Vermont Historical Society

Montpelier libraries and archives

Howard and Alba Leahy Library of the Vermont Historical Society

Published state and local history, genealogy, and periodicals. Published military service records and pension lists. Cemetery inscriptions, WPA graves index for soldiers buried in Vermont. Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records on microfilm. HeritageQuest online databases including censuses. Manuscripts, maps, photographs, broadsides. $5 use fee for in-library researchers, members & students free; $15 research fee for inquiries via mail or Internet.

Reference and Law Division, Vermont Department of Libraries

Telephone: 802-828-3268
Mailing Address: 109 State St., Montpelier, VT 05609-0601
E-Mail Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Location: Between Supreme Court and Pavilion Buildings, Montpelier
Collections: Federal census of Vermont, 1790-1920, including available indexes. (Only 1790 and 1800 are published and fully indexed. Most of the other returns are on microfilm.) Newspapers, Vermontiana, including state and local history, but not genealogy. Federal and Vermont government documents.

Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Secretary of State

Telephone: 802-828-3700
Mailing Address: 1078 U.S. Rte 2, Middlesex, Montpelier, VT 05633-7701
Location: 1078 U.S. Rte 2, Middlesex (behind the State Police barracks)
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Collections: State government records (1777 – Present), including Governors’ papers, legislative records, court records, Manuscript Vermont State Papers, Nye Index, Adjutant General’s records and Surveyors General’s records.  Also, vital records, 1760-2003; naturalization records, 1811-1972; probate records, 1778-1850.  Microfilm of town records (earliest known to at least 1850) and land records (earliest to current), and municipal charters and amendments.

Family History Center, Montpelier Ward Chapel

Telephone: 802-229-0482
Mailing Address:c/o Shirley King, 650 Vincent Flats Road, East Montpelier, VT 05651
Location: Hersey Road (off Rte. 302, next to Wayside Restaurant), Berlin
Collections: Provides access to the records and services of the Family History Department's Library of the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah. FamilySearch CD-ROM databases.
Wed. 10-4, Thurs. 10-4 & 6:30-9:30; third Saturday of the month, 10-3.

Other genealogical libraries and organizations

Genealogical Society of Vermont

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 14, Randolph, VT 05060-0014
Collections: Membership organization publishing quarterly journal, Vermont Genealogy (with query column for members), quarterly newsletter, and books & sponsoring semi-annual meetings and occasional workshops.

Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society

Mailing address: P.O. Box 65128, Burlington, VT 05406-5128
Collections: Membership organization specializing in French-Canadian genealogy, offering library and research facilities. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details.

Welsh-American Genealogical Society

Mailing address: 60 Norton Ave., Poultney, VT 05764-1011
Contact Janice B. Edwards for details.

Bennington Museum Genealogical Library

Telephone: 802-447-1571
Mailing address: West Main Street, Bennington, VT 05201 802-447-1571
Collections: Concentrates on Bennington County and nearby New York and Massachusetts.

New England Historic Genealogical Society

Telephone: 617-536-5740
Mailing address: 101 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116
Collections: Largest genealogical library in New England. Strengths are colonial America, New England, Quebec and the Maritimes, and good collections for Irish and French-Canadian research.

George A. Russell Collection of Vermontiana

Telephone: 802-375-6153
Address: Martha Canfield Library, Arlington, VT 05250
Particularly strong for towns of Arlington, Sandgate, and Sunderland.

Sheldon Museum Research Center

Telephone: 802-388-2117
Maling Address: 1 Park Street, Middlebury, VT 05753
Collections: Concentrates on Addison County.

Family History Center, Rutland Branch Chapel

Telephone: 802-773-8346
Mailing address: c/o Stewart B. Dittmeier, 217 West Lake Road, Wells, VT 05774
Location: North Shrewsbury Road (off Rte 7, south of Rutland), N. Clarendon, VT
Collections: Available access to the collections of the Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Computer databases, microfilm and microfiche records.

Researchers

Most institutions in Vermont are small and do not have the staff to conduct extensive personal genealogical research. Therefore, you may wish to contact someone to conduct research for you. 

This list was compiled by the Vermont Historical Society Library to help you find people who do research in Vermont family history and genealogy for a fee. They are not members of the Society's staff, and we do not assume any responsibility for searches made. Please mention that you saw his/her name on this list.

Scott Andrew Bartley

20 March Ave.
West Roxbury, MA 02132-2604
(617) 350-8657 
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www.yourgenealogist.com
Professional genealogical researcher, lecturer, and editor with 20 years experience. Specializes in Vermont and colonial New England. Can travel to Vermont if need be; local collections in Boston include extensive records for all New England States. Maintains web site: www.yourgenealogist.com

Catherine Wiest Desmarais, CG

399 Old Stage Road
Essex Junction, VT 05452
(802)-363-7885
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.StoneHouseResearch.com
Certified Genealogist and owner of Stone House Historical Research, located in Vermont's beautiful Champlain Valley. On-site research at the Vermont Archives and Records Administration, Vermont Historical Society, Vermont French-Canadian Historical Society, and local town offices, courthouses, and cemeteries. Please visit www.StonehouseResearch.com for more information.

Alice Eichholz, Ph.D., C.G.

14th Avenue North, Unit 102
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 339-2738
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Member, Association of Professional Genealogists; certified since 1987. 25 years experience in historical and family problems in all areas of Vermont; available for consultation on difficult Vermont family history problems.

Dawn D. Hance

62 Killington Ave.
Rutland, VT 05701
(802) 775-4406
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Author of Rutland, Shrewsbury, and Pittsfield, Vt., town histories. 25 years experience in researching Rutland County vital, newspaper, land, and court records.

Local historical societies

These organizations often maintain very detailed information about people who lived in their towns. Letters addressed to the historical society in the town of interest will usually find their way to someone who can supply an answer. Click here for a list of local historical societies.

Books on research

Books on Vermont genealogical research are available from the Vermont Historical Society Online Store.