The Cobb Archive, a 1912 building in the Arts and Craft style, originally served as the town’s first true public library. Located in Truro Center, it is now the repository for the Society’s works on paper. Its trove of maps, charts, books, photographs, family memorabilia, and other historical documents is accessible to the public for viewing and research.
Hours: 9:30 – 12:00 Tuesday and Thursday
(3:00 – 5:00 PM Wednesdays starting in October)
Location: 13 Truro Center Road
Phone: 508-349-0200
Directions to the Cobb Archive
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.
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 (at Highland House Museum in the summer)
Works by Truro Authors
Prose and poetry
Fiction and non-fiction
Books and Oral Histories
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
Records
Newspapers
Merchant ledgers
Pamphlets
How you can help the Cobb Archive
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]
How our curators can help you
Research Assistance
Our curators will be pleased to 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-on assistance is subject to the same pricing policy. Printing, shipping, and handling costs will apply.