Preserving the Legacy of Dalton for Future Generations

The Friends of the Dalton Historical Commission Inc is deeply committed to the belief that understanding our history is the key to navigating our future. Our organization serves as a dedicated steward of the cultural, architectural, and social heritage that defines Dalton, Massachusetts. By preserving the physical artifacts and the intangible stories of those who came before us, we create a sense of continuity and belonging for every resident.

Our mission at the Friends of the Dalton Historical Commission Inc is to preserve, promote, and celebrate the rich history of Dalton. We strive to educate the public, inspire curiosity, and foster a deep appreciation for our shared past. We believe in the power of history to ignite community spirit and bring people together. By serving as the guardians of our town’s legacy, we ensure that future generations will have a strong foundation of knowledge and a sense of pride in their heritage. Our work is guided by the conviction that history is a living, breathing force that shapes our identities and our collective future.

Our Vision

A future where every resident feels a deep connection to Dalton’s history and contributes to its preservation

Our vision is to create a community where historical awareness is integrated into the fabric of everyday life. We envision a Dalton where historic landmarks are cherished, where the stories of all our citizens are documented and honored, and where the lessons of the past inform the decisions of the future. We strive to be a leading cultural institution in the region, known for our innovative programs and our commitment to inclusivity and historical accuracy. By expanding our digital reach and our physical presence, we hope to make Dalton’s history a source of inspiration for people far beyond our town borders, fostering a global appreciation for the power of local heritage.

Our Values

Integrity stewardship and a commitment to community centered historical excellence

The core principles that guide our work are integrity, stewardship, and accessibility. we believe in maintaining the highest standards of historical accuracy and transparency in everything we do. As stewards of Dalton’s past, we take our responsibility to protect and preserve our cultural resources very seriously, ensuring that they are handled with the utmost care and respect. We value inclusivity, striving to tell the stories of all people who have contributed to our community, regardless of their background. We believe that history belongs to everyone, and we are committed to making our collections and programs accessible to all members of the community, fostering an environment of mutual respect and shared learning.

Our Impact

Strengthening the social and cultural foundations of Dalton through dedicated preservation

The contribution we make to our community is measured in the strengthened social bonds and the enriched cultural landscape of Dalton. By providing a space for shared discovery, we help to build a stronger sense of community identity and pride. Our programs support local education, providing teachers and students with unique resources that bring their studies to life. We also contribute to the local economy by promoting heritage tourism and supporting the preservation of historic properties which enhances property values and town character. Our ultimate impact is the creation of a more informed and engaged citizenry, one that understands the roots of our current challenges and the potential for our future achievements.

Martha Higgins – Executive Director Martha Higgins brings over twenty-five years of deep experience in non-profit management, museum curation, and historical preservation to her pivotal role as Executive Director. With a Master’s degree in Public History and a background in regional planning, she has dedicated her professional life to the belief that local heritage should be accessible, engaging, and a source of community empowerment. Martha’s leadership style is defined by her infectious warmth, her open-door policy, and her genuine interest in the personal stories that form the mosaic of our community. She oversees all organizational operations, from high-level fundraising and grant writing to long-term strategic planning, always ensuring that our core mission remains the guiding star of every decision. Her tenure has been characterized by a collaborative spirit, as she works tirelessly with the board, city officials, and local residents to ensure that the Friends of the Dalton Historical Commission remains a vibrant, financially stable, and essential part of the town’s cultural life. She is often seen at town meetings advocating for historic districts and can be found most weekends giving personal tours to visiting families.

Robert Sterling – Head Archivist
Robert Sterling is the meticulous, highly skilled guardian of our extensive physical and digital collections. With a dual background in library science and American history, and a specialized certification in archival management, Robert ensures that every document, delicate photograph, and rare artifact in our care is properly preserved, cataloged, and protected from the elements. He is a passionate, relentless researcher who finds immense joy in helping community members uncover the hidden, often surprising details of their family history or the architectural origins of their historic homes. Robert’s patient and caring approach makes the often-intimidating world of archival research feel welcoming, navigable, and deeply rewarding for everyone from middle-schoolers to professional historians. He is constantly exploring and implementing new digital technologies to protect our physical collections while making them more accessible to a global audience, believing that information is only truly valuable when it can be shared and understood.

