The Digital Library at Middleborough Public Library

Index of Middleborough History Information Resources available at Middleborough Public Library

This picture is believed to show Count Magri, the second husband of Mrs. Tom Thumb, who spent his later years as a well-known Middleborough citizen.

Resource Overview

Are you curious about the history of your town, but don't know where to start looking for information? Here's a brief guide to the basic resources for your search.

  1. The first place to look should always be the two volumes of The History of the Town of Middleborough, Massachusetts (volume one by Thomas Weston, volume two by Mertie Romaine). The first volume covers the town from early settlement to 1905; the second volume from 1905 to 1965. Copies of both volumes may be checked out of the library.
  2. Information about people prior to 1850 can be found in the two volumes of the Vital Records of Middleborough. These records are available both at the Library and online in the Digital Library. The online record may be searched by births, deaths, and marriages listed by both the man's and woman's name.
  3. Information about people from 1850 - 1944 may also be found in the two volumes of the Vital Records of Middleborough. These records are available both at the Library and online in the Digital Library. The online record may be searched by births, deaths, and marriages listed by both the man's and woman's name.
  4. Burial information about Middleboro citizens can be found in Old Cemeteries of Southeastern Massachusetts available online. Text copies are also available at the Library for check out.
  5. General information about town government, departments and finances can be found in the Town Reports ( 1849 - present). Ask to see these at the Library Reference Desk.
  6. Addresses of residents can be found in the Street Lists which cover from 1924 to the present. There are also commercial street directories covering some years between 1895 and 1911. Ask about all of these at the Reference Desk.
  7. Pictures of historic Middleborough's buildings and events can be found in Volume One and Volume Two of the Thompson Slide Collection. You can also borrow or purchase a CD version for your home computer or download them from our website.
  8. Pictures and essays on various features of historic Middleborough can be found in the collected issues of the Middleborough Antiquarian. Ask for help with this at the Reference Desk. The Antiquarian is also available on the public access computers on the Main Floor, and copies of the pages can be printed.
  9. Information about the history of the cranberry industry in Southeast Massachusetts is kept in the locked cabinets of the Cranberry Collection located in the Genealogy Room. Please see the Reference Librarian for access to this special collection. A limited selection of items from this collection is also available online.
  10. Information about select houses and historic buildings in town is available in the Middleboro Historic House Survey. This information indexed by street address. Ask at the Reference Desk for access.
  11. Middleboro Memorial High School Yearbooks are available to look at in the building only. You may ask for these at the Reference Desk.
  12. Past issues of The Middleboro Gazette are available on microfilm at the Library. As part of an ongoing index project, the paper is indexed in detail from 1852 to 1868 and from 1905 to 1920. The paper is indexed by people, places, subjects and events of note. The index is available online and may be searched by date as follows:
    1. 1852 - 1868
    2. 1905 - 1909
    3. 1910 - 1914
    4. 1915 - 1919
    5. 1920 - 1924
  13. A print copy of the index covering 1852 to 1868 only is available at the Reference Desk.

Reference File

Specific topics pertaining to Middleboro (such as bylaws, census, building projects, statistics) are located in the Reference File. Please ask at the Reference Desk for whatever you would like to examine. The complete list of contents in each folder follows.

Drawer One

  1. Zoning by-laws
  2. Zoning By-Law Amendments
  3. Zoning Map for 1971
  4. General Bylaws
  5. General Use District Study & Planning Board Rules
  6. History of the First Church
  7. Cost of Community Services brochure
  8. 1970/1981/1984 Monographs & 1980 Census Data
  9. 1990 Monograph & 1990 Census Data
  10. Latitude and Longitude and Elevation of town center
  11. Maps (historical)
  12. Topographical Atlas (see 40a,b,c,d for Middleboro)
  13. Town Meeting Primer/Finance Committee Goals
  14. Town Charter
  15. Pratt Farm information
  16. Archaeology Museum information
  17. Middleboro Historical Museum
  18. The History of our Town Hall
  19. Lakeville Hospital (contact person)
  20. Old Commemorative booklets (from various organizations)
  21. Commuter Rail returns to Middleboro (articles)
  22. Water Quality information
  23. Century Fund
  24. 300th Celebration booklets
  25. Proposed new police station information sheet
  26. In the rear of Drawer 1 are multiple copies of:
    1. Special Historical Supplements to the Gazette
    2. HOMETOWN Magazines (published 1987-1988)
    3. SRPDD Fact Books 1993
    4. Town Open Space Plans 1974 & 1987
    5. Town Master Plans 1969

Drawer Two

  1. Traffic data/patterns from 1972
  2. Order of Red Men, Middleboro Chapter historical article
  3. School District Report Card 2003 (4 copies)
  4. G&E Annual Reports/Forecasts
  5. Middleboro ADA compliance 1992
  6. Down Streetscape Plan 1998
  7. Oliver Mill Park Plan 2000
  8. Maxim Trucks booklet by Sass, Maxim photo
  9. Nemasket River Shoreline Survey 2003
  10. Biography of Charlotte Mitchell, Wampanoag
  11. Environmental Site Assessment Washburn Mills(also 36a, 36b)
  12. Middleboro Veterans Council projects and articles
  13. Middleboro Housing Authority plan 200-2004
  14. COA Painting exhibit 1998
  15. Washburn Papers background
  16. Library Centennial Booklets
  17. National Register Nominations only
  18. National Register How-to-File
  19. National Register Drafts for Center, 3 copies
  20. Deborah Sampson information gathered by Brickell
  21. In the rear of Drawer 2 are:
    1. Town G&E Board Meeting Minutes going back to 1995
    2. Town Selectmens' Meeting Minutes 2001-2002

Drawer Three

  1. The Middleboro "ALS Cluster" files from the 1980's. This material is divided into folders labeled as follows:
    1. List of the persons involved
    2. Maps
    3. Correspondence
    4. Articles
    5. Grant information
    6. Environmental history
    7. Progress reports
  2. Middleboro Street Renumbering lists
  3. Rear Section: Initial Site assessment & Environmental Impacts for the Oak Point Project Phase One