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Preserving the Past, Informing the Future | Skip Navigation Links |
Resources in the Connecticut State Archives
General Resources | Aerial Photographs | Bible & Family Records | Boundaries, Geography, and Place Names | Buildings and Structures | Cemetery Records | Census Records | Church Records | Circus Fire | Correctional Records | Court Records | Divorce Records | Genealogy | General Assembly Records | Governors | Historical Documents | History | Immigration & Ethnic Groups | Industrial History | Judicial and Legal History | Land Records | Military Records | Native Americans | Naturalization Records | Oral History | Preservation of Documents | Probate Records | Roads and Bridges | Rules and Procedures | Slavery and the Road to Freedom | Vital Records | Witchcraft Trials, Colonial | Women's History | Links to Other Agencies and InstitutionsGENERAL RESOURCES
Some of these databases are made available through paid subscriptions or
licenses and can be accessed only at the State Library.
About Connecticut: A Brief History of the State.
Ancestry Library Edition. Available at the State Library. Provides access to a wide range of unique resources for genealogical and historical research with more than 1.5 billion names in over 4,000 databases. Ancestry Library Edition includes records from the United States Census, military records, court, land and probate records, vital and church records, directories, passenger lists and more.
Biography & Genealogy Master Index. Available at the State Library. Indexes nearly 12 million biographical sketches in more than 2700 volumes and editions of current and retrospective reference books, covering both contemporary and historical figures throughout the world.
Colonial Connecticut Records (CCR) provides online delivery of the complete, digitized volumes of the Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776.
Connecticut's Historical Firsts.
Connecticut History Online. Contains about 14,000 images of photographs, drawings and prints which may be searched or browsed in a variety of ways, including by keyword, subject, creator, title and date. Online learning tools created especially for middle and high school students provide suggestions for interpreting and exploring the database.
Databases of Individuals listed in State Archives Records. Records relating to Civil War and Spanish American War Veterans, Connecticut World War I veterans, and prisoners at the Wethersfield State Prison, 1800-1903.
First Search. Available at the State Library. More than 50 online databases and more than 1.5 million full-text articles. Includes ECO an extensive OCLC collection of scholarly journals, and PAIS, a database chronicling global public policy and social issues, and other sources useful for public policy research.
Guide to the Archives in the Connecticut State Library, Fourth Edition. (13,636kb)
HeritageQuest Online. Available at the State Library. Heritage Quest can also be accessed remotely through iCONN, the CT Digital Library, using a current State Library library card or a library card from any Connecticut library. Collection of genealogical and historical material including family histories, genealogical serials, local histories, and primary sources (including indexes and images of the U.S. Federal Census, 1790-1930).
The Literature of Connecticut History. An extensive annotated bibliography arranged chronologically and topically. Categories include culture, government, Indians, industry, transportation, and women. This is an important tool for beginning Connecticut historical research.
National Archives and Records Administration – Includes information on the holdings and services of National Archives branches nationwide and information on genealogical resources, veteran’s service records, and microfilm publications. Searchable databases are included in the “Access to Archival Databases (AAD)” section.
New England Ancestors. Available at the State Library. Includes the full texts of The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1847-1994, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633; and Legislators of the Massachusetts General Court, 1691-1780; vital records of many Massachusetts towns to 1850; and transcriptions of manuscripts and diaries, military records, Bible records, and church records.
ARCHIVES RESOURCES BY TOPIC
Boundaries, Geography, and Place Names
The Connecticut Western Reserve. What were the Western Lands, also referred to as the Western Reserve?
The Firelands. 500,000 acres in Ohio granted in 1792 to those (and their heirs) who suffered losses during the Revolutionary War.
The Susquehannah Company. Where can I find information about those from Connecticut who settled in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania?
Research Guide to Old House Resources at the Connecticut State Library.
Connecticut law relating to removing headstones from, or defacing headstones in, Connecticut cemeteries.
Hale Collection of Connecticut Cemetery Inscriptions
Research Guide to Cemetery Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Connecticut Census Index, 1790-1850
Research Guide to Census Records at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Colonial and State Census Records at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Special Federal Census Schedules for Connecticut at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to the Connecticut Military Census of 1917
Additional information from the U.S. censuses, including derived and compiled statistical data, is available through the Government Information Services Unit.
