Archives A-Z

The Westfield Athenaeum Archives are accessible by appointment to anyone conducting research about Westfield. To schedule an appointment, call the Reference Desk at (413) 568-7833 x 4. 

A partial list of our collections is below. To find out more about a collection that’s of interest to you, contact the Reference Desk at (413) 568-7833 x 4 or reference@westath.org. 

0-9  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  J  K  L  M  N  P  R  S  T  W  Y

0-9

4th Infantry (1789-1792): Resignation of officers

A

Adams Nursery, (1849-1974): Catalogues, clippings, photos, letterhead.

Advertising (1880-1900s): Late 19th century business cards.

Agan Family & Business (1912-1924): Account book, inventory, 1857-1910 genealogy of Agans. 

Aged Women’s Home of Westfield (1899-1916): Record of members, minutes (becomes Sarah Gillett Home).

Alderman, Ladd (1890-1917): Scrapbook, receipt book, partial diary. Used by a man, woman, and child at various times.

Allen, Amos (1801-1822): Tannery distillery, cobbler ledgers (2). Wyben, MA.

Anonymous Woman (1931): Diary. Grandparents were Wellers, aunt is Mary Fox, Oren Parks is a relative.

Ashley, Israel (1806-1814): Justice of the Peace ledger

Atwater, Noah Rev. (1781-1801): Diary on almanac pages, First Congregational church, account book with town of Westfield.

Avery, Joseph Sheldon (1818-30): Blacksmith accounts

Ayers, Walter (1944-2006): Preservation of cemeteries, bike trail

B

Banks (1920s-1986): Advertizing, flyers, and ephemera of early banks. First and Third National, Hampden Bank.

Barnes Airport (1930s-1980s): Barnes Airport, Air National Guard.

Bartlett Notebooks (1600s-1800s): Hand copied from original documents (also available online).

Bates, William G. (1814-1880): Receipts, correspondence, photographs, speeches.

Bryant Box Company (1892-1938): Paper, cigar, and lunch box industry.

Businesses (1908-1948): Card file of local businesses from City Hall. 

Burke, Alice D. (1910s-1950s): Scrapbooks of newspaper clippings of her tenure as mayor, also some of her papers.

C

Callins & Bates (1811-1847): Justices of the Peace ledgers.

Canals (1826-2006): Canals in western Massachusetts. 

Celebrations (1841-2002): Westfield celebrations, largely 250th and 300th anniversaries. 

Cemeteries(1600-1950): Cemetery maps, gravestones, and history.

Chambers, Thelma (1920-1950s): Predominantly photographs of local performers and performances with some documents.

Chamberlain, William N. (1866-1877): Diaries, receipts, and notes from his work as a police constable, court and truant officer.

Cigar Industry (1880-1914): Westfield cigar industry.

City Government (1930s-1980s): Roscoe Scott news clippings.

Clark Family (1867-1931): Patty Lee Waterman & Anna G. Clark’s diaries and scrapbooks (news events and plays), Hopefully Well Affected Club. 

Clarke, Asa B. (1848-1850): Handwritten copy of his Gold Rush diary, ephemera.

Cloth or Thread Account Book (1818-1819): Ledger

Columbia Bicycle (1891-1991): Pictures, news clippings, catalogs, ephemera.

Crane Paper Company (1857-1910): Ledger

D

Davis, Emerson (1673-1856): Sermons, speeches, photographs of 1st Church pastor and local historian.

Dean, William (1846-1870): Whip maker ledger, personal accounts.

Dental Registry (1906/1907): Ledger, registry

Dewey, Luis M. (1865-1931): Genealogies, news clippings, notes, correspondence, scrap books, deeds, photographs.

Duport, Joseph (1863-1934): Papers and photographs.

E

Eggleston, Francis (1777-1795):Cookbook/scrapbook written over an account book, copy of New Testament (1813).

Egleston, F.S. (1845): Account book

Ely, Governor Joseph (1905-1948): Correspondence, news clippings and photographs of Ely’s political life, largely 1930-31, 1948.

F

Fire Department (1873-1986): Records of fires, news clippings, photographs.

First Congregational Church (1667-present): News clippings, membership books, pamphlets, scrapbooks, bulletins.

Fortnightly Club (1902-1959: Correspondence, programs, ledgers, scrapbook.

Foster Machine Co.(1950s-1960s): Photographs and information relating to the company’s textile machinery.

Fowler Family (1652-2005): Deeds, bills, ledgers, genealogy, correspondence, photographs, news clippings.

