Jewish Archives and Libraries: Difference between revisions

The following publication lists addresses and telephone numbers of many local and state archives:

There are many Internet sites that have information about archives and libraries. One site that lists details about various archives and libraries by geographical locations (country and state) is:

Many archives and libraries house significant collections on subjects relating to Jewish history, historical events, and people. Staff at many archives and libraries usually will not undertake genealogical research. However, they may be able to locate and copy documents in their collection if you are reasonably specific in your request.

You can contact the YIVO Institute at:

=== Leo Baeck Institute ===

You can contact the Leo Baeck institute at:

The Institute also operates offices in England and Israel:

=== Holocaust Memorial Museums ===

You can contact the Yad Vashem library at:

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum provides access to archived material relating to the Holocaust. Its Survivors Registry and other resources such as transport lists, death lists, yizkor books, personal papers, and oral histories can be used to determine the fate of Holocaust victims and survivors. Most materials are in English, German, Polish, Russian, Yiddish, or Hebrew.

Library staff will not do genealogical research. An online catalog of their holdings is available at:

You can contact the museum at:

=== Other Libraries and Archives ===

The Library of Congress houses hundreds of yizkor books as well as an extensive collection on the Holocaust and all aspects of Jewish history and culture. An online catalog is available at:

You can contact the Library of Congress at:

The Hebraic Section is located in the Adams Building at 110 2nd Str., SE Washington, D.C.

You can contact the Jewish Public Library at:

The New York Public Library is an excellent place for research because most Jewish immigrants to the United States lived in New York for a time. The library has borough directories, census records for the greater metropolitan area, back issues of The New York Times, maps, atlases, gazetteers, community histories, yizkor books, indexes to some of the U.S. federal census returns, vital records for New York City, and ship passenger lists.

An online catalog of material cataloged after 1972 is available at:

Pre-1972 materials are described in the Dictionary Catalog of the Jewish Collection, published in 14 volumes in 1960; the 8-volume First Supplement, published in 1975; and the 4-volume Hebrew- Character Title Catalog of the Jewish Collection, published in 1981.

You can contact the New York Public Library at:

The American Jewish Archives has organizational records, family and personal papers, and synagogue records (many of the synagogue records have been filmed by the Family History Library). An online catalog of the Archives’ holdings is available at:

You can contact the American Jewish Archives at:

=== Historical and Genealogical Societies ===

Virtually all archives and libraries have catalogs, inventories, or guides that describe their records and how to use them. Many of these repositories have online catalogs on the Internet. If possible, study these guides before you visit or use the records of these repositories so you can use your time more effectively. Many books have been published that list inventories of Jewish records in various regional archives. These include:

The Family History Library has copies of other published guides, catalogs, and inventories of some archives and libraries. Check for these records in the Family History Library Catalog. Volunteers at the Family History Library are also making an inventory of Jewish records in the collection.

[[Category:Jewish]]