

Please note that our records begin with the immigrant ancestor, and do not generally follow a family once it leaves the area.

 

The Society welcomes donations of patrons’ completed work to add to our files for the benefit of future researchers.