Collections

Our Collections

The Westminster Historical Society preserves thousands of items that help tell the story of Westminster and the people who have called it home.

Our collections include documents, maps, letters, diaries, deeds, postcards, books, photographs, furniture, clothing, textiles, household items, farm tools, and many other pieces of local history.

Preserving Everyday Stories

We collect and protect materials that reflect the lives of Westminster residents across generations — farmers, business owners, factory workers, families, children, military members, and community organizations.

These objects and records help us understand the schools people attended, the homes they lived in, the industries they worked in, and the community life they helped create.

Notable Westminster Connections

Our collections also preserve the stories of Westminster residents who made unique contributions to history, including General Nelson Miles, Admiral Frank Fenno, and Elizabeth Carr, the first baby born in the United States through in vitro fertilization.

From 1737 to Today

The Society’s collections span from Westminster’s earliest settlement in 1737 to the present day. We continue to collect items that document the town as it grows and changes.

Modern Westminster history matters too. Today’s businesses, families, schools, organizations, and community traditions will become tomorrow’s historical record.

Cataloging the Collection

Volunteers are working to catalog the Society’s collections and enter information into a computerized database. This long-term project began in 1999 and continues today.

Our goal is to make Westminster’s history easier to access, including materials held by the Society and Westminster-related objects located in public places such as Town Hall and the Library.

Research and Inquiries

Because cataloging is still ongoing, some archives and artifacts may not yet appear in the database. Please contact the Society if you are looking for information about a specific person, place, object, photograph, or part of Westminster’s history.