The Purpose of the Shirley Historical Society is to preserve books, photos, papers, stories, and artifacts relating to Shirley, Massachusetts people, places, and history.  The Society also works to educate the public regarding historic matters, and seeks to encourage preservation of historic sites within the town.

The Lucy Longley Memorial Building which houses the Shirley Historical Society Museum was opened in the Fall of 1981.  The Library contains information on many Shirley people and places as well as references on local and general history and is open to visitors and researchers free of charge.  The main floor of the Museum is fully handicapped accessible.  The Museum is located four miles north of Route 2 in central Massachusetts.  For directions to the Museum please click here.   For a further description of our building and its history, click here.
If we can answer a quick research question by email, phone, or letter, there is no charge.
Xeroxing costs 25 cents per page.
If you would like us to do more involved local research or lengthy copying for you, the requested donation will be $20 per hour.

The Current Museum Display is all about the 19th Century Chairs. On display are doll size chairs, dollhouse chairs, and full size chairs, factory-made chairs and home-crafted chairs, as well as footstools and much information about identifying various types of chairs

Shaker Tours - Guided Tours of the Shirley Shaker Village may be held by special request of groups of 8 or more.  Since the site of the village is not part of the state correctional facility, special arrangements must be made for visiting. Public tours for 2012 will be held on certain Sunday afternoons in the fall. Check back here later in the year to see when the dates have been chosen.
These tours introduce visitors to the architecture and lifestyle of the Believers who lived in Shirley from 1793-1908.  Visitors meet at 1:00 p.m., at a restored Shaker building on the grounds of the Massachusetts Correctional Facility and have an introductory talk on the Shirley Shaker Community.  After the talk, they go through two other Shaker buildings. The cost is $15 for non-members and $10 for SHS members.  Due to limited space, reservations must be made and paid for in advance.
For a brief history of the Shirley Shaker Village and links to other Shaker sites, click here.

Society Membership - The Shirley Historical Society is incorporated as a non-profit 501(C)(3) corporation.  Membership in the Society is open to all those interested upon annual payment of dues.  To join the Historical Society and be placed on the mailing list, send $20 for individual membership, $10 for a Senior, or $35 for a family.  Contributing membership is $50 per year. 

To see our Historical Society By-Laws, click here.

The Historical Society Officers for 2011 are here.

Do Your Shopping for Shirley Souvenirs at the Museum
For a list of Shirley items available in the Historical Society Museum Gift Shop, click here.

Thank you to Betsy Mirkovic, Linda Dressler, Paul Przybyla, Dot Hatch, Christyne Saball, and Meredith Marcinkewicz for their help at the fall 2011 All Town Yard Sale Day. We had over 100 visitors to the Museum that day.

Kudos
        Judy Warner of Harvard wrote us - "I have enjoyed spending time in Shirley Center sitting on the grass sketching the buildings and setting for the past few days. What a wonderful spot --- I do a lot of drawing in the area and haven't found many places as peaceful and unspoiled.  I just wanted to tell you I've found your web site very helpful and thank you to all those people who have kept your Center such a special place."

    Watching the children in the Crazy Hat Parade, marching around the Common at the annual Hoe Down,  Susan Baxter said, "Why would anyone want to live any place else but in Shirley ?"