Fowler, Abner (1766-1790): Southwick accounts. Early settler of Fowler, Ohio.

Fowler, C. (1882-1919): Cash book and crop insurance records of a tobacco wholesaler.

Fowler, Frances (1887-1889): Journals, including European tour.

Fowler, James (1809-1872): Accounts, records of cattle, horses, and gardening (1825 – 1872). Founder of Fowler, Ohio.

Fowler, Samuel (1790-1808): Justice of the Peace records, loan records.

Fowler, L. D. (1845-1846): Store account books.

Fowler, Linus & Frederick (1803-1840): Ledger of goods carter with account of births and deaths of Daniel Fowler’s family 1755-1802 on the 4th from last page. 

Fox, Hiram (1879-1895): Theater records of Westfield (1878-1904), records of fires (1881-1883), some records of theater in Springfield and Holyoke.

Fraternal Order of Eagles (1945-1995): Ladies auxiliary.

Fuller, Richard (1940s): Photographs albums of mayoral events (2).

G

Gillett & Munson (1864-1867): Cash account book for store in Westfield.

Gillett Family (1800-1950): Deeds, bills, ledgers, speeches, genealogy, poetry, word puzzles, correspondence, photographs, news clippings relating to Edward Bates, Lucy Fowler, Lucy Douglas, Frederick Huntington, and other relatives.

H

Hampden Bank (1826-1913): Account books.

Hampden Guards (1845-1850): Orderly book of Company D. Co. B 10th Mass. Militia

Hatch, Harris & John (1793-1841): Day book, tavern accounts.

Hawkins, Gordon (1895-1974): Poems and correspondence.

Hedges Family (1870s): Photographs of family at Middle Farms.

Historic houses of Westfield

Holland Family (1760-1906): 19th century deeds, bills, ledgers, genealogy scrapbook, poetry, correspondence, diary, photographs.

Holland, Henry, (1870s-1900): Mechanic Street Cemetery gravestone list.

Hull, Hiram (1796-1861): Whip manufacturer, selectman. Papers and photographs.

Humaston, Orrin (1831-1843): Shoemaker’s ledger.

J

Johnson, Mary Ann Douglas (1900s): Photographs of family and listing of her paintings; Athenaeum also holds some of her paintings.

Johnson Organ Co. (1840s-1901): Photographs and lists of Wm. Johnson’s organs with some material on other local organ builders.

K

Kittredge Family (1886-1920s): Correspondence, greeting cards, scrapbook, book, magazine, photographs.

Kiwanis (1929-2002): Photographs, programs, and pamphlet.

Knowles, Milton D. (1845-1857): Whip company cash book and accounts.

L

Lamb, Huck (1980-2005): Photographs, newspapers, magazine articles about Westfield soldiers and many nuances of Westfield’s history.

Littleville Dam (1950s-1960s) 

Livery Stable (1853-1859): Account book

Loomis Automobile Collection (1880s-1910): Notes, photographs, scrapbooks, diaries, and news clippings of Gilbert J. Loomis designs for cars; includes Mechanical Tire Co. catalog (1898).

M

Masons (1888-1963): Directory, newspaper articles, photographs, programs from Methodist church (1833-2007, bulk 1833-1927), annual reports, church bulletins and programs, cookbooks, deed, directories, histories, and photographs.

Morand, Dorothy O. (1871-1879): Diary of religious reflections.

Moseley, Jeremiah (1799-1809): Day book with family births and deaths in back.

N

Noble, James (1818-1871): Account book, family history. Includes guardian accounts from Eazer Weller in the 1860s.

Noble, Jared (1790-1834): Ledger of tanning mill and salt peter still.

Noble, Paul (1775-1793): Shoemaker account book.

P

Palczynski, John (1950s – 2008): Correspondence, maps, building plans, mayoral files.

Park Family Diaries (1895-1947): Oren B. and Oren E.’s detailed diaries covering Westfield events, weather, engineering works.

Peck, Edwin L. (1839-1898): Civil war soldier’s manuscripts, memorabilia, photographs, maps.

Phelps Family (1788-1860): Ledger with birth and death records on p. 160.

Phelps, Moses & Aaron (1772-1816): Account book.

Post (1816-1817): Store accounts, cash book.

Post, Amos (1824-1859): Account book.

Pratt Family (1909-1940s): School report cards, scrapbooks, ration card, vignettes, photographs, music.

R

Rotary & Men’s Clubs (1880s-1970s): Bylaws, constitutions, pictures, postcards, programs, pamphlets, newspaper articles, scrapbooks.

