This information augments that on the Research Links page by providing helpful hints on using the outstanding libraries and archives in the Middletown and Hartford area. Even though most of the research destinations enumerated on the Research Links page have the Barbour Collection, cemetery records, city directories, compiled genealogies of Middletown families, etc. in common, each library has its own particular strength. Therefore this members-only page describes resources unique to each library, and offers information that will help the researcher make the most efficient use of time. For the duration of the COVID-19 public health crisis, be sure to check on the current status of public access to these research destinations.

Middletown Area - Russell Library

Russell Library (Middletown's public library) (Middletown Room - local history)
123 Broad Street, Middletown CT 06457; (860) 347-2520; www.russelllibrary.org
Contact: Denise Russo, Reference Librarian
Hours: Mon. - Thurs., 9 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.; Fri., Noon - 6 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (school year); Sun 2 - 5 p.m. (closed Sun. mid-May to mid-Oct.)

Summary of Holdings: The Russell Library web site has a full listing of its vast Middletown Room holdings. To repeat it here would be redundant. The Middletown Room.
Unique Holdings: Defunct Middletown newspapers on microfilm; postcard collection; early Middletown vital records and land records on microfilm; maps; 1976 historic building survey by the Greater Middletown Preservation Trust; church records; newspaper clipping & ephemera file alphabetical by topic.
Comments: If one is making their first visit to Middletown for genealogy research on an early settler family, The Middletown Room at Russell Library is the ideal first stop because it has the broadest Middletown local history/genealogy/vital records collection in one place. Visitors can register to use the Middletown Room during regular library hours at the Information Department desk on the second floor. A photocopier is located just outside The Middletown Room. (Bring plenty of small change.) The microfilm cabinets and readers are just outside The Middletown Room, and the microfilm readers are connected to a laser printer. There is ample metered parking in a lot across the street from the library.

Middletown Area - Middlesex County Historical Society

Middlesex County Historical Society (General Mansfield House)
151 Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457; (860) 346-0746; www.middlesexhistory.org
Contact: Deborah Shapiro, Executive Director
Hours: Tues., Wed., & Thurs. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Fri. 10 a.m. - Noon; Genealogy & research by appointment only.

Summary of Holdings: Archives include the Frank Farnsworth Starr Collection; miscellaneous family letters, bibles, account books, diaries, and business records; miscellaneous public records, including justice of the peace reports. alms house records, orphanage records, church records, and selectmen's records; miscellaneous published genealogies; city directories.
Unique Holdings: Included in the archives are numerous acid-free "family boxes" containing documents, artifacts, photographs, or ephemera about individual Middletown-area families, many labeled with first-settler surnames. Also unique among the archives holding is the Frank Farnsworth Starr Collection. F.F. Starr (1853-1939) was Middletown's preeminent professional genealogist who compiled information about early Connecticut families for 70 years, including information on Middletown's first settlers. He was a tireless transcriber of records long before photocopiers --- he hand-copied 11,000 1689-1850 gravestone inscriptions in the Middletown area, and amassed his own file of early Connecticut vital records long before the Barbour Index. Upon his death his papers went to the Middlesex County Historical Society, where he was on the board of directors. The 12 file cabinet drawers contain his research, his correspondence with clients across the U.S., and his diatribes on shoddy genealogy.
Comments: If one is researching a Middletown first-settler family, the research is not complete without a pilgrimage to the Frank Farnsworth Starr Collection at the Middlesex County Historical Society. Genealogical research is by appointment (one week notice preferred). The genealogical files use fee is $10 per day (no charge for members). Visitors must fill out a registration form. A photocopier is available, and staff makes all copies at $.25 per page. Metered parking is available in the diagonal spaces in front of the Mansfield House.
Long-distance research: The first half-hour of research into an inquiry is free, in order to determine the existence of relevant information and to estimate total research time. An estimate will be provided, and then a research request form can be submitted that limits research hours and the number of photocopied pages. For members the research rate is $12 per hour; the non-member rate is $25 per hour.

