The Bristol Room holds a special collection devoted to local history. It includes photographs, postcards, maps, books, diaries, memoirs, oral histories, high school yearbooks and scrapbooks.

Genealogists conduct research in the Bristol Room by consulting family histories, city directories (beginning with 1884), church and cemetery records. A subject index to the local newspaper along with birth, death, and marriage indexes are located in the Bristol Room.

The Bristol Press is available on microfilm beginning with the first edition, which was published in 1871.

Patrons who have an interest in researching images of Bristol’s past can view hundreds of photographs dating from the nineteenth century to the present.

Assessor’s records (1815-1917) and town reports (1869-1947) are an integral part of the collection.

The Bristol Room’s earliest high school yearbook dates from 1931.There are also graduation programs from the 1800s and school attendance records from the same period.

The Historic Resources Inventory is a listing of older houses and other buildings in Bristol, which includes the year of construction and the names of previous owners.

Information about the New Departure Company, local clock-makers and World War II is an important component of the collection.

Book for Sale

Copies of the book "Images of Bristol" are available at the circulation desk.

They make a wonderful gift for anyone interested in Bristol's Past

Genealogy

Helpful Web Sites: Connecticut Society of Genealogists Family Search

The Bristol Room has published and unpublished histories of some of the older families of Bristol.

For searches of area residents from 1654-1854, the Barbour collection of books is a good resource. Since Bristol belonged to Farmington until the year 1785, the library owns both Barbour's Farmington (1645-1850) and Bristol (1785-1854) editions. These books give bare bones vital statistics for deaths, births, and marriages.

A three volume set of the Hale Cemetery Index, which is useful when searching for deaths through the year 1934. The Tracy Peck obituary record, which is a listing of Bristol residents who died between 1793-1861, is also located in the Bristol Room.

Our extensive collection of city directories starts with the year 1884.

The library has microfilmed copies of the Bristol Press from 1871 to the present, which contain birth notices, marriage announcements, and obituaries of local residents.

Inquire at the Reference Desk to retrieve the microfilm.

Bristol Cemeteries
Religious Affiliation	Name of Cemetery	Location
Catholic	St. Joseph Roman Catholic Cemetery (Old)	31 Queen St., adjacent to St. Joseph Church
Catholic	St Joseph Roman Catholic Cemetery (New)	522 Terryville Ave. (near Everett St.)
Catholic	St. Thomas Cemetery	54 Curtis St. (north of Farmington Ave., off Lewis St.)
Congregational	Down St. Cemetery (formerly known as Bridge St. Cemetery and earlier South Cemetery)	Down St. (near South St., south of Memorial Blvd.)
Congregational	Lewis St. Cemetery (formerly North Cemetery)	80 Lewis St. (north of Farmington Ave.)
Episcopal	Episcopal Cemetery (Old)	Near corner of Maple St. and Stearns St. (adjacent to old St. Joseph Cemetery, near St. Joseph Church)
Jewish	Congregation Beth Israel	626 Lake Ave. (near Glenn St.)
Non-denominational	Forestville Cemetery	60 Circle St., Forestville
Non-denominational	Lake Avenue Cemetery	Lake Ave. ( at the corner of Cross St.)
Non-denominational	Peacedale Cemetery	James P. Casey Road (near Perkins St.)
Non-denominational	West Cemetery	49 Pound St. (between Terryville Ave. and Cemetery Ave.)

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Resources:

Publications:

Bristol City Directories 1884 - present

Bristol Press microfilm 1871 - 2000

Barbour Collection:
Farmington (1645-1850)
Bristol (1785-1854)

Hale Cemetery Index

Tracy Peck obituary record

Materials:

Photographs

Postcards

Maps

Scrapbooks

High School yearbooks

Researching Houses and other buildings

Helpful Website: National Register of Historic Places

The Historic Resources Inventory of Buildings and Structures gives a detailed description and photographs of more than one hundred residential and commercial buildings. Most of the buildings in the inventory were constructed prior to the 1940s. The oldest, the Benjamin Buck house, was built in 1729.

The library also has an Information File which contains material about some of the well-known houses in Bristol and also a list of Bristol houses and neighborhoods that are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Bristol Press Index has useful information under the headings: House Tours, Old, Housing, and Buildings. Information and photographs of a few of these houses are available in the Bristol Room.

A house in the Federal Hill area may possibly be included in the Federal Hill walking tour booklet. The Smith History of Bristol ( Bristol Connecticut, "In Olden Time New Cambridge" ) contains many pictures of houses that were built before 1907. Both of these publications are available at the library.

Ask the Reference Librarian for assistance in accessing all of these materials.

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Vintage Postcards

From the Bristol Room Collection


Main Street	North Main Street

Pierce Homestead	Brightwood Hall

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Candace Robert's Diary

What was Bristol like 200 years ago?

Candace Roberts was the daughter of Gideon Roberts, the pioneer clockmaker of Bristol, Connecticut. She was born on Christmas Day, 1785 and died December 9, 1806. The Bristol Public Library has owned the real diary since 1984 when ownership was transferred by descendents of the Roberts family. You may read a copy of the diary at the library. The original written by Candace Roberts is safely stored in the Bristol History Room!

Excerpts from Candace Robert's Diary

December 25, 1801
It being the day that I entered my 17 year, I arose early did housework, and in the evening attended at a ball at William Mitchell
January 1, 1802
Made a visit at Mr Issac Coles in the afternoon...
July 4, 1802
Went to meeting and came home at night...This day Celebrated Independence....
November 25, 1802 ~ Thanksgiving Day
This being the day that we were to return thanks for all the favors we have received the year that past....
December 25, 1802
Went to a meeting Lived at Mr P untill Friday then came home had company in the evening it being my birthday (Dec. 25th)
March 4, 1803
Spent this day in contemplation the various disappointments which happen at every age when a person looks forward and thinks himself that he sees happiness and is stretching forth his eager hands to embrace it, and it vanisheth away then it sinks him almost into despair therefore we ought to guard ourselves against placing our affections....
December 25, 1803
This day I enter the 19 year of my age. I have seen 18 years of trouble and disappointment where I shall be at the age of 19 I know not but the all Wise Creator and disposer of events will place me in whatever situations he pleases and if he should think fit to call me hence to be here no more may I cheerfully resign myself up to him with saying not my Will but thine be done. And may I have a thankful Heart for the favors and Blessings that has been bestowed upon me while in this veil of tears.
January 1, 1804
Have been to meeting heard an excellent sermon upon the uncertainly of life and how many deaths there has been the year past the number is 41 in Farmington 25 in Bristol
July 1, 1804
I now resumed my pen which has been laid aside some time. In May at Election attended a ball enjoyed myself very well had a very serious discourse with one of my former Friends & acquaintance stayed at home untill the 1st of June Returned back to Farmington did not spend my time as I could wish, was very unwell, returned home being unable to work, Went to East Haven for the benefit of salt water remained several days returned home much better than I went away
March 18, 1805...clock painting
Was very much pleased to be employed in painting but still my mind is absent but am determined that: "No silent wood shall hear my story No not the great deep nor wide domain Silent grief shall be my glory Grief that stoops not to complain"

Candace died December 9, 1806 and lies buried in the family plot in the Downs Street Cemetery, Bristol, Connecticut. To find out more about the life of Candace Roberts visit the Bristol Public Library any day of the week, but especially on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 2-4 p.m. and Wednesday 6-7:45 p.m when the Bristol History Room is open!

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Yearbook Collection at Bristol Public Library

All yearbooks are in the Bristol Room...ask at the reference desk!

High School Yearbooks

Bristol High School: 1919, 1930-1959
Bristol Central High School (Torch): 1960-1970, 1972-Present, updated yearly

Bristol Eastern High School (Lance): 1960-Present, updated yearly

Laurel Crest Academy: 1962-1970

St. Paul (Kaleidoscope): 1970-1975, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1990

Elementary and Middle School Yearbooks

Clarence A. Bingham School: 1976
Greene-Hills School: 1988

Immanuel Lutheran Schoo:l 1993

Memorial Boulevard School: 1980

St. Anthony (The Shield): 1953, 1954,1955,1957,1958, 1960-1969

St. Joseph: 1988-2001 (1991 photocopy only)

St. Matthew: 1991, 1992, 1994-1996, 1999, 2001

Duplicates

Bristol High School: 1931-40, 1942-45, 1947-50, 1952-55, 1958

Bristol Central High School: 1963, 1966, 1967, 1976, 1979, 1985

Bristol Eastern High School: 1960-1974, 1976-1982, 1985, 1993, 1997

St. Anthony: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965

St. Paul: 1972, 1990

Laurel Crest Academy: 1962, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970

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Bristol Public Library Portal

Images of Bristol:

Bristol History Room