Welcome to our Online Collections Database!

About the Museum and Archive Collections

Dedham was one of the two oldest inland settlements established by the Mass Bay Colony in 1635 (Dedham incorporated a year later). The collection holdings reflect Dedham’s history and that of the 15 towns that split from Dedham prior to when they incorporated. The Online Collection contains museum and archival holdings, both among the most significant in New England; for additional information, explore the Collections landing page. We are in the early phases of adding material to this database and hope you will return often to see what has been added.

Tips for Searching

There are a number of ways to search the Online Collections Database. Either click above on the Keyword Search, Advanced Search, or Random Images options—or you can narrow your search within specific types of collections: Archives, Photos, Libraries, and Objects. For instance, if you only want to search for Photos, click the Photos button and type in your keyword(s) or phrase. You can also browse records within that catalog without performing a search. Phrase searching, wildcards (*) as well as AND/OR statements are available when performing catalog searches.

The Random Images button is a great way to just browse the collection. Each Random Images page displays a random assortment of images from the records online. If something piques your interest, click the thumbnail to view a larger version of the image.

Do You Have Research to Add?

If you have information or images about any of the records you find in this Online Collection, please reach out to library@dedhamhistorical.org. Thank you!

Conditions of Use

The material in the Online Collections Database is for research, educational, and personal purposes only. Applicable copyright laws apply and users are responsible for complying. Additionally, there are restrictions for certain collections. If you are interested in publishing any of the images or information, you must contact library@dedhamhistorical.org.