Thursday, September 11, 2014

The New Hampshire Historical Society- Library and Museum


The New Hampshire Historical Society Library is located at 30 Park Street in Concord, New Hampshire.  This is a premier spot for genealogical research, since the New Hampshire State Library is located right next door, and the Concord city public library is across the street!  You can hop from one library to the other easily if you need to look at different types of documents. The New Hampshire state vital records are a short drive away, too, at 71 Fruit Street.  

 This library is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9:30 am to 5pm.  You can call ahead and speak to one of the reference librarians and they will pull materials for you and have them ready for your visit. The card catalog is available online, and there are finding aids online, too. Non-members must pay a $7 day fee to use the research room. Full time students are free, and service members, veterans and their families are free from Memorial Day to Labor Day (courtesy of the MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families).   Fellowships for research projects are also available.

I have found some wonderful genealogical resources here.  There are records from all over New England, but of course, a plethora of stuff from New Hampshire. Check out the manuscript collections, because in the days before internet I never expected to find much but while browsing the old card catalog I found a  Wilkinson genealogy done by a distant cousin in the 1920s.  What serendipity!  There are also maps, town histories, and other goodies.

The New Hampshire Historical Society Library reading room


Items pulled from the library for the LOCKE family reunion 2013




If you can't get to the library in person, the staff can do research for you.  Research services are available online, by telephone or mail.  You can reach the staff at 603-856-9641 or at the research services web page http://www.nhhistory.org/research-services.html  


This gorgeous building was constructed in 1911 and financed by Edward Tuck (1842 - 1938).  It is a few blocks from exit 14 of Route 93, right across the street from the state capital building. Entrance to the building and the exhibits are free, the only charge is for non-members using the research room.  





The New Hampshire Historical Society Hamel Center is located a few blocks away from the library at 6 Eagle Square.  This building was the museum until earlier this year, and now serves as the collections management center.  Current exhibits are now in the library building, and there are always several online exhibitions at the website http://www.nhhistory.com/museum.html     There is also a link to the online catalog of museum collections for objects and finding aids for these images. 


New Hampshire Historical Society website  www.nhhistory.org
phone 603-856-0625

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http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-new-hampshire-historical-society.html

Copyright (c) 2014, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

5 comments:

  1. Lovely photos, and I sure would like to be in that reading room. Maybe I should take an hour? trip up there one of these days. I don't this Concord at all!

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    1. I'm sure you could do a much better blog post of this library, Barbara! You always remember to photograph the genealogy books!

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  2. Boy does this bring back memories! When I lived in Concord back in the '60s we used to visit this library and museum from time-to-time. Of course I was not yet into genealogy at that young age, but I loved libraries. I need to go back there one of these days. When I was in Concord in late March -- early April 2010 I was visiting the homes we lived in and taking photos of the houses and neighborhoods and schools. An old friend who still ives in Concord and I walked maybe 8 or more miles all around old haunts but she and I did not go into the library, State House or other places. Good excuse for another trip. ;-)

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  3. Oh this place looks just divine! Thanks for sharing.

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  4. Oh Em Gee, that is gorgeous! You just don't see buildings like this built anymore. And I'm with Barbara-- I want to be in the reading room!

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