Archives & Manuscripts

Deed, Joseph Hawley to Samuel Bartlett, August 16, 1681. Historic Northampton (ID A.MD.16.8)

Historic Northampton holds a variety of documents, oral histories, images, maps, and digital media focused on the history of Northampton.  Historic Northampton  shares responsibility for stewardship of local history with Forbes Library and other local repositories.  Below is an overview of the types of archival materials at Historic Northampton.

17th-20th Century Documents

This is a collection of individual documents dating from the 17th through the 20th century. Types of materials include account books, journals, deeds, letters, wills, military documents, and more. The collection is organized by century. Many have been cataloged and can be searched or browsed in the online catalog:

Contact us for assistance with searching the catalog, or click “Submit Request” on any search results page to request more information or digital copies. 

Front of card shows images of silk worm, leaves, moths, and cocoon and reads: " Nonotuck Silk Co., Established 1838, Manufacturers of Corticelli Silk...."
Trade card for Nonotuck Silk Co., manufacturers of Corticelli Silk. Historic Northampton (ID 2021.36.1)

Subjects Collection

The Subjects collection is made up of ephemera and other printed materials and is organized by subject. Types of material include pamphlets, broadsides, newspapers, trade cards, maps, receipts, menus, postcards, and memorabilia.

View Subjects Collection list

Handwritten letter begins with "My Dear Husband"
Letter from Mary, Sarah, Ebenezer, & Almira Stetson, Brooklyn, Connecticut to their father James A. Stetson, Boston, Massachusetts, January 13, 1843 (page1). Historic Northampton (ID 2000.1.8)

Archival Collections

Much of Historic Northampton’s archives are organized in collections under individuals, families, organizations, and local businesses, including Northampton State Hospital, Northampton Pride, Pro-Brush Company, Charles Burleigh, and Stetson Family.

See Collection Highlights for more examples.

handwritten page excerpt from 18th century account book listing goods bought and sold, including several entried of Rum.
Page from Ezra Clark’s Account Book. Historic Northampton (ID no. A.A.17.2)

Bound Volumes

Account Books and Record Books
These include both local commercial ledgers, individual personal expenses, and other records in bound volumes, dating from the 18th to 20th century.

A variety of goods and transactions are represented, such as farming, blacksmithing, tavern keeping, coffin manufacturing, general stores, land settlements, and dowries. Some area businesses represented include Hebert Bros. Coal Co., Mt. Holyoke Hotel/Prospect House,  and E.J. Gare.

Most volumes are listed in the online catalog.
Diaries and journals
There are approximately 87 diaries and journals, ranging in date from the 18th to 20th century, including those of Joseph Clarke (1772); Solomon Stoddard (1814-1832); and members of the Parsons family, Shepherd family, Bliss family, and Burleigh family.
Books
Historic Northampton holds rare editions of local imprints, as well as a reference collection of books relating to Northampton history and our collections.
Newspapers and periodicals
Historic Northampton has selected issues of early local newspapers, including the Hampshire Gazette (1826-1838); Hampshire Daily Herald; and Northampton Courier. More complete runs of these papers, and others, are available at Forbes Library.
Scrapbooks
Scrapbooks created by individuals, families, and groups cover a wide range of topics.