New York Archives and Libraries

United States New York  Archives and Libraries

These archives, libraries, and societies preserve sources, maintain indexes, and provide services to help genealogists document their ancestors who lived in New York State.

National
National Archives Northeast Region (New York City) Alexander Hamilton U.S. Customs House One Bowling Green New York, NY 10004 Telephone: Toll-free 866-840-1752 or 212-401-1620 Fax: 212-401-1638 Internet: www.archives.gov/northeast


 * This branch of the National Archives has records created by federal agencies and courts in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The archives has naturalization records, internal revenue service records, customs lists, and records of the U.S. District Court of Appeals. They also has microfilms of all available federal census records, many naturalization records, court records, passenger lists for New York City and other ports, Revolutionary War military records, some Civil War service indexes, and World War I draft registrations. The staff will make photocopies for a fee.

New York Public Library U.S. History, Local History &amp; Genealogy Division Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, Room 315S New York, NY 10018-2788 Tel: 212-930-0829 E-mail: Ask a librarian Internet: http://www.nypl.org/


 * This is one of the largest research libraries in the world including excellent genealogical resources. The library has city and telephone directories, vital records indexes, local histories, genealogies, federal and state censuses, passenger lists, genealogical collections (including DAR transcripts), and church records. For maps, write to the Map Division at the same address. Guides and catalogs to this important library include:
 * New York Public Library: Research Libraries, Dictionary Catalog of the Local History and Genealogy Division, 18 Volumes and four suppelments. (Boston, Massachusetts: G.K. Hall, 1974). ..
 * Sam P. Williams, Guide to the Research Collections of the New York Public Library (Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association, 1975). ..
 * Estelle M. Guzik, Genealogical Resources in New York (New York: Jewish Genealogical Society, 2003), 137-86. ..
 * The New York Public Library Picture Collection covers over 12,000 subjects and is a valuable tool to researchers and others.

Huguenot Society of America Library 20 West 44th Street #510 New York, NY 10036 Telephone: 212-755-0592 E-mail: [mailto:hugsoc@verizon.net hugsoc@verizon.net] Internet: http://www.huguenotsocietyofamerica.org/


 * Largest Huguenot collection outside of London, including records from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, England, and colonial America since the 1600s. Topics include Huguenot history in France, Huguenot history in other countries, church history, French history, American history, biography, genealogy, manuscripts, societies, periodicals, and theology.

State
New York State Archives Cultural Education Center 222 Madison Ave Albany, NY 12230 Telephone: 518-474-5161 E-mail: [mailto:archref@mail.nysed.gov archref@mail.nysed.gov] Internet: http://www.archives.nysed.gov/aindex.shtml and Genealogical Records at the Archives


 * The New York State Archives has the original records of New York government jurisdictions. The collection includes manuscripts, statewide vital records indexes, documents relating to land grants, land survey maps, alien deposition records, military records, state court records, prison records, Erie Canal passenger lists for 1827–1829, wills, and estate records. The archives collection also has microfilms of some state censuses and the original census returns for 1915 and 1925.


 * The Family History Library has very few of the state archives records on microfilm. The state archives makes photocopies and performs limited searches of indexed records for a fee, but it does not circulate microfilms of land and vital records. The guide to the collection is
 * Guide to Records in the New York State Archives, 2nd ed. (Albany, New York: State Archives and Records Administration, 1993). ..

New York State Library Cultural Education Center 222 Madison Ave Albany, NY 12230 Telephone: 518-474-5161 Fax: 518-474-5786 E-mail: E-mail Reference Requests Internet: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/


 * The Humanities-History section has local histories, genealogies, atlases, church and cemetery records (including the Daughters of the American Revolution collection), city directories, microfilmed newspapers, microfilmed federal and state censuses, microfilmed passenger lists, and periodicals. The Manuscripts and Special Collections Section houses nongovernmental maps and manuscripts. The library staff will make photocopies for a fee. Catalogs and guides to the library's genealogical holdings include:
 * Melinda Yates, Gateway to America: Genealogical Research in the New York State Library, 2nd ed. (Albany, N.Y.: University of the state of New York, State Education Dept., New York State Library, 1982). ..
 * New York State Library Card Catalog File of Vital Records in the History and Genealogy Section ([Albany, New York: New York State Library, Photoduplication Department, 1979?]). ; . Microfiche of hand and typewritten cards.
 * New York State Library (Albany, New York), Surname Card Index ([Albany, New York: New York State Library, Photoduplication Unit, 1979?]). . Surname catalog of the American History and Genealogy section of the New York State Library.
 * The New York State Library also has over two dozen genealogy research topic guides online.

Holland Society of New York Library, 5th floor 20 West 44th Street #509 New York, NY 10036 Telephohe: 212-758-1675 Fax: 212- 758-2232 E-mail: [mailto:info@hollandsociety.org info@hollandsociety.org] Internet: http://www.hollandsociety.com/index1.html


 * Emphasis is on the early Dutch, but their collection actually also includes all ethnic groups of the Atlantic coast and colonial America. For New Netherland studies, especially genealogy and family history, 3,000 regional histories (present day New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Ohio), 3,000 family histories and genealogies, and 1,000 books on genealogical research, early American history, the Netherlands, Dutch language, art, and architecture, and religion, including Dutch Reformed Church parish records.

New-York Historical Society 170 Central Park West New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-873-3400 Fax: 212-875-1591 E-mail: Library Reference Form Internet: https://www.nyhistory.org/web/default.php?section=library


 * The historical society has extensive collections of manuscripts, newspapers, periodicals, histories, city directories, maps, and photographs. Major topics: New York City and State history, colonial history, American military history, religions, slave trading, biography and genealogy, and New York City photographs, and records of several major charities such as the Children's Aid Society, and the New York Foundling Hospital (which were both involved in the orphan train movement sending orphans away from big cities into rural foster care). A helpful guide is
 * Arthur J. Breton, A Guide to the Manuscript Collections of the New-York Historical Society, 2 vols. (Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1972). . ).

Regional
Albany Institute of History and Art 125 Washington Ave Albany, NY 12210 Telephone: 518-463-4478 Fax: 518-462-1522 Internet: http://www.albanyinstitute.org/


 * One of the best U.S. collections on the economic and social life and culture of Albany and the upper Hudson Valley region, including the best indexes to original records, documents, 1000 linear feet of manuscripts, 85,000 photographs, Bibles, and rare books of families from the 1600s through the colonial period to the present.

Bronx County Historical Society Research Library 3309 Bainbridge Avenue The Bronx, NY 10467 Telephone: 718-881-8900 Fax: 718-881-4827 E-mail: [mailto:librarian@bronxhistoricalsociety.org librarian@bronxhistoricalsociety.org] Internet: http://www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org/welcome.html


 * Very large collection of manuscripts, biographical files, family folders, obituaries, cemetery transcripts, city directories, maps, photos, marriage records, and books with a cross-indexed card file covering the history of the Bronx, New York City, and Westchester County.

Brooklyn Historical Society Othmer Library 128 Pierrepont Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 Telephone: 718-222-4111 Fax: 718-222-3794 E-mail: Ask a Question Internet: http://brooklynhistory.org/


 * General history, especially the natural, civil, literary, and ecclesiastical history of the United States, the State of New York, and villages of Long Island, personal and family papers, municipal records from the towns and villages that consolidated into Brooklyn, Dutch and English settlement on Long Island, and New England immigrants to Suffolk County. Great indexes to family names. See
 * Karin N. Mango, comp., The Long Island Historical Society Calendar of Manuscripts: 1763–1783 (New York: Publishing Center for Cultural Resources, 1980)..

Buffalo and Erie County Public Library 1 Lafayette Square Buffalo, NY 14203 Telephone: 716-858-8900 E-mail: Email Us Internet: http://www.buffalolib.org/


 * Good genealogy collection with good indexes, many biographies, family folders, county and local histories for the entire state. 25,000 local histories, 5,500 genealogies, city directories, New York State Vital Records Index, local vital records, 110-drawer card index of the Local History File about people, places, and things in Western NY, church and cemetery records, genealogical and local history periodicals, newspapers, maps, military histories, ethnic research resources, indices to passenger lists, immigrant ships, and English parish records.

Children's Aid Society 105 East 22nd Street New York, NY 10010 Telephone: 212-949-4800 Internet: http://www.childrensaidsociety.org/


 * This organization was a major contributor to the orphan train movement. Part of their archives are at the New-York Historical Society.

Cornell University Library Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853-5301 Telephone: 607-255-3393 Fax: 607-255-6788 Email: Ask a Librarian Internet: http://www.library.cornell.edu/


 * Cornell University has a large collection of Protestant church records for western New York, as well as histories, maps, newspapers, and New York censuses. Rare books and manuscripts are outstanding, and they publish the best research guides to New York counties. They also have Africana, American Indian, and Latino collections.

Historic Hudson Valley Library 639 Bedford Road Tarrytown, NY 10591 Telephone: 914-366-6901 E-mail: [mailto:librarian@hudsonvalley.org librarian@hudsonvalley.org] Internet: http://www.hudsonvalley.org/education/library


 * By appointment only. This library has unique sources for early Hudson River migration, steamboats, industries, and culture. 4,000 rare books, 3,000 manuscripts, as well as maps, pamphlets, and microfilm to explain the cultural and historical significance of the Hudson River Valley

Montgomery County Department of History and Archives Old Court House, P. O. Box 1500 9 Park Street Fonda, NY 12068-1500 Tel: 518-853-8186 or 518-853-8187 Fax: 518-853-8392 Internet: Welcome to Montgomery County History &amp; Archives


 * This county archives has the largest collection of family genealogies, church record transcripts, local histories, and town records for the Mohawk Valley, and for upstate New York. A guide is
 * Violet Fallone, comp., Catalogue of Historical and Genealogical Material in the Montgomery County Department of History and Archives, rev ed. (Fonda, New York: Montgomery County Department of History and Archives, 2005). ..

New York City Department of Records Municipal Archives 31 Chambers Street, Room 103 New York, NY 10007 Tel: 212-788-8580 Internet: http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/archives/geneology.shtml


 * From Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island births prior to 1910; deaths reported prior to 1949; and marriages reported prior to 1930. Also, the 1890 police census, state censuses, city directories, voter registrations, cemetery records, almshouse records, coroner records, court records, photos, and municipal government records.

New York City Municipal Reference and Research Center 31 Chambers Street, Room 112 New York NY 10007 Telephone: 212-788-8590 Fax: 212-788-8589 E-mail: Contact Us


 * Come here for street name origins, and city council papers. See also A Guide to Former Street Names in Manhattan.

New York State Historical Association Research Library 5798 State Route 80 Cooperstown, NY 13326 Telephone: 607-547-1470 Fax: 607-547-1405 E-mail: [mailto:Library@nysha.org Library@nysha.org] Internet: http://www.nysha.org/


 * Very large collection, but has more sources for upstate New York, including manuscripts, periodicals, family folders, books, maps, biographies, county histories, genealogies of New York State families, church and cemetery records, newspaper indexes, census records (1790-1930), and city directories.

Onondaga Historical Association Library 321 Montgomery Street Syracuse, NY. 13202 Telephone:315-428-1864 Fax: 315-471-2133 E-mail: Contact Us] Internet: http://www.cnyhistory.org/index.html


 * Very large collection of 10,000 family folders for northeastern families, histories of Syracuse and Onondaga counties, photographs, diaries, correspondence, business records, maps, newspapers, and African American sources.

