Genealogy research in Vermont
This page was designed by the Leahy Library of the Vermont Historical Society to help you identify research resources in Vermont family history and genealogy.
Online Resources
Vermont Vital Records through FamilySearch.org
Vermont Vital Records through Ancestry.com (subscription database)
List of other online genealogy resources
Montpelier libraries and archives
Howard and Alba Leahy Library of the Vermont Historical Society
Published state and local history, genealogy, and periodicals. Published military service records and pension lists. Cemetery inscriptions, WPA graves index for soldiers buried in Vermont. Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records on microfilm. HeritageQuest online databases including censuses. Manuscripts, maps, photographs, broadsides. $5 use fee for in-library researchers, members & students free; $15 research fee for inquiries via mail or Internet.
Click here for additional information on the genealogical collections of the Vermont Historical Society. For mailing address, telephone number, and hours of operation, click here.
Reference and Law Division, Vermont Department of Libraries
Telephone: 802-828-3268
Mailing Address: 109 State St., Montpelier, VT 05609-0601
E-Mail Address:
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Location: Between Supreme Court and Pavilion Buildings, Montpelier
Collections: Federal census of Vermont, 1790-1920, including available indexes. (Only 1790 and 1800 are published and fully indexed. Most of the other returns are on microfilm.) Newspapers, Vermontiana, including state and local history, but not genealogy. Federal and Vermont government documents.
Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Secretary of State
Telephone: 802-828-3700
Mailing Address: 1078 U.S. Rte 2, Middlesex, Montpelier, VT 05633-7701
Location: 1078 U.S. Rte 2, Middlesex (behind the State Police barracks)
E-Mail Address:
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Collections: State government records (1777 – Present), including Governors’ papers, legislative records, court records, Manuscript Vermont State Papers, Nye Index, Adjutant General’s records and Surveyors General’s records. Also, vital records, 1760-2003; naturalization records, 1811-1972; probate records, 1778-1850. Microfilm of town records (earliest known to at least 1850) and land records (earliest to current), and municipal charters and amendments.
Family History Center, Montpelier Ward Chapel
Telephone: 802-229-0482
Mailing Address:c/o Shirley King, 650 Vincent Flats Road, East Montpelier, VT 05651
Location: Hersey Road (off Rte. 302, next to Wayside Restaurant), Berlin
Collections: Provides access to the records and services of the Family History Department's Library of the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah. FamilySearch CD-ROM databases.
Wed. 10-4, Thurs. 10-4 & 6:30-9:30; third Saturday of the month, 10-3.
Other genealogical libraries and organizations
Genealogical Society of Vermont
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 14, Randolph, VT 05060-0014
Collections: Membership organization publishing quarterly journal, Vermont Genealogy (with query column for members), quarterly newsletter, and books & sponsoring semi-annual meetings and occasional workshops.
Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society
Mailing address: P.O. Box 65128, Burlington, VT 05406-5128
Collections: Membership organization specializing in French-Canadian genealogy, offering library and research facilities. Contact
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for details.
Welsh-American Genealogical Society
Mailing address: 60 Norton Ave., Poultney, VT 05764-1011
Contact Janice B. Edwards for details.
Bennington Museum Genealogical Library
Telephone: 802-447-1571
Mailing address: West Main Street, Bennington, VT 05201 802-447-1571
Collections: Concentrates on Bennington County and nearby New York and Massachusetts.
New England Historic Genealogical Society
Telephone: 617-536-5740
Mailing address: 101 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116
Collections: Largest genealogical library in New England. Strengths are colonial America, New England, Quebec and the Maritimes, and good collections for Irish and French-Canadian research.
George A. Russell Collection of Vermontiana
Telephone: 802-375-6153
Address: Martha Canfield Library, Arlington, VT 05250
Particularly strong for towns of Arlington, Sandgate, and Sunderland.
Sheldon Museum Research Center
Telephone: 802-388-2117
Maling Address: 1 Park Street, Middlebury, VT 05753
Collections: Concentrates on Addison County.
Family History Center, Rutland Branch Chapel
Telephone: 802-773-8346
Mailing address: c/o Stewart B. Dittmeier, 217 West Lake Road, Wells, VT 05774
Location: North Shrewsbury Road (off Rte 7, south of Rutland), N. Clarendon, VT
Collections: Available access to the collections of the Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Computer databases, microfilm and microfiche records.
Researchers
Most institutions in Vermont are small and do not have the staff to conduct extensive personal genealogical research. Therefore, you may wish to contact someone to conduct research for you. The Vermont Historical Society maintains a list of people who do genealogical research for a fee. They are not members of the Society's staff, and we do not assume any responsibilty for searches made. Please mention that you saw his/her name on this list.
Local historical societies
These organizations often maintain very detailed information about people who lived in their towns. Letters addressed to the historical society in the town of interest will usually find their way to someone who can supply an answer. Click here for a list of local historical societies.
Links to genealogy sites
We maintain a list of links to web sites useful to Vermont genealogists.
Books on research
Books on genealogical research are available from the Vermont Historical Society Online Store.
