Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies in the Mid-Atlantic States

Find the best ancestry research libraries in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic states.

See the companion article entitled: “How to Use Libraries and Societies to Trace Ancestors.” This article will share a comprehensive listing of these resources for the U.S. Mid-Atlantic states of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

See the companion article entitled: “Effectively Trace Ancestors in Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies.” Learn how to effectively use local, county, state historical societies and libraries to trace, find, and write narratives about ancestors.

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Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Where can I find lists of genealogical libraries and societies in other states?

The following matrix is a listing of each state.  Click on the state and you will be taken to the article that contains the listing of genealogical and historical libraries, societies, and archives for that state.

Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies
Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas
California Colorado Connecticut Delaware
Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas
Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland
Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi
Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada
New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York
North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma
Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina
South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah
Vermont Virginia Washington Washington, D.C.
West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

What does each state’s listing of genealogical libraries and societies include?

As this article was being researched, it became apparent that lists and links to genealogy and historical societies, libraries, and archives are scattered throughout the web. None of the resources are complete, yet all must be reviewed to ensure you have not overlooked a possible source. For each state, I will provide the resources for the following categories:

  • Statewide Resources
  • University Archives and Collections
  • Public Library and Community Resources and Archives
  • Historical Society and Special Interest Resources and Archives
  • Finding State Digital Resources and Collections
  • Digital Library Collections
  • Historical and Genealogical Society Online Web Pages

While I have sought to provide you with a detailed compilation, I know I have missed some resources. If you don’t find what you’re seeking, I suggest you contact the library or society nearest your place of interest and see if they can help you locate resources that may not be online but can be contacted via other means.

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Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Interwoven Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

I would like to share a personal experience. Over many generations, the history of a family lies buried in different sources and places. Like a good detective, the historian and genealogist must search for the pieces of a family’s past in those many sources such as books, documents, and manuscripts. You need to be patient and imaginative, for the search can take years and involve a string of clues that lead to new sources. The facts–names, dates, events–that a historian/genealogist gathers through the years are like pieces of a puzzle. Gradually those pieces can be fitted together to make a picture of a family, its many members, and its unique history. I would like to share a personal experience.

As a researcher and storyteller, I have focused much research on online microfilm records and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Naively, I thought I had reached most of the available resources that pertained to my family. Then my perception changed with a trip to the roots of my family— Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and. Virginia. What started to be a 10-day trip ended up being a month-long discovery of who I am, where I came from and Whose I am.

Before my trip, I thought I had done extensive preparation through online searching at the Library of Virginia, spoken with and made arrangements to visit a few county historical societies, and identified where my family lived. I searched my records to see my information and collaborated with fellow family genealogists.

By the end of my trip, I had traveled 2,500 miles, taken 24,000 digital images, identified 150,000 plus ancestors from direct and collateral lines; visited and researched university archives and special collections; public and regional libraries; state, regional, and local historical, and ethnic societies; and state, county, and local government agencies. I had also spoken and counseled extensively with subject matter experts, walked my family’s land, visited the graves and cemeteries of my family, never found before known records, and met cousins both of Anglo- and African-American descent.

This experience came about because of interwoven historical and genealogical resources dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting artifacts and documents. They included:

  • Colleges and universities archives and special collections
  • Corporate archives
  • Federal, state, and local government
  • State, county, local, and ethnic historical societies
  • Regional and community public libraries

If I learned one thing, it was a combination of all the resources to effectively help me learn and tell the story of my ancestors. I found that each organization had information shared by more than one organization; furthermore, I found each had unique and precious elements of my past. Finally and probably most importantly, I found a deep appreciation for the resources of individuals who freely gave of their time, expertise, and donations to acquire collections and make them available. I was also grateful to institutions and organizations for their dreams and vision to coordinate, collect, preserve, and manage history.

