The Keeley Library has made the following books and articles available online for the research of Fall River local history. Some articles and books make reference to buildings, people, events, etc. for which images can also be found on the Keeley Library's Fall River Local History Slides site.
B.M.C. Durfee High School Building, Fall River, Mass. -- Fall River, Mass. : Almy and Milne, 1889.
67 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.
Contents:
- B.M.C. Durfee High School Building, Erected to the Memory of Bradford Matthew Chaloner Durfee
- Laying of Corner Stone
- Description of Building
- Observatory and Telescope
- Laboratory and Lecture Rooms
- Gymnasium
- Industrial Department
- Order of Exercises at Dedication
- Dedication
- Address of Hon. John S. Brayton
- Oration of Rev. Roswell D. Hitchcock, D.D., LL.D.
- Address of His Excellency, Oliver Ames
- Address of Hon. John W . Dickinson
- Letter from Pliny Earle
- Letter from Rev. Samuel Longfellow
- Presentation of Building to the City
- Acceptance by His Honor, Mayor John W. Cummings
- Address of Mr. Leontine Lincoln
- Appendix I. Letters, Resolutions and Orders Relating to Mrs. Young's Offer and the Acceptance by the City
- Appendix II. An Act to Authorize the City of Fall River to take a Deed of Certain Lands in said City from Mrs. Mary B. Young
- Appendix. III. Invitation to City Council to be Present at the Dedication
- Appendix. IV. Deed from Mrs. Mary B. Young, conveying the B.M.C. Durfee High School Building and Land on which it is situated to the City of Fall River
- Appendix. V. Editorial of the Fall River Daily News, June 16th, 1887
Complete Book - exact facsimile, searchable. (3,221K)
A Centennial History of Fall River, Mass. : Comprising a Record of Its Corporate Progress from 1656 to 1876, With Sketches of Its Manufacturing Industries, Local and General Characteristics, Valuable Statistical Tables, etc. / prepared under the direction of a committee of the city government, by Henry H. Earl. -- New York : Atlantic Publishing and Engraving Co., 1877.
252 p. : ill., map ; 31 cm.
All files are searchable
Contents:
- Title page, prefatory material. Fall River : Sketch of Its Origin and Corporate Epochs, p. 1-70 (7,429K)
- Its Natural Advantages
- Cotton Manufactures from 1810-1820
- Cotton Manufactures from 1820-1830
- Cotton Manufactures from 1830-1845
- Cotton Manufactures from 1845-1860
- Cotton Manufactures from 1860-1876
- Growth of the Cotton Industry in America, p. 71-97 (1,990K)
- Machines and Processes of Manufacture, p. 98-111 (1,069K)
- Statistics of Cotton Manufacture in Fall River, p. 112 (73K)
- Organization of Corporations, p. 113-150 (3,198K)
- Sketch of Each Corporation
- Educational, Religious, Municipal and Financial Features of Fall River, p. 151-184 (2,882K)
- Public Library, Churches, Cemeteries, Parks, Drives, Local Nomenclature, Water Works, Fire Department, Banks and Savings Institutions, Custom-House and Post-Office, and City Hall
- Newspapers and Steam Marine, p. 185-197 (1,056K)
- History of Press of Fall River, Steam Marine of Mount Hope Bay
- Fall River: Its Historical, Political, and Social Phases, p. 198-219 (1,709K)
- Reminiscences of Col. Joseph Durfee ; Fall River in the Civil War ; Fall River's "West End" ; Settlement of State Boundaries, 1862 ; Great Fire of July 2, 1843 ; Population of Fall River from 1810-1875 ; Valuations, etc. from 1854-1875
- One Hundredth Anniversary of American Independence at Fall River, July 4, 1876, p. 220-222 (156K)
- Corporate Annals of Fall River, p. 223-248 (1,731K)
- Sketches of Mayors ; Act of Incorporation of Fall River, in 1803 ; Change of Corporate Name ; Town Officers from 1803 to 1854 ; Members of Congress ; Mayors ; State Senators and Representatives ; Formation of a City Government ; List of City Officers for 1877
- Index, p. 249-252 (299K)
Complete Book - complete facsimile, searchable. (21,187K)
Fall River's Apparel Industry, 1920-1986 / by Jeannette J. Lambert.
