Local Historical Resources

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Local Historical Resources

• Stephen Marini

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The Historical Society is located at the former
Field Primary School building, (behind City Hall)
17 School Street, Leominster, Massachusetts.
We welcome community use of the Society's
resources for research, and all are welcome to
view exhibits at the Society Museum.
The Current exhibit highlights a rare collection
of letters between Civil War soldier Charles T.
Brown and his dear wife Sarah, a Leominster
teacher. The letters, along with other rare
artifacts and relics of war on display will give
you a glimpse into the lives of our brave
ancestors from Leominster from both the
perspective of the battlefield and the home
front.
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Leominster Historical SocietyResources

• Ongoing Activity 1
• Legacy Project students are working with the
  Society to learn historical research techniques.
  Each high school student may conduct research
  along with teacher scholars in an area of
  interest. 14 students have worked with the
  Society to date. Trustee David Wilson coordinates
  efforts between the Society and the High School
  scholars.

Ongoing Activity 2 Society members continue
their efforts as they work together with
community members on "Combing Through
Leominster's History", a book commissioned by the
Mayor to bring Leominster's history up to date.
The last history written was Wilder's "History of
Leominster" published in 1850. "Combing"  will
look at the development of industry and the
subsequent growth that propelled Leominster onto
the national stage of the 20th century.
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Leominster Historical SocietyClassroom
Connection Opportunity

• The Legacy Project combined with the "Combing
  Through Leominster's History project could be
  used to provide students with a project related
  to the economic development of the region. The
  records at the society include details of on many
  companies that grew from cottage industries that
  began in the region. Tracing the development of
  industries from colonial times to present day are
  possible using the rich resources of the
  societies industrial collection. This activity
  would allow students to work with source
  documents and artifacts to interpret and document
  and economic history of the local region.

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• FITCHBURG HISTORICAL SOCIETY
• RESEARCH POLICY
• The Fitchburg Historical Society maintains a
  research library and archives at its headquarters
  at 50 Grove Street. The collection focuses on all
  aspects of the history of Fitchburg and its
  citizens, businesses, and churches. Material does
  not circulate but photocopying is available at
  the discretion of museum staff. Laptop computers
  are allowed.
• Please fill out the RESEARCH REQUEST FORM or the
  GENEALOGY REQUEST FORM and return it to the
  Fitchburg Historical Society. The more
  information you provide us, the easier the search
  will be.
• HOURS The Historical Society is open to the
  public" during January and February Wednesdays
  10-6 and Thursdays 10-4, and the first two
  Saturdays of each month 10-1 1. We are closed on
  holidays. 2. If you are coming from a distance,
  or you have an unusual request, it would be
  helpful to call ahead to be sure we can have the
  resources you need for research at hand when you
  arrive."
• FEES There is a 10 fee for patrons to use the
  research library. Students and members of the
  Fitchburg Historical Society are free.
  (Membership in the Historical Society begins at
  20 per year for individuals.) Inquiries about
  our holdings and ready-reference questions will
  be answered without charge.
• PHOTOCOPY RATES 0.15 per page here, 0.25 per
  page for mailed items.
• RESEARCH BY STAFF There is a 20 per hour fee
  for research conducted by museum staff, estimated
  by the quarter hour. Research fees apply whether
  or not any relevant information is found. If you
  have a limit on the amount of time you want to
  pay for, please let us know. We will include the
  bill with the results of the research.

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Fitchburg Historical Society Resources
TROLLEY TOURS AND WALKING TOURS These are guided
tours of Fitchburg while riding in a trolley
provided by MART. Each tour focuses on a theme.
Fee is determined by the length of the trip.
Arrangements must be made ahead of time. Groups
limited to 30.               
                       VIDEO OF FITCHBURG This
half hour videotape is a general introduction to
the history of Fitchburg. Can be viewed at the
Historical Society headquarters during open hours.
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Fitchburg Historical SocietyClassroom Connection
Opportunity

• Building on the tours that are already available
  students could visit sites and buildings that
  were used as businesses. These sites would be
  from colonial through present day and would be
  able to be researched further utilizing source
  documents, maps and artifacts from the societies
  collections.

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Resources http//www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/

Education is essential to the continuation of our
free democracy, and Colonial Williamsburg
believes that history should be the very core of
that education. Understanding our rich American
history and heritage prepares citizens to
participate in the democratic process - a process
that sustains the ideals of freedom and equality
immortalized by this nations founders.
Colonial Williamsburg supports students,
teachers, and educators across the country with
rich interactive resources live electronic
field trips on-line glossaries and maps lesson
plans videos hands-on activity kits and a
week-long on-site teacher institute.
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Colonial WilliamsburgClassroom Connection
Opportunity

• Live online Field Trips http//www.colonialwillia
  msburg.org/history/teaching/index.cfm
• Tour the TownDiscover online the
  18th-century town of Colonial Williamsburg. Enter
  the Capitol, the Governors Palace, the
  Courthouse, the Magazine, trade shops and many
  more establishments to learn about the birth
  place of the American Revolution. Mapping
  Colonial AmericaExplore Colonial Williamsburgs
  online mapping exhibit that relates to colonial
  discovery, exploration, boundary disputes,
  navigation, trade, the French and Indian War, and
  the Revolutionary War.

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American Economic History Sites

• Money in North American History
• http//www.ex.ac.uk/RDavies/arian/northamerica.ht
  ml
• Banking in Early America
• http//www.collegenews.org/x2513.xml
• Early American Economic Thought
• http//www.pickeringchatto.com/americaneconomy.htm

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American Economic History Sites

• Economic History Book Listing
• http//www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/books/EconomicHi
  story.htm
• British - American Commerce
• http//www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook26.html
  
• Economics Views of American History
• http//www.questia.com/Index.jsp?CRIDu_s_economic
  _historyOFFIDse1KEYamerican_economic_history