Researching Your Ancestors at State Institutions
About
On November 15, 2025 Governor Maura Healey celebrated a new law that makes it easier for family members to access records about their loved ones who were in state mental hospitals and state schools for the disabled in Massachusetts. Samuel Edwards, Reference Archivist at Massachusetts Archives, will explain the changes specified in the law, the process for requesting these records through Massachusetts Archives, what to expect from these requests, as well as tips on how to find more information about ancestors at state institutions. Samuel Edwards is a Reference Archivist at Massachusetts Archives. He holds a Master’s of Library and Information Science from Simmons University in Archival Management, and a Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College. He has experience working with documents spanning from 1628 to the present day. He served on the Special Commission for State Institutions as the Archives representative from 2024-2025, a disabled-led commission reckoning with the history of state institutions and making recommendations for the state. Samuel found his interest in archives from helping his mother with their family genealogy. Skill level: Intermediate This program will be recorded. Please note that registration is required for this event as it is taking place over Zoom. Accessibility Notice : We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Jessy Wheeler at jwheeler@bpl.org. Please allow at least tw
