This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VFB.2ACI/3383.1.1.1 Message Board Post: City Hall at Court Sq., Springfield, MA.>Their "public" records start with the year 1850 to present. They may have books in the vault that date further back, but the person researching has to go there in person and ask to see the book. Otherwise, I assume, writing to the MA State Archives in Boston, MA. would be the best thing for earlier vital records. The Conn. Valley Historical Museum at the Quadrangle, State St. Springfield, MA. does not have vital records. Only books, census, MA. birth & death records on microfilm (certain years) type sources for research. There may be books on specific families, etc. Wouldn't hurt to contact them to ask what they do have on your family. Hope this helps. Roberta Cyr