Resources
New Bedford’s history is shaped by visionaries, activists, and innovators whose impact still resonates today. Whether you’re diving into primary sources, exploring interactive exhibits, or reading in-depth articles, this collection of resources will help you uncover the milestones in independence, freedom, and industry that define our city.
Featured Digital Resources
New Bedford Historical Society
Explore archival materials, virtual tours, and historical documents on abolitionists and civil rights leaders.
New Bedford Whaling Museum
Discover how New Bedford’s whaling industry shaped global trade and migration.
New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center
Learn about the history, culture, and people of New Bedford’s commercial fishing industry.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
Step into history with exhibits and tours highlighting New Bedford’s role in the whaling industry.
Azorean Maritime Heritage Society
Celebrate the Azorean maritime culture through events, education, and community engagement.
Fort Taber-Fort Rodman Military Museum & Veterans Memorial
Explore military history through exhibits and artifacts honoring those who served.
Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the Southcoast
Discover the stories of remarkable women who shaped the history of the Southcoast region.
New Bedford Free Public Library
Browse digital archives and historical collections preserving New Bedford’s literary heritage.
Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum
Experience the grandeur of New Bedford’s whaling-era mansion and gardens.
Spinner Publications
Explore books, photographs, and historical publications that tell the story of Southeastern New England.
Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE)
Preserving and restoring historic structures to celebrate New Bedford’s cultural legacy.
Feast of the Blessed Sacrament
Join the world’s largest Portuguese feast, celebrating culture, food, and community.
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
Learn about the history, culture, and traditions of the Mashpee Wampanoag people.
NB Resilient
New Bedford’s sustainability and climate action plan for a greener future.
New Bedford Research and Robotics
Advancing STEM education through robotics, research, and innovation in New Bedford.
James Arnold Mansion
Step back in time and explore the historic home of James Arnold, a key figure in New Bedford’s history.
Books
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave
Frederick Douglass
Anti-Slavery Office, 1845
Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad
Edited by Timothy D. Walker
University of Massachusetts Press, 2021
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself
Harriet A. Jacobs, edited by L. Maria Child
Thayer and Eldridge, 1861
The Strike of ‘28
Daniel Georgianna and Roberta Hazen Aaronson
Spinner Publications Inc., 2001
Black Navigator: Paul Cuffe’s Atlantic World
Lamont D. Thomas
Spinner Publications Inc., 2024
Paul Cuffe: His Purpose, Partners and Properties
David C. Cole, Richard Gifford, Betty F. Slade, and Raymond C. Shaw
Spinner Publications Inc., 2021
Children of the Light: The Rise and Fall of New Bedford Whaling and the Death of the Arctic Fleet
Everett S. Allen
Little, Brown and Company, 1973
