About the G&LH Collection
Beardsley Library's Genealogy & Local History Collection
is housed in two rooms on the second floor of the library.
It was created in the 1930's by Edward Payson Jones,
a former president of the library's Board of Trustees
who was an avid genealogist and local historian.
The smaller of the two rooms is named in his honor.
A larger room was added in the 1980's, through the efforts of another trustee and genealogy enthusiast, and it is named
The Virginia T. Leighton Genealogy & Local History Room.
The Genealogy & Local History Collection focuses on family, town, and state history and includes reference, circulating, and digital resources. A librarian manages the collection, conducts research, and assists patrons. Walk-ins are welcome and research requests may be made via email, phone, or mail.
Due to the unique nature of our collection, children and pre-teens are asked to be accompanied by an adult when visiting.