49 p. : ill. ; 28 cm. Pages mis-numbered.
Reproduced with the permission of the author.
Complete book. - exact facsimile, searchable. (10,056K)
Historical Sketches of Early Fall River Days as Presented on W.S.A.R. ca. 1940.
36 [i.e. 34] p. ; 24 cm. Pages mis-numbered
Contents:
- Fall River's Part in the Revolutionary War
- A Review of the Years 1800 to 1843
- The Story of Town Ave.
- Fall River in the Fabulous Forties (The Years 1840 to 1850)
- Just Rambling Around Old Fall River
- An Historical Sketch of the Fall River Iron Works
- The Troy Manufactory
- Early Steamboats of Fall River and Vicinity ("Cherry Parties")
- History of the American Print Works
Complete Book - exact facsimile, searchable. (2,392K)
History of Fall River / prepared under the direction of a committee of prominent citizens appointed by His Honor Mayor John T. Coughlin by Henry M. Fenner, A. B., assisted by Benjamin Buffinton. -- New York : F. T. Smiley Publishing Co., 1906.
364 p. : ill., ports. ; 28 cm.
Contents:
- Title page, prefatory material (564K)
- Chapter I. The Earliest Days: The Native Inhabitants and Their Lives. King Philip and Weetamoe. The Pocasset and Freemen's Purchases, p. 1-7. (1,515K)
- Chapter II. The First Settlers: The Coming of the Whites and the Building of Their Homes. First Industries. Life of the Colonial Period Here, p. 8-14.(1,571K)
- Chapter III. In The Revolution: Patriots and Tories. The Battle of Fall River. Resolutions on Boston Tea Party and Declaration of Independence. Schools and Churches, p. 15-19. (1.056K)
- Chapter IV. Fall River a Town: Struggle Over the Separation From Freetown. Change of the Name. Building the First Mills. The Whaling Industry, p. 20-27. (1,580K)
- Chapter V. Incorporated a City: The First Government. The Civil War and the Period of Rapid Growth To 1880, p. 28-36. (1,880K)
- Chapter VI. Progress Since 1880: Population More Than Doubles. Continued Mill Building. Public Improvements and New City Charter, p. 37-40. (882K)
- Chapter VII. Mayor John T. Coughlin's Administration. Board of Aldermen 1906. Other City Officials, p. 41-45. (599K)
- Chapter VIII. Fall River To-Day: Its Attractive Situation and Advantages. Bright Prospect for the Future. Fine Water Works System, p. 46-55. (1,826K)
- Chapter IX. Educational Facilities: Growth and Efficiency of the Modern School System. The Public Library, p. 56-66. (2,219K)
- Chapter X. Fire and Police: Sketch of the Beginnings and Development of Two Strong Departments of the Municipality, p. 67-71. (1,067K)
- Chapter XI. The City's Industries: This the Greatest Centre of Cotton Manufacturing. Its Rapid Growth. The Various Corporations. Other Industries, p. 72-94. (5,268K)
- Chapter XII. Banks and Banking: Honorable and Prosperous Career of the Institutions, With Long Terms of Service. The History of Each, p. 95-101. (1,667K)
- Chapter XIII. Law, Medicine and the Press: Early and Present Lawyers and Physicians. The Court House and Hospitals. The Newspapers, p. 102-110. (1,930K)
- Chapter XIV. Religious Denominations: Wide Variety of Denominations. Long Pastorates and Strong Preachers. Sketch of Each Church, p. 111-122. (2,737K)
- Chapter XV. The Catholic Church: The Diocese of Fall River. Beginnings of Catholicity Here. Numerous Strong Parishes With Their History, p. 123-131. (2,133K)
- Chapter XVI. Clubs, Lodges, Social and Other Organizations: Y.M.C.A., Boys' Club, Home For Aged People and Similar Institutions. Quequechan Club and Masonic and Other Lodges. The Militia. Labor Unions and Labor Troubles, p. 132-142. (2,433K)
- Chapter XVII. Statistics: City Officers from 1854 to 1906, p. 143-159. (3,469K)
- Chapter XVIII. Biographical Sketches of Well-Known Fall River Men, Past and Present, p. 160-258. (18,743K)
- Indexes, p. 259-264. (1,126K)
Complete book. - exact facsimile, searchable. (53,812K)
History of Fall River : With Notices of Freetown and Tiverton / as published in 1841, by Orin Fowler ; together with a sketch of the life of Rev. Orin Fowler, an epitome of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island boundary question, an account of the great fire of 1843, and ecclesiastical, manufacturing, and other statistics. -- Fall River, [Mass.] : Almy & Milne, 1862.
