Special Collections

The Collections

The Library houses several collections. Some items located in the library are owned by the Westminster Historical Society. A complete ownership inventory will be completed in the future.

The Categories at the Library are:

  • Fine Arts – Paintings and sculptures by many artists, including works by Deacon Robert Peckham, Gamiel Beaman, Oscar J. Walkonen, Eastman Johnson, Olin Warner and E. Thor Carlson
  • Antique Furniture – Cabinets, a piano, a grandfather clock, chairs, pews, display cases, tables, a bench, etc.
  • Military Items – Guns, swords, uniforms, and other military paraphernalia from the Revolutionary War to WWII, including an extensive collection of items owned by General Miles and his family
  • Antique Paper Money and Coins
  • China and Household Items
  • Musical Instruments
  • Indian Artifacts
  • Papers – Some of the papers of the Westminster Historical Society, the Grange and various miscellaneous papers
  • Books – Hurd Room Genealogical Collection, the Miles Collection, the Warner Collection and the 1901 Collection
  • Nature Collections – The collection includies birds, butterflies, small animals, shells, rocks and other natural phenomena. (In 1990, part of the nature collection was on loan to Oakmont Regional High School and returned in 2000.) In December of 2000, the Nature Collection was transferred on permanent loan to the Athol Bird and Nature Center, Athol, MA.

The Special Book Collection is housed primarily in two areas: The Eloranta Room and The Hurd Room

The Eloranta Room

  • The 1901 collection – a small representative sample of items from the library’s original holdings
  • Pristine copies of town histories, local authors, etc.
  • The Miles Collection of books by and about General Nelson Appleton Miles and books that are signed by Nelson or other family members
  • The Olin L. Warner Collection of early books belonging to the Warner Family

The Hurd Room

  • Histories of the Town of Westminster and other geographically close communities
  • Family histories of Westminster residents
  • Military histories
  • Vital records
  • Town reports
  • High School yearbooks
  • Maps of the Town of Westminster