ONLINE ARCHIVES and INFORMATION
salem public library
SALEM PUBLIC LIBRARY DIGITAL HERITAGE COLLECTION
The Salem Public Library was originally built as a home for Captain John Bertram and his family. In 1855, the Bertram family moved from their smaller house at 24 Winter Street and took up residence in their new High Style Italianate brick and brownstone mansion at 370 Essex Street. After Bertram’s death, his widow and daughters offered the mansion on Essex Street to the City of Salem for use as a Public Library. The offer was accepted and the Salem Public Library opened its doors on July 8, 1889. Click here for the library’s Salem Local History page: https://salempl.org/reference-dept/local-history-research/
historic salem, inc.
HISTORIC SALEM INC.
Historic Salem, Inc. is a preservation organization dating back to 1944. Their office is the Nathaniel Bowditch House at 9 North Street, behind The Witch House. The primary resource at Historic Salem, Inc. are house histories, of which there are 33 binders, with research ranging from 1966 to the present day. The histories were prepared for historic plaques and vary in their information. Many of the earliest contain scans from deeds, scans from atlases and Sanborn Fire Maps, and plans of property lines. Others have reference to Salem directories. Some of the later histories are more narrative. The Salem Historical Society worked with Historic Salem, Inc. to digitize and publicize the contents of the histories. Click here to access the house history database: https://hsihousehistory.omeka.net/
Peabody essex museum’s phillips library
PHILLIPS LIBRARY
The Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) is the Museum’s research library. It includes several hundred thousand printed volumes, a linear mile of manuscript collections, as well as thousands of logbooks, account books, diaries, printed ephemera, maps, photo albums and photographs. Originally housed in the Essex Institute’s Deland House in Salem the collection is now held in Rowley, MA. Digitizing the expansive collection is an on-going project. Click here to view their online collections https://www.pem.org/visit/library-02/online-collections
historic new england
HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND
With more than 123,000 objects and 1.5 million archival materials, Historic New England’s collection tells the most complete story of how New Englanders lived from the seventeenth century to today. Search collections of photographs, wallpaper, jewelry, home furnishings, architectural drawings, clothing, and more, from the opulent to the everyday. While half of the object collections are on view at our historic sites, the Collections Access database gives access to material not usually available to the public. You can also make an appointment to visit the Library and Archives in Boston to research archival collections in person. The collections of Historic New England’s Library and Archives provide important documentation for New England’s cultural and architectural history. Its holdings include photographs, architectural drawings, manuscripts, ephemera, prints and engravings, artwork, and books. Visit Collections Access to explore Historic New England’s online collection.
salem state university
SALEM STATE ARCHIVES & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
SALEM STATE ARCHIVES ON FLICKR
The Archives and Special Collections Department of the Frederick E. Berry Library serves as a resource for the University and the public by collecting and making available historic materials on a variety of subjects.
the salem witch museum
THE SALEM WITCH MUSEUM
Although a commercial endeavor, The Salem Witch Museum’s website offers an online tour of over 25 Salem witchcraft trials sites and people allowing you the opportunity to view locations around Essex and Middlesex counties and a few key sites in and around Boston that are related to the events of the year 1692. The online tour includes video, images and information. Click the links below to access this information. https://salemwitchmuseum.com/witch-trials-guided-tour-list
https://salemwitchmuseum.com/history-education
city of salem seal
CITY OF SALEM
CITY OF SALEM HISTORICAL COMMISSION
The Salem Historical Commission reviews applications for work being done on properties in Salem's four local historic districts and maintains an inventory of historic resources. The Salem Historical Commission does not maintain collections of historic documents or artifacts and does not maintain ancestry files.
CITY OF SALEM/RECORDS
Searchable, web-based portal can be used to access many public records. The City of Salem has launched an online portal at www.salem.com/records that can be used to search and access 1.1 million pages of public records spanning 385 years of history.