Queens Historical Society Library 143-35 37th Ave Flushing, NY 11354 Telephone: 718-939-0647 Fax: 718-539-988 E-mail: Contact the Queens Historical Society Internet: http://queenshistoricalsociety.org/


 * Large facility with many indexes to biographies, local and American histories, maps, atlases, manuscripts, photographs, family papers, rare books, and genealogies

Daniel A. Reed Library at SUNY Fredonia State University of New York Fredonia, New York 14063 Telephone: 716-673-3184 Internet: http://www.fredonia.edu/library/


 * Most of the Holland Land Company (1789-1869) land grant patents for western New York, and northwestern Pennsylvania are found here. Collections also have American Indians including primarily the Seneca, with some for the Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, and Tuscarora tribes, local histories for Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, and the bordering counties in New York and Pennsylvania, manuscripts including church papers, and databases.

Staten Island Historical Society Library 441 Clarke Avenue Staten Island 10306-1198 Telephone: 718-351-1611 (Society) 718-351-1617 (Museum) Fax: 718-351-6057


 * Staten Island was a gateway to immigrants who moved farther west. The Society's collection emphasizes colonial records, but includes the WPA index cards of deeds, Vosburgh Church Indexes of tombstone inscriptions and dozen churches (not Catholic), genealogical correspondence, city directories back to 1883/1884, real estate and insurance maps, and photos organized by town, then street.

Steele Memorial Library 101 E Church Street Elmira, NY 14901 Telephone: 607-733-9173 E-mail: Contact Us Internet: http://www.steele.lib.ny.us/index.htm


 * Good indexes for biographies, genealogies, family folders, periodicals and manuscripts, obituary index, vital records index, NY county histories, newspapers, censuses, Chemung County Catholic Church records 1848-1910, and genealogical periodicals.

Outside New York
New England Historic Genealogical Society 101 Newbury Street Boston, Massachusetts 02116-3007 Telephone: 617-536-5740; Library 617-226-1231 Fax:  617-536-7307 E-mail: [mailto:info@nehgs.org info@nehgs.org] Internet: AmericanAncestors.org


 * Has an excellent New York collection, especially county and local histories, newspapers, and some probate records.

Stadsarchief Amsterdam (Amsterdam Municipal Archives) Amsteldijk 67 1074 HZ Amsterdam Netherlands Tel: (020) 664 6916 Fax: (020) 675 0596 Internet: http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl/


 * These archives contain early Dutch notarial records about what is now New York State, the Holland Land Company (1789-1869) land grant papers for western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania (also available from the ), and records of some early New York settlers living in Amsterdam before moving to America.

Family History Centers. Some of the collections described above are at least partially available on microfilms at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and through thousands of its branch Family History Centers. For further information see Introduction to LDS Family History Centers. To locate a center near you, see Find a Family History Center.

Guides

 * Estelle M. Guzik, ed., Genealogical Resources in New York (New York: Jewish Genealogical Society, 2003). . . Information on more than 100 archives, including 52 government agencies and courts, 32 libraries, and 20 other archives in the New York metropolitan area.
 * Barbara Kronman, The Guide to New York City Public Records, 4th ed. (New York: Public Interest Clearinghouse, 1992). . . Includes chapters on city government, courts, libraries, and personal information. Shows how to obtain vital records, name change records, and naturalizations.
 * Alice Eichholtz, ed., Ancestry's Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources, Rev. ed. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry, 1992). . ). Includes addresses of county courthouses, surrogate courts, and county records centers.
 * Elizabeth Petty Bentley, comp., County Courthouse Book (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1995). . ). Addresses of county courthouses and some town clerk's offices and surrogate's court offices along with brief descriptions of holdings and services.
 * Cornell University has published a series of guides to the records in each of New York's counties (except Nassau and Suffolk). The series is titled Guide to historical resources in _______ County, New York, repositories. These guides inventory records, including family history and genealogy, at 1,700 historical societies and libraries, but they do not include public records at courthouses. They are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Author Search  under . New York County has 7 volumes; Kings County has 3 volumes; and Chautauqua County has an added update.
 * Similar unpublished material for most other counties is at the New York State Archives at http://www.archives.nysed.gov/aindex.shtml.