Pollard / Lowell Memorial Library, Lowell, Massachusetts

Pollard Memorial Library
401 Merrimack St.
Lowell, MA. 01852

(978) 674-4120 (press 5)

Genealogy overview: https://lowelllibrary.org/research/genealogy/

All reference materials are located on the second floor.

Genealogies are located in this section. Reference books are in another area, and the city directories are near the reference librarian. There is a genealogist librarian, and if you are lucky, she might be working the time you are there. On September 17, 2017, the Lowell Sun newspaper wrote an article about the above painting, Lee's Surrender.

Hallway and stairs.

There is a separate room with readers, I believe there are 2-3.
(Reflection on screen shows the street behind.)

The film is located in the above file cabinets.

Permission granted to take the photos above. (April 2012, June 2014)

Birth index from 1915-1955; Marriage Index from 1901-1950; Death Index from 1876-1934 from local newspapers were prepared by a dedicated genealogist/volunteer Shirley E. (Johnson) Rathbun in 1999 and are stored on the above shelf.

Stained glass window looks quite different with light shining on it at night.

Photos below taken from the 2nd floor.

In 2016 I wrote another blog about doing Lowell research at another location in the city. I wrote: "Patrick J. Mogan Cultural Center) is maintained by the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The building is owned by the Lowell National Historical Park. In the building are also office space, restrooms, and the entrance to the Mill Girls and Immigrants Exhibit (see 3rd picture for a full picture of the building). There is no close parking, but a block away there is on-street parking with meters and a parking garage on John Street. During the summer and class breaks is the very best time to use this library because school is out (a 4,000 student high school is a block away), and parking could be tight." To see my photos and read more information, see: Doing Genealogy in Lowell, Massachusetts? Here is Help.

Fuller Gardens, No. Hampton, New Hampshire

Fuller Gardens 

10 Willow Avenue,

North Hampton, NH 03862 

The Fuller Gardens located almost on the Atlantic Coast in North Hampton, New Hampshire is well known for its superior rose garden. Below are some of the hundred or more photos I took, plus statues. If you love roses, this is a place for you! The Fuller name is well-known in this area, and not too far from the garden is the Fuller Farm where thoroughbred horses might be seen. https://www.fullergardens.org/about-fuller-gardens/

If you lived anywhere near Boston or the coast of New Hampshire, you heard of Peter Fuller in the 60s. He was bigger than life, especially when his horse Dancer's Image won the Kentucky Derby. There aren't a lot of horse owners in this area, this area isn't like Kentucky or Virginia, even so, his farm Runnymeade Farm Racing Stables, is a little over a mile from the Atlantic Ocean, in full view from the end of his road. (See map below.)

Peter D. Fuller Dies at 89; Had to Return Derby Purse

 (See the New York Times obituary.)

Help, Please Tell Me Which Surnames You'd Like to See for Surname Saturday

Time flies, and it doesn't seem possible that I am close to posting my 100th different surname on my blog (see right-hand side for listings under Surname). There was never a rhyme or reason for the ones I selected first, except in the beginning when I chose my brick wall surnames, my great-grandparents surnames and those of which I had a lot of information. Now, I'm needing a little help, because I have no idea which ones can possibly help you. Since this is basically a New England blog, that is why I centered on my Connecticut and Massachusetts names. On my list below, I'm including a few New York and New Jersey lines (most are my Dutch lines). I don't want to list every surname in my tree, there has to be an end, and there will be with your help.


If you feel like it, please let me know which surnames you'd like to see, if any, perhaps just write the surname in the comments section. 


MASSACHUSETTS


FELLOWS
RAND
SIMMONS
SNOW
SUMNER
WINN
WOODWARD




CONNECTICUT




GOODSELL
GRISWOLD
LEWIS
MITCHELL
SILL
STANLEY
TURNER
WHITTELSEY




NEW JERSEY


FIELD
VAN ANGLEN (and New York)




NEW YORK


CRISPEL
FORT
HUYCK
VAN WICKLEN

Reviewing a Book for Jennifer Holik

A book review is something I’ve never done, but when I won a book, Branching Out: Kids Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 1-15 by Jennifer Holik of http://blog.generationsbiz.com/ I wrote and told her I’d be happy to write a review. In addition, I’d prefer her PDF version and not the hard copy. When I subscribed to her blog, I hadn’t known there was a contest to win this book, so I was quite surprised to learn I was the winner.

How do I write a review? Is it the same as a critique? I’m not sure, but critiques always seem so negative, so I’ll give my thoughts.

The things that came to mind after I finished reading the 65 pages were, there is a lot of information. And, it isn't just for high school students; in my opinion, this is a perfect book for those who home-school their older children or even somebody teaching a small group of scouts or young adults who are interested in their family history.

There are a lot of reading assignments as well as hands-on projects. It might be noted, however, the students have to have access to four other books, and a computer, in addition to Jennifer’s book.

It is apparent that Jennifer put in a huge amount of time and effort into her book. In addition, she has other books in this vein, covering other grades, and a new one for adults. Please see her blog at http://blog.generationsbiz.com/ for further information. Thanks Jennifer, I enjoyed receiving and reading your book.

Tennis Anybody? Wordless Wednesday

My mother and her sister in their back yard. Probably early 1930s.