HISTORICAL ROOM
The purpose of the Historical Room At the WBPL is to provide information for both residents and non-residents interested in local, county, state history, and genealogy. The collection contains Town Reports from the 19th century forward, regimental histories and Vital Records to 1850 for many Massachusetts towns.
Use of materials in the Historical Room is available whenever the library is open. The materials may be used in the Historical Room or at a table in the general reading area at the discretion of the librarian. The following rules apply to the use of the materials in the Historical Room:
 | The user signs in at the Circulation Desk on this form before admission the the Historical Room and signs out at the desk when finished. |
| Handbags, briefcases, outer coats, bookbags, knapsacks, suitcases, multiple looseleaf notebooks, and other books may not be brought in to the Historical Room. |
| Food and drinks are not allowed in the Historical Room. |
| Users must handle rare and delicate materials with appropriate care. |
| Pencil, and not pen, must be used for taking notes. |
| Library Staff will make photocopies of requested materials at $.10 per page. |
| Materials are to be left on the table for staff to reshelf. |
Materials used to answer reference questions may be brought to a table in the general reading area at the discretion of the librarian.
Rules regarding care, use of pencil, and photocopying apply to use of historical materials used at a general reading table. All materials issued to users in the general reading area will be listed over the patron's signature and checked off when returned to the Circulation Desk.
***Special Collections
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Postcard Collection |
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Town Photograph Collection |
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Clipped Newspaper Article Collection regarding the town from 1938-1975 |
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WB High School Yearbook Collection including 1935, 1947, 1955 to present |
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Local Historical Shelf |
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WB Historical Commission inventory of Old Houses |
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West Bridgewater Historical Commission Reference Materials |
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WB births, marriages and deaths index |
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1904 Town Tax maps |
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Wampanoag Indian History |
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Pilgrim History |
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WB Vital Records to 1850 |
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MA towns Vital Records to 1850 |
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**Please visit the Library Trustees page to view the list of Library Directors dating back to 1879 to the present |
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**Please visit the Directions page to view the addresses of the WBPL from 1879 until the present day |
| Web Site Historical Info |
Probably the most comprehensive bit of historical information concerning the Town of West Bridgewater will be found on the WB Police Department's web site: www.wbpd.com
Click on 'links' and then 'town history'. It is very comprehensive and detailed.
| Recent Addition |
The WBPL has acquired a handwritten Business Ledger Book of Isaac Howard with listed transactions from May 1847 through December 1849. The transaction is listed in ink by type of repair (wagon repair) and customer name. Patrons may view the book by request when signing in the Historical Room.