Resources for Boston records
Not all Boston-related records are located in the City archives. Below are resources to help you find what you need.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Archives and Records Management
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201 Rivermoor Street
West Roxbury, MA 02132
Birth, marriage, and death records
Records from 1630 to the present — including those for Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Roxbury, and West Roxbury communities — are available at the Registry Division in Boston City Hall:
Room 213, 1 City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
Phone: 617-635-4175
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
State copies of vital records from 1841-1920 are available at the Massachusetts Archives:
220 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
Phone: 617-727-2816
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m
State copies of vital records for 1921 to the present are available at Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics:
150 Mount Vernon St., 1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125-3105
Phone: 617-740-2600
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Student records
Did you attend a Boston Public School? We created a helpful guide to help you find your transcript. You'll get some tips on where to turn, and find out who might have your record.
Please note: The City of Boston does not have the records of Parochial (Catholic) Schools. If the school you attended is still open, contact the school. If the school is closed, contact the Catholic School Office at 617-746-5737.
Deeds and wills
Suffolk County deeds are on file at the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds:
24 New Chardon St.
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-788-8575
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 a.m.
Suffolk County wills are on file at the Suffolk County Registry of Probate:
24 New Chardon St.
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-788-8300
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
For annexed towns that were not always part of Boston, you can find deeds in the original county registry.
Census records
Federal and state censuses may be available at these locations:
National Archives — Northeast Region
380 Trapelo Rd.
Waltham, MA 02452
Phone: 781-663-0130
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Massachusetts Archives
220 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
Phone: 617-727-2816
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Burials records
Death certificates usually list the place of a burial or cremation. The Cemetery Division of Parks and Recreation has records of burials in City-owned cemeteries.
Cemetery Division, Parks and Recreation
Hope Cemetery, 355 Walkhill St.
Mattapan, MA
Phone: 617-635-7361
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Naturalization records
Information on naturalization records can be found online at the National Archives.
Court records
The Supreme Judicial Court Division of Archives and Records Preservation oversees the permanent records of all Massachusetts courts, from 1630 to the present.
Elizabeth Bouvier, Director of Archives
Supreme Judicial Court Archives
3 Pemberton Square, 16th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-557-1082
Email: archives@jud.state.ma.us
Tax records
Before 1822:
You need to set up an appointment with the Rare Books and Manuscripts Department:
Boston Public Library
700 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02117
Phone: 617-536-5400, ext. 2225
From 1822 to 1973
FamilySearch has scanned all of the City's tax records for the years 1822-1918. These records can be accessed through their website. You can also set up an appointment with the City Archives:
201 Rivermoor Street
West Roxbury, MA 02132
Phone: 617-635-1195
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Archives@cityofboston.gov
From 1974 to 1991
You can find them at the Assessing Department in Boston City Hall:
Room 301, 1 City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
Phone: 617-635-3742
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
From 1992 to the present
You can find them at the Taxpayer Referral and Assistance Center in Boston City Hall:
Mezzanine Level, 1 City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
Phone: 617-635-4287
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Archives and Records Management
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201 Rivermoor Street
West Roxbury, MA 02132
