Personal records of Members of the Board of Aldermen and Common Council 1861-1890

The Record Commissioners during the years 1891-1894 compiled the “Personal Records” of the members of the Board of Aldermen and Common Council. The collection includes forms from members of the City Councils from 1861-1890. Gaps do exist throughout this span. The publication “A Catalogue of the city councils of Boston, Roxbury, Charlestown…” printed by order of the City Council, 1909 contains a list of all the members of the City Councils from 1822-1909 with a biographical notes number. William Whitmore used these same numbers, handwritten on the forms, to organize the collection. This collection consists of forms for City Council members #1004-#1966 with gaps and a log book of former City Council members #902-#1081 which includes address, dates served and occupation. An individual City Council member’s number can be found by consulting the index in the “Catalogue of the City Councils…” In addition to the printed forms, there are also news clippings, business letterhead, and transcribed obituaries for some of the members.