(This page's most recent update is
July 2024)
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Institutional records are another class of collections that should be part of one’s genealogy research repertoire. Although most of your ancestors may not have spent time in an institution, I’ll bet that almost every family tree has several that have. So they are worth your effort to research.
Here are a few good primers for searching institutional records:
- FamilySearch – Institution and School Records
- Finding Your Ancestors in Poor House or Poor Farm Records
- Researching Ancestors in Asylums
What kind of institutions and types of records can we discover?
- Poorhouse
- Poor Farm
- Orphanage
- Orphan Train
- Mental Hospital
- Workhouse
- Almshouse
- Institutional School
- Sanitarium
- Asylums
- Correctional institutions
Acquiring records from each of these types of institutions may be difficult because of privacy concerns, but they are worth the effort.
Below you will find free online institutional records you can use to help you discover more about your relatives who have spent time in an institution.
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.
Massachusetts Free Online Institutional Records
- Barnstable County, Almshouse Burial Ground AKA Poor Farm Cemetery
- Barnstable County, Methodist Society Burying Ground AKA Falmouth Poor House Burial Ground
- Boston Insane Hospital and Boston Lunatic Hospital, Institutional Registers, 1855-1907
- Boston, Military Records of Hospital Care, 1854-1866
- Bristol County, Almshouse Burying Ground
- Bristol County, Almshouse Cemetery
- Bristol County, Almshouse Cemetery (Defunct)
- Bristol County, Easton Alms House 1880 Census
- Castle Island Commitment Registers, 1785-1798
- Charlestown State Prison Records, 1805-1930
- Danvers, Massachusetts State Hospital, Medical Records, 1878-1917
- Essex County, Boards and Trustees of State Reform Schools
- Essex County, Danvers State Hospital Cemetery
- Foxborough, Massachusetts State Hospital, Institutional Registers, 1893-1918
- Gardner, Massachusetts State Colony for the Insane, Institutional Registers, 1902-1905
- Hampden County, New Hope Cemetery AKA Monson State Hospital Cemetery
- Hampshire County, Northampton State Hospital Burial Grounds
- Massachusetts State Board of Insanity, Boarding out Registers, 1885-1904
- Massachusetts, Hospital Cottages for Children, Medical Records, 1882-1918
- Massachusetts, Institution Board Members, Officers and Trustees
- Massachusetts, Middlesex Reformatory Prison for Women 1880 Index of Prisoners
- Massachusetts, Poor House Commitments and Removals 1897-1898
- Massachusetts, Scotch Prisoners Sent to Massachusetts in 1652
- Massachusetts, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, Prisoners, Insane, In Hospitals, 1917-1918
- Massachusetts, Registers of Patients in Private Hospitals, 1843-1917
- Medfield, Massachusetts State Hospital, Institutional Registers, 1896-1906
- Middlesex County, Metfern Cemetery AKA Metropolitan State Hospital Cemetery
- Middlesex County, Tewksbury Almshouse, Children’s Records, 1855-1869
- Middlesex County, Tewksbury State Hospital Cemetery
- Monson, Hospital for Epileptics, Medical Records, 1898-1918
- Monson, State Almshouse, Admission Records and Case Histories, 1854-1882
- Norfolk County, Foxborough State Hospital Cemetery
- Norfolk County, Foxborough State Hospital Cemetery
- Norfolk County, Louise Johnson Memorial Cemetery AKA Wrentham State School Cemetery
- Norfolk County, Medfield State Hospital Cemetery
- Norfolk County, Sailors Home Cemetery
- Northampton, Massachusetts State Hospital, Institutional Registers, 1858-1907
- Plymouth County, Alms House Cemetery
- Taunton, Massachusetts State Hospital, Institutional Registers, 1854-1907
- Taunton, State Lunatic Hospital, Death Returns, 1844-1872
- Tewksbury Asylum for Chronic Insane, Medical Records, 1866-1907
- Tewksbury, State Almshouse, Children’s Records, Volume 1, 1855-1869
- Tewksbury, State Almshouse, Inmate Case Histories, 1860-1896
- Tewksbury, State Almshouse, Weekly Returns of Admission and Discharge, 1894-1918
- Upton, Town Records, Paupers Register, 1839-1883
- Westborough, Massachusetts State Hospital, Inpatient Commitment and Institutional Registers, 1886-1918
- Worcester County, Almshouse Cemetery
- Worcester County, Gardner State Hospital Cemetery
- Worcester County, Grafton State Hospital Memorial Cemetery
- Worcester County, Nazareth Home for Boys Cemetery
- Worcester County, Poor Farm Cemetery
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!