Collections
of the Dyer
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Collections
of the Dyer
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Research Books The library’s collection consists of approximately 14,000 books, including general U.S. history books, a notable collection of Civil War monographs, Massachusetts town histories, Massachusetts business directories from 1867-1919, biographies and genealogy books. Genealogy Research The library has an extensive collection of genealogy reference books consisting of published vital record books up to 1850 for most of Massachusetts, genealogy research for Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, family genealogies, Irish genealogy, Mayflower Families and Mayflower Descendants, New England Historic and Genealogical Registers with indexes, The American Genealogist volumes 1-75, various other genealogy periodicals and cemetery information for the local area and Southern Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Census for l790, 1855 and l865 are available as well as the United States Census for 1850 and 1880. Also included in our genealogy collection are the personal research papers of Anna and Leila Gurney from Whitman and Herbert Hunt of Rockland. Military Research The library has information on residents of Old Abington (Abington, Rockland, and Whitman) involved in the military from Colonial times through World War II. Our book collection includes a set of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Soldiers with index, a set of Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War with index, an extensive collection of Civil War books, as well as regiment books. We have a complete set of The Civil War Times magazine, Civil War diaries and individual military commissions for local soldiers. Historical Documents The collection is a primary resource for the study of Old Abington from the Colonial period to modern day. It includes diaries, letters, business account books and early Old Abington documents. Notable collections include the personal papers of Cyrus Nash, which are contemporary accounts of local events in the first half of the 19th century, Martha Campbell, Aaron Hobart, and William D. Coughlan. Photograph Collection The photographic archives at the library consist of local area images of Abington, Rockland and Whitman including glass plate negatives, cartes-de-visite, cabinet cards and images produced through modern photographic processes. The subjects include people, street scenes, places, businesses, and schools. The library also has a large postcard collection for the three towns. Maps The map collection of the library consists of local maps for the town of Abington, Rockland, and Whitman – illustrating the history and development of these towns. Highlights include maps of Abington dated 1830 (James Bates), 1848 (E. Whiting), 1896 (Elbridge Payn) and a hand drawn map done in the late 19th century of the reconstruction of the Timothy Hatherly grant of 1654. We also have the 1874 Atlas of Abington and Rockland, and the 1903 Atlas of Plymouth County. Newspapers Our collection consists of local newspapers including the Abington Standard, Rockland Standard, and Whitman Times. Of special interest are copies of The Liberator, an abolitionist newspaper published by William Lloyd Garrison, 1831-1865. Historical Artifacts The artifacts in our collection are primarily of local and antiquarian interest. The range of artifacts encompasses examples of house wares, furniture, apothecary, fire, clocks, tools, textiles, and military ephemera. Of special interest are items belonging to General Benjamin Lincoln, John L. Sullivan, and the Dyer family. Also in our collection are examples of pottery made by John Benner, objects from the shoe making trade, and Sandwich glass. |
