Materials
The Merrick Public Library’s local history collection includes materials relating to the history of the town of Brookfield and surrounding areas, as well as genealogical materials. The collection consists of books, newspapers, photographs and images, maps, postcards, yearbooks, town directories, street lists, town and annual reports, atlases, vital records, other documents, objects, and more.
Additional local history materials are available online at quaboag-research.org. This website is a collection of resources and materials gathered or created in the course of Dan Hamilton's ongoing research into the Massachusetts towns of Brookfield, North Brookfield, East Brookfield, West Brookfield, Warren, New Braintree, and the ancestral entity of all: The Quaboag Plantation.
Microfilm & Newspapers
The library also has a collection of microfilm, which catalogs town records and local newspapers from the 17th – 20th centuries. A sizeable selection of newspapers, which were previously bound and/or on microfilm, have been digitized and are searchable via library computer. These newspapers cover the years 1872-1967, and include publications such as the Brookfield Times, Brookfields’ Union, Spencer Leader, and Spencer Sun.
Maps
Thanks to generous donations from local historian and cartographer Robert Wilder (1933-2015), the library offers a substantial map collection. These maps are part of the Robert W. Wilder, Sr. Historical Collection, a compilation of historic material which is also in the library's possession. In addition to the 54 maps, the Collection includes Mr. Wilder’s collection of local history books and his many files and research papers. Mr. Wilder’s files are stored in archival boxes purchased in his memory by the Friends of the Quabbin. The maps can be viewed online at robertwildermaps.com.
Please be aware that the collections and materials mentioned above may be stored in both the library and the adjacent Library Annex. As such, accessing or viewing these collections and materials may depend on staff availability. We appreciate your patience and understanding.