12Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Oxford Free Library
Oxford, Massachusetts
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Oxford.
1861 to 1900Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
1,628Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Oxford, Massachusetts.
Get to know Oxford, Massachusetts in earlier years through financial and tax records shared in the Oxford Free Library's digital archive. Its twelve titles include material from 1861 to 1900.
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Selected titles
Selected titles from Oxford Free Library include “Clothing Account Book” and “Muster Roll”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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Ways to explore
Explore a connection with Oxford from more than one perspective, keeping each source’s time and purpose in view.
The records people leave behind offer perspectives on earlier ways of life, connecting individual experiences with the events and institutions around them. Bring a family connection, a question about a familiar place or an interest in local history, and see where the sources lead. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse twelve titles and 1,628 digitized pages, with material from 1861 to 1900. A partnership between Oxford Free Library and Advantage Archives makes this collection available. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
Follow a family connection or a question about the community through the titles below and the history they preserve.
Clothing Account Book
128 pages in 1900
Descriptive Book
50 pages in 1900
Dewitt Guard Payroll
78 pages in 1861
Instructions for Making Quarterly Returns
154 pages in 1863
Military Records
16 pages in 1900
Miscellaneous Record Books
148 pages in 1900
Morning Report Books
232 pages in 1861
Muster Out Roll
250 pages in 1864
Muster Roll
240 pages from 1861 to 1864
Ordnance and Clothing Book
20 pages in 1900
Statement of Receipt of Clothing Stores
214 pages from 1862 to 1864
Voucher for Clothing
98 pages in 1864
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About the Library
About The Oxford Free Library
In 1902, the Town of Oxford was granted cash from former Oxford resident Charles Larned to build a Free Public Library in memory of his mother, Clarissa Larned. Thus, construction began on the Charles Larned Memorial Library on the former Hyde lot, a piece of land voted on by the citizens of Oxford. The building was completed in 1903 and opened to the public. Notable architectural features include a stained glass window depicting the arrival of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, with the caption “Let there be light.” The original design included a unique stack area with a glass floor and dumbwaiter, well-remembered by longtime patrons.
About the Community
About The Oxford Area
Oxford, located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, is a town rich in history and community spirit. Established in 1713, Oxford has grown from its early agricultural roots into a vibrant community known for its picturesque landscapes, historic buildings, and strong sense of community. The town is home to several historical landmarks, parks, and annual events that reflect its long history and commitment to preserving its heritage.
Local History
Did You Know?
Did you know that the Oxford Free Library features a unique stained glass window in its front foyer? This window, depicting the arrival of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, was installed at the top of the stairs in the original 1903 building and includes the caption “Let there be light,” adding a historical and artistic touch to the library’s architecture.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Compare financial records by year and purpose
Choose a name, place, event, or subject connected with Oxford, then look for a matching lead in financial and tax records from the Oxford Free Library. Record the source details where available and separate what the item says from the wider story you hope to understand. Note the year, jurisdiction, units, and stated basis of a figure where provided. An assessment is not necessarily market value, and a tax amount alone does not establish a person’s wealth, ownership, or financial condition.
Record the schedule, date, and category beside any amount. If the record does not explain how a figure was calculated, leave that basis unknown rather than supplying one.
Keep the title, date, page, or item reference with each useful finding. Separate the words in a historical account from your interpretation, and note conflicting perspectives rather than choosing one too quickly. These notes help connect a local story to its evidence and show what remains uncertain.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Oxford Free 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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