Announcements

Museum Pass System Down

Our Museum Pass platform Eventkeeper is undergoing updates and this is resulting in periods of downtime. Until it is fully restored you might have difficulty making reservations for museum passes. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Local History

About the Farmington Room

The Farmington Room is the library’s research collection of primary sources related to local history and genealogy. Included in the collection are histories of Farmington and other area towns (particularly Farmington’s seven daughter towns:  Southington, Berlin, Bristol, New Britain, Burlington, Avon and Plainville), genealogies of major Farmington families, and library archives and scrapbooks. 

Highlights of the collection include the Klauser Photographs (1855-1905); original diaries, essays, letters and other documents of local historian Julius Gay (1834-1918); records of the “Town Farm” and other Farmington welfare (materials from 1787-1899); Farmington town selectmen’s records (materials between 1797-1940); and “Grand Lists,” listings of all taxable property located within Farmington and daughter towns, (1750-1829).

For more information on what is included in our local archive, see Farmington Room Collections below.

The Farmington Room is open to the public by appointment, and to walk-ins Thursdays, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Contact Jerusha Neely, Local History Librarian or the Information Desk for more information.

 

Farmington Room Archives

Upcoming History & Cultural Events

Music of the West African Kora Comes to Farmington

6:00pm - 7:00pm
All Ages
Farmington Library
Library Branch: Farmington Library
Room: Jay Johnston Community Room
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Lectures & Presentations, Performances
Event Details:

Audience members will learn about the history of the kora, how it is built, who typically plays it, and the types of events it is often utilized. I share some of my personal experiences while studying in West Africa and being hosted by the fa

Folk stories and Ghost stories of Unionville

6:00pm - 7:00pm
Adults
Farmington Library
Open
Registration
Library Branch: Farmington Library
Room: Jay Johnston Community Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Lectures & Presentations
Registration Required
Seats Remaining: 13
Event Details:

Travel back in time and catch a glimpse of what it was like to live in Unionville during the rapidly changing era at the turn of the century.

LIBRARY CLOSED

All Day
All Branches
Closing
Branches:
Farmington Library, Barney Library, Off Site

College Essay Workshop

6:00pm - 7:00pm
Teens
Farmington Library
Open
Registration
Library Branch: Farmington Library
Room: Board Room 1
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Lectures & Presentations
Registration Required
Seats Remaining: 15
Event Details:

Presented by C2 Education:

Disclaimer(s)

If you have special needs to attend this program, please contact the library in advance.

History & Genealogy Resources

Connecticut Digital Archive

CT Digital Archive Logo

The CTDA is part of the Digital Preservation Repository Program at the University of Connecticut.

Access Anywhere

Enslaved

Enslaved: Peoples of the Historical Slave Trade

A public free databases recording 500,000 named captive people, designed by data scientists at Michigan State University and distinguished historians and researchers.

Access Anywhere
View More

Request Information

To request more information about the Farmington Room’s collections, please contact the library.

By Phone: (860) 673-6791 x 5213

By E-mail: jneely@farmingtonlibraries.org 

By Mail:

The Farmington Libraries
Attn: Farmington Room
6 Monteith Drive
Farmington, CT 06032

Please supply a mailing address when requesting photocopies or extensive information. Genealogical queries are best handled by email or letter. Please note that extensive reference and genealogical queries are subject to a $25 per hour fee.

Digital photography of archival material is generally permitted and duplication of materials, with some restrictions, can be requested; there may be a small fee for duplication services.