The Cobb Archive houses maps, charts, books, photographs, family memorabilia, and other historical documents. This 1912 building was designed in the Arts and Craft style, and originally served as the town’s first public library. Located in Truro Center, the Cobb Archive is accessible to the public for research.
Location: 13 Truro Center Road
Phone: 508-349-0200
Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 AM-12 PM, and by appointment
To schedule an appointment, send an email to [email protected].
The Cobb Archive Collections
- Sea Charts and Maps
~ Historic maps of Truro
~ Survey maps of town roads, power lines, and properties by John Raymond Dyer, Surveyor, 1925 to 1957
~ Capt. Atkins Hughes’ sea charts from the early 1800s
~ 19th century U.S. Coastal Survey maps - Photographs
~ A collection of about 2,000 images of Truro: people, families, buildings, landscape, leisure, livelihood, and scenery - Works by Truro Authors
~ Prose and poetry
~ Fiction and non-fiction - Books and Oral Histories – Rare and historic books and oral histories can be found on our shelves:
~ Cape Cod and Truro history
~ Etiquette and household hints for women
~ Bibles and other religious works
~ Children’s literature - Family Memorabilia
~ Valentines, greeting cards, wedding and graduation invitations, and more - Archival Records
~Archives of Truro families such as Small, Dyer, Lewis, Farnsworth-Sawyer
~Newspapers
~Merchant Letters
~Pamphlets
~Historical information related to the US Coast Guard - Vintage Post Cards
How our volunteers can help you
Our volunteers will assist your search for information from our Museum and Cobb Archive collections. The first cumulative half-hour per day of assistance is free. Any additional research may be subject to an hourly fee of $20 (10 percent discount for members). Simple inquiries by email are also welcome, and follow-up assistance is subject to the same pricing policy. Printing, shipping, and handling costs will apply.
Donations
We are always interested in expanding our collections. If you have maps, books, other works on paper, and images that you would like us to preserve and make available to researchers and the public, please contact us at the Cobb Archive at 508-349-0200 or at [email protected].
Directions:
From Provincetown: Take the Truro Center Pamet Roads Exit and continue straight along Truro Center Road, past Jams on your left. The Cobb Archive is a couple buildings up on the right, on a hill. It’s at 13 Truro Center Road, Truro, MA.
From Wellfleet: Take the Truro Center Pamet Roads Exit and take a right off the exit. At the stop, take a right and drive under the highway. At the next stop take a right onto Truro Center Road and pass the Post Office on the left. Up a few buildings on the right you’ll find the Cobb Archive at 13 Truro Center Road, Truro, MA.