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Community History Archives

Community History Archive Partner

Turner Free Library

Randolph, Massachusetts

Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Randolph.

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2Titles

Explore publications and collections from the past.

1967 to 1993Dates represented

See individual titles for available dates.

40,987Archive pages

Historical pages reported for this collection.

Explore local history

Discover the people, places, and stories of Randolph, Massachusetts.

Discover another side of Randolph, Massachusetts through newspapers preserved in the Turner Free Library's digital archive. The archive includes Randolph Herald and Randolph Mariner, with material from 1967 to 1993.

You can open the archive using the link below.
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  • Selected titles

    Examples from Turner Free Library’s collection include “Randolph Herald” and “Randolph Mariner”.

  • Free and open access

    No subscription or payment required.

  • A closer look

    Newspaper pages connect individual accounts with a wider story, preserving how events were reported and presented to the readers of the day.

The reporting of earlier years offers a way to explore how events were understood as they happened and how local experiences became part of the historical record. A family story, a classroom project or curiosity about a familiar place can lead to a closer look at the community and the lives of earlier generations. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.

Explore the collection

Titles in this collection

Explore Randolph Herald and Randolph Mariner through 40,987 digitized pages, with material from 1967 to 1993. Through a partnership with Advantage Archives, Turner Free Library shares these sources from the past. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.

Start with a detail you already know, then browse the titles below for another perspective on the people and places connected with this collection.

Randolph Herald

35,013 pages from 1967 to 1993

Randolph Mariner

5,974 pages from 1985 to 1990

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About the Archive

About The Turner Free Library’s History Archives

The Turner Free Library offers free access to a wealth of historical materials, thanks to a partnership with Advantage Archives . The library’s digital archives encompass thousands of pages, covering years from 1887 to 1922. This resource allows users to explore historical newspapers and other archival content at no cost, making it an excellent tool for research and genealogy.

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About the Library

About The Turner Free Library

The Turner Free Library serves the Town of Randolph by providing free access to information in the form of books, audiobooks, movies, and other materials as well as offering public computers and an open wi-fi network so that anyone can get online. We are open to everyone, regardless of age, income level, race, ethnicity, physical ability, or citizenship status, and there is no charge to become a Turner Free Library card holder. Come visit us!

Partner Story

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Turner Free Library in Randolph to serve the informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs of all the members of the diverse Randolph community by providing access to professional staff, cutting edge technology, quality materials, programs, and services. The Library seeks to encourage reading and the use of technology for life-long learning and enrichment of life in the community.

Library History

The History Of The Turner Free Library

The Turner Free Library was founded through a generous donation by the Turner Family in 1874. Randolph was one of the first towns in Massachusetts to have a public library. The original structure was a dignified granite building located in the heart of Randolph in Crawford Square. A fire claimed this majestic building on December 6, 1962. The building and its contents were utterly demolished. In an astonishing and selfless act of devotion to public library service, business was resumed that very day with six books in a space on loan from the Congregational Church next door. The “new” library opened as the firefighters were continuing to subdue the blaze. For a time the library operated out of a station wagon with a sign on top which read “Turner Free Library,” and was driven around town by volunteers. The library was rebuilt on the original land donated by the Turners and opened on September 6, 1966. Service to the public was deemed so important that they opened before the furniture was delivered. Today, the Turner Free Library is a member of the Old Colony Library Network, a cooperative of 28 libraries that share materials and services. We offer a wide range of free events for children, teens, adults, and seniors that are open to all. At the Turner Free Library, you will find around 67,000 books, movies, audiobooks, video games, and technology you can bring home.

About the Community

About The Town of Randolph, Massachusetts

Randolph, Massachusetts, is a vibrant and diverse community located in Norfolk County. Established in 1793, Randolph has a rich history and a strong sense of community. The town offers a mix of suburban living with easy access to the cultural and economic resources of nearby Boston. Randolph is known for its cultural diversity, active community life, and commitment to education and public services. For more information about the town, please visit the Town of Randolph website.

Local History

Did You Know?

  • The Turner Free Library's digital archives include Randolph Register and Randolph Transcript, covering years from 1887 to 1922.
  • Randolph was one of the first towns in Massachusetts to establish a public library.
  • After a devastating fire in 1962, the library continued its service from a station wagon, driven around town by volunteers.

More ways to explore and share local history

Research Guidance

Check a text match against the page

The history of Randolph includes individual lives as well as events remembered by the wider community. In the digital archive shared by the Turner Free Library, begin with a name, place or date connected with the story you want to explore. When using historical newspapers, try alternate spellings and nearby dates, then read the surrounding page to place a local story in its time. Compare later reporting or another available title to explore different perspectives rather than treating one account as the whole story. If a search result looks incomplete or misspelled, inspect the scanned page when available. Record the issue date and page, then distinguish the printed wording from search text before following the story to another mention.

If a text match looks incomplete, compare it with the scanned newspaper page when available. Check whether wording or names differ, then record the page's printed wording with the issue date and page. Keep the search result distinct from what the page itself shows.

As you connect materials, note where each detail came from and what it can support. Record the title, date, and page or item reference where available. Keep names and relationships tentative until the evidence is strong enough to connect them, and mark which words come from the record and which are your interpretation.

Review collection titles

Community Partnership

Keeping local history a community resource

This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Turner 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
Read All About It

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.

Newest published articles

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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