17Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Fall River Public Library
Fall River, Massachusetts
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Fall River.
1800 to 2021Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
1,366,060Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Fall River, Massachusetts.
Follow a question about Fall River, Massachusetts through the newspapers as well as maps and atlases shared in the Fall River Public Library's digital archive. Its seventeen titles include material from 1800 to 2021.
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Selected titles
The titles shared by Fall River Public Library include “Daily Evening News” and “Historical Maps - Taunton River”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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Different views of the past
A familiar name or event takes on another dimension in the newspaper coverage of its time, alongside the stories that mattered to the readers of that issue. Maps and atlases offer a different view of a familiar place through the labels, boundaries and features their makers recorded.
Historical maps and atlases can show how a place was recorded in its own time, adding a geographical setting to family stories and community history. A familiar place name, street, or boundary can be a useful starting point. Follow what each dated map shows, and note when a label or line changes. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse seventeen titles and 1,366,060 digitized pages, with material from 1800 to 2021. This collection is shared through Fall River Public Library's partnership with Advantage Archives. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
Every search for the past starts with a question. Explore the titles below, follow the sources that speak to it, and see what new detail appears.
Daily Evening News
4,860 pages from 1863 to 1864
Fall River City Directory
263,986 pages from 1853 to 2021
Fall River Daily News
7,224 pages from 1860 to 1862
Fall River Globe
36,124 pages from 1924 to 1927
Fall River Herald
27,476 pages from 1924 to 1926
Fall River Herald and Evening News
3,416 pages in 1926
Fall River Herald News
947,092 pages from 1926 to 1979
Fall River Monitor
7,456 pages from 1826 to 1857
Fall River Monitor And Weekly Recorder
816 pages from 1836 to 1837
Historical Maps - City of Fall River - General Plan of Drains and Surface Water
2 pages in 1915
Historical Maps - City of Fall River - General Plan of Sewers
2 pages in 1915
Historical Maps - City of Fall River - Sketch of Proposed New Stadium
2 pages in 1932
Historical Maps - Fall River Iron Works
2 pages in 1909
Historical Maps - Map of The City of Fall River
96 pages from 1800 to 1959
Historical Maps - Taunton River
2 pages in 1916
The Evening Herald
2,352 pages in 1924
The Herald News
65,152 pages from 1998 to 2000
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About the Library
About The Fall River Public Library
The Fall River Public Library was founded in 1861, as the direct descendant of the Fall River Athenaeum, a private subscription library which had been in operation since 1835. Initially housed in the Fall River City Hall, the library moved to a new location on North Main Street after a fire in 1886 destroyed part of the collection. The current library building, also on North Main Street, was authorized for construction in 1895 and opened in 1899. The library underwent a complete restoration beginning in 2001, with the renovated building reopening in 2003. The original building retains its beauty and historic appeal while offering modern facilities designed for 21st-century users, including more computers, wireless access, and open book stacks.
Library History
The History Of The Fall River Public Library
The Fall River Public Library has a long and storied history dating back to its founding in 1861. As the direct descendant of the Fall River Athenaeum, the library has been a cornerstone of the community for over a century. The original library was housed in the Fall River City Hall until a fire in 1886 necessitated a move to rented premises on North Main Street. In 1895, the City authorized the construction of a permanent library building, which opened in 1899. A complete restoration of the building began in 2001, and the renovated library, which reopened in 2003, now features modern amenities while preserving its historic charm. The Fall River Public Library continues to serve the community by providing access to books, electronic information, and a welcoming environment for patrons of all ages and backgrounds.
About the Community
About The Fall River Area
Fall River, located in Bristol County, Massachusetts, is a city with a rich industrial history and a vibrant cultural scene. Established in 1803, Fall River grew rapidly during the 19th century as a center for textile manufacturing. Today, the city is known for its historic architecture, beautiful waterfront, and diverse population. Fall River offers a variety of recreational and cultural opportunities, including parks, museums, theaters, and community events. The city's commitment to preserving its heritage is evident in its well-maintained public buildings and active historical societies.
Local History
Did You Know?
Did you know that the Fall River Public Library building, which opened in 1899, was designed by architect Ralph Adams Cram, who also designed buildings for Princeton University and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City? The library's historic design and modern amenities make it a cherished landmark in the Fall River community.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Keep publication context with a finding
History often starts with a personal question: where a family lived, what a local business meant, or how an event shaped Fall River. Explore the newspaper titles in the digital archive shared by the Fall River Public Library for accounts from different years and points of view. Let one discovery suggest a next question, and keep the answer tied to the record rather than filling gaps with assumptions. Note the newspaper title, issue date, and page for a useful report. Compare another account where available, and keep differences in timing or perspective visible rather than blending them into a single version.
Where the available dates overlap, compare a place mentioned in a newspaper with the mapped setting. Check each source's date and purpose before connecting a street or boundary. A familiar place name can change meaning over time.
A research trail is most useful when it leaves room for what is not yet known. Record the title, date, and page or item reference where available, along with what remains uncertain and which question you want to follow next. Those details help keep a possible connection from becoming an unsupported conclusion.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Fall River Public Library, its community, and Advantage Archives. Together, these partnerships preserve local sources and give people a way to explore, learn from, and share the history around them.
Advantage Archives covers ongoing archive hosting, storage, development, and maintenance. The institution and its community do not pay a subscription, seat license, annual support contract, or other recurring archive-service charge. Local history remains a community resource, not a subscription to maintain.
Would you like to see more of your community's history preserved and accessible? Start a conversation with your library, newspaper publisher, historical or genealogical society, museum, or school about the materials they would like to share and a possible partnership with Advantage Archives.
Learn about partnerships
Stories, research tips, and archive news
Read All About It connects archive research with the people and institutions preserving local history. Explore partner and community stories, project updates, research ideas, and perspectives on digitization, education, and working with primary sources. Use the articles as a starting point for your next question or a new way to share a discovery.
May 7, 2025
Why Microfilm is still important in 2023
Preserving documents on microfilm has been a popular method of storage for many years, and it still holds many benefits today. Here…
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May 7, 2025
Don’t Search For An Obituary By Only Searching For An “Obituary”
In the quest to trace our roots and understand our heritage, obituaries often serve as a crucial starting point. Obituaries are undoubtedly…
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April 9, 2025
Unveiling the Hidden Mysteries: Exploring Cold Cases and Unconventional Clues
Even the most esteemed police forces in the county encounter perplexing cold case files. These unsolved mysteries often leave investigators and genealogists…
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April 1, 2025
This Week in History: March 31st through April 6th
Discover History in The Community History Archives. This week in history, there is absolutely nothing to talk about… April Fools! April…
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March 24, 2025
This Week in History: March 24th through March 30th
Discover History in The Community History Archives. It has officially been a year since I started writing This Week in History,…
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March 18, 2025
It’s Your Community’s History, So Why Rent Something You Own?
We believe that history belongs to the communities where it was made - not locked behind paywalls or inaccessible due to budget restrictions. Subscription-based services and large content aggregators are generally more concerned with "content" and less concerned with the history that content contains. Their models typically involve a reoccurring charge for a plan that renews annually or licensing agreements with the library based on population served or circulation numbers. You are essentially Renting Access To YOUR History.
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