Norwood Historical Society Library

The Norwood Historical Society has an exceptional collection of books. Donated by the citizens of Norwood, our library contains a wonderful collection of local, genealogical, and historical information, and some are listed here. We also have books on topics relating to American wars (pre-World War II) and educational (school) books from the mid-1800s, world histories, and atlases.

We are happy to have you come to our library to conduct research. Please make an appointment, and let us know what books you are interested in seeing, and/or the topic you are researching, and we will make sure those books are waiting for you in our research room.

Information on Norwood:

• Norwood Town reports from 1872-1933
• Old Farmer’s Almanac from 1788-1854; 1874-1931; 1897-1934
• Fiftieth Anniversary of the Town of Norwood
• Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Norwood Board of Trade, by William T. Whedon
• Norwood Polls & Estates, 1872-1927
• Norwood By-Laws, 1872
• Norwood School Department Reports, 1925 & 1927
• Norwood Street Lists, 1926
• Norwood & Walpole residents & business directories 1886-1933
• Norwood, by Patricia Fanning
• Norwood, Images of America
• South Norwood, Images of America
• The Influenza Epidemic, by Patricia Fanning
• Mapping Norwood, Charles Fanning
• Centennial celebration book
• Bound copies of the Norwood Messenger

In addition, we have books and pamphlets about local clubs, businesses, churches, and other organizations, just ask!

Local Genealogy:

Fred Holland Day collected and compiled histories on a vast array of Norwood’s founding families. Most of these genealogies are still in his original folders and notebooks. So if you are looking for information on a Norwood family, please ask and we will check our collection. We also maintain a collection of published genealogies:

• Henry Adams Family, Braintree
• Thomas Boyden
• John Dwight of Dedham, Vol 1 & 2
• Plimpton Genealogy
• Mayflower Index Vol. 1 & 2

Norfolk County:

• History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with Biographical Sketches 1884
• Representative Men of Massachusetts; 1890-1900
• Norfolk County History, Vol 1, 2 & 3

Early History of Boston:

• Boston records commission reports 1630-1800, 1877-1884
• Boston Births, 1700-1800
• Boston Town Records; including the period of Revolution – 1778-1783
• Boston – Record Commissioners – Selectmen – 1787-1798
• Boston Marriages, 1700-1751
• Misc. Papers – Lists of Freeman, New England, 1700 –
• Early History of Boston – Notarial Records – (Wm Aspinwall, 1644-1651) – Reorder of Suffolk Co., Court

Massachusetts Towns: The Greater Boston Area

• Sketches of History of Attleboro, 1834
• History of Bellingham, 1719-1919
• History of Beverly, 1630-1842
• Braintree Town Records, 1640-1793
• History of Brookline – Muddy River, 1634-1838 (General Records)
• History of Cambridge, 1630-1877 (General Register)
• History of Cambridge (General Register)
• Records of Towns, Stoughton & Canton, 1715-1845
• Charlestown, 1629-1818. Vol. 1 & 2
• History of Chelmsford
• Concord, Births, etc., 1635-1850
• Records of the First Church of Dorchester
• History of Dorchester, 1859
• General History of Dover
• History of Framingham
• History of Franklin
• Franklin Town Records
• History of Foxboro, Records
• History of Haverhill, Mass, 1640-1860
• Lexington, Early History to 1897
• History of Lynn; including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott & Nahant
• History of Medfield, 1650-1886
• History of Medway, 1713-1885
• History of Milford, Vol 1 & 2
• History of Natick, 1651-1856
• History of Needham, 1711-1911
• History of Reading
• Town of Roxbury
• History of Rehoboth
• History of Salem, Vol. 1, 2 & 3
• History of Scituate. by Deane, 1831
• Bond’s Genealogy & History of Watertown
• History of Weymouth, Vol 1, 2, 3 & 4
• History of Woburn, 1640-1860

The Civil War:

• Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors & Marine in the Civil War. Vol. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 (pub 1931-1933) Complied & Published by the Adjutant General.
• History of the Civil War in America, Vol I & II by John S C Abbot
• The American Conflict: History of the Great Rebellion in USA, Vol. I & II 1864, by Horace Greeley
• We also have a large collection of books and emphera on Norwood’s GAR, including member lists, minutes of meetings and expenses.