Local History Room
The Local History Room contains a broad range of documents and published materials on the history of Winchester, surrounding towns, and Massachusetts.
Access to these materials can be arranged through the Reference staff.
Research Guide
Thomas J. Michalak of the Winchester Historical Society has compiled an extensive research guide to help with the study of Winchester’s history.
Collections Guide
Print Collection
Secondary source materials cover a range of topics, including histories, genealogical research, military records, and some biographical materials. Materials focus on the town of Winchester, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, and most broadly New England.
Search the online catalog to discover specific items within the Local History Print Collection.
Town Collections
The town collections contain the following:
- Winchester residents lists (1901-2019)
- Winchester directories (1950-2012)
- Winchester town reports (1850-2009)
- Winchester town committee minutes
- Non-governmental organization reports
Microfilm
Microfilm editions of the following newspapers are maintained:
- Winchester Star (1883-2019)
See the digital editions. - Woburn Daily Times Chronicle (1995-2019)
Archival Center
The Winchester Archival Center, located in the lower level of Town Hall, is maintained by the town as a research center for historical collections of the town and the Winchester Historical Society. Its resources are much broader and deeper than those of the Winchester Public Library and should be consulted for any extensive research on Winchester. Many documents are available through the Archive’s catalog.
The Archival Center also maintains an online collection of resources to help you with your research.
Legacy Winchester Project
The Legacy Winchester Project seeks to both preserve and make readily
available the digitally recorded history of Winchester.
Videos are housed online with Internet Archive.