• About us
  • Background
  • Collections
  • Membership
  • Contact

The society was founded by 34 charter members on May 3, 1933 and
incorporated as a non-profit organization on October 2, 1975. The
society has been re-incorporated, and a revised and updated set
of by-laws was approved by the membership on December 2, 1999.

Early meetings were held in the Red Brick School before it became
part of the Carlisle School campus. Throughout the years, the society
has worked closely with Gleason Public Library and the town officials
to collect and document artifacts from Carlisle’s past. In 1975
it undertook the publication of a town history as a special Bicentennial
project. Today, the society sponsors regular programs open to the public.

For more details, see “Carlisle Historical Society celebrates the past,” by Conni Manoli-Skocay and Stephanie Upton, Carlisle Mosquito, November 26, 2004

Mission: The Carlisle Historical Society of Carlisle, Massachusetts, was founded in 1933 to gather historical and educational objects and information and to transmit to future generations all possible memorials of past and present times.
Founded: 1933
Collection overview: History and Overview of the Collections When Gleason Public Library opened in 1896 some 50 items were presented for display in the Historical Room. These, along with other records and artifacts preserved by the town, formed the basis of the Town’s Collection. Today, this collection numbers well over 810 individual artifacts. The Society’s Collection began with its founding in 1933. Members could donate an item in lieu of the annual 50 cent membership dues! A number of artifacts were accessioned during the early years and displayed with the Town Collection in the Historical Room of Gleason Library. The two collections have separate documentation records, both of which are being entered into a data base as part of a current project of the historical society. The society continues to collect artifacts associated with Carlisle. Among recent donations are: archival collections of music and maps, and cream bottles from Bates Farm. A collage of various artifacts from the Carlisle Historical Society collection Various artifacts from the collection What’s in the Collections? The collections are being catalogued using The Revised Nomenclature for Museum Cataloguing based on Chenhall’s system. The largest category for both collections is that of documentary artifacts, which includes books, photographs, letters, town records and a collection of 1,000 postcards! The artifacts document Carlisle’s history from its earliest times. There are a number of representative stone tools and points from the Native American period. Geological specimens also occur, in the form of rocks and minerals. From infant’s clothing to soldier’s gear, the personal artifacts reflect the everyday lives and occupations of earlier times. There are fireplace cooking utensils, fine ceramics, carefully executed samplers, a large collection of carpenter’s tools, dance programs and mementos of all kinds! The Heald Collection of Gettysburg Relics, part of the Town Collection, is particularly noteworthy. It is said to be the third best collection in existence of such relics, and includes everything from canteens to cannon balls to both a union and rebel drum!
Membership: Members receive discounts to events, and your membership helps keep Carlisle’s history alive! Yearly membership dues are $15 for a household; $10 for an individual and $8 for an individual senior member. The membership form can be found here.
Events: Heald House Open Houses The Heald House, a historic building at 698 Concord Street, is the Carlisle Historical Society’s museum. It is open for visitors the third Sunday of the month, 2:00 – 5:00 pm, throughout the year. During those times, free guided tours are offered of the house and its collections on both floors. Often during the Open Houses, the Carlisle Artisans exhibit and offer for sale their crafts in the courtyard of the barn and other special events may also be scheduled.

Guest Speakers

The Historical Society occasionally sponsors speaking events, either at the Heald House or at Gleason Public Library, on Carlisle’s history. Look for announcements on this site and in the Carlisle Mosquito.

Scout Programs

The Historical Society offers Girl Scout badge programs. One is the “Local Lore” badge for Junior Girl Scouts and the other is “Listening to the Past” Brownie Try-it badge. The fee is $5 per scout.

Carlisle Historical Society
698 Concord Street
Carlisle, Mass. 01741
Website: http://www.carlislehistory.org/
Phone: 978-371-5529