Local History
All About Wantastegok/Brattleboro
The Brooks Memorial Library supports continuing exploration of the many stories that have defined this place for as long as human beings have lived here. We invite the community to engage with and transform our local history collections.
Digital Collections: Brattleboro & Vermont History
Historical Newspapers
The library has a collection of Brattleboro historical newspapers on microfilm, but we recommend online access for keyword searching and better-quality images
Chronicling America includes historical newspapers from early days through 1921 from many U.S. States, including Vermont, free to all through the Library of Congress. This database does not require a login.
Vermont Historical Newspapers, 18th-21st century, via newspapers.com and the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA). The VSARA collection expands access to Vermont papers beyond 1921–the cutoff date for Chronicling America–but see notes on the Brattleboro Reformer below. VSARA newspapers are free to all Vermonters, who must register to enable access to the database. Questions? Ask a Librarian. We’re happy to help.
Notes on Brattleboro Reformer
- Reformer coverage in the VSARA/Newspapers.com database extends only through 1955.
- Brooks Memorial Library offers full-text Reformer articles via Newsbank for the 21st century. Full-text coverage begins in 2001, and full image begins in 2024. Both are available in our News and Current Events resource guide.
- For the Reformer gap between 1955 and the 21st century, please see the section below about microfilm access, or AskaLibrarian. We’ll be happy to help with your research!
Historical Maps
*Sanborn Maps of Vermont Towns Historical fire insurance maps of VT towns, 1885-1950
Lotting Plans of Vermont towns, from the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration. These plans divided land among the proprietors of the town who were originally granted the land. Search from a list of current county and town names or from a list of historic place names.
Digital Archives: Photos, Sound, and Video
Brattleboro Historical Society Digital Archive includes documents, photos, audio, and video from Brattleboro’s history. Explore!
A series of place-based, immersive audio stories and maps that offer a deep look at the many-layered history of places and peoples in the Brattleboro area. The podcasts were produced through the Brattleboro Words project.
University of Vermont Libraries Digital Collections include many treasures of Vermont cultural history, from the maple recipe collection the Out in the Mountains LGBT newspaper, and much more. The Porter C. Thayer Photographs collection, part of the UVM archive, contains 1300 photographs scanned from silver gelatin prints held in the collection of the Brooks Memorial Library. The prints were made from the 5×7 glass plates negatives created by Porter Thayer.
Vermont Humanities Council Video Archive includes some engaging presentations on Vermont history.
Research On-Site at the Library
Brooks Memorial’s collection includes approximately 5000 book volumes and clipping files on the history of the Brattleboro area. It is separate from the collection of the Brattleboro Historical Society. Be sure to check both places for a comprehensive search.
Finding and using Local History materials: Almost all Local History materials, including clipping files, are searchable in the the library’s online catalog. The contents of the books and files are not digitized and must be accessed on-site.
Accessing the collection: THE LIBRARY’S PHYSICAL SPECIAL COLLECTIONS IN IN TRANSITION. WE HOPE TO HAVE MATERIALS ORGANIZED AND AVAILABLE TO CONSULT IN THE NEW YEAR (2026). Please check in at the Help Desk for help finding materials.
Technology: Visitors are welcome to bring their own scanners or cameras. Study Room C includes a flatbed scanner and a digital microfilm reader/printer for access to newspapers on microfilm. Watch brief tutorials on using the ScanPro reader/printer for microfilm and microfiche.
Remote assistance: We provide limited help to researchers outside the Brattleboro area when we are able to devote staff time to the work. For questions about remote research, please fill out the Ask a Librarian form or call the Reference Desk at (802) 254-5290 ext. 1209.
Partner Organizations and their Collections
Elnu Abenaki Tribe works to sustain Abenaki cultural heritage in “what is now called southern Vermont, along the Kwenitekw and Wantastekw (Connecticut and West Rivers), and the landscapes within those and connected watersheds.”
Brattleboro Historical Society has a large collection with unique materials that do not overlap with the library. Be sure to consult both collections for a comprehensive search
Vermont Historical Society maintains a lively website dense with information about Vermont history, including the full text of the Vermont History journal and other remote research sources. The Leahy Library catalog at VHS includes many interesting surprises. Try searching to get a sense of the scope of that collection.
Vermont Folk life Center is a nationally-known folk life education organization that uses ethnography to strengthen the understanding of the cultural and social fabric of Vermont’s diverse communities.
Archives, Art, and Artifacts
Since the earliest library association in 1821, Brattleboro’s public library has been entrusted with unique historical and fine art materials that have become part of the library’s collections. Many of these objects are displayed in the library.
Some highlights of these special collections:
- Sculpture and painting by noted local artists from Brattleboro’s history
- Imprints from Brattleboro’s centuries-long history as a printing and publishing town
- Archival ledgers, diaries, and other unique materials in the Local History collections
- Artifacts like the mammoth tusk, a favorite object on display.
The library’s archival materials are searchable in the catalog, and access to them can be arranged through the Help Desk. The Library is working toward more formal organization of its archives. In the meantime, library staff members at the Help Desk can assist in finding an accessing unique materials in the collection.
Brooks Archives Project
In November of 2019, the library engaged SIT librarian/Vermont Jazz Center archivist John Levin to review the contents of our Local History collections and identify archival gems that were hidden
Traditional Dance Music
One of the gems uncovered in the library’s Community Archives Project was a 1970s oral history project that chronicled the traditional dance music of the area. Here, a musician draws
Genealogy
The library does not maintain an extensive paper genealogy collection, but some resources in our Local History collection are relevant to genealogists. Please see the Genealogy research guide for links to online genealogy tools, information on the Windham County Genealogy Interest Group, and connections to strong genealogy collections in the Brattleboro area.
*Resources with an asterisk require a Brooks Memorial Library card or access on-site.