Local History and Genealogy
Left: Historic photograph of the spiral staircase in the Hubbard Memorial Library, ca. 1895-1920. Right: Modern photograph of the staircase in 2024.
The Hubbard Memorial Library has a small collection of local history resources. They are located in our Reference Room near the computers. This collection is available when the library is open. The materials can only be used in the library and cannot be checked out. We also have resources available online like our images collection. You can view it here. We have digitized our microfilm collections, The Register and vital records. This collection is housed on USB drives. Please see a staff member if you would like to access the digitized microfilm collection.
The Hubbard Memorial Library has an archival collection as well. Some of the materials in the collection have been digitized and can be view on the Digital Commonwealth. You can view our archives by making an appointment with the Reference and Technology Librarian by calling 413-583-3408 x114.
Genealogy Resources
Powered by Ancestry.com, this edition provides billions of records like census data, vital records, directories, photos, immigration records, maps, court and legal documents, and more. It has records from North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and more.
Ancestry Library Edition can only be accessed in the Hubbard Memorial Library.
Fold3® provides convenient access to military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served. This continually-growing collection contains millions of records from world-class archives, many of which are exclusively available on Fold3.
You may access this resource from home with a Hubbard Memorial Library card and in the library.
Explore genealogical records from 1704 – today, including hard-to-find obituary content from the mid 1900’s, coverage from all 50 states, and original obituary images from historical newspapers. Access is available 24/7.
You may access HeritageHub from home with a Hubbard Memorial Library card and in the library.
The database provides genealogical and historical sources for more than 60 countries, with coverage dating back as early as the 1700s, and more than 4.4 billion records. Powered by Ancestry.com, you'll have access to census records, book collections, city directories, Freedman's Bank records, maps, photos, and more.
You may access HeritageQuest from home with a Hubbard Memorial Library card and in the library.
These links will take you to resources that the Hubbard Memorial Library finds useful for genealogy research. These sites are not exclusive to the Hubbard Memorial Library and can be accessed anywhere.
Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers
- Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1770-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress.
- The Ellis Island Archive includes searchable passenger records, manifests, ship information, and other information.
- FamilySearch is a free collaborate family tree that provides access to civil and church records when you create a free account.
Massachusetts State's Archives
- The Archives, a division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, is the repository for Massachusetts records generated by state government. Archives holdings date from the beginning of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1628 and document the settlement of lands in Maine and Massachusetts, the arrival of immigrants, and the development of state government.
- The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation's record keeper. Those valuable records are preserved and are available to you, whether you want to see if they contain clues about your family’s history, need to prove a veteran’s military service, or are researching a historical topic that interests you.
National Genealogical Society Free Resources
- Access resources such as fillable pedigree charts, a family history skills course, complimentary NGS articles, and more. The National Genealogical Society is a non-profit organization and has been a leader in teaching genealogical research for 120 years.
Books to help with your genealogy search
Local History Resources
The Hubbard Memorial Library has been digitizing images from their archival collection. You can look through those images on the Digital Commonwealth. The images available are from the Glass Plate Negative Collection, dontated by WestMass to the Town of Ludlow Historical Commission, and images from the Hubbard Memorial Library's Collection.
The Hubbard Memorial Library has digitized their collection of the Ludlow High School Yearbooks. Not all years are available.
These links will take you to resources that the Hubbard Memorial Library finds useful for local history research. These sites are not exclusive to the Hubbard Memorial Library and can be accessed anywhere.
The History of Ludlow, Massachusetts by Alfred Noon
- This book has been digitized and is available through the Internet Archive.
The Jute Industry: From Seed to Finished Cloth by T. Woodhouse and P. Kilgour
- This book has been digitized and is available through the Project Gutenberg.
Jute Machines - Images from the Dundee Heritage Trust
- The Dundee Heritage Trust has a large photograph collection of jute machines.
Ludlow: From Small Village to Industrial Town
- A blog originally created in 2006 by students at Baird Middle School and Chapin Street School. It features information about the mills and the Town itself. The blog has been revived and will be seeing new posts in the future.
- Blog post written by Patrick Browne about the history of Ludlow's Civil War monument located at 859 Center St.
- Features a directory of historical societies, commissions, etc in Massachusetts.
- This website is a project of MassHumanities. It highlights historical moments from around the Commonwealth.
Massachusetts Historical Commission
- The Commission, chaired by Secretary of the Commonwealth, William Francis Galvin, maintains the list of historical buildings, provides virtual workshops, and hosts various publications and reports.
Books about Ludlow's History
Local History and Archives Policies
Digital content made available in the Hubbard Memorial Library Digital Commonwealth collection is intended for personal research and educational purposes; commercial use or distribution of this content is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.
The Hubbard Memorial Library holds copyright to select content in our collection. Copyright to other content may be held by authors or their heirs, or may be in the public domain.
Requests to reproduce, distribute, or publish content in the Hubbard Memorial Library Digital Commonwealth collection should be sent to oeberli@cwmars.org.
Local History Collection Access Policy
Photography Reproduction Policy
