New York Archives and Libraries: Difference between revisions

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=== National Repositories  ===

==== Huguenot Society of America  ====

==== National Archives at New York City  ====

: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 have 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.<ref name="DB81">William Dollarhide and Ronald A. Bremer. ''America's Best Genealogy Resource Centers'' (Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1998), 81. {{WorldCat|39493985|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}. {{FHL|728550|item|disp=FHL Ref Book 973 J54d}}.</ref><br><br>

==== New York Public Library  ====

:NYPL 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.<ref name="DB81" /> For maps, write to the Map Division at the same address. Guides and catalogs to this important library include:  

==== Holland Society of New York  ====

:Emphasis is on the early Dutch, but their collection actually also includes all ethnic groups of the Atlantic coast and colonial America.<ref name="DB81" /> 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.<ref>[http://www.hollandsociety.com/library.html Publications and Library] in ''The Holland Society of New York'' (accessed 19 November 2013).</ref><br><br>

==== New-York Historical Society  ====

:The historical society has extensive collections of manuscripts, newspapers, periodicals, histories, city directories, maps, and photographs.<ref name="DB81" /> 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 [[National Orphan Train Complex|orphan train movement]] sending orphans away from big cities into rural foster care).<ref>[https://www.nyhistory.org/library/collections Patricia D. Klingenstein Library] in ''New-York Historical Society Museum and Library'' (accessed 19 November 2013).</ref> A helpful guide is  

==== New York State Archives  ====

: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 <br>  

==== New York State Library  ====

: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.<ref name="DB83" /> <ref>[http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/gengen.htm Genealogy] at ''New York State Library'' (accessed 19 November 2013).</ref> Catalogs and guides to the library's genealogical holdings include:  

:*''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?]). {{WorldCat|760204979|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; {{FHL|165646|item|disp=FHL Fiche 6332544}}. 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?]). {{FHL|220918|item|disp=FHL Fiche 6331486}}. Surname catalog of the American History and Genealogy section of the New York State Library.  

=== Regional Repositories ===

==== Albany Institute of History and Art  ====

: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.<ref name="DB83" /> <ref>[http://www.albanyinstitute.org/a-brief-history.html A Brief History] in ''Albany Institute of History and Art'' (19 November 2013).</ref><br><br>

==== Bronx County Historical Society  ====

: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.<ref name="DB81" /> <ref>[http://www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org/library Research Library and Archives] in ''Bronx County Historical Society'' (accessed 21 November 2013).</ref><br><br>

==== Brooklyn Historical Society  ====

: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.<ref name="DB81" /> <ref>[http://www.brooklynhistory.org/library/about.html The Othmer Library] in ''Brooklyn Historical Society'' (accessed 21 November 2013).</ref> See  

==== Buffalo and Erie County Public Library  ====

:Good genealogy collection with good indexes, many biographies, family folders, county and local histories for the entire state.<ref name="DB83" /> 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.<ref>[http://www.buffalolib.org/content/grosvenor/genealogy-collection Genealogy Collection] in ''Buffalo and Erie County Public Library'' (accessed 21 November 2013).</ref><br><br>

==== Children's Aid Society  ====

:This was one of two major organizations contributing to the [[National Orphan Train Complex|orphan train movement]]. Part of their archives are at the [[New-York Historical Society]].<br><br>

==== Cornell University Library  ====

:*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.<ref name="DB83">William Dollarhide and Ronald A. Bremer. ''America's Best Genealogy Resource Centers'' (Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1998), 83. {{WorldCat|39493985|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}. {{FHL|728550|item|disp=FHL Ref Book 973 J54d}}.</ref> They also have Africana, American Indian, and Latino collections.<ref>[http://guides.library.cornell.edu/ushistory History: A Guide to United States Historical Research at Cornell] in ''Cornell University Library'' (accessed 23 November 2013).</ref> <br><br>

==== Historic Hudson Valley Library  ====

:By appointment only. This library has unique sources for early Hudson River migration, steamboats, industries, and culture.<ref name="DB83" /> 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<ref>[http://www.hudsonvalley.org/education/library Library] in ''Historic Hudson Valley'' (accessed 22 November 2013).</ref><br><br>

==== Montgomery County Dept. of History  ====

: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.<ref name="DB83" /> A guide is  

==== New York City Department of Records  ====

: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.<ref>[http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/archives/collections.shtml Collections] in ''NYC Department of Records'' (accessed 22 November 2013).</ref><br><br>

==== New York City Municipal Research Center  ====

:Come here for street name origins, and city council papers.<ref name="DB81" /> See also [http://oldstreets.com/ A Guide to Former Street Names in Manhattan].<br><br>

==== New York Foundling Hospital  ====

:This was one of two major organizations contributing to the [[National Orphan Train Complex|orphan train movement]]. Part of their archives are at the [[New-York Historical Society]].<br><br>

==== New York State Historical Association  ====

: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.<ref name="DB83" /> <ref>[http://library.nysha.org/collections/ Collections] in ''NYSHA'' (accessed 22 November 2013).</ref> <br><br>

==== Onondaga Historical Association  ====

: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.<ref name="DB83" /> <ref>[http://www.cnyhistory.org/research.html Public Research Center] in ''Onondaga Historical Association'' (accessed 22 November 2013).</ref><br><br>

==== Queens Historical Society  ====

:Large facility with many indexes to biographies, local and American histories, maps, atlases, manuscripts, photographs, family papers, rare books, and genealogies<ref name="DB81" /> <ref>[http://queenshistoricalsociety.org/library-and-collections.html Library and Collections] in ''Queens Historical Society'' (accessed 22 November 2013).</ref><br><br>

==== Staten Island Historical Society  ====

: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.<ref name="DB81" /> <ref>[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyrichmo/misc/sihs.html Staten Island Historical Society] in ''RootsWeb'' (accessed 22 November 2013).</ref><br><br>

==== Steele Memorial Library  ====

=== Outside of New York Repositories ===

==== New England Historic Genealogical Society  ====

:Has an excellent New York collection, especially county and local histories, newspapers, and some probate records.<br><br>

==== Stadsarchief Amsterdam  ====

: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 {{FHL|20454|item|disp=Family History Library}}), and records of some early New York settlers living in Amsterdam before moving to America.<br><br>

*Estelle M. Guzik, ed., ''Genealogical Resources in New York'' (New York: Jewish Genealogical Society, 2003). {{WorldCat|52199100|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}. {{FHL|1121308|item|disp=FHL Book 974.7 D27gg}}. Information on more than 100 archives, including 52 government agencies and courts, 32 libraries, and 20 other archives in the New York metropolitan area.  

*Elizabeth Petty Bentley, comp., ''County Courthouse Book'' (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1995). {{WorldCat|33396232|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}. {{FHL|754831|title-id|disp=FHL Book 973 D24bena}}). 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 FamilySearch Catalog '''''Author Search&nbsp;''''' under {{FHL|332945|author_id|disp=Cornell University. New York Historical Resources Center}}. New York County has 7 volumes; Kings County has 3 volumes; and Chautauqua County has an added update.  

=== References  ===

{{New York|New York}}{{U.S. Archives and Libraries}} {{-}} </div>  

[[Category:New_York_Family_History_Centers|New York Family History Centers]] [[Category:New_York_Archives_and_Libraries|Archives and Libraries]] [[Category:United_States_Repositories]]