HOME Travel Guide Common Sense Travel
decorative font style
    Travel >> Holiday Travel >  >> Travel Notes

Discover Your Salem Roots: Essential Ancestry Research Resources

Discover Your Salem Roots: Essential Ancestry Research Resources

This year’s Salem Ancestry Days runs in person and virtually April 30-May 3, 2021. This new annual event celebrates ancestral and immigrant connections to Salem with lectures, walking tours, panels with genealogy experts and more.

Whether you are looking to get a jump start on researching your family history ahead of your visit, or looking for ways to get started at home, we’ve put together a list of resources that can be accessed all year long:

Getting Started with Ancestry Research

  • Ancestry.com
  • Congressional Library & Archives
  • DNA & Genealogy Subject Guide by NEHGS
  • FamilySearch.org
  • “First Steps in Family Research,” archived webinar by NEHGS
  • Genealogy for the Next Generation: Getting Kids Involved by NEHGS
  • Getting Started with Family History Subject Guide by NEHGS
  • National Archives
  • National Genealogical Society

Salem Ancestry Resources

  • American Ancestors & New England Historic Genealogical Society
  • City of Salem Digital Archive
  • Essex Society of Genealogists 
  • Phillips Library Collection
  • Salem Public Library Digital Heritage Collection
  • Salem State Archives & Special Collections

Salem Witch Trials

  • Famous Descendants of the Infamous 1692 Salem Witch Trials by Danvers Historical Society
  • Salem Witch Museum’s Witch Trials Site Tour
  • Salem Witch Trials Victims Descendant Packets by the Salem Witch Museum

African American History

  • History of Slavery at Salem Maritime
  • Massachusetts Historical Society & the End of Slavery in MA
  • Salem Historical Society African American History Resource List
  • Salem State University – Life of Charlotte Forten
  • Salem’s Black Heritage Audio Tour
  • Untold African American Stories told by biographer Adelaide Solomon-Jordan by Hamilton Hall

Indigenous Resources

  • Institute for New England Native American Studies
  • Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness (MCNAA)
  • Massachusett Tribe
  • North American Indian Center of Boston (NAICOB)
  • Salem Historical Society Indigenous Resource List

Architectural History

  • Historic Salem Inc.’s Historic House Database

Regional Resources

  • Danvers Archival Center
  • Historic Beverly
  • Historic New England’s Collection
  • Lynn Museum & Historical Society
  • Marblehead Museum Archives
  • Massachusetts Historical Society

To learn more about Salem Ancestry Days, visit salemancestry.org.

 


Travel Notes
  • 20 Budget-Friendly Things to Do in Salem, Massachusetts for $20 or Less

    Find things to do around Salem, Massachusetts without breaking the bank with these 20 ideas all under $20: 1. Myths & Misconceptions Walking Tour with Essex Heritage ($6-9) The Salem Witch Trials occurred over 300 years ago and have since been dramatized in books, movies and TV shows. Sometimes the real history gets lost in the storytelling. Join Essex Heritage to un

  • Salem-Zagster Bike-Share Relaunches for 2019 Season

    Salem-Zagster has relaunched for the 2019 season! Zagster is Salem’s bike-share program that provides on-demand bikes to Salem residents and visitors as a way to get around town. Last year Zagster recorded thousands of rides throughout downtown Salem, and about 60% of which were from people visiting from out of town. Riders can take advantage of the 10 bike stations wit

  • Family-Friendly Salem Haunted Happenings: Kid Activities & October Fun

    Finding kid-friendly activities during Salem Haunted Happenings doesn’t need to be a nightmare—with carnivals, harbor cruises, story-times, and of course trick or treating, there are plenty of fun things to do with kids this October! Wicked Wednesdays New for 2017, Salem Haunted Happenings includes Wicked Wednesdays that will be chock full of programming for kids. Bring