Springfield Genealogy Records
Springfield genealogy records are held at the Springfield City Clerk's office at 36 Court Street, with birth, death, and marriage records available from the city's earliest years. Researchers tracing Springfield genealogy records will also want to visit the Springfield City Library's Genealogy and Local History Room, which holds one of the best public library genealogy collections in Western Massachusetts, along with the Hampden County Registry of Deeds for land records.
Springfield Overview
Springfield City Clerk Vital Records
The Springfield City Clerk is the primary keeper of vital records for the city. Birth, death, and marriage records are available here, with early records going back to before 1841. The clerk's office is located at 36 Court Street in Room 123. Staff handle requests in person and by mail. Phone inquiries are welcome at 413-736-3111. This is the right first stop for Springfield genealogy work involving vital events that happened in the city.
| Office | Springfield City Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 36 Court St, Room 123 Springfield, MA 01103 |
| Phone | 413-736-3111 |
| Website | springfield-ma.gov - City Clerk |
Massachusetts law under M.G.L. Chapter 46 governs how cities and towns maintain vital records. Fees for certified copies in Massachusetts typically run $15 to $25 per record. The clerk can also direct you to older records from before the state registration system started in 1841. Pre-1841 vital records for Springfield are held at the clerk's office itself. Check the city website before visiting to confirm current hours and whether online ordering is available.
For records from 1841 to 1925, the Massachusetts State Archives in Boston holds copies. For records from 1926 to the present, contact the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics at 617-740-2600. You can also order through the state's online portal at mass.gov. Online orders cost $54 for the first copy; mail runs $32; in-person visits are $20.
American Ancestors and Regional Collections
American Ancestors at americanancestors.org holds genealogy collections covering Hampden County and the Springfield area, including probate records and vital records databases useful for Western Massachusetts research.
The NEHGS database is particularly valuable for Springfield researchers tracing French-Canadian ancestors who moved to Western Massachusetts during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Springfield has a long history of immigration. French-Canadian families came to work in the city during the 1800s and early 1900s. Irish, Polish, Italian, and other European immigrant communities also settled here in large numbers. For any of these groups, church records are a key supplement to official vital records. Catholic parishes in the Springfield area kept their own baptism, marriage, and burial records, often in French or other languages. The Diocese of Springfield may be able to help locate older parish records.
FamilySearch has free collections for Hampden County. Browse the Hampden County genealogy wiki to see what is indexed online before making a research trip. Many 19th-century Springfield vital records have been scanned and are searchable at no cost on that platform.
Springfield City Library Genealogy Room
The Springfield City Library's Genealogy and Local History Room is one of the best public library genealogy collections in all of Western Massachusetts. It is at 220 State Street, phone 413-263-6828. The room holds city directories, published family histories, genealogical periodicals, census indexes, and local newspaper collections. Researchers working on Springfield ancestors frequently find material here that fills gaps left by official records.
The library's collection is especially strong for the 19th and early 20th centuries. If you are tracing a Springfield family from the 1850s through the 1920s, a visit to the Genealogy Room can save you a lot of time. Staff can help you navigate the finding aids. The collection is free to use during library hours. Call ahead at 413-263-6828 to ask about any special appointment requirements for the genealogy collection.
City directories are one of the most useful tools here. They list residents by name and address and sometimes include occupation. Finding an ancestor in an 1890 city directory, for example, can tell you where they lived, what they did for work, and where to look for deed and court records. The library holds runs of Springfield directories going back well into the 1800s.
Hampden County Land Records and Probate
Land records for Springfield are held at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds at 436 Dwight Street, Room B042, Springfield, MA 01103. Phone: 413-755-1722. Online search is available at search.hampdendeeds.com. You can also access the registry virtually via Zoom at 1-646-828-7666, Meeting ID: 1600424858. This virtual option can save a trip for researchers who are looking up specific documents.
Probate records for Hampden County are at the Hampden County Probate Court at 50 State Street in Springfield, phone 413-748-7760. Probate files include wills, estate inventories, and guardianship records. These often list children, spouses, and other heirs by name, making them a strong genealogy source when vital records are missing. Many older Hampden County probate files have been indexed by FamilySearch.
Note: The Hampden County Registry of Deeds virtual Zoom option is useful for researchers outside the Springfield area who need to look at specific documents without traveling. Call the registry to confirm current virtual hours before connecting.
Hampden County Genealogy Records
Springfield is the county seat of Hampden County. County-level resources including the probate court, registry of deeds, and related genealogy records are all centered in Springfield. For a full overview of what is available at the county level, visit the Hampden County genealogy records page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Springfield also have genealogy records pages with local clerk details and research resources.