100 p., [1] leaf of plates : geneal. table ; 23 cm.
Contents:
History of Fall River, Massachusetts, comp. for the Cotton Centennial by Henry M. Fenner, under the direction of the Historical Committee of the Merchants Association ... -- [Fall River, Mass.] : Fall River Merchants Association, 1911.
106 p. : ill., map ; 24 cm.
Contents:
- Purchase and Settlement
- Fall River a Town
- Fall River a City
- 1871-1890
- 1890-1911
- The Globe Cotton Mill
- Early Cotton Manufacturing
- Other Industries
- Watuppa Reservoir Company
- Development of the Power for the Manufactories
- Banks and Banking
- Schools
- Churches and Charities
- Fire Department
- Police Department
Complete book - exact facsimile, searchable. (6,970K)
Hurricane pictures of Greater Fall River, September, 1938. -- [Fall River, MA] : Fall River Herald News, {1938?]
64 p. : chiefly ill. ; 23 cm.
Complete book - exact facsimile. (9,077K)
Another account of this hurricane is presented in the article
1938 Hurricane and Tidal Wave Ravaged Region
Illustrated Fall River. -- [Fall River, MA] : Hunter & Wells, [1903].
[64] p. [several pages are missing from our copy] : chiefly ill. ; 15 x 21 cm.
Complete book - exact facsimile. (4,565K)
Life on the Stream / by Alice Brayton. -- [s.l. : s.n., 1962?] (Wilkinson Press)
2 v. : ill., facsims. ; 24 cm.
All files are searchable
Contents:
- Volume 1.
- Preface
- The Legend of Holder Borden, 1799-1837
- Ballad of Avery's Knot, 1833
- Letter written by Olive Bowen Howland, 1833
- Letter Books of the Nail Factory, the Iron Works, and the Troy Mill, 1820-1835
- Pay Roll of the Anawan Mill, April, 1835
- Diary of Matthew Chaloner Durfee, 1836-1837
- Business Letter written by Nathaniel B. Borden, 1836
- Experiences of an Itinerant Methodist, 1837
- Letter from Simeon Borden to Philip Tripp, 1839
- Domestic Diary of Benjamin Earl, 1841-1843
- Three Sermons by the Rev. Orin Fowler, 1841
Complete volume 1 (9,234K)
- Volume 2.
- The Great Fire
- The Night Watch - 1844
- The Fall River Railroad - 1846
- The Militia in 1851
- Letters of the Rev. Samuel Longfellow, Minister to the Unitarian Society in Fall River, 1847-1851
- Art, Excerpt from "Early Paintings of Fall River" by Mrs. Edward B. Lovell
- The Diary of Samuel M. Brown
Complete volume 2 (7,707K)
Notre Dame de Lourdes Memorial Book
This pamphlet contains many pictures of the church both before and during the 1982 fire which destroyed the church and part of the Flint section of Fall River.
Complete pamphlet. - exact facsimile, searchable. (8,644K)
The Phillips History of Fall River by Arthur Sherman Phillips. -- Fall River, Mass. : Privately printed ; Dover Press, 1944-1946.
