About Historical Research

Historical Research is the collection and synthesis of primary and secondary written materials, oral traditions, maps and some artistic mediums. The Battlefield staff visit private, town, state, national and international repositories to collect all relevant information pertaining to 17th century battlefields in the American Northeast, and lifeways of Native and Colonial peoples to understand these conflicts and the peoples living through conflict.

Mary Rowlandson wrote on her experience in King Philip’s War, “A True History of the Captivity & Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson,” published in 1682.

Primary materials that we consult are published accounts or manuscripts of the war written by the actual participants or observing civilians. Other invaluable resources are the collections gathered and authored by contemporary historians such as Increase Mather and William Hubbard of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

“A Brief History of the War with the Indians in New England,” by Increase Mather, 1676.

Secondary materials published by later historians offer new interpretations, and sometimes family stories on the unfolding events of King Philip’s War. These sources offer new perspectives and occasionally offer new leads to find other relevant collections and publications.

Likewise, oral histories from both Native and Colonial ancestors provide insight into the events of King Philip’s War by providing information on the memorialization of these events, and opportunities for community dialog and historical education.

Collaborating all the above sources, various community perspectives and fields of practice allows researchers to recreate and reconstruct land use research, educational materials, exhibits and web materials.