Life From The Roots

The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.

Sunday, January 14, 2024

Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence, Massachusetts -- (See The Resources for Genealogists)

Lawrence Public Library

51 Lawrence St, Lawrence, MA 01841
Phone: (978) 620-3600
https://www.lawrencepl.org/

Looking down on the front parking area.

I'm taking a photo of the Library with the Lawrence High School behind me (and in front).

Reference Desk on the main floor. Children's area to the right.

Miscellaneous reading rooms, all large with huge windows.

I was so impressed with the size of the room and the number of books about Lawrence. Since I was there on a Saturday, I shouldn't have been in this room because it was closed. However, a reference librarian took heart and unlocked the door just so I could take photos on May 28, 2022.

How I love seeing old card catalog boxes. I didn't look in to see if they were written on.

Overlooking the huge Campagnone Common. Opposite the library is the city hall.

About 20 years ago I spent quite a bit of time in the Clerk's Office alone pulling 15 vital record cards for the clerk to type up for me. It was the only place I was able to manually look through all their records. "You are invited to conduct record searches or to engage someone on your behalf to search the vital records maintained in the Office of the City Clerk." See: https://www.cityoflawrence.com/338/Genealogy-Searches

Research requests can be directed to Reference Librarian & Special Collections Archivist, Lindsey L. Gazlay on the second floor of the main library.

51 Lawrence St. Lawrence, MA 01841

lgazlay@cityoflawrence.com

978-620-3615

Collections

Books and serials encompassing these topics:
- Catholicism
- Genealogy
- History of the United States with an emphasis on New England
- Labor, textiles, and textile history
Library of the Pacific Mills
- Remains of a library once used by employees of the mill and given to the Library
Posters of World War I and II
Lawrence Public Library collection on Digital Commonwealth
Lawrence Public Library collection on the Internet Archive, including Lawrence High School yearbooks

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Pelham Public adcxLibrary, Pelham, New Hampshire -- See The Resources for Genealogists

The Pelham Public Library in New Hampshire was the first library I visited in over three years. I chose this because I learned it was new, I knew the assistant director and it wasn't far from my Massachusetts residence, I knew the area. Photos taken on April 18, 2022.

Since Pelham is a small town, 14,000 people in 2018. I didn't expect the library to have a lot in the way of history/genealogy books. Below are what I found. I was told the Historical Society was active and had a lot of material. However, it was closed on this day.

Pelham Public Library

24 Village Green

Pelham, New Hampshire 03076

Phone: (603) 635-7581

The books are kept in the cabinet shown below. It is very near the reference desk as you enter the building.

The library used to be in the building that is now the Pelham Historical Society.

The website is: https://pelhamhistory.org/

Friday, January 12, 2024

Flint Public Library, Middleton, Essex Co., Massachusetts -- See The Resources for Genealogists

Flint Public Library

1 S Main St, Middleton, MA

Phone: (978) 774-8132

https://flintlibrary.org/

This lovely library was built in 1889, and in 2006 there was an expansion. It is the only library I know of that is closed on Saturday but is open on Sunday. So, I went on an early spring Sunday and was very busy. Oh, I love old libraries and stained glass, so I was very happy I visited on April 24, 2022.

I loved the stained glass on the main floor reading rooms.

The balcony is for the local history collection. (Shown below.)

Local History in the Library

The library houses its local history collection on the balcony, where these items may be browsed. This collection includes:

Masconomet Regional High School Yearbooks, 1960-present
issues of The Tri-Town Transcript, 1989-present
issues of The Village Reporter, 1998-2009
issues of The Town Crossing, 2007
books by Middleton authors
a selection of historic maps of Middleton
a variety of historic books from and about Middleton, Essex County, and Massachusetts

Vital Records for Middleton may be viewed upon request.

A group of dedicated volunteers is working on compiling binders of photographs, articles, and other sources that relate to various aspects of the history of Middleton. These binders are available to look at in the library, upon request. The topics include: