Local History Resources
Obituary Index (PDF)
An alphabetized index of obituaries from past issues of Laconia newspapers. This online index is courtesy of our dedicated Laconia Public Library volunteers. If you are looking for an obituary not published here, please email info@laconialibrary.org for further assistance.
Lakes Region History Online
Experience Laconia's history through photographs and artifacts.
Laconia Annual Reports – the University of New Hampshire Digital Repository
Laconia's annual reports dating 1877-1967 are digitized as part of the University of New Hampshire's digital collection and are available online.
The Black Heritage Trail
The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire’s mission is to “promote awareness and appreciation of African American history and life in order to build more inclusive communities today”.
The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire also hosts a searchable database of people African and Black American individuals and families: http://blacknewengland.org/
New Hampshire State Archives
The New Hampshire State Archives contains records of vital statistics, town histories and reports, name change records, naturalization records, land title deeds, probate records, and more.
New Hampshire Historical Society
The New Hampshire Historical Society has digitized and on-site records and archives that can be used to conduct genealogical and historical research.
New Hampshire History Network
New Hampshire History Network is a voluntary group of organizations in New Hampshire that offer digital and on-site access to local history and genealogy records for research purposes.
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is a non-profit organization that provides free online access to publicly crowd-sourced resources for research including archived internet websites, cultural artifacts, books, and other digitized items. Many town reports and vital statistics are available and have been digitized to be text searchable within the document.
New Hampshire Preservation Alliance
New Hampshire Preservation Alliance’s blog has great tips for how to begin the process of researching your old house. They are also a wealth of information and resources if you are interested in learning more about preserving and maintaining the character of your old house.
D. H. Hurd & Co. Maps
Cadastral maps of Laconia and other parts of New Hampshire are available online through the David Rumsey Map Collection.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
Sanborn Fire Insurance maps of New Hampshire Towns are available online through the Dartmouth College Library. These maps were created to assess risks for insurance companies and date from 1880-1920. Laconia Public Library also houses several books of these maps in the Library’s Local History Room.
Library of Congress digitized maps of Belknap County
The Library of Congress has a wealth of digitized maps, including the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps and other collections of cadastral maps of Belknap County.
Belknap County Registry of Deeds
Researching your old house? Deed research is available online through the indices of the Belknap County Registry of Deeds.
Chronicling America
Library of Congress’ copies of digitized New Hampshire Newspapers
New Hampshire’s Towns and Cities Maps, 1776-2006
Courtesy of Dartmouth Libraries
The Granite State in Maps, 1756-2003
Courtesy of Dartmouth Libraries
Historical Address delivered by Erastus P. Jewell, Esq., at the Old Home Week public exercises. Laconia, NH, August 1, 1905
Erastus Perry Jewell was born in Sandwich, New Hampshire in 1837 to Mark Freeman Jewell and Dorothy M. Hobbs. He came to Laconia in 1859 and practiced as a lawyer. Mr. Jewell was very interested in history and very active within the community of Laconia. Above is his Old Home Week address which is a very detailed history of the origins of Laconia.
City of Laconia Vital Records (1887-1948) and Old Laconia Cemetery Records by Virginia D. Hansen
Courtesy of the Laconia Historical and Museum Society.
Additional Resources
Laconia Public Library
Local History Room
695 Main St.
Laconia, NH 03246
(603) 524-4775
Laconia Historical and Museum Society
P.O. Box 1126
Laconia, NH 03247
(603) 527-1278
New Hampshire Historical Society
30 Park Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 228-6688
New Hampshire State Library
20 Park Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-2144
New Hampshire Vital Records
71 South Fruit Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-4650