12Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Manchester-by-the-Sea Library
Manchester, Massachusetts
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Manchester.
1872 to 2020Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
133,114Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Manchester, Massachusetts.
A family name or familiar place can open a path into Manchester, Massachusetts. Explore the newspapers as well as maps and atlases shared in the Manchester-by-the-Sea Library's digital archive. Its twelve titles include material from 1872 to 2020.
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Selected titles
In the collection shared by Manchester-by-the-Sea Library, you will find “Atlas of Cape Ann” and “The Manchester Cricket Usa”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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Different views of the past
Maps and atlases offer a different view of a familiar place through the labels, boundaries and features their makers recorded. An earlier generation comes into view through the stories its newspapers chose to report, placing familiar names and events within the concerns of their time.
Maps and atlases offer perspectives on the historical landscape, where a familiar place may appear under an earlier name or within different boundaries. A map can help you picture how a place was recorded at a particular time. Start with a location you recognize, then see what its date, labels, and boundaries leave open. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse twelve titles and 133,114 digitized pages, with material from 1872 to 2020. Through a partnership with Advantage Archives, Manchester-by-the-Sea Library shares these sources from the past. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
If you are tracing a family connection or exploring local history, the titles below offer a place to begin and a thread to follow.
Atlas of Cape Ann
66 pages in 1899
Atlas of Essex County Massachusetts 1872
132 pages in 1872
Atlas of Essex County Massachusetts 1884
230 pages in 1884
Atlas of North Shore Massachusetts
42 pages in 1919
Beetle and Wedge
296 pages from 1875 to 1877
Cape Ann Advertiser
5,346 pages from 1878 to 1889
Manchester Cricket
Page count not currently available dates not yet available
Manchester Cricket
116,648 pages from 1888 to 2017
Manchester Cricket
1,052 pages in 2018
Manchester Cricket and Essex Echo
7,080 pages from 1918 to 1927
The Manchester Cricket
1,116 pages in 2019
The Manchester Cricket Usa
1,106 pages in 2020
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About the Library
About The Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library
The Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library is an inclusive, engaging, and evolving civic hub for all. It sustains community connections and innovative opportunities, providing a welcoming environment for discovery and enrichment across the continuum of learning. Established with a rich history, the library continues to serve as a vital resource for the community, offering a wide range of programs and services for all ages.
Library History
The History Of The Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library
In the early 1800s, Manchester residents formed a “social library” with around 150 volumes. Although initial efforts to sustain the library failed, the formation of the Lyceum Association in 1830 led to the establishment of the Lyceum Library. When the Lyceum Association disbanded in 1871, its collection was bequeathed to the town, becoming the Manchester Free Public Library. Delucena L. Bingham Jr. served as the first librarian. The current library building, designed by Charles F. McKim and donated by Thomas Jefferson Coolidge, was dedicated in 1887. Over the years, the library has undergone several expansions and renovations, including joining the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium in 1988, adding internet terminals in 1996, and significant updates in 2006 and 2013. Today, the library remains a cornerstone of the community, continually adapting to meet the needs of its patrons.
About the Community
About The Manchester-by-the-Sea Area
Manchester-by-the-Sea, located in Essex County, Massachusetts, is known for its picturesque scenery and rich historical heritage. The town, established in 1645, has evolved from a small fishing village into a vibrant community celebrated for its beautiful beaches, historic architecture, and strong community spirit. Manchester-by-the-Sea offers numerous recreational opportunities, cultural events, and a welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike.
Local History
Did You Know?
Did you know that the Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library was designed by Charles F. McKim, a prominent Boston architect? The building, constructed of New England ashlar stone, was dedicated in 1887 and originally featured separate rooms for the library, the Grand Army of the Republic, and a war memorial. This architectural gem has been a cherished landmark in the community for over a century.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Look for the story behind a result
A familiar name or landmark can lead to another view of Manchester. Explore the newspaper titles in the digital archive shared by the Manchester-by-the-Sea Library, keeping each report connected to its date and surrounding context. Compare a second account where available before linking it to a family or community story. Search a person, place, or event with a second term, then compare the date and context of each result. A repeated name needs more evidence before it identifies the same person or connects two parts of a story.
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.
Capture the title, date, and page or item location for a detail you may want to revisit. Label your interpretation as your reading, not the source's own words. Keep enough context with the note that another reader can retrace it.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Manchester-by-the-Sea 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.
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Unveiling the Hidden Mysteries: Exploring Cold Cases and Unconventional Clues
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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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