Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

LOCAL HISTORY RESOURCES

The Hoosac Valley Collection for Local History was established 35 years ago at MCLA. Gradually, additional materials have been added, largely through donations.  The collection is not open for browsing, but individuals interested in the collection should contact Susan Denault, the library archivist, at 662-5325. Materials in the collection cannot be borrowed in person or through interlibrary loan. Below is a general list of materials in the Hoosac Valley Collection. Local history books in the collection can be searched through our online catalog at http://wmars.cwmars.org/search~S36. 

 

.  Historical atlases of Berkshire County (1858 (cd-rom) 1876, 1904)

.  Historical & modern maps (Sanborn Fire Insurance maps for Berkshire County, topographical maps)

.  Census materials (1790 bookform, microfilm – 1800-1920 for Berkshire County)

.  Published town, county and Mass. histories (not every town available)

.  Local newspaper clippings (people, places, events, college)

.  Local newspapers (microfilm – Transcript 1844-1921; Hoosac Valley News 1857-1896; Advocate – bound issues from the 1980’s-present)

.  Local area photographs - (historical), including the Randy Trabold Photograph Collection

.  Local publications (business, religious, historical, cultural)

.  Oral history interviews - (1970's, 1980's)

.  City directories (book form & microfilm – limited years)

.  Student papers (local topics)

.  Local architectural resources -(surveys, photographs, publications)

.  Blackinton family (copies of diaries, deeds, papers)

.  Hoosac Tunnel (original materials – newspapers, pamphlets, diagrams, photographs etc.)

.  Mt. Greylock (historical, annual reports, Greylock Glen materials)

.  Mohawk Trail (photographs, booklets, articles)

.  Sprague Electric (Sprague Logs, published materials, oral interviews)

.  Local mills (plans, entry books, histories, newspaper clippings, etc.)

.  Diaries, letters (misc.)

.  Ledgers (local businesses)

.  City Records (limited/older - pauper records, court records, annual reports, school & selectmen’s reports)

.  Various published historical resources (i.e. local authors, about local places, about local people such as Susan B. Anthony)

.  Historical postcards (local places)

.  Historical prints - bird’s eye views of North Adams & Adams

.  Berkshire County land records (18^th & 19^th c. original deeds)

.  Advertising cards

.  Cartes de visite

 

 

Compiled by Susan Denault - 2005

MCLA Reference Department