Research Guide to the Hartford Circus Fire. This research guide was created to assist researchers in identifying materials held by the State Library relating to the July 6, 1944 Circus Fire catastrophe.
Wethersfield Prison Records database. Index to records relating to prisoners at the Wethersfield State Prison, 1800-1903.
Connecticut's Early General Records
County Courts Finding Aids
Colonial Connecticut Records (CCR) provides online delivery of the complete, digitized volumes of the Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776.
Connecticut's Early General Records
Finding Aid to the General Assembly Papers, 1821-1870; State Archives Record Group No. 2 (264kb)
Finding Aid to the Rejected Bills, 1808-1870; State Archives Record Group No. 2 (196kb)
Governors of Connecticut: Resources and Publications. A guide to resources available at the State Library.
Office of the Governor, 1820-1858, State Archives Record Group No. 5
Roster of Connecticut Governors. Includes links to Biographical Sketches, Portraits, and Guides to Archival Records of Connecticut Governors.
Charter of the Colony of Connecticut, 1662
Constitution of the United States & Amendments
The First Constitution of Connecticut: The Fundamental Orders, 1638-9
Governor Wilbur Cross' 1936 Thanksgiving Proclamation
African-Americans. Research Guide to African-American Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
French Canadians. Research Guide to Canadian Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Germans. Research Guide to German Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Irish. Research Guide to Irish Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Italians. Research Guide to Italian Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Jews
Jewish Farmers in Connecticut. An online exhibit presented by the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Jewish Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Native Americans
Connecticut Native American Tribes
Guide to Native American Legal Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Materials Relating to Native Americans at the Connecticut State Library. This research guide summarizes some of the Library's most important historical and genealogical holdings relating to Native Americans.
Polish. Research Guide to Polish Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Scots. Research Guide to Scots and Scots-Irish Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Women. Research Guide to Women's History Archival Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Naturalization Records at the Connecticut State Library
Connecticut Patents Database, 1800-1890
Research Guide to Materials Relating to Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company in the Connecticut State Library, State Archives, and Museum of Connecticut History.
Research Guide to Materials Relating to the History of Industry and Commerce at the Connecticut State Library
Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Libraries Connecticut Legal History Page
Connecticut Judicial Department, a comprehensive history and bibliography.
Connecticut's Early General Records
Guide to the Records of the Judicial Department (772kb)
Research Guide to Connecticut Probate Districts
Research Guide to Probate Records at the Connecticut State Library
Wethersfield Prison Records database. Index to records relating to prisoners at the Wethersfield State Prison, 1800-1903.
Fitch's Home for Soldiers Database. Records relating to Civil War and Spanish American War Veterans.
Noble Pension Database. Records relating to Civil War and Spanish American War Veterans.
Research Guide to Colonial Wars Sources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Civil War Sources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Manuscript Military Records at the State Library
Research Guide to Mexican War Sources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Revolutionary War Sources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to War of 1812 Sources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to World War II Service Records at the Connecticut State Library
World War I Veterans Database. Records relating to Connecticut World War I veterans.
Connecticut Native American Tribes
Guide to Native American Legal Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Materials Relating to Native Americans at the Connecticut State Library. This research guide summarizes some of the Library's most important historical and genealogical holdings relating to Native Americans.
Research Guide to Connecticut Probate Districts
Research Guide to Probate Records at the Connecticut State Library
The Merritt Parkway. An on-line exhibit presented by the Connecticut State Library
Guidelines on Use of Restricted Original Archival Records
Reproduction of Connecticut State Library Collections
Request for Permission to Publish, Exhibit, or Broadcast
Rules and Procedures for Researchers Using Archival Records, Original Newspapers, and Secured Collections Materials
Slavery and the Road to Freedom
Log Book of Slave Traders between New London and Africa, 1757-58
The Life and Times of William Webb: An African-American Civil War Soldier from Connecticut
Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records (1600s-ca. 1850)
Connecticut Vital Records (How to obtain records of births, marriages, and deaths.)
Connecticut's Vital Records Access Law
LINKS TO OTHER AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS
Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism
Connecticut Historical Museums
Connecticut Historical Societies
Connecticut Humanities Council
Connecticut Municipal Historians
Connecticut State Historical Records Advisory Board (CSHRAB)
National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC)