Local History & Genealogy

Watch Know Your History
Know Your History is a four-part video series produced by Mike Cutler of CAT-TV.
Watch and learn how to research properties and people using free local historical resources.

The Bennington Banner (local newspaper)

There are several ways to access Bennington Banner articles through the library:

The Library has The Bennington Banner on microfilm from 1903 – near present. Reference Desk staff can search the microfilm, save articles as .jpg or .pdf files and email them. Please call the library and ask for the Reference Desk for assistance.

Local High School Yearbooks (in process):
The Catamount 1950 (Bennington High School)
The Catamount 1951 (Bennington High School)
The Catamount 1952 (Bennington High School)
The Catamount 1953 (Bennington High School)
The Catamount 1954 (Bennington High School)
The Catamount 1955 (Bennington High School)

State, National, and World News
The library subscribes to NewsBank, which maintains Access World News, a large collection of local, regional, national and international news, including print and online-only newspapers, blogs, newswires, journals, broadcast transcripts and videos:

We apologize free access to HeritageQuest is no longer available. Please try the options below.

Genealogy Research Page – This Vermont Department of Libraries page includes many helpful links, starting with Vermont Vital Records and expanding beyond the state.

FamilySearch – Created and run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this site contains a large and freely searchable archive. Among the data are: the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), U.S. Federal Census for 1880 or the 1881 census for both the British Isles and Canada, a vital records index containing birth, marriage, and death records from around the world.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Please email reference@bfli.org or call the Library.