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Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

New Jersey Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

The following is a listing of the best New Jersey local, county, and state genealogical and historical libraries and societies to assist you in tracing, finding, and writing narratives about ancestors.

What you can expect to find

Many of these libraries and societies have genealogical collections, historical collections, archives, special collections, and digital collections. Digital collections by subject, rare books, oral histories, photography collection, family history, digital projects, genealogical. open collections, virtual resources, electronic, and history text which are departments in the library.

Tip: Copy and paste the name of the listed resource into Google or the search engine of choice to find the web address. Once you find the resource you will be able to explore the type of resources you can find to support your historical and genealogy research.

State-wide Resources (4)

  1. Genealogical Society of New Jersey
  2.  New Jersey Historical Society
  3. New Jersey State Library
  4. NJ Division of Archives and Records Management

University Archives and Collections (15)

  1. College of Saint Elizabeth. Phillips Library of Rare Books and Manuscripts
  2. Drew University. Special Collections
  3. Drew University. United Methodist Archives Center
  4. Monmouth University
  5. Princeton Theological Seminary
  6. Princeton University. Cotsen Children’s Library
  7. Princeton University. Rare Books and Special Collections
  8. Princeton University. Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library
  9. Rider University
  10. Rowan University
  11. Rutgers University
  12. Saint Peter’s College. Archives
  13. Saint Peter’s College. Special Collections
  14. Seton Hall University
  15. Trenton Public Library

Public Library and Community Resources and Archives (21)

  1. Basking Ridge–Bernards Township Library
  2. Bernardsville–Bernardsville Public Library
  3. Danforth–Paterson Free Public Library
  4. Jersey City–Jersey City Free Public Library, New Jersey Room
  5. Mays Landing–Atlantic County Library
  6. Morristown–Joint Free Public Library of Morristown and Morris Township
  7. Morristown–Morris County Library
  8. Newark–Newark Public Library. New Jersey Information Center
  9. Newark–Newark Public Library. Special Collections Division
  10. Piscataway–Piscataway Public Library
  11. Plainfield–Plainfield Public Library
  12. Princeton–David Sarnoff Library
  13. Salem–Salem County Historical Society, Jaquette Memorial Research Library
  14. Trenton–Trenton Public Library
  15. Historical Society and Special Interest Resources and Archives (6)
  16. Gloucester County (NJ) Historical Society
  17. Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey
  18. Jewish Historical Society of MetroWest
  19. New Jersey Historical Society
  20. Salem County Historical Society
  21. Westfield Historical Society

Finding State Digital Resources and Collections (1)

  1. Electronic Resources – New Jersey State Library

Databases, electronic journals, and e-books are provided in this site to the residents of New Jersey.

Digital Library Collections (5)

  1. New Jersey Digital Highway
  2. New Jersey State Archives Imaged Collections
  3. Rutgers University, Alexander Library, Center for Electronic Texts in the Humanities (CETH)
  4. Scholarly Communications Center
  5. Digital Library Projects

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Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

New York Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

The following is a listing of the best New York local, county, and state genealogical and historical libraries and societies to assist you in tracing, finding, and writing narratives about ancestors.

What you can expect to find

Many of these libraries and societies have genealogical collections, historical collections, archives, special collections, and digital collections. Digital collections by subject, rare books, oral histories, photography collection, family history, digital projects, genealogical. open collections, virtual resources, electronic, and history text which are departments in the library.

Tip: Copy and paste the name of the listed resource into Google or the search engine of choice to find the web address. Once you find the resource you will be able to explore the type of resources you can find to support your historical and genealogy research.

State-wide Resources (4)

  1. New York Genealogical & Biographical Society
  2. New York Historical Society
  3. New York State Archives
  4. New York State Library
  5. New York State is the only state that requires, by law, that each municipality have a historian. There are 1,600+ historians. The position is an officer of the municipality with four areas of responsibility which include research/writing of the muni’s history, working with schools to provide local history education, historic preservation, and advocacy. They report the fulfillment of these responsibilities to the State Historian annually. Their offices typically contain information on families, muni subjects, maps, and much more. The state-wide organization of Associated Public Historians of New York State (APHNYS) www.aphnys.org provides contact information for each historian.

