New York Public Library

New York Public Library "Fortitude" Lion and entrance, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New York Public Library. New York Public Library Rose Main Reading Room. Photo by David Iliff. Contact Information E-mail:  histref@nypl.org Address: U.S. History, Local History & Genealogy Irma and Paul Milstein Division First Floor, Room 121 Schwarzman Main Branch Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788 Telephone:  (212) 930-0828 Hours and holidays: Monday-Saturday open 10:00 a.m. Mon., Thu., Fri., Sat. close 6:00 p.m. Tues., Wedn. close 7:30 p.m. Upcomming closings: click here. Directions, maps, and public transportation: New York Public Library location on MapQuest Subway: MTA subway trains Red 1 2 or 3  to 42nd Street and Broadway. Walk two blocks east to Fifth Avenue. Blue A or C  to 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue. Walk four blocks east to Fifth Avenue. Orange D B F or V  to 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue. Walk one block east to Fifth Avenue. Green 4 5 or 6  to Grand Central Station. Walk two blocks west to Fifth Avenue. Purple 7  to Fifth Avenue. Buses: MTA buses M1 M2 M3 M4 M6 M7 M42 M104 or Q32 to Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. Internet sites and databases: New York Public Library Internet home page. New York Public Library catalog online. NYPL Milstein Division - U.S. History, Local History, and Genealogy. NYPL Milstein Division - Conducting Research. NYPL Milstein Division - FAQ. Collection Description The New York Public Library's collection is one of the largest in the world with over 14 million titles. The Irma and Paul Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History and Genealogy has an outstanding collection of American history at national, state and local levels; international genealogy and heraldry in Roman alphabets; the Dorot Jewish collection; photos; New York censuses, directories, and vital records. The Milstein Division acquires materials beyond the local region. The United States town, city, county and state history collection is national in scope. Books requested in the Bill Blass Public Catalog Room are delivered to the Rose Reading Room. The open shelf dictionaries, encyclopedias, biographies, and indexes alone include 25,000 volumes. The library has computers with Internet access including the most popular genealogical databases, and Wi-Fi for personal computers of visitors. The Milstein Microfilm Room gives access to New York State censuses, New York City directories, and indexes to New York City vital records. In addition, the Manuscripts and Archives Division, 3rd floor, has about 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) of archival papers of individuals, families, and organizations mostly from the New York area. The Rare Book Division, 3rd Floor, has 130,000 titles from Europe, England, and the Americas. The Art, Prints and Photographs Division, 3rd floor, has 200,000 prints. Tips {Optional} Guides {Optional: Internet or guide books describing this collection for genealogists. } Alternate Repositories { List (link to a Wiki article for) at least one or more other repositories that collect overlapping records, or similar family history material including central repositories, affiliated or branch repositories, higher level jurisdiction repositories, parent or daughter jurisdiction repositories. Also list neighboring repositories with similar records. Please briefly explain how each substitute repository is related.} If you cannot visit or find a source at the New York Public Library, a similar source may be available at one of the following. Overlapping Collections Alternate Repository {create link for each, and give line or two describing collection} Similar Collections Neighboring Collections Sources