A look inside American Ancestors renovated headquarters in Boston

For family history buffs with Boston roots, we’ve talked about the many interesting places to visit in Boston, such as the Granary Burying Ground. There’s another site worth mentioning: the newly renovated Newbury Street headquarters of American Ancestors (formerly known as the New England Historic Genealogical Society). It's a true destination for casual visitors or dedicated researchers.

The lobby contains a giant digital map that kicks off the Family Heritage Experience, an interactive journey through family history. It includes hands-on tools that allow visitors to learn more about their ancestry, an exploration of the role heirlooms and documents play in researching family history, and rotating exhibits, including a major exhibit this coming April marking the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

For genealogists, more treasures can be found upstairs. The Brue Family Learning Center features a regular slate of events (scroll down to see the list). The Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center contains exhibits about Jewish history in New England (including online oral histories) and lectures by scholars.

When I visited in November, I spent hours at the Brim-DeForest Library. The library has been a central part of the society’s holdings for nearly 200 years, but has been updated and is open to the public. The reading room is beautiful:

The terminals grant free access to Ancestry (library edition), FindMyPast, online newspaper archives, and other specialized genealogy databases. Patrons can also search the library’s own holdings including special collections. Ask the helpful librarians on staff for assistance using these resources, or finding certain records.

In the stacks, I found a number of books that would otherwise be very difficult to obtain because they are out of print or published overseas. They include a series of books published by local Scottish genealogy societies in the 1980s, mapping and transcribing every known pre-1855 cemetery headstone in Scotland: 

I’ve discussed the difficulties researching my single British branch, originating in Cumberland on the Scottish borders (see Saying "no" to a tempting genealogy brick wall breakthrough). In the library’s holdings there was a copy of Across the Oceans: Emigration from Cumberland and Westmoreland before 1914, which is generally unavailable in the United States unless you want to pay $200+ (!) on Amazon. An interior map and explanatory text helped me understand why my only British branch settled where they did, in Upper Canada/Canada West (now southern Ontario) in the mid-1800s. 

Even if you don’t have plans to visit Boston anytime soon, there are many FREE resources available on the American Ancestors website, including the “ask a genealogist” chat (free answers to basic questions) and free searchable databases Members have access to additional databases, as well as free access to the Family Heritage Experience. 

American Ancestors is the largest genealogy society in the United States. The building is located at 99 Newbury Street in Boston, and is a great destination to include on a local history tour. Hours and other information are available here.