Skip to Main Content

Resources Documenting the History of Bicycling

Bicycling History Collections at UMass Boston

In the 1890s, Boston and Massachusetts had the largest per capita membership of women and men in the League of American Wheelmen. It is fitting, then, that UMass Boston is fast becoming a research destination for Boston-area, New England, and national bicycling history. We hold mor than forty collections of cyclists' photographs, letters, publications, and scrapbooks, as well as the records of the League of American Wheelmen (now the League of American Bicyclists); proceedings of the International Cycling History Conferences; and runs of The Wheelwoman, The Wheelmen magazine and other bicycling publications.

UMass Boston is particularly interested in collecting materials from and about diverse and under-represented communities and about women in cycling.

Browse and search finding aids for our processed Archival and Manuscript Collections related to bicycling history below.

Contact us at library.archives@umb.edu for research assistance.

Browse bicycling-related articles on our online newsletter, Open Archives NewsSubscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications of newly-processed collections. Contact us at library.archives@umb.edu if you have bicycling history-related collections that you would like to donate to us.

Learn about the differences between primary and secondary sources.

Books

Search the Healey Library's catalog for books about bicycling in University Archives and Special Collections. This list doesn't necessarily represent the full extent of our holdings, as many books and journals are in the queue for cataloging. 

The volumes listed in the above search are available to researchers visiting the Archives Research Room in the Healey Library.

There are also many books about bicycling in the Healey Library's general collection as well. Search the Healey Library's catalog and try searching for relevant keywords like "bicycle," "bicyclist," and "cycling."

Note: The option to check books out of the Healey Library's general collection is limited to UMass Boston students, faculty, and staff. These books, and others, may be available through your local public library or you can visit the UMass Boston campus to view the books.

Journals

Search these journals for "bicycling" and related keywords. Search and browse all of the Healey Library's ejournals.

Note: The links to ejournals listed below will work for UMass Boston students, faculty, and staff. These resources and others may be available through your local public library.

American Historical Review

American Quarterly

Journal of American History

Journal of Contemporary History

Journal of Interdisciplinary History

Journal Databases

Note: The links to Journal Databases listed below will work for UMass Boston students, faculty, and staff. These resources and others may be available through your local public library.

Newspapers

Search and browse all of the Healey Library's newspaper databases.

Note: The links to newspapers and newspaper databases listed below will work for UMass Boston students, faculty, and staff. These resources and others may be available through your local public library.

Scholarly Works

Videos

Search these video databases for "bicycling" and related keywords.

Note: The links to videos and video databases listed below will work for UMass Boston students, faculty, and staff. These resources and others may be available through your local public library.

Healey Library | University of Massachusetts Boston | 100 Morrissey Blvd | Boston, MA | 02125-3393 | 617-287-5900