The Marion M. Hunter History Room

The Marian Hunter History Room is dedicated to Marian M. Hunter, long-time librarian and historian of Avon. The collection was formed when the Library and the Avon Historical Society combined their archives and dedicated the room on February 4, 1989. Researchers and interested residents may find information on the general history of the town, original old homes and buildings in Avon, and genealogies of original families.

Access Avon’s history online

Over 30,000 items from the our history room collection are available online as part of the Connecticut Digital Archive.

Some Finding Aids for this collection are available here.

Connect with the Avon Historical Society here.

Avon records prior to 1830 are at the Farmington Town Clerk’s Office and the Farmington Room at the Farmington Library.

Visiting the History Room

Volunteers and reference staff staff the History Room. Please contact the library before visiting to ensure materials will be accessible when you arrive! You will be asked to complete a researcher request form when you arrive.

For hours and information:

• Call: 860-673-9712, then press “4” for the reference department
• Email: [email protected]
• History Room Policy

Treasures within the History Room

Book Collections

• Local History of Avon and neighboring towns
• Book Collection of Northington Library
• Genealogy of selected Avon families
• Genealogical reference materials

Serial Collections

• Avon High School Yearbooks, 1961+
• Connecticut Nutmegger, v. 32, no. 1 to present
• Avon Town Reports, 1877 to present
• Lure of the Litchfield Hills, Dec. 1940-Winter 1975 (issues are currently being digitized)
• City Directories, 1913, 1918, 1928, 1932, 1964+
• American Canals, May. 2002 to present

Manuscript Collections

• Archives of Avon Free Public Library and earlier libraries
• Rev. Rufus Hawley Family: diaries, letters & genealogical notes
• Hawley Family Letters, 1798-1828
• Diaries of Frank Hadsell, 1859-1942
• Selected letters of Mabel Bishop, 1907-1925
• Avon Newsletter (WWII) January 1944-December 1945

Maps

• The map cabinet inventory is available here.

Photographs & Visual Materials

• The Clinton Hadsell Collection, 1899-1914
• The Frank Hadsell Collection
• Gravestone photos & index for cemeteries: Cider Brook, East Avon, West Avon
• Photograph Collections of Case Family, Hawley Family
• Vintage photographs arranged alphabetically
• Postcard collections of Bishop Family, circa 1907-1925

Microfilm Resources

• U.S. Census Records, Avon reels, 1790-1930
• Avon News, 1986-1996

Newspaper Collections

• The Avon Library has copies of Avon News, 1981-1995. View digitized issues here
• The Farmington Library maintains a collection of the Farmington Valley Herald from 1894-1986.
• The Connecticut State Library maintains a collection of Avon News (1987-1996), Avon Life (2001-2013), Valley News (1996-2004)

Learn more