3 v. : ill., maps, plans, ports. ; 26 cm.
All files are searchable
Contents:
- Fascicle I. The Aborigines. Explorations and Early Settlements. The Freemen's and Pocasset Purchases. Boundary Disputes.
- Title page, prefatory material. Chapter I. The Adventurers Who Visited Our Shores in Ancient Times, p. 1-10. (1,375K)
- Chapter II. Europeans Who Visited Our Shores Prior to the Landing of the Pilgrims. The Indians and Their Tribal Structure in These Early Times, p. 11-18. (533K)
- Chapter III. The Political Structure of Plymouth Colony Showing the Territory Originally Governed and a Change in Boundary Lines, p. 19-24. (354K)
- Chapter IV. The First Settlements on Narragansett Bay. The Providence Plantations. Portsmouth and Newport, p. 25-28. (279K)
- Chapter V. King Philip's War. King Philip and His Associates. Their Activities During Hostilities, p. 29-44. (1.110K)
- Chapter VI. Sketches of the Lives of Weetamoe and Awashonks, p. 45-58. (781K)
- Chapter VII. Results of the Indian War. Impoverishment of the Colonies. Apprenticeship and Slavery of Indians, p. 59-64. (351K)
- Chapter VIII. Freeman's Purchase. Method of Dividing and Settling Colonial Lands. The Original Grantees. First Lot Owners to 1710. Fall River's West End, p. 65-78. (1,275K)
- Chapter IX. Freeman's Purchase. Limits and Early Ownerships of Lots No. 1 to No. 16, p. 79-96. (1,498K)
- Chapter X. Nanaquaket, Puncatest and Sakonet, p. 97-108. (1,565K)
- Chapter XI. The Pocasset Purchase Which Included Present
Fall River Territory Lying South of Bedford Street, p. 109-118. (1,192K)
- Chapter XII. The Proprietors of Pocasset. Edward Gray, Nathaniel Thomas, Benjamin Church, Capt. Christopher Almy, Job Almy, Thomas Waite, Jr., Daniel Wilcox, William Manchester, p. 119-130. (957K)
- Chapter XIII. Early Conveyances. Sketches of Some of the First Settlers. Lot Boundaries. Local Boundary Disputes, p. 131-142. (784K)
- Chapter XIV. Boundary Disputes, p. 143-148. (414K)
- Appendix. Freemen's Deed. The Pocasset Grand Deed, p. 149-158. (595K)
- Index to Fascicle I, p. 159-168. (665K)
Complete Fascicle 1. (13,379K)
- Fascicle II. Ecclesiastical and Educational History. Welfare Agencies and Charities. Financial Structure. Industries. Public Utilities.
- Title page, prefatory material. Chapter I. Early Church History, Baptist Beginnings, p. 1-8. (903K)
- Chapter II. Baptist and Congregational Churches. The Society of Friends, p. 9-18. (859K)
- Chapter III. Methodist Episcopal Churches. Christian Churches. United Presbyterian Churches. The Unitarian Church. Episcopal Churches. The Church of the New Jerusalem, p. 19-27. (688K)
- Chapter IV. The Roman Catholic Church, p. 29-36. (655K)
- Chapter V. Primitive Methodist Churches. The Salvation Army. Catholic Churches (Not Roman Catholic). Synagogues. Smaller Denominations. Some Religious Organizations of the Past, p. 37-40. (247K)
- Chapter VI. Early Education, p. 41-50. (824K)
- Chapter VII. Fall River Schools, 1803 to 1863, p. 51-58. (713K)
- Chapter VIII. Fall River Schools, 1863-1941, p. 59-72. (1,155K)
- Chapter IX. Fall River Schools. District Schools. Grammar Schools. Factory Schools. Evening Schools. The Truant School, p. 73-80. (541K)
- Chapter X. High School. Fall River High School Alumni Association. Fall River Normal Training School. Diman Vocational School. Continuation School. Textile School. Public Library, p. 81-94. (1,152K)
- Chapter XI. Social Welfare Agencies and Charities, p. 95-104. (636K)
- Chapter XII. Banks and Banking, p. 105-116. (1,200K)
- Chapter XIII. The Rise of Industrial Fall River, p. 117-124. (619K)
- Chapter XIV. Cotton Mills Statistics, p. 125-136. (755K)
- Chapter XV. Rise and Decline of Cotton Mills, p. 137-140. (276K)
- Chapter XVI. Mill Fires. Labor Unions. Strikes, p. 141-148. (679K)
- Chapter XVII. Water Rights, p. 149-158. (577K)
- Chapter XVIII. The Granite Industry. The Old Tanyard. Some Long Established Business Firms, p. 159-174. (1,026K)
- Chapter XIX. Custom House. Post Office. Public Utilities, p. 175-192. (1,594K)
- Index to Fascicle II, p. 193-202. (740K)
Complete Fascicle II. (15,366K)
- Fascicle III. Physiography and Natural Resources. Early Life of Inhabitants. Civic and Political Developments. Judicatures. Calamities. War Times.
