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Local History—Where to Find Information
There are several town departments and local organizations that hold records and artifacts of interest to those researching various aspects of our town’s history. We hope that this guide will help you more easily locate the information you are seeking. If you are unsure of how to begin your search, please contact the Local History Librarian at the West Hartford Public Library for suggestions and advice. The Town Clerk’s office is happy to supply information but cannot conduct research for individuals. For assistance with and access to collections at the Noah Webster House-West Hartford Historical Society or the John P. Webster Library, please make an appointment with their archivists.
◊ Information about PEOPLE
West Hartford Public Library Local History Collection
• Geer’s, Price and Lee and Johnson city directories from 1900-1990
• Local newspapers on microfilm: West Hartford News (1931-date),West Hartford Life (1998-date),
indexed from 1970-date
• Index to West Hartford Obituaries in the Hartford Courant 1982-1997
• West Hartford news article clipping files: 1930s-2000
• Yearbooks from local schools: 1929-date
• Local telephone directories from 1969-date
• Online resources include remote access to Heritage Quest, and in-library access to Ancestry.com
and The New England Historical and Genealogical Society databases.
Office of the West Hartford Town Clerk
• Birth, death and marriage records for town residents from 1854 to date; prior to 1854, records
may be available from the City of Hartford.
• Veteran’s Records from the Civil War and later
• Voter Registration Records
• Land and legal records; many accessible online through the Clerk’s Office.
John P. Webster Library, First Church of Christ, Congregational
• Membership records
• Information on clergy and church staff
• Church records including births, deaths, baptisms, marriages from 1713-1937 available on
microfilm at the Connecticut State Library.
Noah Webster House and West Hartford Historical Society
• Artifacts and documents related directly to Noah Webster
• Correspondence, diaries, scrapbooks and other documents pertaining to the following local
individuals or families: Elizabeth Hatheway, Ruth Pitkin Schaffer, Nelson Burr, Selden Family,
Beech Family, Foote-Hayman Family, Butler-Bassette Family
• Local photograph collection consisting of several hundred photographs including homes,
business, events and residents. Date range: late 1800's to 2009
◊ Information about PROPERTY (homes, businesses, public buildings)
West Hartford Public Library Local History Collection
• Geer’s, Price and Lee and Johnson city directories from 1900-1990
• Map collection including atlases from 1869, 1896, 1909, 1920, 1923 and 1931; several showing
property owners
• West Hartford Architectural Survey: detailed listings of historic properties
• Neighborhood histories
Office of the West Hartford Town Clerk and Town Assessor
• Land and legal records; many accessible online through the Clerk’s Office.
• Town map collection, available online
• Property Records, available online through the Assessor’s office
John P. Webster Library, First Church of Christ, Congregational
• Church building records including photographs and blueprints
• Property records for Goodman Green in West Hartford Center.
Noah Webster House and West Hartford Historical Society
• Local photograph collection includes several hundred photographs of local interest including
homes, business, events and residents. Date range: late 1800's to 2009
◊ Information on TOWN GOVERNMENT and TOWN DEPARTMENTS
West Hartford Public Library Local History Collection
• West Hartford Annual Reports from 1898-present (incomplete)
• West Hartford Municipal and Board of Education Budgets
• Miscellaneous Town Reports
• History of the West Hartford Fire Department
• Histories of West Hartford Schools
• West Hartford Schools –Reports from 1871-present