Robbins, Frank (1920s-1950s): Photograph albums of Westfield, family and travels; sketches, genealogy, and documents; also contains a tiny (1″x2″) book of poetry.

Robinson’s Reminders (1920s-1960): Westfield pocket reminder booklet industry, Westfield manufacturing industry.

Root, Moses (1732-1755): Sawmill ledger with family records.

S

Sackett, Aaron (1811-1847): Shoemaker ledger with birth and death records.

Sackett Family (1632-1890s): Genealogies, wills, photographs, deeds.

Sackett, Ozam & Aaron (1764-1810): Shoemakers’ day book.

Sackett, William & James (1757-1812): Harness makers’ account book with family births and deaths.

Schools (1793-1980): District schools, high schools, intermediate and trade schools, Westfield Normal/WSC, school committee, and PTOs.

Searle, George (1910-1940s): Correspondence as tax collector and mayor.

Second Congregational Church (1857-1966): Books, bulletins, directories, reports, pamphlets, newspaper articles, programs.

Sewage Treatment Plant (1947-1963): Scrapbook.

Sheldon, Thomas (1830s): Correspondence, deeds, notes, and diary.

Shepard Family (1770-1800s): Correspondence, bible, photographs of General William Shepard’s family with some genealogical information.

Shurtleff Children’s Services (1888-1992): Orphanage records. Some parts are restricted.

Slauter, George T. (1917-1938): Bills and receipts, one family photograph.

Smith, H. B. Company (1850 – 1978): Westfield steam and water heating industry, boiler industry manuals and advertising, sales books, photographs, ephemera.

Stanley Corporation (1931-1970): Home product industry.

T

Taylor Family (18th century): Account books, letters, deeds, inventories. Table of contents included in box.

Tekoa Country Club (1920-1960): Photographs, pamphlets, and papers.

Theater (1855-1979): Photographs, newspaper clippings, and local published songs.

Trolleys in Westfield (1894-1927): Pictures, postcards, pamphlets, contracts, newspaper articles.

Truelove’s Business (1850s-1980s): Memorabilia for most Westfield businesses arranged by type.

W

Washington St. Hotel (1923-1935): Register.

Western Massachusetts Hospital

Westfield Academy (1800-1970): Trustee paperwork, correspondence, early papers, records, will.

Westfield Almshouse (1902-1941): Records of admission.

Westfield Board of Public Works (1921-1938): Minutes (2 volumes).

Westfield Club (1874-1909): Minutes of annual and special meetings, constitution, records of visitors and bets.

Westfield Fortnightly Club (1902-1959): Women’s club.

Westfield History (1765-1916): Historical pamphlets, bills, deeds, warrants, etc.

Westfield Library Company (1792-1864): Constitution, book records, list of physicians.

Westfield Manufacturing Company (1812-1815): Cotton or wool mill ledgers, built by Richard Falley.

Westfield Marble (1896-1950s): Newspaper clippings, geological report and a box of slides of the quarry.

Westfield People (1700s-1990s): Papers on different Westfield individuals.

Westfield Power Company (1879-1910): Minutes and records.

Westfield Rifle Club (1915-1919): Minutes

Westfield River Parkway (1920-1940): Maps, brochures, and documents.

Westfield Sportsmen’s Club (1917): Club records.

Westfield Theater (1855-1979): Theater news clippings, photographs, articles, broadsides, posters, and sheet music.

Whip Industry (1831-1936): Westfield whip companies-catalogs, correspondence, deeds, whip labels, patents, photographs, publicity, organizational records, tax returns.

Whitcomb, Phineas (1853-1865): Blacksmith accounts.

White’s Quaint Shop (1920-1930s): Westfield general goods company. Scrapbooks of the company’s advertisements, photographs, ephemera.

Whitney, Abel (1801-1806): Justice of the Peace records.

Women’s Clubs (1880s-1950s): Constitutions, bylaws, meeting notes, correspondence, minutes, newspaper articles, plays, programs, photographs.

Woronoco Savings Bank (1871-2000): Accounts and receipt books, photographs, advertising, ephemera.

Y

YMCA (1900s-1945): Publications, ephemera, magazine, photographs, Camp Driftwood, education, sports, social notices.

Yeoman, Ira (1845-1857): Sawmill and gristmill accounts.

Young Men’s Musical and Literary Club (1857-1858): High school society minutes.

Youth Company Newspaper (1840s): Newspapers.