The focus of the collection includes materials about the history of Amesbury, Massachusetts, and the surrounding geographical area including Salisbury and the Merrimack Valley that establish Amesbury within its historical context. Emphasis is also given to the acquisition of those materials which will contribute to a knowledge of the region’s social, civic, religious, economic and cultural life, past and present, specifically the Carriage industry.
The collection emphasizes material of significant local and historical value and includes materials by and about the people of Amesbury, Amesbury High School Yearbooks, cemetery maps, personal papers, manuscripts, deeds, scrapbooks, books, ephemera, and genealogical information.
The Local History collection includes books, diaries, pamphlets, newsletters, bulletins, periodicals, reports, letters, speeches, newspapers, manuscripts, documents, maps, atlases, clippings, postcards, photographs, photographic negatives, slides, films, videotapes, electronic materials, paintings, posters, stereo views, genealogical records, memorabilia and ephemera such as commemorative programs and advertisements.
The Local History Collection does not contain government records, such as City Council meeting minutes or Board of Education meeting minutes, or day‐to‐day business records.
Gifts & Donations
The library welcomes donations to its Local History Collection. All donated materials must be free of dirt, mold, moisture, and pests and should be in good condition. Donors must sign a “Deed of Gift” transferring ownership, and copyright, if applicable, to the Amesbury Public Library. The donor and the library each retain a copy of the deed of gift.
The library reserves the right to decline gift offers. Gifts which are out of scope or which require more resources to preserve and make available than the library can provide will not be accepted.
For information about the city of Amesbury go to www.amesburyma.gov