Local History Resources
Whitinsville Social Library Historical Room is open via appointment and every Wednesday afternoon from 2-3.
Our not-yet-inventoried collection includes books, photographs, maps, pamphlets, ephemera, and artifacts. Some of the non-unique items (like mass produced books) have been cataloged. Search the library's catalog.
Researching the History of Your House and Genealogy in Northbridge: List of online resources for finding more information about the history of your home or family in the town of Northbridge.
The library has some issues of the Northbridge High School yearbook (The Ram). See here for list of years. Northbridge High School also has copies of yearbooks including some electronically and some for purchase. Contact NHS for more info.
The following links give electronic access to library materials from Whitinsville Social Library's Historical Collection and Internet Archive.
- "Historic Sidelights": Peter Hackett's Blackstone Valley Tribune columns published in 1958, 1967-1981. Hackett's 770 columns highlight the history of the Blackstone Valley.
- News From Home: Newspaper published by Whitin Machine Works and sent to community members serving during World War II.
- Whitinsville Social Library Collection: Items that pertain to the library as an institution. Includes The First Hundred Years of The Whitinsville Social Library written by Josephine C. Balmer in 1944.
- Town of Northbridge Collection: Items in this collection contain documents, photos and other historical items that pertain to the town of Northbridge, Massachusetts, established in 1775. Currently includes 18 items. Has scans of Old Friends and New, a photobook by by Jane Dudley and William A. Emerson in 1906, and scans of Town of Northbridge Bicentennial Commemorative Journal, 1772-1972.
- Dion Scrapbooks: Newspaper columns collected by Genevieve Dion Brady and Marion Dion Sacco which document the details of the lives of Linwood residents between 1933-1951.
- Northbridge Service Men's Album: List of service men and women from Northbridge who served between 1941-1945.
- Whitin Spindles: A company periodical published by Whitin Machine Works.
- In This Quiet Valley: A pictorial history of the conversion to and the production of War products by the Whitin Machine Works during the years of 1941 to 1945.
More Historical Resources:
- Northbridge Historical Society maintains a local history collection
- Massachusetts Vital Records Before 1850: American Ancestors
- Articles on Northbridge History by Don Gosselin
- Northbridge resources available on Google Books
- Sanborn maps of Whitinsville from 1903, 1910 and 1917 via Library of Congress
- Whitin Machine Works resources available on Google Books
- Whitin Machine Works records in Baker Library Catalog, Harvard University: Finding aid details contents of Harvard's document collection on Whitin Machine Works.
- News From Home - Newsletter sent to company's service men and women around the world during WWII. WSL has original letters from recipients thanking WMW.
- Heritage Quest: A state provided database with a focus on genealogical research.
- American Ancestors by the New England Historic Genealogical Society
- John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
- Digital Commonwealth: Explore historical collections from libraries, museums, and archives across Massachusetts
- Worcester Public Library Local History & Genealogy
- Whitinsville, Northbridge Walking Tour from the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
- Northbridge Town Clerk's Office: request birth, marriage, and death certificates
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System: MACRIS allows you to search the Massachusetts Historical Commission database for information on historic properties and areas in the Commonwealth.
- Find A Grave: Find burial and other final disposition information for people. Information generally includes birth, death and burial information and may include pictures, biographies, family information and more.
- Ancestors and Kindred: A Whitin family genealogy written by Cora Berry Whitin and privately published in 1929.
- Heritage Hub: Collection of U.S. obituaries and death notices for genealogical research, 1704 - today. Requires WSL library card to access.