< Berkshire Family History Association

Welcome to the
Berkshire Family History Association, Inc.

P. O. Box 1437, Pittsfield, MA 01202-1437

Do you want to contact us?
If you have a question or comment e-mail PRESIDENT: Donald L. Lutes, Jr..

The Berkshire Family History Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of family history and genealogy. We promote family history research by collecting, preserving, and publishing genealogical and historical records of Massachusetts and its neighboring states of New York, Vermont, and Connecticut, an area considered to be the earliest "Gateway to the West." Some migrants would spend only a few years in the area before moving westward, while others would go no farther, having found a home in the Berkshire Hills. Whatever the length of their stay or their eventual destination, people from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont passed through the Berkshires, often leaving their imprint among local records.

Check the cumulative index (since 1978) to our publication, Berkshire Genealogist. You may find an ancestor of interest.

  Berkshire Family History Association meetings are held monthly, from September through May, featuring both amateur and professional genealogists discussing a wide variety of topics. Also offered are field trips to re- search institutions and instructional workshops.

Publications include the quarterly BERKSHIRE GENEALOGIST, a growing list of special publications of genealogical research material, and more.

Membership is open to anyone interested in family history or genealogy. FAMILY RESEARCH SERVICE This valuable service is designed to provide members of the Berkshire Family History Association with access to the extensive genealogical collections of the Berkshire Athenaeum - Pittsfield's Public Library - one of the major research collections in Western Massachusetts. * long-term research: two hours of research time is available at no cost with each year's membership in the Berkshire Family History Association. Postage and copying costs are additional. Further research can be contracted with individual genealogists. The BFHA will provide a list of local fee-based researchers upon request. * researchers are experienced genealogists with special training in the use of published genealogical sources and library collections. * research is limited to written inquiries and involves only the resources of the Berkshire Athenaeum. If you are interested in retaining the Family Research Service, send: * a specific request for the information desired, * all relevant background information, * a completed membership application (see attached sheet) and a check or money order for the proper category of membership.

PLEASE NOTE: The two hours of research are offered as a courtesy, FREE to members. As all researchers are strictly volunteers, a heavy volume of requests will often result in a backlog and a delay in response, sometimes as long as several months. We ask for your patience while we are processing your request.