13Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Farmington Library
Farmington, Connecticut
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Farmington.
1704 to 1975Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
158,790Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Farmington, Connecticut.
Get to know Farmington, Connecticut in earlier years through accounting books and newspapers shared in the Farmington Library's digital archive. Its thirteen titles include material from 1704 to 1975.
Opens in a new tab.
-
Selected titles
The titles shared by Farmington Library include “Anonymous Acct Book” as well as “Farmington Valley Herald And Journal”.
-
Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
-
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. An accounting entry records a transaction in its keeper’s terms. Names, dates and amounts can suggest a connection to investigate in another source.
The entries in an account book offer a view of financial dealings recorded at the time. Read the names and amounts in their original context, leaving wider conclusions about a person or business open to other evidence. A familiar name or kind of work can begin a question about the past. Note the date, page and wording of an entry before connecting it with another account. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse thirteen titles and 158,790 digitized pages, with material from 1704 to 1975. A partnership between Farmington Library and Advantage Archives makes this collection available. 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.
Anonymous Acct Book
855 pages in 1717
Blakeslee Eneas Acct Book
201 pages in 1805
Farmington House of Industry Accts
291 pages in 1841
Farmington Valley Herald
151,101 pages from 1908 to 1975
Farmington Valley Herald And Journal
2,460 pages from 1894 to 1901
Gridley Mark Acct Book
210 pages in 1783
Hart Daniel Acct Book
111 pages in 1762
Hawley Joseph Acct Book
459 pages in 1712
Street Nehemiah Acct Book
453 pages in 1767
Strong Capt John Acct Book
1,350 pages in 1733
Thomson John Acct Book
435 pages in 1704
Whitman William Acct Book
372 pages in 1760
Woodruff Noadiah Acct Book
492 pages in 1760
Opens in a new tab.
About the Library
About The Farmington Library
The Farmington Library is dedicated to partnering with the community to provide free access to a wide range of services, experiences, and resources that encourage exploration, creativity, and the sharing of ideas. The library aims to build on its proud reputation as a dynamic center of intellectual and social activity by incorporating new information technologies, shaping a diverse collection, and nurturing a welcoming environment for patrons of all ages.
Library History
The History Of The Farmington Library
Rooted in a commitment to serving the community, the Farmington Library has continually evolved to meet the changing needs of its patrons. The library’s mission emphasizes the importance of preserving the memories and history of Farmington and the surrounding towns. By offering a mix of physical and digital media, the library enhances access to historical content, ensuring that local history remains discoverable and relevant for future generations.
About the Community
About The Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington, Connecticut, has a rich and storied history that reflects the broader trends of American development. Established in the early 18th century, the area quickly became a hub for agriculture and industry, thanks to its fertile land and strategic location. Over the years, Farmington has transformed into a vibrant community known for its commitment to education, culture, and historical preservation. The Farmington Library plays a crucial role in maintaining this legacy, offering resources and programs that connect residents to their local history and heritage.
Local History
Did You Know?
The Farmington Library not only offers extensive historical archives but also fosters community engagement through various programs and events. The library serves as a space for discussions, educational workshops, and cultural activities, promoting a sense of connection among residents. Its commitment to enhancing library services is supported by stable funding from the Town of Farmington and contributions from the Farmington Village Green and Library Association, ensuring that the library remains a valuable resource for all.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Follow an account in its own context
A family memory, familiar place, or community question in Farmington can offer a starting point in accounting books shared by the Farmington Library. Note the title and date attached to an item, and keep a page or item reference with the detail you want to check. Leave anything the source does not establish open for further research. An account book can offer a closer look at how its keeper recorded financial dealings. Follow the names, dates and amounts where shown, keeping each entry with its headings and surrounding pages. A title does not establish the keeper’s occupation, the meaning of every amount or whether tax records are included.
Read nearby entries to see how the account was organized. Keep units, abbreviations and gaps as the book presents them rather than supplying an interpretation the source does not support.
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 Farmington 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…
Read article
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…
Read article
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…
Read article
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…
Read article
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,…
Read article
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.
Read article