- Title page, prefatory material. Chapter I. The Fall River Domain. Physiography. Natural Resources, p. 1-8. (1,076K)
- Chapter II. Local Indians. Life of Early Inhabitants. Indians, p. 9-16. (628K)
- Chapter III. A Recapitulation. Original and Present Boundaries. Fall River, Rhode Island, p. 17-22. (552K)
- Chapter IV. Post Roads. Stage Lines. Taverns, p. 23-34. (955K)
- Chapter V. The Town of Fallriver, 1803. The Town of Troy, 1804. The Town of Fall River, 1834, p. 35-42. (870K)
- Chapter VI. Fall River a City, 1854-1902. The Liquor Problem, p. 43-54. (920K)
- Chapter VII. The City of Fall River. Political and Financial Phases, 1902-1941. The Uni-cameral Chapter. Plan D Charter, p. 55-64. (680K)
- Chapter VIII. Town Houses and City Hall, p. 65-68. (332K)
- Chapter IX. Highways, p. 69-78. (761K)
- Chapter X. Highway Appurtenances. Sidewalks. Sewers, p. 79-84. (464K)
- Chapter XI. Judicatures. Early Judicial Procedures, p. 85-94. (901K)
- Chapter XII. Notorious Local Murders, p. 95-110. (1,225K)
- Chapter XIII. Fire Protection. Conflagrations. Storms, p. 111-124. (1,021K)
- Chapter XIV. The Revolutionary War. The War of 1812. The Mexican War, p. 125-130. (422K)
- Chapter XV. Slavery. Anti-slavery. The Underground Railroad, p. 131-134. (216K)
- Chapter XVI. The Civil War. Spanish-American War. World War I, p. 135-144. (775K)
- Important Events, p. 145-1146. (123K)
- Bibliography, p. 147-156. (620K)
- Appendix: Localities and Watersheds. Names of Historical Significance as Applied to Thoroughfares, p. 157-168. (791K)
- Fall River Authors, p. 169-178. (431K)
- Fall River Public Schools, p. 179-182. (149K)
- General Index [to Fascicles I, II, and III], p. 183-207. (2,059K)
Complete Fascicle III. (15,565K)
Pictures of the Worst Fire in Fall River's History
This pamphlet contains many pictures of the 1928 fire.
Complete pamphlet. - exact facsimile, searchable. (4,595K)
A longer account of the fire is presented in the article
1928 Fire Destroyed Much of Downtown
Soldiers of the Great War / compiled by W.M. Haulsee, F.G. Howe, A.C. Doyle. -- Washington, D.C. : Soldiers Record Publishing Association, c1920.
3 v. : ill., ports ; 28 cm.
This file contains only the first 40 pages of volume 2, which deal with soldiers from Massachusetts who died in World War I, including several from Fall River. The list of names is searchable (although some names and towns are misspelled), but the portraits are not searchable since they are recognized as images, not text.
Volume 2, p. 1-40 (6,927K)