• About us
  • Background
  • Collections
  • Membership
  • Contact

The Bedford Historical Society, Inc., is a non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code. Since 1893, the Bedford Historical Society has been collecting and sharing the stories of Bedford and its residents.  The Society maintains the largest existing private collection of Bedford artifacts, memorabilia, and photographs.  Documents date from 1651, the collection of more than 5,000 photographs goes back to the mid-1800s, and objects span from prehistoric days 10,000-12,000 years ago through Colonial times to the present.

The Society is a rich resource for townspeople curious about the history of their family or their house, for individuals doing research, and for anyone with an interest in the American Revolution, architecture, antiquities, or simply “the good old days”.  It offers an annual program series on Bedford and local history that is open to the general public, and it maintains historical exhibits in a number of municipal buildings.  The Society has opportunities for volunteers, including community service for high school students.  Please contact us for more information.

The Society offers a wide range of merchandise including Bedford Flags, books, maps, pictures, clothing and memorabilia.  They may be purchased at the Society’s office by check or cash or online with a PayPal account.  They may also be purchased at the Freight House in Depot Park on Loomis Street or online with a credit card athttp://bedforddepot.org/store/index.html . Additional items are available at our Ebay for Charity page, found by clicking on the “Favorite Us On Ebay” button at the bottom of this page.

Founded: 1893
Collection overview: The Lane Family Papers are the Bedford Historical Society’s largest and most important family collection. The BHS maintains more than 230 Lane Family documents, nearly all dated from the 1650s to the late 1790s. These papers are quite valuable as primary source documents on the history of the Lane Family, of Bedford, and of colonial life in New England.
Become a member:

Membership in the Bedford Historical Society is open to all. New members are always welcome!

Your support allows the Society to:

  • Publish seven issues of our informative newsletter, The Preservationist, each year
  • Provide educational resources for local schools
  • Exhibit a portion of our collections in Town buildings
  • Share information and resources with residents, researchers and other historical organizations
  • Respond to inquiries from genealogists and others interested in Bedford’s past
  • Provide photos and information for media organizations like This Old House and The Genealogy Roadshow, as well as local Bedford news sources, like the Bedford Citizen and the Bedford Minuteman
  • Acquire appropriate archival supplies to preserve and protect valuable items from Bedford’s history
Donate online:
Newsletter
Bedford Historical Society, Inc.
2 Mudge Way
Bedford, Mass. 01730-2138
Website: http://www.bedfordmahistory.org/
E-contact: bedfordmahistory@gmail.com
Phone: 781-275-7276