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The Robbins Library provides resources related to the history of Arlington, Massachusetts, both online through our digitized resources, and in the library in our fourth floor Local History Room’s collection of books, atlases, photographs, postcards, manuscripts, and other documents. Reference Staff perform basic assistance on local history questions through in-person, phone and email interactions. More extensive questions may be referred to the Local History Librarian who will provide guidance into starting research using materials found in the Local History Room or our digitized resources. Should the Robbins Library not have materials needed to answer the question, the Local History Librarian will refer users to other local history organizations, libraries, or other relevant organizations that can fulfill the query.
How can I use the Local History Room?
Users who wish to use the Local History Room can fill out an application at our first floor reference desk. After filling out the application, users will need to exchange either their library card or state ID for the key to the room. Users will also receive a list of rules for using the room. Any large bags must be left at the reference desk. No food or drink are allowed in the Local History Room. Users must use pencils if they wish to take their own notes. Pencils are provided in the Local History Room. After leaving the Local History Room, users must report back to the first floor reference desk to return the key and sign out.Â
Users only need to fill out an application once. For additional visits, users just need to sign in and leave their card or ID in exchange for the key and sign out and return the key upon finishing research in the room for the day.
If users specifically want to look at our collections on the Arlington Women's Club Collection, Historic Photographs, Robbins Library History, the Winkler Files, or the Bilafer files, they must make an appointment with the Local History Librarian.
What is in the Local History Room?
Our Local History Room contains books and materials related primarily to the history of the town of Arlington and secondarily to the history of Middlesex County and Massachusetts. Significant collections include our historic atlases, directories, photographs, postcards and Arlington High School yearbooks, many of which are digitized through the Digital Commonwealth or Internet Archive.
The Robbins Library offers several resources to help research your family history. Several of these resources are available online while others can be used in the Local History Room. Contact the local history librarian for any additional genealogical research you may need. Below are a listing of our digital resources that can help you in your research:
American Ancestors
IN LIBRARY USE ONLY
Ancestry Library
LIBRARY USE ONLY Thousands of family history databases, including vital records, census records, ship passenger lists, military records and lots more!
Historical Arlington Newspapers (coverage missing December 1930-February 1931
Covering Arlington's newspapers from 1871-2005, this database is good for family research for finding obituaries, birth announcements, wedding announcements, and more for your relatives in the town of Arlington. View this video for more information on how to search and use the database.
Internet Archive
Part of our digitized collections through the Digital Commonwealth, our local resources that can aid your research for Arlington families include:
- Arlington High School Yearbooks 1927 – 2020. Some years missing.  (Learn How)
- Arlington High School Literary magazine, The Clarion, 1897 – 1931 (missing 1927-1929).Â
- Town Street Directories, 1869 – 1940.  (Learn How)
- Town Annual Reports, 1842 – present. (Learn How)
- True List of Persons, 1921 – present.  (Learn How)
We have many of these digitized resources in our Local History Room but some are very fragile. Please consult a librarian before making a photocopy of the material.
Local History Room Materials of Interest for GenealogyÂ
Our vertical file has two drawers of biographies for significant figures in the town’s history. Consult the local history librarian for assistance in retrieving material and accessing.
The second half of this book includes a section of genealogical history of several significant families in the early history of Arlington.
Arlington High School alumni directory... / sponsored by the Arlington High School Alumni Association  (1997, 2001, and 2006 copes available).
Genealogist's handbook for New England research / edited by Michael J. Leclerc
Vital records of Arlington, Massachusetts, to the year 1850Â
To start your research on your home in Arlington, stop by the first floor Reference Desk to view a set of binders from the Massachusetts Historical Commission on historic properties. The binders are organized by street address from A-Z. You can also view a Historical Inventory of Properties prepared by the Arlington Historical Commission in our Local History Room to see if your home is listed. Additionally, you can utilize these digital resources from the library for assistance in your research:
Historical Arlington Newspapers (Coverage missing December 1930-February 1931)
By searching via address, our Historical Arlington Newspapers can help find sales announcements along with probate records related to your home that can help fill in information related to your current home. View this video to learn more about how to search this database
Internet Archive
Digitized books include:
- Town Street Directories, 1869 – 1940.  (Learn How)
- Town Annual Reports, 1842 – present.  (Learn How)
- True List of Persons, 1921 – present.  (Learn How)
These digitized resources help give a history of how long a home was present at an address and who used to live in the home. Early town annual reports can also give insight as to who paid higher taxes at a property which may indicate the construction of a home.
Sanborn Maps
Originally created to determine insurance risks, these maps are valuable for establishing where homes and properties were during a certain period of time. Covers the period of 1885-1951.
Local History Resources in the Library for your home research
Additionally, we have several copies of Sanborn Insurance Maps for the Town of Arlington.
Arlington Advocate
Covers September 2005 – May 2022. Search full-text articles of Arlington’s weekly local newspaper by keyword and date, or browse articles in an issue. Arlington residents only.
Arlington Advocate and Star
Covers 2022-Present. The paper is the product of the merger of the Arlington Advocate and Winchester Star.
Digital Commonwealth
Includes 1,235 historical photographs, 268 historical postcards, some maps, and 2 painted miniature studies for stained glass windows by Arthur Murray Dallin, son of Cyrus E. Dallin, well-known Arlington artist.
Arlington’s COVID-19 Community Archive
The archive creates a snapshot of life in Arlington during the pandemic and includes a wide array of images, videos, and documents. Through this archive, future researchers, students, and residents will be able to access our collective memory through images, words, and other digital formats. Create an account or select Robbins Library from the drop-down to access the archive. Community members are invited to submit contributions to the archive.
Digitized Arlington Zoning and Town By-Laws (1924-1971, not all years included)
This digitized collection will cover the changes in zoning by-laws and by-laws in the Town of Arlington from 1924-1971. Please note that not all years are included.
FAQ About the Local History Room
Can I take material out of the Local History Room?
Books in the Local History Room are for library use only and cannot leave the library. Users may take books out of the Local History Room to use on the first floor. Upon taking a book out, users must inform the librarian at the Reference desk what book they are using, fill out the book information and then return to the librarian upon completion.
Can I make photocopies of the books from the Local History Room?
Before making photocopies of material, please consult with a librarian due to the fragility of some of the material. If the material is deemed stable enough to copy, copies are $0.15 a page.
Can I donate items to the Local History Collection?
Items considered for the Local History Collection will be assessed in consultation with our Donations, Bequests, and Gifts policy.
I am looking for yearbooks from Arlington High School. Where do I find them?
Yearbooks are available from Arlington High School from 1927 to the most recent edition, most of which are available in the shelves of the Local History Room. More recent copies are in our closet in the Local History Room. Please consult the Local History Librarian before accessing recent copies. Most copies from this time range are also digitized on the Internet Archive.
How do I find obituaries from the Arlington Advocate?
Our newspaper collection of the Arlington Advocate and other newspapers published in Arlington from 1871-2005 have now been digitized as Historical Arlington Newspapers and are available here. Users can access this database both in and out of the library.Â
For any questions on how to use the Historic Arlington Newspaper database, consult with the Local History Librarian. A tutorial is available to view here.
Has this town always been called Arlington?
Timeline of name of Arlington, Massachusetts:
1635-1807: Menotomy
1807-1867: West Cambridge
1867-Present: Arlington
What resources do you recommend on Arlington History?
See our Local History Brochure for a list of suggested books and resources on Arlington history. We have also prepared a listing of resources outside the library for additional historic research.
Is there an email to reach the Local History Librarian?
The Local History Librarian can be contacted at [email protected].Â