A Guide to...Local History: Worcester & Beyond

Books (incl. Memoirs)

Books in Dinand about the history of New England generally will be located in the Mezzanine Stacks, roughly between call numbers F1 and F15. Don't forget to check the oversize section! Books on individual New England states are located as listed on the tabs for each state. 

Online Sources

Libraries to Visit

Census Records (U.S. & Local)

About the Federal U.S. Census: 

The Federal U.S. Census is taken every 10 years, beginning in 1790. These records are generally available online once released, with the exception of the 1890 census, almost all of which was destroyed in a fire. The release of detailed census data (i.e., the line by line records) operates on a "72 year" rule, meaning that data is released 72 years after the official date of a given census. The next release, of the 1950 census, is scheduled for 2032. 

In the 19th century, the federal census often included separate "schedules" covering topics like farmers, enslaved individuals, and veterans and their widows. These are usually organized separately from the main census when searching in databases. 

About the State Census: 

Some states also collected their own census data. These were usually also every 10 years, but offset from the federal schedule -- so for example, there might be a federal census in 1840 and 1850, and a state census in 1845 and 1855. The U.S. Census Bureau maintains information about surviving state census records.

Using Census Data: 

There are two ways of approaching census data. You can examine the line-by-line records to look for specific individuals, examine the names in specific towns, etc. Or, you can look at the data holistically to consider things like overall population size, demographics, etc. Typically, you would access census data in different ways to accomplish each of these purposes. 

Looking at Data:

Looking at Individual Records: 

Maps

Online Sources

Libraries to Visit

General Resources

Newspapers

Connecticut

'Connecticut' is an Algonquian word meaning "long river." The area that is now Connecticut was originally inhabited by multiple indigenous nations, including the Mahican, Minisink, Mohegan, Pequot, Nipmuc, and Qiruipi peoples. '

The first permanent European settlements were established in 1633. Connecticut is called the "Constitution State" because of its Fundamental Orders of 1639, said to be the first written democratic constitution. It became the 5th state in 1788. 
Sources: "American Indians in Connecticut, Native-Languages.org, accessed 26 July 2022, http://www.native-languages.org/connecticut.htm. "Early History," CT.gov, accessed 26 July 2022, https://portal.ct.gov/About/Early-History; "General Description and Facts," CT.gov, accessed 26 July 2022, https://portal.ct.gov/About/General-Description-and-Facts. 

Books: 

Books in Dinand about the history of Connecticut will generally be located in the Mezzanine Stacks between call numbers F91 and F105. Don't forget to check the oversize section! 

Newspapers & Periodicals:

The Connecticut Newspaper Project offers a lot of useful information on the history of newspapers in Connecticut. 

Political Sources:

Other Records & Resources:

Maine

The origin of Maine's name is not fully known, but it is thought to come from "the Main" or "Main Land" (as opposed to its various islands). The area that is now Maine was originally inhabited by multiple indigenous nations, including the Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, Abenaki and Penobscot peoples. The Micmac peoples later also migrated into what is now Maine. 

The first European settlement was established in 1607, but did not survive; some small settlements first took root in the 1630s. Much of Maine's territory was purchased by Massachusetts Bay Colony early on, and remained part of that state until Maine successfully petitioned to become the 23rd state in 1820. 

Sources: "Origin of Maine's Name," Maine State Library, accessed 26 July 2022, https://www.maine.gov/msl/maine/meorigin.htm; "American Indians in Maine, Native-Languages.org, accessed 26 July 2022, http://www.native-languages.org/maine.htm. Maine History Online, accessed 26 July 2022, https://www.mainememory.net/mho/. 

Books: 

Books in Dinand about the history of Maine will generally be located in the Mezzanine Stacks between call numbers F16 and F30. Don't forget to check the oversize section! 

Newspapers & Periodicals:

Political Sources:

Other Records & Resources:

New Hampshire

New Hampshire was named after the English county of Hampshire. The area that is now New Hampshire was originally inhabited by multiple indigenous nations, including the Abenaki and Pennacook peoples. 

The first European settlement was established in 1623. New Hampshire was originally named "North Virginia," then "New England" and finally "new Hampshire." It was under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts from 1698-1741. New Hampshire became the 9th state in 1788. 
Sources: "American Indians in New Hampshire," Native-Languages.org, accessed 26 July 2022, http://www.native-languages.org/hampshire.htm; "A Brief History of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Almanac," NH.gov, accessed 26 July 2022,  https://www.nh.gov/almanac/history.htm. 

Books: 

Books in Dinand about the history of New Hampshire will generally be located in the Mezzanine Stacks between call numbers F31 and F45. Don't forget to check the oversize section! 

Newspapers & Periodicals:

Political Sources:

Other Records & Resources:

Rhode Island

The area that is now Rhode Island was originally inhabited by multiple indigenous nations, including the Narragansett, Niantic, Nipmuc, Pequot, and Wampanoag peoples. The first permanent European settlement was established in 1636. Rhode Island became the 13th state in 1790. 

Until 2020, Rhode Island was fully known as "the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." 'Rhode Island' came either from a reference to the 'Isle of Rhodes, or from the Dutch 'Roodt Eylandt' meaning 'red island'; 'Providence Plantations' was drawn from the original Parliamentary Patent establishing a plantation colony there.

Sources: "American Indians in Rhode Island," Native-Languages.org, accessed 26 July 2022, http://www.native-languages.org/rhode.htm; "A Guide to Rhode Island Government & History," Rhode Island Secretary of State, accessed 26 July 2022, https://www.sos.ri.gov/assets/downloads/documents/RI_Activity_Book.pdf; "Historical Information," RI.gov, accessed 26 July 2022, https://www.ri.gov/facts/history.php; "U.S. Constitution," Rhode Island Department of State: Civics & Education, accessed 26 July 2022, https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/civics-and-education/for-educators/themed-collections/ri-and-us-constitution. 

Books: 

Books in Dinand about the history of Rhode Island will generally be located in the Mezzanine Stacks between call numbers F76 and F90. Don't forget to check the oversize section! 

Newspapers & Periodicals:

Political Sources:

Other Records & Resources:

Vermont

The name 'Vermont' comes from the French 'vert mont,' which means 'green mountain.' The area that is now Vermont was originally inhabited by multiple indigenous nations, including the Abenaki, Mohican and Massachusett peoples. 

The first European settlement was established by the French in 1666, but it was later abandoned; the first permanent European settlement was not established until 1724. At the time, what is now Vermont was disputed between New Hampshire and New York. Vermont proclaimed itself an independent territory in 1777 and became the 14th state in 1791. 

Sources: "American Indians in Vermont" Native-Languages.org, accessed 26 July 2022, http://www.native-languages.org/vermont.htm; "Vermont Facts & FAQ," Vermont.com, accessed 26 July 2022, https://www.vermont.com/faq.cfm. 

Books: 

Books in Dinand about the history of Vermont will generally be located in the Mezzanine Stacks between call numbers F46 and F60. Don't forget to check the oversize section! 

Newspapers & Periodicals:

Political Sources:

Other Records & Resources: