Buffalo, Erie County, New York Genealogy

United States

New York

Erie County

Buffalo

Guide to Buffalo, Erie County, New York ancestry, family history, and genealogy: parish registers, transcripts, census records, birth records, marriage records, and death records.

Resources

African American

• African American history and genealogy sources available in the Grosvenor Room at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
• Black History in the Buffalo Area: A Bibliography by The Buffalo History Museum
• Buffalo Criterion: African-American newspaper published in Buffalo, NY since 1925
• Funeral Programs: African-Americans from Western NY, mid-20th century to 2007
• Newspaper Obituaries: African-Americans from Western NY, dates vary; most seem to be around 1975-2002

Cemeteries

• United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969

• Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Cemetery Record Holdings - A research guide
• Cemetery Records on Microfilm at The Buffalo History Museum, with a map of past and present cemeteries in Erie County

Census Records

For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see New York Census.

• Buffalo Wards by Street 1915, 1920, and 1925 - Compiled by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.
• Buffalo Wards and Census Tracts by Street, 1940

Church Records

Because the State of New York did not have consistent civil (government) registration of births, marriages, and deaths until 1880, researchers usually turn to church records to find baptisms, marriages, and deaths in the years prior to 1880.

• 1853 1853 Membership List, North Presbyterian Church, Buffalo, N.Y., courtesy: Internet Archive.
• 1876? Catalogue of Members of Church Congregation, Lafayette Street, Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, N.Y., courtesy: Dunham - Wilcox - Trott - Kirk.
• Church records at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
• Church records at The Buffalo History Museum, with links where available and a map of Buffalo churches in 1900
• Church Records at Buffalo State College. All are online and available in their Digital Commons.
• Early Polish Priests of Western New York at Polish Genealogical Society of New York: biographies.
• Records of Grace Lutheran Church, Buffalo, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

City Historian

This position is vacant.

City Records

To locate additional published and transcribed records for Buffalo, Erie County, New York Genealogy check:

• Gordon L. Remington, New York Towns, Villages, and Cities: A Guide to Genealogical Sources (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002). American Ancestors online edition; At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.7 D27r. Alphabetical list including date founded, if a town history exists, church and cemetery sources, and if a Civil War register (TCR) exists. The codes used under Church and Cemetery are defined in the link above the listing of towns, cities and villages.

• Black Rock Village, 1795-1854: History & Genealogy by The Buffalo History Museum, about the town annexed by the City of Buffalo in 1854
• City of Buffalo Inactive Records Center
• No, City Hall Has Not Lost Records in a Fire at BuffaloResearch.com, debunks a newly emerging urban legend

Online City Records

• Buffalo Town Proceedings, 1814-1837: Page scans courtesy of The Buffalo History Museum
• Buffalo Common Council Proceedings, 1861-1922 full text editions, with gaps, courtesy of BuffaloResearch.com
• Index to Building Permits listed in the Buffalo Common Council Proceedings, 1887-1906 courtesy of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library
• Original Lot Holders, Buffalo: Names of land buyers, 1804-1835

Directories

• The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library has digitized Buffalo city directories from 1832-1913. A detailed guide to the library's print holdings is available online.
• Buffalo Research.com: City Directories has links to all known digitized city directories for Buffalo, plus a few regional directories
  

History

• Adventures in Western New York History: Short, readable online booklets on 25 important topics in Buffalo history, including Buffalo grain elevators, newspapers, the Pan-American Exposition, and Erie County in the Civil War
• Buffalo Architecture and History: An encyclopedic website about people, places, things, and events in Buffalo
• Buffalo City Guide by Family Tree Magazine, July-August 2012
• Buffalo history and genealogy research guides by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
• Buffalo History Museum Digital Collections
• BuffaloResearch.com: Digital Library: About 4,000 Buffalo-related books online for free in full text

Maps and Atlases

• Buffalo & Erie County Atlases: Best Bets for Genealogists and House Researchers - A research guide by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
• Buffalo & Erie County Atlases in Our Collection by The Buffalo History Museum, with links where available
• BuffaloResearch.com: Maps Over 200 online maps of Buffalo, 1800 to the present
• Buffalo Street Name Changes - Compiled by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.

Newspapers

• New York Newspapers Online at Old Fulton New York Post Cards - index & images

• Blasdell NY Frontier Herald 1956-1966
• Buffalo NY Daily Courier 1847-1888
• Buffalo NY Evening Courier and Republic 1862-1884
• Buffalo NY Polish Weekly Review 1929-1930
• Buffalo NY Morning Express 1880-1924
  

Online Newspapers and Guides

• A Timeline of Buffalo Newspapers by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
• Buffalo & Western New York Newspapers at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
• Buffalo Newspapers on Microfilm at The Buffalo History Museum
• BuffaloResearch.com: Online and Offline Newspapers with links where available
• Chronicling America has a directory/bibliography listing over 300 newspapers published in Buffalo over the last 200 years. Click on a newspaper, then click on Holdings, and you will get a list of owning libraries.
• Erie County, New York Newspapers online at New York State Historic Newspapers
• Newspapers.com ($) has all Buffalo newspapers, 1811 to (in some cases) 1964 online in full text, plus the full text of the Buffalo News up to 2023. Your local public or college library might carry it.

Obituaries

• Buffalo History Museum Obituary Index, 1811-1986
• Death Notices and Obituaries: Finding deaths in Buffalo & Erie County Newspapers by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.
• 1911-1941 Dziennik Dla Wsystkich Death Notice Database at Polish Genealogical Society of New York: Obituaries of Polish individuals.
  
• Newspaper Obituaries: African-Americans from Western NY, most seem to date from around 1975-2002

Repositories

Archives, Libraries, and Museums

• Try These Five Simple Tricks to Get Research Assistance: Advice about contacting repositories from BuffaloResearch.com

Buffalo History Museum
Research Library
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY 14216
716-873-9644
Contact
Website
Library Catalog
Digital Projects

• Formerly known as the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society and before that, the Buffalo Historical Society
• Genealogy Research: A Brief Overview: A guide with links. City directories, church records (many Roman Catholic parishes), cemetery records, censuses, ethnic histories, local histories, published genealogies, obituary index to Buffalo newspapers (1811-2001), manuscripts and private papers, list of professional researchers for hire.
  

Buffalo and Erie County, New York History and Genealogy
Facebook
Grosvenor Room [Pronounced GROVE-ner]
Buffalo and Erie County Public Library
1 Lafayette Square
Buffalo, NY 14203
716-858-8900
Email form
Website
Blog

• Local histories, census records, church and cemetery records, city directories, ethnic and immigration research, African American research, published family histories, maps and atlases, military records and history, vital records, yearbooks and school records. The website includes dozens of guides for topics such as: African-American Genealogy, Canadian Genealogy, German Genealogy, Irish Genealogy, Italian Genealogy, Jewish Genealogy, Native American Genealogy, and Polish Genealogy.

University at Buffalo Archives
420 Capen Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260-1674
716-645-2916
Email: lib-archives@buffalo.edu
Website

• Genealogy and Ancestry Research
• University at Buffalo Polish Room
  Room 517
  Lockwood Library
  Buffalo, NY 14260-2200
  Email: library@buffalo.edu
• Genealogical Resources. Polish maps, Polish gazetteers, Polish coats of arms, Polish biographies.

Rev. J. Clayton Murray, S.J. Archives & Special Collections
Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library
Canisius College
2001 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14208-1098
716-888-8406
Email: delaneyk@canisius.edu
Website

• Obituaries, student newspapers.

Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library
1324 Jefferson Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14208
716-883-4418
Website

• William A. Miles Center for African and African-American Studies. This is a a resource center in Western New York for a collection of African American history.

Archives and Special Collections
E.H. Butler Library
Buffalo State College
1300 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: 716-878-6308
Email: library@buffalostate.edu
Website

• Records of multiple churches; College archives; Edward H. Butler Family Papers" and the Paul G. Reilly Indian Collection, which includes treaties between various Indian nations and with the United States Government. Some of the documents (photocopies of the original) are as early as 1789.
  

FamilySearch Centers

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

• FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
• FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
  

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

• Buffalo New York - Inner City FamilySearch Center
• Buffalo New York FamilySearch Center
• Orchard Park New York FamilySearch Center
• Buffalo and Erie County Public Library - an affiliate library
• Niagara County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

Societies

Buffalo Irish Genealogical Society (BIGS)
Buffalo Irish Center
245 Abbott Rd
Buffalo, NY 14220
Phone: 716-627-2417
Email: EPatton@adelphia.net
Website

• The GAAA Library Collection, Sons of Erin Indexing Project, Holy Cross Cemetery Records and Index, local history project.

Polish Genealogical Society of New York State
P.O. Box 984
Cheektowaga, NY 14225
Email: information@pgsnys.org
Website

• Dziennik Dla Wszystkich Obituary Database, St. Adalbert’s Cemetery Database, Funeral Card Project, Surname Index, 1930 Census Immaculate Heart of Mary Orphan Asylum Inmates, Przewodnik Handlowy Database. Their library collection is housed in the Grosvenor Room of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library.

Western New York Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 338
Hamburg, N.Y. 14075-0338
Contacts
Website

• Surname list, locality list, 1865 Census index, journal, research library. Their library collection is housed in the Grosvenor Room of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library.

Taxation

• The City of Buffalo Inactive Records Center has tax rolls from 1815-1997 and select assessors land maps for the City of Buffalo.
• Tax Records for Buffalo: A list of owning libraries courtesy of WorldCat.org

Vital Records

Official birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death certificates are issued by the Buffalo City Clerk's office.
NOTE: Buffalo vital records were not included in statewide collections until 1914.

• Copies of City of Buffalo vital records dating from 1914 to the present are also available from the New York State Department of Health.

• The earliest Buffalo birth records date back to 1850.
• The earliest Buffalo marriage records date back to January 1877.
• The earliest Buffalo death records date back to January 1852.
  
• Genealogy Records and Resources explains how to order Buffalo birth, marriage, and death certificates from the City Clerk.
• For births, marriages, and deaths prior to these dates, researchers usually turn to church records. The New York Vital Records page has additional detail about the evolution of vital record-keeping practices in New York.

Buffalo births from 1878–1914, and deaths from 1852–1914, can be obtained for a fee from:
Bureau of Vital Statistics
City Hall, Room 613
65 Niagara Square
Buffalo, NY 14202
Telephone: 716-851-5848
Website

Copies of government-issued birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death certificates are not available from historical or genealogical societies.

• Tianna M. Marks, City Clerk
  Buffalo City Hall
  Room 1308
  65 Niagara Square
  Buffalo, NY 14202
  Phone: 716-851-5844
  Email
• No, City Hall Has Not Lost Records in a Fire at BuffaloResearch.com, debunks a newly emerging urban legend

Vital Records Links and Guides

• BuffaloResearch.com: Vital Records: A chart showing 27 kinds of genealogical records in the 7 largest repositories in Buffalo and Erie County, with links
• Vital and Related Records for Buffalo & Erie County: Research guides by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
• An Index to births, marriages, and deaths found in select Buffalo & Erie County Publications by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library

Births

• City of Buffalo Birth Records, 1850-1881 courtesy of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library
• Births & Baptism links courtesy of BuffaloResearch.com via Raindrop.io.
• Polish Midwives of Western New York courtesy of the Polish Genealogical Society of New York

Marriages

• 1935 1935 Buffalo, NY Marriages
• The Why of This Book: Early Buffalo-area marriage and death announcements from Buffalo newspapers.
  
• Early Justice of the Peace Marriages, 1840-1880: These volumes are not online but the WorldCat link shows you a list of libraries who have them
• Index of Marriages from Buffalo newspapers, 1811-1884: This book is not online but the WorldCat link shows you a list of libraries who have it
• Marriages from Buffalo church records 1825-1900: These names are transcribed from microfilm of selected English-speaking Protestant church records. This book is not online but the WorldCat link shows you a list of libraries who have it.
• A Select Index to the Bellringer, 1940-1945: An index of marriages, engagements, and deaths reported in the Bell Aviation company magazine, courtesy the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
• Marriages and Deaths in the Pierce Arrow Newsletter, 1918 to 1922: An index of marriages and deaths reported in the Pierce-Arrow company newsletter, courtesy the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
• A Select Index to the Curtiss WrightER, 1943 to 1944: An index of marriages, engagements, and deaths reported in the Curtiss-Wright company magazine, courtesy the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library

Deaths

• 1852-1944: Index to Deaths in Buffalo, New York, 1852-1944: Courtesy of Reclaim the Records
• 1882-1892: Buffalo Deaths, 1882-1892: Drawn from Buffalo city directories
• BuffaloResearch.com: Deaths: Links to over 35 online name lists, necrologies, and death indexes
• The Why of This Book: Early Buffalo-area marriage and death announcements from Buffalo newspapers.
  
• A Select Index to the Bellringer, 1940-1945: An index of marriages, engagements, and deaths reported in the Bell Aviation company magazine, courtesy the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
• Marriages and Deaths in the Pierce Arrow Newsletter, 1918 to 1922: An index of marriages and deaths reported in the Pierce-Arrow company newsletter, courtesy the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
• A Select Index to the Curtiss WrightER, 1943 to 1944: An index of marriages, engagements, and deaths reported in the Curtiss-Wright company magazine, courtesy the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library

Voting Records

Published official lists of registered voters for the City of Buffalo (1919-1961; 1969-1971) are available in the Grosvenor Room at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. The listings are arranged by ward--> district --> street address. 

• City of Buffalo ... official list of registered voters: These volumes are not online but the WorldCat link shows you which libraries have them

Websites

• BuffaloResearch.com: A portal for ancestral and architectural research in Buffalo
• FamilySearch.org catalog for Buffalo
• LDS Genealogy: Buffalo
• Linkpendium: Erie County, New York
• Buffalo is part of Erie County NYGenWeb Project, a member of The NYGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.

Yearbooks

• Buffalo Digital Library: Yearbooks: Links to over 80 online Buffalo & Erie County yearbooks, courtesy of BuffaloResearch.com via Raindrop.io
• Yearbooks & School Publications, Buffalo & Erie County: A bibliography of offline volumes in the collection of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.