Skip to Content

Formed in 1853 with the gift of 56 books from its owners' personal collections, the Congregational Library now holds 225,000 items documenting the history of one of the nation's oldest and most influential religious traditions.

Library Hours

Monday - Friday

9 am - 5 pm

Library Closings

Independence Day

Labor Day

Board meeting

July 3

Sept 7

Sept 14

14 Beacon St  •  Boston, MA  02108

617-523-0470

What's New

And we're back!

As you may have noticed, congregationallibrary.org was down for several days.  We appologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.  If you notice any further disruption in service, please let us know.

 

New blog post 6/29/09

Take a look at our featured book, Sundays in America by Suzanne Strempek Shea, the story of a woman's quest for a spiritual home.

 

Accessability tool for our deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons

If you can't hear well over the phone but don't want to wait for an e-mail, you now have the option of free real-time text relay from i711.com. Simply click the button on the right side of the page to bring up a chat window that connects you to our switchboard.  An operator will help you communicate with library staff and get the information you need.

 

R.I.P., Corrine

We are saddened to report that one of our former librarians, Corrine Nordquest Harrer, has passed away. To learn about this venerable woman, read the entry on our blog and the notice in her local paper.

 

New blog post 6/24/09

Get an intern's-eye-view of the archive as Meg Rampton, one of our recent Simmons students, recounts her role in processing the Blake-Goodsell Collection.

 

New blog post 6/22/09

Our building superintendent (and talented photographer) was featured in the Boston Globe on Saturday for his beautiful images of our local birds of prey. If you haven't seen them yet, go take a look.

 

New blog post 6/19/09

Take a look at our new blog post recapping yesterday's wildly successful brown bag lunch lecture and tour of Granary Burying Ground with Charles Chauncey Wells.

 

New blog post 6/17/09

Check out our latest blog posting about Mt. Auburn Cemetery.

 

 

New research tool - Necrology search

We have just launched an exciting new research tool - a searchable index of obituary listings for Congregational clergy and missionaries. It has been compiled from a dozen resources in our collection and contains more than 25,000 entries. Whether you're looking for an ancestor or researching the history of your church, chances are good that you can find the person you're looking for.

 

Click here to get started.

 

New Records Management Templates Available for Download

The Congregational Library is pleased make available two new templates to download. These templates will allow churches to create their own Records Management Policy and Retention Schedule. Both are available as Word documents so they can be altered to suit your church's needs.

 

Click here to visit our Records Management page. The templates can be found at the bottom of the page.

 

Upcoming Events

Treasures of the Congregational Library
Wed, 07/15/2009

Our ongoing brown bag lunch series highlights some of the rare, beautiful, and bizarre items in our collection.  For this session, associate librarian Claudette Newhall will be focusing on a 15th century illuminated Bible from the extensive Pratt collection, and a portrait of famous 18th century orator George Whitfield.

 

Take a look at our Program and Workshop Schedule for more details.

Growing Deeper Roots: Exploring the History of the Congregational Tradition
Tue, 07/21/2009

This three-week course will cover three and a half centuries of Congregational history and societal influence, from the Pilgrims and Puritans to the present day (or at least the mid-20th century).  Executive Director and resident historian Peggy Bendroth will explain the evolution of the Congregational Way in America.

 

Take a look at our Program and Workshop Schedule for more details.

Where did the Puritans go?: a walking tour of 17th century Boston
Wed, 07/29/2009

As part of our ongoing Brown Bag Lunch series, we are pleased to welcome historical recreator Linda K. Palmer for a lively lecture in the library and a tour of nearby Puritan landmarks.  From rebellious Quakers to the real people who inspired The Scarlet Letter, hear about the drama of the colonial era.

 

Take a look at our Program and Workshop Schedule for more details.

Reading Room closed September 14th
Mon, 09/14/2009

The library's Reading Room will be closed for our quarterly board meeting.  If you wish to arrange for research space on that day, please contact us.