The Kenneth R. Ethier Auburn Archives were established in memory of Ken after his passing in 2024. A fixture in Central Massachusetts historical organizations, Ken was past president and long-time board member of the Auburn Historical Society and was the Town Historian of Auburn. He frequently presented to area historical societies on topics surrounding ice harvesting, trains and trolleys, and had a wealth of knowledge of local history that was passed down to him from generations of his family in town and through research.
This collection contains some of our main research materials, which Ken had consulted many times over the years!
Auburn Valuation List: These yearly record books begin in 1862 and end in 1968 and contain lists of poll, personal, real estate, excise, and water distract taxes in Auburn. Early records do not include addresses and are hand written, with later records typed. Our volunteers are in the process of transcribing these books.
Auburn Town Reports: Released yearly by the Town of Auburn, these books contain statistics and reports of each town department. Our collection includes Town Reports from 1859 through 2019. Our volunteers are currently working on creating indexes for various names found in the reports, including a list of school teachers.
Abstracts of Deeds and Wills: These record books include abstracts of deeds filed for properties in Auburn, as well as abstracts of wills of Auburn residents executed. Our collection spans 1900 to 1971. Volunteers are in the process of digitizing and indexing these records.
Auburn Historical Society & Museum 