Boston History
Resources and tips for researching the history of Boston's people and places
Boston History
- Boston's People - How to find out more about the famous, infamous and just plain folks of Boston
- Boston's Places - Neighborhoods, streets and buildings: where are they, where did they go, why did they call it that? Tips on researching how Boston has been defined by its unique geography
- Boston's Timeline - Significant periods in Boston history
We shall be as a city upon a hill; the eyes of all people are on us ~ John Winthrop, 1630
Lucky Boston: Its history has been chronicled by some great historians. Whether you wish to begin with an overview of Boston's history or focus on an event or person, there are plenty of resources available for your needs. Below you will find some classic resources for beginners and seasoned researchers alike.
In addition to the catalog selections below, you may find it helpful to search in the catalog for:
For primary and additional secondary sources, check out our special collections and databases pages. For images and maps, check out our Flickr photostream, the Boston Public Library at the Digital Commonwealth and the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the BPL.
- The memorial history of Boston: including Suffolk County, Massachusetts. 1630-1880 byCall Number: F73.3 .W77 1881Publication Date: 1881More history than you thought possible in only four volumes!
Volume 1: The Early and Colonial Periods - The memorial history of Boston: including Suffolk County, Massachusetts. 1630-1880 by
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Call Number: F73.3 .W77 1881Publication Date: 1881Volume 2: The Provincial Period - The memorial history of Boston: including Suffolk County, Massachusetts, 1630-1880 by
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Call Number: F73.3 .W77 1881Publication Date: 1881Volume 3: The Revolutionary Period plus The Last Hundred Years, Part I - The memorial history of Boston: including Suffolk County, Massachusetts, 1630-1880 by
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Call Number: F73.3 .W77 1881Publication Date: 1881Volume 4: The Last Hundred Years, Part II plus Special Topics - Fifty years of Boston: a memorial volume issued in commemoration of the tercentenary of 1930 by
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Call Number: F73.3 .D858Publication Date: 1932Picks up where Winsor's Memorial History leaves off and adds 50 more years of Boston's history. 
The Hub by Call Number: F73.3 .O26 2001ISBN: 1555535445Publication Date: 2002-10-03A brief survey history by one of Boston's best-loved historians.
