Genealogy Resources

Vermont State Library Resources

Vermont residents can research Vermont birth, marriage, and death records from 1909-2008 on Ancestry.com for free if they first sign up for a MyVermont.gov account. The Frequently Asked Questions page provides information on how to access these records.

The State Library houses a number of Vermont focused collections which may assist your genealogy research.

Additional Recommended Resources

Vermont Specific Research

• The Vermont Historical Society maintains a list of places to find Vermont genealogy information.
• The Vermont State Archives houses a large collection specifically related to Vermont history useful for genealogy research.
• The Vermont Genealogy Library offers free introductory visits with full access to all of their materials in print, online, and digitized records.
• Family Search contains some, but not all, Vermont birth, marriage, and death records in the state registry from 1760-2003.
• The Vermont Digital Newspaper Project provides the ability to search thousands of pages of historic newspapers from around the state.
• Genealogical Society of Vermont can assist you in your Vermont-specific searches.
• The list of Vermont Town Clerks can help you know who to contact in order to find local records.

Outside of Vermont Research

• Cyndislist.com provides thousands of genealogy related links. If you are looking for an obscure document or list, this is the place.
• The Ellis Island website requires free registration and provides passenger lists.
• Obituaries.com allows searching of obituaries from the United States and some foreign countries.
• Chronicling America is a massive collection of historic newspapers from the United States. It is maintained by the Library of Congress.
• The New England Historic Genealogical Society can assist your search in the New England area. 
• Find A Grave can help you locate, and in some cases find an image of, graves all over the country.
• If you need further assistance or have questions about our resources, please contact the State Library.

Colchester Vital Records (Birth, Death, Marriage Records)

• First 5 volumes: Stored at UVM, Bailey/Howe Library (In Special Collections).
• Remaining Colchester vital records prior to 1922: Contact the Winooski Town Clerk at 802-655-6419.
• Colchester vital records after 1922: Contact the Colchester Town Clerk at 264-5520 or visit their website.

The Vermont State Archives and Records Administration Office (in Middlesex) also has microfilmed vital records for most Vermont towns and has open research hours for the public. 

Other Colchester Town Records (Town Meeting Minutes, etc.)

Contact Special Collections at the University of Vermont’s Bailey/Howe Library about their collection of pre-1900 Colchester town records, including the first 5 volumes of Colchester vital records.

Old Newspapers

The Department of Libraries office in Montpelier has a large collection of old Vermont newspapers on microfilm. Call 802-828-3268 to confirm their holdings and hours.

Bailey-Howe at UVM has many Vermont newspapers on microfilm. Call 802-656-2023 to see if they have what you’re looking for.

Other Resources

• Colchester Historical Society has a rich collection of local photographs, artifacts, and Colchester-related resources.
• The Vermont Historical Society has a rich collection of photographs, music, and family and town histories. With a research library located in Barre, the VHS also makes much of their catalog available online.
• The Vermont Genealogy Library has a wide range of resources available for genealogists, and is located in Colchester. It’s affiliated with the Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society which focuses on specific French Canadian families.
• The National Archives is a Federal Government site with links to military service records, World War II photos, immigration records (including ship passenger lists), naturalization records, and land records.
• American Merchant Marine at War: This is a private site dedicated to mariners and U.S. Naval Armed Guard shipmates who died in service during all wars. Resources include ship histories, information about sinkings, casualties, and some government documents. Also includes a helpful list of additional resources for those seeking military records of loved ones.