Three scrapbooks plus one self-published book documenting the life of a Westborough family growing up in the latter part of the 20th century. The scrapbooks include family photographs, school photos and memorabilia, newspaper clippings, and narratives about living in Westborough that provide context for understanding how the images and items fit into Westborough’s history.
Official collection name: John K. Elberfeld Family Scrapbooks, 1938-2010
Location: Shelving
Local identifier: LH.067
Creator: John K. Elberfeld
Date: 1938-2010
Extent: 1.25 linear feet (3 scrapbooks + one published book)
Subject: Westborough (Mass.)–Social life and customs; Family histories
Finding aid
The records in this collection document the administrative, financial, and regular activities of the Evangelical Congregational Church, which was formed after the first Congregational Church split into two separate churches in 1834. Genealogists will especially be interested in the financial records (Series 2), which include property assessments of church members, and membership records (Series 5), which provide valuable information about the movement of church members into and out of Westborough. Note: Needs to be reprocessed. See also 2016.01 First Congregational Church Records.
Official collection name: Historical Records of the Evangelical Congregational Church, Westborough, MA, 1784-1914
Location: Shelving and Oversize
Local identifier: OD.009
Creator: Evangelical Congregational Church, Westborough, MA
Date: 1784-1914
Extent: 5.5 linear feet (7 boxes + one oversize box)
Subject: Evangelical Congregational Church (Westborough, Mass.)
Finding aid: OD009 – Evangelical Congregational Church – 2020-11-23
Finding aid
Photocopies, photographs, periodicals, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, documents. Miscellaneous collection of information and primary sources relating to Westborough families, organized by family last name.
Official collection name: Genealogies of Westborough Families
Location: Shelving
Local identifier: LH.008
Creator: Westborough Public Library
Date: Undetermined
Extent: 4 linear feet
Subject: Genealogy–Westborough (Mass.)
Finding aid: Genealogies of Westborough Families
Finding aid
Photographs, letters, diaries, maps, administrative documents, scrapbooks. Papers and records relating to Westborough history collected by Charles H. Reed and later his daughter, Rachel Deering. Some of the items form the core of the book collection and the Genealogies of Westborough Families collection.
Official collection name: Historical Papers of Dr. Charles H. Reed (a.k.a., the Reed Collection)
Location: Shelving; Map case; Roll Box.
Local identifier: LH.013
Creator: Charles H. Reed and Rachel Deering
Date: Undetermined
Extent: 5 linear feet (8 boxes + one oversize box + map case + Roll Box)
Subject: Local history–Westborough (Mass.); Westborough (Mass.)–Social life and customs
Finding aid: Reed Collection Finding Aid
Finding aid
Most of the lists in this collection are tax related and fall between the late-eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries. The tax lists provide important historical and genealogical information about the make-up of town residents in lieu of official census figures, although surviving lists for some years are more complete than others. Many of the lists divide the town into north and south, with the “Great Road” (now Route 9) serving as the dividing line.
Official collection name: Historical Records of the Town of Westborough: Census and Tax Lists, 1756-1879
Location: Shelving and Oversize
Local identifier: OD.003
Creator: Town of Westborough
Date: 1756-1879
Extent: 4 linear feet (5 boxes + one oversize box)
Subject: Tax assessment–Westborough (Mass.); Census–Westborough (Mass.)
Finding aid: Westborough Tax Lists – 18-01-05
Obituaries from local newspapers and other websites for people who lived in Westborough. See also the Westborough Historical Newspaper Collection (LH.006).
Official collection name: Westborough Obituaries Websites Collection
Local identifier: LH.075
Creator: Westborough Public Library
Date: 2017 – present
Subject: Society & Culture; Obituaries
Online access:
