Collections

The historical collection consists of over 500 artifacts and almost 100 pieces of fine and graphic art.  Object such as Jonathan Edwards’ writing desk; a contemporary portrait of Agrippa Hull; and two portraits by noted painter Ammi Phillips (a mid-nineteenth century Stockbridge resident).

Collection formats include account books, legal papers, sermons, journals, correspondence, and other documents dating back to 1738.  The collection contains records for the American Legion, Indian Hill Music Workshop, Laurel Hill Association, and the Williams High School Alumni Association, among others.

Materials most often requested by researchers include those about the Stockbridge Munsee Mohican Tribe; Agrippa Hull; Mumbet (Elizabeth Freeman); Jonathan Edwards; noted author Catharine Sedgwick; the Field family; and Hitty, the doll character portrayed in Rachel Field’s children’s book published in 1929.

Reference materials are available for researchers to use in the Library.  These materials include local histories, family histories, biographies, and reference sources about the history of Stockbridge, including Native American studies, religion, photography, and legal history.  Other reference files include a vertical file, or information file of clippings and ephemera covering biographical information and local history.

The Stockbridge Library Museum is currently closed due to a failed Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. We anticipate installing a new HVAC in early 2023.

Due to supply chain issues, installing the new HVAC system is taking longer than anticipated.

We appreciate your understanding.

Please contact us at info@stockbridgelibrary.org to schedule a research appointment in the archives.

 

Archival collections include account books, legal papers, sermons, journals, correspondence, and other documents dating back to 1738.  The collection contains records for the American Legion, Indian Hill Music Workshop, Laurel Hill Association, and the Williams High School Alumni Association, among others.

The archival collection contains personal and family papers of Stockbridge residents and an assortment of local institutional and business records, as well as numerous collections organized by subject or format.

Materials include original documents by eighteenth century Mahican Native Americans and preliminary writings (drafts and corrected proofs) by author Rachel Field, playwright William Gibson, Stefan Lorant, novelist Catharine Sedgwick, Lyman Beecher Stowe, and Robert Underwood Johnson.

 

These finding aids are available in the Museum & Archives. To download a finding aid, please click on a bolded title below:

Institutional & Business Records:

• American Legion Records
• Berkshire Republican Library Records
• Brown Book of Deeds
• First Congregational Church Records
• Hill Water Company Records
• Indian Hill Music Workshop Records
• Interlaken Congregational Church Records
• Laurel Hill Association Records
• Stockbridge Bowl Association Records
• Stockbridge Casino Records
• Stockbridge Library Association Records
• Tuesday Club Records
• Williams High School Alumni Association Records

Personal & Family Papers:

• Clark (Anson) Collection
• Eaton (Walter Pritchard) Papers
• Edwards (Jonathan) Family Collection
• Field Family Collection
• Franz (Joseph) Papers
• French (Daniel Chester) Collection
• Lincoln / Learned Collection
• Lynch Whitney Family Collection
• Millikan / Brown Collection
• Sedgwick Family Collection

Other collections/topics:

• Alice’s Restaurant Photography Collection
• Cookbook Collection
• Map Collection
• Oral History Collection
• Stockbridge Authors Manuscript Collection
• Stockbridge Imprints Collection
• Stockbridge Indian Collection
• Stockbridge School Collection
• Wilcox (Richard) Deed Research Collection