Alumni records are part directories, part newspapers, and magazines, part biographies, part obituaries, part yearbooks, part vital records, etc. You get the idea. If you are seeking genealogy clues, these “records’ are full of them. All of the information is derivative, but it can provide leads for you to search for original documents. And if you are documenting a person’s family story, well, there’s a ton of that kind of information too.
So what am I including in Alumni Records?
- Alumni directories
- Alumni registers
- Alumni newsletters, bulletins, newspapers, and magazines
- Commencement programs
And what information is available in them?
- Graduation dates and degree(s) received
- Current photos and/or those of their family
- Current address lists
- Where are they now and what are they doing?
- Obituaries and “In Memoriam”
- Marriages
- Children born to the alumnus
- Deaths in their family
- Life achievements and awards
- Interesting stories about the alumnus and their family
Below is a list of links to free online alumni record and index collections for the state:
Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
(Updated October 2023)
Massachusetts Alumni Records
- Abbot Academy Alumni Bulletin
- Addresses of the Alumni of Amherst College
- Alumni Address List
- Amherst College Alumni Address List – 1902
- Amherst College Commencement Programs
- Amherst College, Addresses of the Alumni, 188?-1901
- Amherst College, Biographical Record of the Alumni and non-graduates, 1871-1896
- Amherst College, Biographical Record of the Alumni, 1821-1871
- Amherst, Amherst College Addresses of the Alumni of Amherst College
- Amherst, Amherst College Alumni Address List
- Amherst, Amherst College General Catalogue of Amherst College: including the Officers of Government and Instruction, the Alumni, and Honorary Graduates, 1821-1900
- Amherst, Biographical Record of the Alumni and non-graduates of Amherst College (classes ’72-’96), 1871-1896
- Amherst, Biographical Record of the Alumni and non-graduates of Amherst College (classes ’72-’96), 1871-1896: the third Quarter Century
- Amherst, Biographical Record of the Alumni of Amherst College during its First Half Century, 1821-1871
- Arlington Catholic High School/Saint Agnes School Alumni Newsletter
- Assumption University Commencement Programs
- Berklee College of Music Alumni Magazine
- Berkshire Community College Alumni Newsletter
- Boston College Law School Alumni Magazine
- Boston University Alumni Magazine
- Boston University Commencement Programs
- Boston University, General Alumni Catalogue, 1918
- Bridgewater State University Magazine
- Bridgewater, History and Alumni Record of the State Normal School, to July, 1876
- Cambridge, Quinquennial Catalogue of the Law School of Harvard University: Alumni Directory
- Canton High School Alumni Register, 1869-1896
- Clark University Alumni Magazine
- Clark University, Directory of Alumni, Faculty and Students
- College of the Holy Cross Alumni Directory, 1849-1903
- College of the Holy Cross Commencement Archives
- College of the Holy Cross Alumni Magazine
- Dean College Alumni Magazine
- Eaglebrook School Alumni Magazine
- Elms College Alumni Newsletters
- Emmanuel College Magazine
- Fitchburg State University Alumni Magazine
- Framingham State University Alumni Magazine
- Greenfield Community College Alumni Newsletter
- Harvard Alumni Directory, 1919
- Harvard Alumni Directory, a Catalogue of Former Students Now Living: Including Graduates and Non-graduate, and the Holders of Honorary Degrees
- Harvard Class of 1925: decennial Report
- Harvard College Class of 1907 Secretary’s Fourth Report
- Harvard College Class of 1921: thirty-fifth Anniversary Report
- Harvard College, Necrology of Alumni, 1851-1863
- Harvard College, Secretary’s First Report, Class of 1898
- Harvard University Directory: a Catalogue of Men now Living Who have been Enrolled as Students in the University, 1910
- Harvard University Directory: a Catalogue of Men now Living Who have been Enrolled as Students in the University, 1913
- Harvard University Magazine
- Harvard’s Military Records in the World War
- Hingham High School: Alumni Directory, 2002
- Lasell University Alumni Newsletters
- Law School of Harvard University: Alumni Directory, 1817-1929
- Lowell High School Alumni News
- Massachusetts Agricultural College Alumni Bulletin
- Massachusetts Agricultural College, Catalog of Graduates and Former Students
- Massachusetts College of Art Alumni Directory
- Massachusetts College of Art Alumni Directory, 1987
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Alumni Magazine
- Massachusetts College of Optometry Alumni Bulletin
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Alumni Magazine
- Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions Commencement Programs
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Former Students Register, 1915
- Massachusetts State College Alumni Bulletin
- Massasoit Community College Commencement Programs
- Milford High School: Alumni Directory, 1997
- Milford High School: Alumni Directory, 2007
- New England College of Optometry Alumni Magazine
- New England College of Optometry Commencement exercises
- Quinquennial Catalogue of the Law School of Harvard University, Alumni Directory
- Salem State University Alumni Magazine
- Scituate High School Alumni Reunions
- Suffolk University Law School Alumni Magazine
- Suffolk University Magazine
- University of Massachusetts Amherst Magazine
- University of Massachusetts at Amherst Alumnus Magazine
- University of Massachusetts Boston Commencement Programs, 1969-2012
- University of Massachusetts Lowell Alumni Magazine
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Department of Political Science Alumni Newsletters
- University of Massachusetts, Boston Alumni Newsletters
- Wellesley College Commencement Archives
- Wentworth Institute of Technology Alumni News
- Westfield State University Alumni Update Newsletter
- Wheaton College Alumni Magazine
- Worcester, College of the Holy Cross Alumni Directory, 1849-1903
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!