Franklin Historical Museum

The Archives collections at the Museum are described below. Use the menu on the left to jump to a specific collection.

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ARC 001

Historic Postcards collection

c. 1900, undated

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The postcards in this collection portray images of the Town of Franklin from schools and libraries to people and landscapes. Others depict places where residents from the Town visited or friends of residents visited and sent back to them. These stretch across the United States and into both Canada and Europe. There are also collectible postcards depicting soldiers and firefighters in action. Some of the postcards detail goods shipped to and from Franklin by the Adams Express Company rather than displaying images.

 

The collection dates mainly from the first half of the twentieth century. However, many of the postcards are undated.

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ARC 002

Sheet Music collection

1890-1971, undated

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The collection is comprised of sheet music and song books.

 

While some of the music is undated, the bulk of the collection dates from 1890 to 1971.

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ARC 003

Franklin Local History Subject Files

1822-2020, undated

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The collection is comprised of hundreds of objects including letters, pamphlets, ledgers, invitations, and financial records. The materials in this collection portray what Franklin was like as a whole during the first two centuries of its existence.

 

The bulk of the material dates from 1822 to 2020. Some of the material is undated.

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ARC 004

Map collection

1832-2011, undated

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The collection is comprised of maps portraying the Town of Franklin.

 

The collection dates from 1832 to 2011 with a gap in dates from 1929 to 1969. Some of the material is undated.

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ARC 005

Alden Club records

1966-2012, undated

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The collection consists of a variety of materials including annual reports, yearbooks, newsletters, scholarship information, photographs, and scrapbooks. The materials portray the history and events of the Alden Club in Franklin, Massachusetts.

 

The collection dates from 1966 to 2012. Some materials are undated.

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ARC 006

Clark Parker Letters collection

1918-1919

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The collection is comprised of 21 letters written from Clark Parker to his mother while he served in the U.S. Army at the end of World War I.

 

The bulk of the collection dates from 1918 to 1919.

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ARC 007

Dick Holmes Letters collection

1943-1945, undated

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The collection is comprised of 127 letters written by Lieutenant Dick Holmes home to his family while he served in the army at the end of World War II. The letters were sent from Camp Wheeler in Georgia, “Somewhere in France,” and “Somewhere in Belgium.”

 

The bulk of the material dates from 1943 to 1945. Some of the letters are undated.

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ARC 008

Franklin Scrapbooks collection

1916-2004, undated

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The collection is comprised of twenty-five scrapbooks portraying events in Franklin history. These events include the Franklin Bicentennial celebration in 1978, Horace Mann Stamp Day in 1980, and the Welcome Wagon in the 1950s. The scrapbooks also portray Franklin veterans and miscellaneous history.

 

The collection dates from 1916 to 2004. Some of the material is undated.

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ARC 009

Richard Esterly collection

1941-1996, undated

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The collection is comprised of photographs, scrapbooks, newspaper articles, and various ephemera. The materials in this collection portray the life of Richard Esterly with particular emphasis on his work to create the veterans monuments on the Franklin Town Common.

 

The collection dates from 1941 to 1996. Some of the material is undated.

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ARC 010

Frank G. DeGrazia collection

1940-1949, undated

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The materials in this collection include photographs, pamphlets, a diploma, varsity letters, and various ephemera which portray the life of Frank G. DeGrazia mostly while he was in high school. 

 

The bulk of the collection dates from 1940-1949. One series (Reunions) dates from 1989-1999. Some of the material is also undated.

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ARC 011

John Kell Letters collection

1944-1945

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The collection is comprised of 8 letters written during World War II. The first six are written by Corporal John Kell back home to Santina Accorsi. The seventh letter is written by Accorsi to Kell and was sent back to the sender because Kell was deceased. The eighth letter is from Raymond Cook to Accorsi about the death of Kell.

 

The letters were written in 1944 and 1945.

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ARC 012

Francis Michael Grinley collection

1838-1979, undated

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The collection is comprised of books, photographs, postcards, pamphlets, ballots, correspondence, textiles, and ephemera portraying the history of the Town of Franklin.

 

The collection dates from 1838 to 1979. Some of the materials are undated.

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ARC 013

Barbara Smith collection

1944-2006, undated

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The collection is comprised of various objects including photographs, correspondence, citations, invitations, and research. The materials portray the life of Barbara Smith from her work and retirement to her deep involvement in the Town of Franklin and research into the history of it.

 

The collection dates from 1944 to 2006. Some of the materials are undated.

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ARC 014

Alice Wiggin collection

1884-1964, undated

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The collection is comprised of various objects including photographs, scrapbooks, awards, and artwork. The materials portray the life of Alice Wiggin.

 

The materials in the collection date from 1884 to 1964. The bulk of the material is undated.

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ARC 015

May Willard collection

1880-1978, undated

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The collection is comprised of various objects including books, photographs, scrapbooks, and correspondence. The materials portray the life of May Willard.

 

The materials in the collection date from 1880 to 1978. Some of the materials are undated.

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ARC 016

Alden Stewart collection

1947-1992, undated

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The collection is comprised of certificates awarded to Alden Stewart and photographs taken by him. The materials portray Stewart’s life with particular emphasis on his work as a mechanic.

 

The materials in the collection date from 1947 to 1992. The bulk of the material is undated.

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ARC 017

Blueprint collection

1944-2009, undated

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The collection is comprised of blueprints portraying buildings in Franklin.

 

The materials in the collection date from 1944 to 2009. Some of the material is undated.

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ARC 018

Calendar collection

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The collection consists of historic calendars.

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ARC 019

Franklin Property Assessments collection

1943-2019

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The collection consists of property assessments from the Town of Franklin.

 

The materials in this collection date from 1943 to 2019. The bulk of the materials date from 2013 to 2019.

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ARC 020

Brothers of the Brush collection

1976-1979, undated

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The collection is comprised of the rules and regulations, meeting agendas, membership lists, newspaper articles, drawings, photographs, and ephemera of the Franklin Chapter of the Brothers of the Brush.

 

The materials in the collection date from 1976 to 1979. The bulk of the material is undated.

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ARC 021

War Ration Books collection

c. 1940-1945

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The collection consists of various types of war ration books given out to the people of Franklin, MA during World War II.

 

The bulk of the materials in the collection are undated, but based on when the ration books were in use in the U.S., the collection dates to circa 1940-1945.

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ARC 022

Davis Thayer Gallison collection

1900-2015, undated

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The collection consists of objects relating to the life of Davis Thayer Gallison. The materials include diplomas, magazine articles, photographs, and a monogrammed cigarette case. Also included in this collection are materials relating to Gallison’s father, Ambrose John Gallison, and his son, Davis Thayer Gallison Jr.

 

The materials in the collection date from 1900 to 2015. The bulk of the material dated from 1919 to 1924.  Some of the materials are undated.

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ARC 023

Franklin Town Records collection

1914-2013, undated

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The collection consists of various materials including almanacs, directories, and rules and regulations related to the Town of Franklin.

 

The materials in the collection date from 1914 to 2013. Some of the material is undated.