Genealogy

Elberfeld Family Scrapbooks, 1938-2010 – LH.067

Three scrapbooks plus one self-published book documenting the life of a Westborough family growing up in the latter part of the 20th century. The scrapbooks include family photographs, school photos and memorabilia, newspaper clippings, and narratives about living in Westborough that provide context for understanding how the images and items fit into Westborough’s history.

Official collection name: John K. Elberfeld Family Scrapbooks, 1938-2010

Location: Shelving

Local identifier: LH.067

Creator: John K. Elberfeld

Date: 1938-2010

Extent: 1.25 linear feet (3 scrapbooks + one published book)

Subject: Westborough (Mass.)–Social life and customs; Family histories

Evangelical Congregational Church, 1717-2004 – LH.082

Parkman and early Westborough church records (including Church Records, Vol. 1), as well as records and documents relating to the history of the Evangelical Congregational Church. See also Evangelical Congregational Church, 1784-1914 – OD.009.

Official collection name: Historical Records of the Evangelical Congregational Church, 1717-2004

Location: Shelving

Local identifier: LH.082

Creator: Evangelical Congregational Church

Date:  1717-2004

Extent:  4.5 linear feet (6 boxes plus oversize box)

Subject: First Congregational Church–Westborough (Mass.); Evangelical Congregational Church (Westborough, Mass.)

Online access:

Finding aid: LH082 – Evangelical Congregational Church

Evangelical Congregational Church, 1784-1914 – OD.009

The records in this collection document the administrative, financial, and regular activities of the Evangelical Congregational Church, which was formed after the first Congregational Church split into two separate churches in 1834. Genealogists will especially be interested in the financial records (Series 2), which include property assessments of church members, and membership records (Series 5), which provide valuable information about the movement of church members into and out of Westborough. See also Evangelical Congregational Church, 1717-2004 – LH.082.

Official collection name: Historical Records of the Evangelical Congregational Church, Westborough, MA, 1784-1914

Location: Shelving and Oversize

Local identifier: OD.009

Creator: Evangelical Congregational Church, Westborough, MA

Date: 1784-1914

Extent: 5.5 linear feet (7 boxes + one oversize box)

Subject: Evangelical Congregational Church (Westborough, Mass.)

Finding aid: OD009 – Evangelical Congregational Church

Genealogies of Westborough Families – LH.008

Photocopies, photographs, periodicals, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, documents. Miscellaneous collection of information and primary sources relating to Westborough families, organized by family last name.

Official collection name: Genealogies of Westborough Families

Location: Shelving

Local identifier: LH.008

Creator: Westborough Public Library

Date: Undetermined

Extent: 4 linear feet

Subject: Genealogy–Westborough (Mass.)

Finding aid: LH008 – Genealogies of Westborough Families

Reed Collection – LH.013

Photographs, letters, diaries, maps, administrative documents, scrapbooks. Papers and records relating to Westborough history collected by Charles H. Reed and later his daughter, Rachel Deering. Some of the items form the core of the book collection and the Genealogies of Westborough Families collection.

Official collection name:  Historical Papers of Dr. Charles H. Reed (a.k.a., the Reed Collection)

Location: Shelving; Map case; Roll Box.

Local identifier: LH.013

Creator: Charles H. Reed and Rachel Deering

Date: Undetermined

Extent: 5 linear feet (8 boxes + one oversize box + map case + Roll Box)

Subject: Local history–Westborough (Mass.); Westborough (Mass.)–Social life and customs

Finding aid: LH013 – Reed Collection Finding Aid

Town Census and Tax Lists – OD.003

Most of the lists in this collection are tax related and fall between the late-eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries. The tax lists provide important historical and genealogical information about the make-up of town residents in lieu of official census figures, although surviving lists for some years are more complete than others. Many of the lists divide the town into north and south, with the “Great Road” (now Route 9) serving as the dividing line.

Official collection name: Historical Records of the Town of Westborough: Census and Tax Lists, 1756-1879

Location: Shelving and Oversize

Local identifier: OD.003

Creator: Town of Westborough

Date: 1756-1879

Extent: 4 linear feet (5 boxes + one oversize box)

Subject: Tax assessment–Westborough (Mass.); Census–Westborough (Mass.)

Finding aid: OD003 – Westborough Tax Lists 

Westborough Obituaries Websites Collection – LH.075

Obituaries from local newspapers and other websites for people who lived in Westborough. See also the Westborough Historical Newspaper Collection – LH.006.

Official collection name: Westborough Obituaries Websites Collection

Local identifier: LH.075

Creator: Westborough Public Library

Date: 2017 – present

Subject: Society & Culture; Obituaries

Online access: