The Beverly Room Collection contains resources for researching local history and genealogy. These items must be used in the library but may be photocopied or scanned. In addition, the collection has scrapbooks, pamphlets, and ephemera on subjects such as Beverly organizations, local government, churches, schools, companies, and people. Also available are town government documents, yearbooks, street lists, and maps.
Beverly Room Collection
Beverly Vital Records to 1849
- The Beverly Room retains copies of Beverly Vital Records to 1849. They are also scanned in full text.
- Vital Records of Beverly to the End of 1849: Volume 1: Births
- Vital Records of Beverly to the End of 1849: Volume 2: Marriages and Deaths
Beverly Historical Newspapers
- The Beverly Public Library has digitized issues of the Beverly Citizen, Beverly Evening Times, and Saturday Morning Citizen from 1850 to 1919. Newspapers are indexed and searchable by keyword, title, and date.
- You are also welcome to visit the library and search our newspaper holdings on microfilm.
Beverly City Directories
- Beverly City Directories dating from 1886-1985 are available for use in the Beverly Room and on archive.org. These directories provide a listing of residents, streets, businesses, and organizations, and give their location in Beverly at the time of publication.
Beverly Municipal Documents
- The Beverly Room retains Town Documents in print from 1880-1971. Some municipal documents are also available in digital format from 1668-1893.
Beverly High School Yearbooks
- Beverly High School Yearbooks are located in the Beverly Room and on archive.org. The collection covers yearbooks from 1937 to 2007.
Family Genealogies in the Beverly Room
- The Beverly Room contains several print family genealogies and histories about founding Beverly and Nort Shore families. Some of these families include the Cabot, Conant, Dodge, Balch, and several others.
Beverly’s Digital Heritage Collection
- Part of NOBLE’s Digital Heritage Collection, contains historical photographs and postcards.
Genealogy Services
The following services are provided by the library free of charge.
- Request an obituary by emailing bev@noblenet.org. Provide as much information as possible, including full name, any alternate spellings, and the location and date of death. Obituary requests may take up to 2 weeks to fill.
- You may Book a Librarian for a one-hour instructional session to get you started with your genealogical research. Librarians will provide instruction on our digital and print resources. Call the Reference Department at 978-921-6062 for an appointment.
Digital Genealogy Resources from the Library
These subscription based resources are provided by the library.
- American Ancestors – In-Library Use Only
Conduct genealogical research, take online seminars, and search their online library catalog of books, 19th century newspapers, periodicals, microform materials, and manuscripts. - Ancestry Library Edition – In-Library Use Only
This collection has coverage of the U.S. and the U.K., including census, vital, church, court, and immigration records, as well as record collections from Canada and other areas. - HeritageQuest
Searchable images of U.S. federal census records, featuring the digitized version of the popular UMI® Genealogy & Local History collection, among other valuable content. Essential collection of unique material for both genealogical hobbyists and professionals. - MyHeritage – Beverly Residents Only
Features over 8 billion primary historical records from the United States, Europe, and other regions, with coverage starting from the 16th century. Great starting place for genealogical research. - Fold3 Library Edition – Beverly Residents Only
Provides access to a growing collection of US military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served.
Cemetery Data
Open cemeteries:
- Beverly Farms Burying Ground at Haskell and Hart Streets
- Central Cemetery (Municipal) at Dane and Butman Streets
- Dodge’s Row Burying Ground in North Beverly
- North Beverly Cemetery (Municipal) at Conant and Cabot Streets
- Abbott at Abbot and Hale Streets (Ancient Burying Ground)
- Conant between Cabot and Dodge Streets (Ancient North Beverly Cemetery)
- Green Family Burying Ground at Ryal Side
Online Genealogy Research
A librarian-curated list of resources.
- Cyndi’s List: categorized and cross-reference index to genealogical resources
- Digital Collections of Massachusetts Libraries: libraries and organizations working together to make the resources of libraries, archives, and museums freely available to the public
- Essex County Vital Records: links to various Essex County vital record resources
- FamilySearch: a free site sponsored by the Church of the Latter-Day Saints
- Geni: create a family tree
- Historic Beverly: a historical society founded in 1891 which has two floors of museum exhibits
- The Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS): search the Massachusetts Historical Commission database for information on historic properties and areas in the Commonwealth
- Massachusetts Historical Society: lists holdings, policies, and publications; links to New England sites
- Massachusetts Special Collections, Archives, and Manuscripts Directory: a guide and locator of collections in Massachusetts libraries, archives, historical societies, and town clerk’s offices
- Massachusetts Vital Records: a collection of early vital records of Massachusetts towns and municipalities
- National Archives and Records Administration: Congressional records, the Federal Register, and historic documents
- RootsWeb: links to online genealogy resources, including passenger lists
- Searching the Social Security Death Index: search the SSDI in one step using Steve Morse’s search engine