University Archives and Collections (62)

  1. Adelphi University
  2. Alfred University. Herrick Library
  3. Alfred University. New York State College of Ceramics
  4. Alfred University. Scholes Library. Special Collections
  5. American Baptist–Samuel Colgate Historical Library
  6. Binghamton University
  7. Columbia University. Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library
  8. Columbia University. Health Sciences Library
  9. Columbia University. Herbert H. Lehman Suite and Papers
  10. Columbia University. Law Library
  11. Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
  12. Columbia University. Rare Book & Manuscript Library
  13. Columbia University. University Archives and Columbiana Library
  14. Cornell University. Kheel Center
  15. Cornell University. Mann Library
  16. Cornell University. Rare and Manuscript Collections
  17. Fordham University
  18. Hofstra University. Long Island Studies Institute
  19. Hofstra University. Rare Books and Manuscripts
  20. Hofstra University. University Archives
  21. Hunter College. Archives & Special Collections
  22. Hunter College. Centro Library and Archives
  23. Long Island University
  24. New School University
  25. New School University. Parsons School of Design
  26. New York University Library. Special Collections
  27. New York University Medical Center. Archives
  28. New York University Medical Center. Special Collections
  29. Niagara University
  30. Plattsburgh State University
  31. St. Bonaventure University. Archives
  32. St. Bonaventure University. Franciscan Institute
  33. St. Bonaventure University. Jim Bishop Archives
  34. St. John’s University. Archives
  35. St. John’s University. Special Collections
  36. St. Lawrence University
  37. State University of New York Maritime College
  38. State University of New York, Brockport
  39. State University of New York, College at Fredonia
  40. State University of New York, College at Oneonta
  41. State University of New York, Geneseo
  42. State University of New York, New Paltz
  43. State University of New York, Oswego
  44. State University of New York, Potsdam
  45. State University of New York. Upstate Medical University
  46. Stony Brook University
  47. Syracuse University. Archives and Records Management
  48. Syracuse University. Belfer Audio Laboratory & Archive
  49. Syracuse University. Special Collections
  50. Syracuse University. Television History Archive
  51. University at Albany. Special Collections and Archives
  52. University at Buffalo. Health Sciences Library
  53. University at Buffalo. Music Library
  54. University at Buffalo. Poetry/Rare Books Collection
  55. University at Buffalo. Sears Law Library
  56. University at Buffalo. University Archives
  57. University of Rochester Medical Center
  58. University of Rochester. Memorial Art Gallery
  59. University of Rochester. Rare Books and Special Collections
  60. University of Rochester. Sibley Music Library
  61. Yeshiva University. Mendel Gottesman Library of Hebraica/Judaica
  62. Yeshiva University. Special Collections

Public Library and Community Resources and Archives (28)

  1. Adirondack–Adirondack Research Library
  2. Baldwinsville–Baldwinsville Public Library
  3. Bronxville–Bronxville Public Library
  4. Brooklyn–Brooklyn Public Library
  5. Broome County–Four County Library System
  6. Buffalo–Buffalo/Erie County Public Library
  7. Clifton Park–Clifton Park – Halfmoon Public Library
  8. Corinth–Corinth Free Library
  9. Crandall–Crandall Public Library
  10. East Hampton–East Hampton Library
  11. Easton–Easton Library
  12. Ithaca–Cornell University, Olin Library
  13. Longwood–Longwood Public Library
  14. Middletown–Middletown Thrall Library
  15. Morgan–Morgan Library
  16. New York City–New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Library
  17. New York City–New York Public Library, History and Genealogy Division
  18. Ogdensburg–Ogdensburg Public Library
  19. Patchogue-Medford Library
  20. Pierpont–Pierpont Morgan Library
  21. Port Washington–Port Washington Public Library
  22. Queens Borough–Queens Borough Public Library. Long Island Division
  23. Queens Borough–Queens Borough Public Library. Woodson Collection
  24. Rochester–Rochester Public Library, Local History and Genealogy Division:
  25. Rochester–Rochester Stake FHC
  26. Schenectady–Schenectady County Public Library
  27. Scottsville–Scottsville Free Library
  28. Seymour–Seymour Public Library

