Guide to Historical Records and Genealogical Resources of Nantucket, Massachusetts

Table of contents

Research Guidelines

When beginning research on Nantucket, the best place to start is at the Nantucket Historical Association. They have a detailed knowledge of all the records that are available on the island, can help you map out a plan for your research, and can direct you to other local sources. If you are looking for vital record information (birth, marriage, death) for a particular person, go directly to the Town Clerk. Here are a few additional suggestions to make the most of your time.

Prioritize your research. Prepare a list of what you are seeking before you go to the record repository. When you get there, start at the top of the prioritized list and work down. If, for example, you are looking for information about five ancestors who lived on Nantucket, you may decide to look for birth information first. When you have recorded all birth dates begin looking up marriages.

Describe what you are looking for to the person in charge of the records. The people who maintain the records know them better than anyone else and have helped many researchers before you. They can guide you to the records that are most likely to contain the information you are seeking.

Write down all relevant information. Many researchers have trusted their memories with disastrous results! Proceed deliberately through the records, recording as you go. Many people think they should "scan" the material first and then go back and write everything down, which is a mistake: you may forget to go back, not remember exactly where you saw the item, or run out of time.

Write down all the information about the source document. Write down enough information so that a stranger can follow in your footsteps and find the exact page where you found your fact. You may want to return to the document yourself at some future time or you may decide to publish your findings; a complete citation will save you time and much aggravation.
Make photocopies of lengthy or crucial items. Copies will save you time and will insure that the information is exact. Don't forget to write down all the information about the source of the information, including the page numbers.

Respect the records. Only use pencils when working with historical records. Many of the records are several hundred years old and are fragile. Make sure your hands are clean before you start, turn the pages with care, and notify the custodian of any loose pages.