Sarah Jenkins – Education Coordinator Sarah Jenkins is a former public school teacher with a lifelong passion for creative storytelling, pedagogy, and the power of historical education to change lives. As our Education Coordinator, she develops and implements the comprehensive curriculum for our school tours, youth workshops, and family-oriented programs that serve hundreds of children each year. Sarah believes that history should be a multisensory, fun, and interactive adventure, and she works tirelessly to create hands-on experiences—like mock archaeological digs and colonial-era craft workshops—that capture the vivid imagination of our younger visitors. Her professional background in education allows her to expertly align our programs with state and national learning standards, making the commission an indispensable partner for local educators and school districts. Sarah’s enthusiasm for her subject is infectious, and she has a unique, rare ability to make the events of three hundred years ago feel as relevant, exciting, and urgent as today’s news for the children of our community.

James Thornton – Volunteer Lead
James Thornton serves as the vital bridge between our organization and the many dedicated, selfless individuals who give their precious time to support our mission. As a lifelong resident of Dalton and a retired professor of history, James understands the deep, emotional connection that people have to their hometown and the power of volunteerism to strengthen community ties. He manages our extensive volunteer recruitment, training, and scheduling, ensuring that every individual finds a role that perfectly matches their unique skills, personal interests, and schedule. James’s approachable nature, his legendary storytelling ability, and his deep knowledge of local lore make him a beloved mentor to many. He fosters a profound sense of camaraderie, respect, and shared purpose among our volunteer team, ensuring that their contributions are not only recognized but are celebrated as the vital lifeblood of our organization’s continued success and community presence.

“I first visited the visitor center while I was in the middle of a frustrating search for the history of my 19th-century farmhouse, and I was absolutely blown away by the level of personalized help and expertise I received from the staff. Robert in the archives spent hours patiently helping me track down old property records, tax maps, and he even found a rare photograph of the original owners standing on my front porch. It was a deeply moving, emotional experience to connect with the people who lived in my home and walked my floors over a hundred years ago. The passion, deep knowledge, and kindness of the entire staff are truly remarkable. They make the past feel so present, so important, and so incredibly personal. I cannot recommend their services enough to anyone curious about their home or family.” – David Thompson, Local Homeowner and History Enthusiast

“As a local public school teacher, I am always on the hunt for innovative ways to make social studies and local history more engaging and relevant for my students. The school tour and workshop provided by the Friends of the Dalton Historical Commission was, without a doubt, the absolute highlight of our academic year. Sarah Jenkins did a fantastic job of connecting the local industrial history of the paper mills to the broader, complex themes of the American Industrial Revolution and environmental change. The kids absolutely loved the hands-on activities and the chance to handle real artifacts. The educational materials provided for the classroom afterward were top-notch and have sparked weeks of follow-up discussions. It is an invaluable, world-class educational resource for our local schools and our children.” – Emily Richardson, 5th Grade Teacher

How do I enroll in a specific educational program or schedule a private visit to the archives?

Enrolling in our diverse array of programs or scheduling a research visit to our archives is a straightforward, user-friendly process designed to be as convenient as possible for our busy community members. You can visit our official website at any time to see a full, up-to-date calendar of upcoming workshops, guest lectures, tours, and community events, and you can register and pay for programs directly through our secure online portal. For specialized archival research or genealogy assistance, we strongly recommend scheduling an appointment at least one week in advance. This ensures that our professional staff can provide you with the dedicated, one-on-one assistance you need and can have all relevant physical and digital materials pulled and ready for your arrival. You can also call our main office during regular business hours or send a detailed email to info@fdsc.site to discuss your specific research goals or program needs. We welcome visitors of all ages, backgrounds, and interest levels and are always happy to accommodate special group tours, school field trips, or unique research requests whenever our schedule allows.

What specific measures do you take to ensure the safety of your visitors and the long-term security of the collection?

Safety and security are the absolute top priorities at the Friends of the Dalton Historical Commission, both for our human guests and for the irreplaceable, often fragile historical artifacts and documents in our permanent care. Our modern visitor center and specialized archival spaces are equipped with state-of-the-art security, environmental controls, and fire suppression systems specifically designed to protect delicate historical materials from theft, fire, and environmental degradation. For our visitors, we maintain a clean, well-lit, and fully accessible environment, with clearly marked emergency exits and modern facilities that meet all safety codes. During our popular youth programs and school tours, we maintain strict, appropriate staff-to-student ratios and follow rigorous safety protocols for all hands-on activities to ensure a positive and safe experience for every child. Our entire staff and our core volunteer leads are fully trained in basic first aid, CPR, and emergency evacuation procedures, ensuring that we can respond quickly, calmly, and effectively to any situation that may arise during public hours or special events.

What kind of specific educational curriculum do you offer for visiting school groups and homeschoolers?

Our comprehensive educational curriculum is designed by professional educators to be both deeply engaging and academically rigorous, aligning closely with the latest Massachusetts state and national standards for social studies, history, and English language arts. We offer a wide variety of themed tours and interactive workshops that focus on different, essential aspects of Dalton’s history, such as the fascinating transition from an early agricultural settlement to a world-renowned industrial powerhouse, the vital role of local families in significant national events like the American Revolution and the Civil War, and the complex evolution of local democratic government. Our programs utilize authentic primary source documents, historical maps, and physical artifacts to teach students the essential skills of how to think like historians and critical investigators. We also provide classroom teachers and homeschooling parents with extensive pre-visit and post-visit materials, including lesson plans and primary source sets, to help integrate the field trip experience into their broader classroom learning goals, ensuring that the visit has a lasting and meaningful educational impact on every student.

Do you provide meals or refreshments during your workshops, lectures, and community events?

While the Friends of the Dalton Historical Commission does not operate a full-service cafeteria on-site, we pride ourselves on our hospitality and often provide a variety of light refreshments, such as water, tea, coffee, and locally sourced snacks, during our longer workshops, guest lectures, and community celebrations. For school groups, full-day workshops, or researchers staying for the entire day, we have a designated, comfortable indoor and outdoor area where visitors are welcome to enjoy their own packed lunches and take a break from their work. We are also conveniently located near several wonderful local cafes, bakeries, and restaurants in the heart of Dalton, and our friendly staff is always more than happy to provide personalized recommendations for places to eat or grab a coffee in the immediate area. We strive to make all of our events as comfortable, welcoming, and accessible as possible, and we strongly encourage visitors to reach out to us in advance if they have specific dietary needs, allergies, or questions about the refreshments provided for a particular program.

What is the typical schedule for your public programs and what are your visitor center hours?


Our visitor center and archival research room are typically open to the general public from Tuesday through Saturday, with specific hours that may vary slightly by season or for special holidays. We strive to offer a schedule that is accessible to everyone, which is why our most popular public programs, such as our monthly guest lecture series and weekend family workshops, are often held in the evenings or on Saturdays to accommodate the schedules of working families, students, and out-of-town visitors. We maintain a very detailed, real-time calendar on our official website that lists all of our upcoming events, including precise start times, expected durations, and any necessary registration deadlines or fees. Because we are a small and dedicated team, we always recommend checking the website or calling our office ahead of your planned visit to confirm our current hours and to see if there are any private events, school tours, or special holiday closures that might affect your plans. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing our passion for history during our regular hours.

How can parents, local businesses, and community members get more deeply involved in your work?

There are many diverse and impactful ways for parents, local business owners, and all community members to get involved and support our ongoing mission of preservation and education. Beyond volunteering your valuable time, you can become an official member of the Friends of the Dalton Historical Commission, which provides you with exclusive early access to special events, discounts on workshops, and a subscription to our detailed quarterly historical newsletter. Local businesses can partner with us through event sponsorship, by hosting historical displays in their storefronts, or by participating in our corporate giving programs. We also encourage families to attend our community events and to actively participate in our ongoing oral history and digital archiving projects by sharing their own family stories, heirlooms, and photographs with the commission. We are always looking for new, innovative ideas and community partnerships, so please never hesitate to reach out and share your thoughts on how we can better serve and engage the diverse residents of Dalton. Your involvement is what keeps our history alive and relevant.