Historical Society and Special Interest Resources and Archives (21)

  1. American Irish Historical Society
  2. Bronx County Historical Society
  3. Brooklyn Historical Society
  4. Center for Jewish History
  5. Chemung County Historical Society
  6. Diocese of Rockville Centre
  7. Diocese of Syracuse
  8. Episcopal Diocese of Western New York
  9. Huguenot Historical Society
  10. Huntington Historical Society
  11. New York State Historical Association
  12. New-York Historical Society
  13. Old Brutus Historical Society
  14. Rensselaer County Historical Society
  15. Sag Harbor Historical Society
  16. Saratoga County Historical Society. Brookside Museum
  17. Saratoga National Historical Park
  18. Schenectady County Historical Society
  19. Shelter Island Historical Society
  20. Westchester County Archives
  21. Woody Guthrie Foundation & Archives

Finding State Digital Resources and Collections (1)

  1. NOVEL: New York Online Virtual Electronic Library

This New York’s first statewide online virtual library is a collection of electronic databases that provide New York State residents with access to thousands of full-text national and international newspapers and magazines, health and medical resources, business collections, Spanish language materials, and age-appropriate materials for youngsters.

Digital Library Collections (29)

  1. Online Archive of New Mexico: Images of Historical Documents
  2. Byron Company Collection Online
  3. City Sites: Multimedia Essays on New York and Chicago, 1870s-1930s
  4. Rochester Images
  5. American Museum of Natural History Library, Digital Library Project-Digital Collections By Subject
  6. Columbia University, Teachers College, Institute for Learning Technologies (ILTweb)
  7. Digital Dante
  8. Columbia University Libraries, Digital Library Projects
  9. Cornell University Library, Cornell Digital Library Collections Digital Collections By
  10. Digital Collections By Subject: http://bcdlib.tc.ca/links-subjects.html
  11. Hamliton College Library, Digital Collections of Hamilton College Library-
  12. Digital Collections By Subject
  13. Metroplitan New York Library Council, MRDI
  14. New York Public Library, Digital Library Collection
  15. NYPL Digital Gallery
  16. New York State Documents
  17. South Central Regional Library Council, Digitizing Program
  18. Syracuse University Library, Department of Special Collections, Digital Collections
  19. United States Military Academy Library (West Point), USMA Digital Collections
  20. University at Albany, State University of New York, Department of History, History and MultiMedia Center
  21. University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Libraries, UBdigit, Digital Collections at the University at Buffalo

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Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Pennsylvania Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

The following is a listing of the best Pennsylvania local, county, and state genealogical and historical libraries and societies to assist you in tracing, finding, and writing narratives about ancestors.

What you can expect to find

Many of these libraries and societies have genealogical collections, historical collections, archives, special collections, and digital collections. Digital collections by subject, rare books, oral histories, photography collection, family history, digital projects, genealogical. open collections, virtual resources, electronic, and history text which are departments in the library.

Tip: Copy and paste the name of the listed resource into Google or the search engine of choice to find the web address. Once you find the resource you will be able to explore the type of resources you can find to support your historical and genealogy research.