Middletown Area - Godfrey Memorial Library

Godfrey Memorial Library (Genealogy library; national in scope)
134 Newfield Street, Middletown, CT 06457; (860) 346-4375; www.godfrey.org
Contact: Beth Mariotti, Director
Winter Hours: Wed. 12 noon - 8 p.m.; Thurs. & Fri., 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.; 1st & 3rd Sat., 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Summary of Holdings: The holdings of Godfrey Memorial Library are what one would expect of a major genealogical library that is national in scope: the standard national and regional references, and complete collections of the major genealogical journals. The library catalog is searchable online through its web site. As a designated Family History Center, Godfrey Library also has borrowing privileges from the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Unique Holdings: Of particular Middletown research interest are records of the Doolittle Funeral Home from 1847 to 1915 (with a few gaps). Since Godfrey Library is the nominal headquarters of the SMFSD, the organization's records and member-supplied genealogical information are on file and available to visitors. Of broader research interest, Godfrey Library is known nationally for its American Genealogical & Biographical Index, the 200-volume, 6-million-name index begun by the library's founder, Fremont Rider (1885-1962), in 1936. Rider compiled this every-name index from 850 sources, including local & family histories, church records, vital records, and the genealogical columns of the Boston Transcript newspaper. While the printed volumes of the index are available only at the largest genealogy libraries, at Godfrey one can look up a name in the index --- and then proceed to the original source material held on-site. (Long-distance researchers can download an AGBI request form from the library web site, then return it by mail to receive photocopies of listed references.)
Comments: First-time visitors to Godfrey Library almost always miss the driveway on the first pass. From downtown Middletown, follow Rte. 66 (Washington Street) west to the intersection of Rte. 3 (Newfield Street). Turn right and proceed north on Newfield Street for about a half-mile. The library is on the right, on a hill overlooking Newfield Street, and is accessible by a narrow, steep road/driveway. There is free parking in a small lot on the hillside. Inside the library, there are workspaces/tables throughout, plus computers with online access, microfilm readers, and photocopier. For Middletown first-settler researchers, keep in mind that this library is national in scope, and just happens to be located in Middletown. (Fremont Rider was a librarian at Wesleyan University.) In recent years genealogists nationwide have taken advantage of the library's "Godfrey Scholar" membership, which includes access to a lineup of premium research databases.

Middletown Area - Olin Library Special Collections & Archives

Olin Library Special Collections & Archives (Wesleyan University)
252 Church Street, Middletown, CT 06459; Main Library: (860) 685-386-3123;
Archives: (860) 685-3863; http://www.wesleyan.edu/libr/schome/
Contact: Suzy Taraba, Archivist
Hours: Special Collections & Archives Reading Room - Monday - Friday, 1 - 5 p.m.
(Olin Library regular stacks: Mon. - Thurs., 8:30 a.m. - 2 a.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m. - 2 a.m.).

Summary of Holdings: Olin Library has in its open stacks many of the same local & regional history volumes available at other repositories, but not necessarily in the same area. The best way to locate a book is through the general online catalog: Search Olin Library Catalog
Unique Holdings: Of interest to Middletown first-settler researchers is the collection of student papers on a variety of local history topics. Several Wesleyan University professors through the years have taught seminars that used local history projects to teach students how to research using primary sources. A finding aid to these papers is available online: Student Papers Finding Aid. Olin Special Collections & Archives also holds materials about individuals associated with Wesleyan University. Also in the Special Collections & Archives Room is a printed finding aid to local history materials. The well-thumbed three-ring binder is organized by category (biography, history, maps, accounts & diaries, student papers, etc.). This finding aid is not yet online.
Comments: The Special Collections & Archives room is located on the main floor of Olin Library, on the east end of the building behind a glass door. Non-Wesleyan users must complete a registration form and submit identification. Advance notice of research visits is requested so that staff may retrieve materials. All research must be done in the secure reading room. Laptops, notebooks, and pencils are welcome. Photocopies will be made by the staff upon filling out a request form. Olin Library is set back from Church Street on the Wesleyan University campus. Parking lots are reserved for employees and students, but free on-street parking is usually available within a 5-minute walk to the library.

Middletown Area - City of Middletown Dept. of Health & Vital Statistics

City of Middletown Department of Health & Vital Statistics (births/marriages/deaths)
Middletown City Hall, 245 deKoven Drive, Middletown, CT 06457; (860) 344-3537
City of Middletown / Health Dept. / Vital Statistics
Contact: Camille Salamone, Assistant Registrar of Vital Statistics; Judy Kudrak, Assistant Registrar of Vital Statistics
Hours: Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Summary of Holdings: The Middletown Department of Health & Vital Statistics holds the original vital records of the town and city of Middletown.
Unique Holdings/Services: Certified copies of original vital records.
Comments: The Health Department is located in the basement of the Municipal Building. There is ample free parking in the adjacent lot. For long-distance researchers, the Dept. of Health & Vital Statistics offers on its web site links to download record request documents in PDF format.

A note on Middletown Vital Records: Vital records in Connecticut are kept by the Town Clerk for each town. Keep in mind that the original area of Middletown encompassed what are now Middletown, Cromwell, and Middlefield on the west side of the Connecticut River; and Portland and East Hampton on the east side. For the genealogist this means knowing when each town was incorporated as a separate entity, and therefore when it began keeping its own vital records. In 1767 the town of Chatham was incorporated, encompassing the Middletown lands on the east side of the river. In 1841 the present area of Portland was incorporated, separating from Chatham. The remaining town of Chatham remained, but changed its name to East Hampton in 1915. On the west side of the river, the "Upper Houses" incorporated as the town of Cromwell in 1851. Middlefield, in the southwest corner of Middletown, incorporated as a separate town in 1866.

Hartford Area - Connecticut Historical Society Library

Connecticut Historical Society Library
One Elizabeth Street at Asylum Avenue; Hartford, CT 06105; (860) 236-5621
http://www.chs.org
Contact: Diana McCain, Head of Research Center
Library & Research Center Hours: Thurs 12 Noon - 5 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Summary of Holdings: The Connecticut Historical Society Library holds over 100,000 books and 3 million manuscripts, including account books, diaries, and letters. Items cataloged after 1984 are included in the online catalog available through the library's web site. The library's findings aids and subject guides are invaluable in researching genealogy and family history: Catalog & Online Resources.
Unique Holdings: For Middletown genealogy and local history researchers, the unique holdings are in the library's manuscript collection (diaries, account books, etc.), including a selection of original town government documents.
Comments: Admission is free to members; non-members pay a $8 fee. Multiple-day passes are available. (Admission is free from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month.) Computers with online access and microfilm readers are available, Photocopying by the staff is $.25 per page. The library is in Connecticut Historical Society Museum building, and there is free parking in the large parking lot. For long-distance visitors, the library offers genealogical research services through its volunteers, as well as a genealogical book loan program by mail. See the library web site for details on these programs.

Hartford Area - Connecticut State Library

Connecticut State Library (Information Services Division - History & Genealogy)
231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106; (860) 757-6500; www.ctstatelibrary.org
Contact: Jeannie Sherman or Carol Ganz, Research Librarians
Hours: Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Summary of Holdings: A guide to the Connecticut State Library's gargantuan collection is on its informative web site. To search the library's catalog: Search the State Library Catalog.
Unique Holdings: A favorite unique resource for genealogists is the statewide alphabetical Barbour Index of Vital Records in patron-accessible, low-tech card-catalog format. Unlike searching the bound volumes by town, the card catalog allows one to find names in the statewide arrangement (as in the recent Barbour Index available on CD-Rom, The Ricker Compilation). On microfilm are Connecticut probate records from the 1600s to the early 1900s. Also unique to the library is the breadth of its collection of Connecticut newspapers on microfilm. In addition, History & Genealogy Unit is the access point for materials in the Connecticut State Archives.
Comments: When visiting the Connecticut State Library, plan to arrive early and stay late. The resources are so vast that it is wise not only to have a firm plan for your visit, but also to consult with the staff upon arrival. Keep in mind that not all materials are stored on-site, and when possible make requests for archives material in advance. Consult the web site for archives retrieval schedules. The library has the full complement of computer access, microfilm readers attached to printers, and photocopiers. The entrance to the Connecticut State Library is in the back of the Connecticut Supreme Court Building. There is no admission charge or user fee. With patience and luck, free on-street parking can be found within a few blocks of the library.

Hartford Area - Connecticut Society of Genealogists

Connecticut Society of Genealogists
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 435, Glastonbury, CT 06033
Library: 175 Maple Street, East Hartford, CT 06118; (860) 569-0002; www.csginc.org
Hours: Mon. - Fri., 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Summary of Holdings: As a library devoted to Connecticut genealogy, it has a comprehensive collection of compiled genealogies published on Connecticut families, as well as volumes of town histories and vital records. The collection is not limited to Connecticut materials, however, and includes references of wider regional and national interest.
Unique Holdings: For genealogy researchers, the unique holdings are the decades worth of member-submitted genealogies and manuscripts; and the complete collection of its genealogical journal, The Connecticut Nutmegger.
Comments: The Connecticut Society of Genealogists Library is open to both members and non-members. It is located in East Hartford, Conn., just over the town line traveling along Main Street in Glastonbury, Conn. Free parking is available in the lot behind the library.

Boston - New England Historic Genealogical Society

New England Historic Genealogical Society
101 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116; (617) 536-5740
www.newenglandancestors.org
Contact: Marie E. Daly, Director
Hours: Tues., Thurs., Fri., Sat., 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Wed., 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Summary of Holdings: The NEHGS Research Library holds a collection of more than 200,000 books, periodicals, and microform materials, as well as over one million manuscripts. Books include nearly all published New England genealogies, local histories, and related periodicals. Its 40,000-items microtext collection contains copies of original town, probate, land, and vital records; city directories; censuses; and immigration records for most of New England and eastern Canada. The library also holds published and primary sources for other regions, including U.S. states beyond New England, England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, eastern Canada, French Canada, Europe, and Australia.
Unique Holdings: Unique to the NEHGS Research Library is its collection of over one million manuscripts.
Comments: As with the Connecticut State Library mentioned above, when visiting the NEHGS Research Library, plan to arrive early and stay late. Admission is free for NEHGS research members. There is a $15 per day fee for non-members. (A Research Membership also includes access to online resources valuable for New England genealogy.) The library is well-organized, with microtext resources, manuscripts, local history materials, and family history materials on separate floors. Visitors make their own copies using a "copy card" purchased at the library. The library is located on Newbury Street in the Back Bay section of Boston, where the odds of finding a nearby on-street parking space are similar to winning a million-dollar lottery prize. A guide to nearby parking garages is on the NEHGS web site. Better yet, use public transportation --- a detailed guide is available on the NEHGS web site.