Holyoke History Room

Home
Holyoke Public Library
Borrowing Guidelines
Library Services
Next Reads Electronic Newsletter
Web Quick Guide
Children's Area
Community Alerts
Holyoke History Room
Newsletters
Friends of the Library
Tell Me More
Submit a Question

 

Holyoke History Room

Temporary Location
Holyoke Community College
Library, 204 Donahue
303 Homestead Avenue
Holyoke, MA 01040
413-552-2842.

Curator/Archivist: Penni Martorell

Brochure (pdf download with Acrobat Reader)

General Hours
Call First for exact hours
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Closed Wednesdays

When HCC is in session
Monday Evenings 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday Hours may be arranged by appointment
between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (except during the summer)

General Info Access to Materials Research Requests Donations
Collection Holdings Maps, Events, Blog Obituary Requests Birth, Death, Marriage Certificates
Holyoke Online Resources Genealogy Tools & Resources Beginners' Resources Specialized Resources

General

The Holyoke Public Library History Room & Archive houses extensive collections that focus on Holyoke’s unique history as it has developed as a planned city.  The collections are available and preserved for use in scholarly and genealogical research A copier is available to visitors and many items can be scanned to email. The room is open 20 hours a week and there is one Reference Librarian and two volunteers. Exhibits and displays are coordinated at the Holyoke Public Library and rotate quarterly.

Materials

The materials in the History Room & Archive are non-circulating. Photocopying or scanning of selected materials is available to patrons visiting the facility at a minimal cost ($0.25/copy or microfilm print). Patrons are asked to bring their own writing materials with them (laptops, notepads, pencils, etc…) Wireless access to the internet is available. Please, No Pens, Food, Drinks or Chewing Gum.  Visitors are required to register in guestbook with a valid ID.

Research Requests

Research correspondence and inquiries concerning the collection should be directed to the Curator of the History Room & Archive. Research requests take on average 7-14 days depending on the complexity of the request. We ask for specific dates, names, spellings. Vague requests are difficult to process and result in delays. We researchers to be patient as the room is open 20 hours a week.
Obituary requests require full name, and exact date of death. As part of a public library there is no charge for information requests only for copies. (photocopies $0.25/each; microfilm prints $0.25/each).  Research may be requested by e-mail, phone, 413-552-2842, fax 413-532-4230, or regular mail to Holyoke Public Library, 335 Maple Street, Holyoke, MA 01040.

If you are looking for Vital Records (Birth Certificates, Death Certificates, or Marriage Certificates) please contact:
Holyoke City Clerk, Susan Egan
536 Dwight Street, Holyoke, MA 01040
Phone: 413-322-5520 or Fax: 322-5521
These requests must be made in writing and take 10-14 days to process.

Obituary Requests

These requests require full name, and exact date of death. As part of a public library there is no charge for information requests only for copies (photocopies $0.25/each, microfilm prints $0.25/each). All donations are greatly appreciated, however, and help to keep the History Room running.

Donations

The History Room is interested in acquiring manuscript material, photographs and other organizational records from individuals, families, businesses, and other organizations associated with Holyoke, MA or the Pioneer Valley. Donated materials must be clean of mildew; physically stable; and fall within our Collecting policy. The donation will be discussed with the donor and reviewed by the curator and, if accepted, become the property of the Holyoke Public Library History Room & Archive and will be made publicly available for research. The Archivist/Curator is not able to supply any appraisal value to donated items. This must be done by a professional appraiser for the donee.

All cash donations, and gifts-in-kind are greatly appreciated as well, and help keep the History Room functioning.


Holyoke History Online Resources

Wistariahurst Museum
Holyoke History through the Skinner Family records

Explore Western Massachusetts
Private Blog about Historic Western Massachusetts

Mount Tom Billy Goat
Private Blog about Hiking on Mount Tom

Passport Holyoke
Listing of Cultural and Arts Organizations in Holyoke that are trying to revive Holyoke as a cultural visitors center

Holyoke History
Private blog with lots of photos.

 
Genealogy Online Resources Beginner's Guides
American Family Immigration History Center
Ancestry.com
FamilySearch
GeneaNet
National Genealogical Society
Family Tree Searcher
Ancestors - PBS
Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites
Roots Web
US GenWeb
Puerto Rico Genealogy Resource Center
Beginner's Guide to Family History Research
Treasure Maps Genealogy
Genealogy: Advice for Effective Searchers
Puerto Rican/Hispanic Genealogical Society Inc
La Genealogia de Puerto Rico
 
Specialized Sources
AdoptionRegistry.com
African Ancestored Genealogy
Ellis Island Family History Center
Jewish Genealogy
Native American Records at National Archives
Puerto Rico Genealogical Sites

Our Temporary Location

The History Room and Archive possesses many invaluable and irreplaceable resources regarding the history of Holyoke and surrounding communities.  Due to environmental problems within our 106 year old building, the preservation of these historical records and original  documents has become increasingly difficult. 

To avoid depositing this valuable collection in inaccessible off site storage, the Library Trustees have accepted the gracious offer of suitable space in the Holyoke Community College Library where the Public Library’s Historical Collection will continue to be available for research. The collection will remain at the College Library, until the adverse conditions in our Maple Street building can be addressed.  At that time the collection will return to its home in the Holyoke Public Library.

The History Room is now open at the College on a schedule of 20 hours each week. Hours have been planned to permit access for research at various times of the day to accommodate schedules of patrons who have different work commitments.  Please call 413-552-2842 or email martorellp@ci.holyoke.ma.us for hours.

Holyoke History Room

Home | Holyoke Public Library | Borrowing Guidelines | Library Services | Next Reads Electronic Newsletter | Web Quick Guide | Children's Area | Community Alerts | Holyoke History Room | Newsletters | Friends of the Library | Tell Me More | Submit a Question

 Copyright 1997-2005 Holyoke Public Library Corporation.
While we have exercised care in providing information, including links to websites,
no guarantee as to its accuracy, timeliness or applicability can be or is made.

For problems or questions regarding this web contact [Project Email].
Last updated: 02/20/09.