 

State-wide Resources (5)

  1. Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
  2. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
  3. Pennsylvania Department of Education – Office of Commonwealth Libraries
  4. Pennsylvania State Archives

University Archives and Collections (38)

  1. Bloomsburg University
  2. Bucknell University
  3. Carnegie Mellon University. Architecture Archives
  4. Carnegie Mellon University. Archives
  5. Carnegie Mellon University. Special Collections
  6. Cheyney University
  7. Drexel University
  8. Duquesne University
  9. Indiana University of Pennsylvania
  10. La Salle University
  11. Lehigh University
  12. Juniata College, Beeghly Library
  13. Millersville University
  14. Penn State University, Abington
  15. Penn State University, Harrisburg
  16. Penn State University, Schuylkill
  17. Penn State University, University Park
  18. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
  19. Temple University. Blockson Afro-American Collection
  20. Temple University. Special Collections
  21. Temple University. Urban Archives
  22. Thomas Jefferson University
  23. University of Pennsylvania Museum
  24. University of Pennsylvania. Annenberg Rare Book & Manuscript Library
  25. University of Pennsylvania. Architectural Archives
  26. University of Pennsylvania. Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
  27. University of Pennsylvania. Center for The Study of The History of Nursing
  28. University of Pennsylvania. University Archives and Records Center http://www.archives.upenn.edu/
  29. University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg
  30. University of Pittsburgh. Archives Service Center
  31. University of Pittsburgh. Center for American Music
  32. University of Pittsburgh. Elizabeth Nesbitt Room
  33. University of Pittsburgh. Special Collections
  34. University of Scranton
  35. Villanova University
  36. West Chester University
  37. Widener University

Public Library and Community Resources and Archives (19)

  1. Allentown–Allentown Public Library
  2. Bethlehem–Bethlehem Area Public Library, Bethlehem Room
  3. Bloomsburg–Bloomsburg Public Library
  4. Butler–Butler Area Public Library
  5. Easton–Easton Area Public Library, Marx Room
  6. Harrisburg–Dauphin County Library System
  7. Hershey–Hershey Community Archives
  8. Irwin–Norwin Public Library
  9. Lancaster–County of Lancaster
  10. Philadelphia–Free Library of Philadelphia
  11. Pittsburgh–Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Allegheny Regional Branch
  12. Pittsburgh–Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Oliver Special Collections Room
  13. Pittsburgh–Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania Department
  14. Pittsburgh–Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
  15. Tarentum–Community Library of Allegheny Valley
  16. Washington–Citizens Library
  17. West Chester–Chester County Archives
  18. Williamsport–James V. Brown Library
  19. York–York County Archives

Historical Society and Special Interest Resources and Archives (5)

  1. Bucks County Historical Society
  2. Chester County Historical Society
  3. Cumberland County Historical Society
  4. Historical Society of Berks County
  5. Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Finding State Digital Resources and Collections (1)

  1. POWER Library – Pennsylvania Online World of Electronic Resources

Pennsylvania residents have access to thousands of full text periodical articles, newspapers, a major encyclopedia, plus photographs, pictures, charts, maps, reference materials for young people and more. Materials cover most subject areas for all age groups from young children to adults.

Digital Library Collections (21)

  1. Pennsylvania History Online
  2. Philadelphia Historical Digital Image Library (PHDIL)
  3. PhillyHistory.org
  4. Academy of Natural Sciences, Digital Collections
  5. Albert M. Greenfield Digital Imaging Center for Collections
  6. Dickinson College, DEILA, the Dickinson Electronic Initiative in the Liberal Arts Historic Pittsburgh
    Lehigh University Library and Technology Services, Digital-Projects-
  7. Digital Collections By Subject
  8. Pennsylvania State University Libraries, Digital Resources Center
  9. University of Pennsylvania, Digital Library Programs & Projects
  10. Schoenberg Center for Electronic Text & Image-The Online Books Page
  11. A Celebration of Women Writers-Digital Collections By Subject
  12. University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library-Digital Collections By Subject
  13. Life in Western Pennsylvania 1840 -1970
  14. 75th Anniversary of the Free Library of Philadelphia

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Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies