The Sheldon Museum's Research Center houses an extraordinarily rich collection of written and printed materials of local history which are extensively used by historians and genealogists. Although most of them come from the nineteenth century, the collection also includes both eighteenth and twentieth century items. An on-line catalog (need link to Middlebury Library and/or ARCCAT from State Dept of Libraries), a published guide (Treasures Gathered Here) and unpublished inventories of collections all provide information about the holdings. The archival collection includes:
Books and Pamphlets:
Over 4,000 volumes covering a variety of topics, reflecting the reading and writing of Addison County residents in the nineteenth century, as well as a variety of local history and works by local authors.
Newspapers:
Since 1801, Middlebury has had one, often two, and sometimes three weekly newspapers. Most of them are held at the Research Center, including a few others from neighboring towns. A random index exists and can be found in the card catalog. There are also some papers from Bristol, Orwell, and Vergennes.
Manuscripts:
About 400 linear feet of files and shelves are occupied by personal, family, and business papers of Addison County residents. These include records of organizations, doctors, merchants, personal diaries, and time books of local industries.
Letters:
30,000 nineteenth century letters are held.
Photographs:
There are about 2,500 images in the collection, about two thirds of them scenes of Middlebury. The others include portraits, and the Lathrop Collection of aerial views of western Vermont in the 1930s. .
Other Collections:
There are various maps, scrapbooks, audio tapes, sheet music, and ephemera such as posters advertising concerts, plays, and sporting events, all of which are listed in various finding aids.
Catalogs (on cards, on computer, and in notebooks) of the collection are available on site, and trained staff will assist researches when the Center is open. A limited amount of research may be done for a fee, for those who cannot get to the Sheldon. Photocopying is available for a small fee.
Link to the on-line catalog
Maybe a photo from the collection?
All are welcome to use the collections in the Research Center. There is no fee, except for photo and other copies, though contributions for the continuing support of its work are welcome.
Other Resources for Local History
Middlebury College Library has town, county and state histories in its Vermont collection; indexes to the U.S. Census for Vermont in its Vermont collection; and microfilms for the U.S. Census for Vermont, 1790- ca. 1910. These records are open to the public.Ilsley Library (click on Middlebury College Library for online catalog)
Has town, county, and state histories as well as microfilms of Middlebury newspapers back to 1801.Hours: MWF, 10-6; TTh, 10-8; Sat., 10-4
Probate Court
Has records of settlement of estates. Some of the earliest records were destroyed by fire and no longer exist.Town Clerks
Have land records and vital statistics for the various towns. Since towns were not required to keep birth, marriage and death records prior to 1857, some of the earlier records are sporadic.Town Clerk, Middlebury 802-388-4041
Town Clerk, Cornwall 802-462-2775
Town Clerk, Bristol 802-453-2486
Town Clerk, New Haven 802-453-3516
Town Clerk, Lincoln 802-453-2980
Town Clerk, Shoreham 802-897-5841
Vermontiana Collections (through University of Vermont)Vermont Historical Society
Back to homepage