Archibald S. Alexander Library

New Brunswick

The Archibald S. Alexander Library serves as the main library for Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Its Special Collections and University Archives feature the state’s largest selection of New Jersey materials, including the Sinclair New Jersey Collection. Numerous Manuscripts focus on New Jersey and date back to the 18th century. Other holdings consist of the Rare Books and Book Arts, Broadsides and Ephemera, Maps, Newspapers, and Photographs and Prints. There are some useful Genealogical Resources, including family records, cemetery records, card files, and more. Finding Aids and Subject Guides are available. Items held by the Alexander Library can be searched through the Rutgers University Libraries online catalog, QuickSearch. Much of the Special Collections material has been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections, Digital Exhibits, and the New Jersey Digital Newspaper Project.

Camden County Historical Society

Camden

Since 1899, the Camden County Historical Society has been collecting and preserving the documentary heritage of Camden County and southern New Jersey. Its Archives holds a variety of sources, including city directories and censuses, vital statistics, cemetery records, property records, newspapers, and much more. There are also 1,100 manuscript collections, 20,000 photographs, and various other archival materials.

David and Lorraine Cheng Library

Wayne

The David and Lorraine Cheng Library serves as the main library for William Paterson University. Its University Archives houses some rather important early American sources. Most notably are the William Paterson Papers. This collection highlights the legal career of William Paterson, a New Jersey governor, United States senator, and associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. Materials include court case files from across Paterson’s career, as well as some family papers. Also available is the Falkner/Faulkner Family Collection, materials from which date back to the 1770s. Items held by the University Archives may be searched with the Cheng Library’s Online Catalog.

Drew University Library

Madison

Drew University Library serves as the main library for Drew University. Its Special Collections and University Archives holds much early American material. Some highlights from these Collections include the 19th Century Pamphlet Collection, the Historical Manuscripts Collection, and the Julia E. Baker Rare Book Collection. The University Library is also home to the United Methodist Archives and History Center, which functions as the official repository for the United Methodist Church. These Methodist Resources include books, archival collections, periodicals, conference journals, maps, pamphlets, images, and material objects. Items held by the University Library may be searched with its Library Catalog. Much of the University Library’s earlier materials have been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections.

Harvey S. Firestone Memorial Library

Princeton

The Harvey S. Firestone Memorial Library serves as the main library for Princeton University. Its Special Collections is home to some of the finest early American sources in the United States. This material is divided between several Collections and Divisions. A robust Rare Book Division boasts approximately 350,000 rare books with particular strengths in Americana. An Historic Maps Collection features a rich selection for North America and the American West. The Manuscripts Division holds some 14,000 linear feet of material, much of which relates to American History from 1750-1865. These collections consist of personal papers of famous early Americans such as Edward Livingston, the Blair Family, the Lee Family, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. Prominent New Jerseyites are also represented, among them Elias Boudinot, William Churchill Houston, Aaron Burr, William Patterson, and many more. Also of note are the Princeton Collections of the American West and the Latin American Collections. Several Catalogs & Databases are available to search the Firestone Library’s holdings, including its Finding Aids and its Online Catalog. Much of the Firestone Library’s material has been digitized and can be viewed through Princeton University Library’s Digital PUL. Several Library Research Grants are offered each year.

Morris County Library

Whippany

The Morris County Library is home to various early American sources. Its Local History & Genealogy resources include Historical New Jersey Census Records, Local Newspapers, Maps & Atlases, and Vital Records. There is also a large trove of manuscripts and government records relating to early New Jersey. These items date back to the establishment of Morris County in 1738. Items held by the Library may be searched with its Online Catalog. Some of the Library’s earlier materials have been digitized and can be viewed through Morris County Historical Documents Online.

Morristown & Morris Township Library

Morristown

The Morristown & Morris Township Library is home to a variety of early American sources. Its North Jersey History & Genealogy Center houses the Library’s historic Collections, much of which dates back to the 18th century. Among these are Birth, Marriage & Death Records, Civil War Resources, Land Records, Maps and Surveys, and Newspapers. There is also an extensive collection of Manuscripts that capture the early national history of northern New Jersey. Patrons can take advantage of several Research Sources & Databases. Both Finding Aids and Research Guides are available. Items held by the Library may be searched with its Online Catalog. Some of the Library’s earlier materials have been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections.

The New Jersey Historical Society

Newark

The New Jersey Historical Society houses an abundance of material related to early New Jersey in both its Museum and its Library. Its Museum Collections consist of 18th and 19th century fashion, furniture, fine art, and other material objects. The Library Print Collections are made up of rare books, pamphlets, and newspapers, as well as some 2,000 maps. Also as the Library are the Society’s Archives. These include approximately 1,700 manuscript collections, many of which focus on the early economic, social, and political history of New Jersey. Also present are somewhere around 100,000 photographs. Finding Aids and Subject Guides are available.

New Jersey State Archives

Trenton

The New Jersey State Archives serves as the official repository for the State of New Jersey. Its Collections date back to the 17th century and include the papers of New Jersey’s Governors, Legislature, and Judiciary. There are also County Government Records, Municipal Government Records, and Federal Records. The Archives also maintains several Newspapers and Non-Government Records. Some of the more prominent materials are featured in the Archives’ Documentary Treasures. Also at the Archives are several Genealogical Records, such as vital statistics and marriage records. Items held by the Archives may be searched with its Searchable Catalog. Much of the Archives’ material has been digitized and can be viewed through its Searchable Databases and its Imaged Collections.

New Jersey State Library

Trenton

The New Jersey State Library serves as the official library for the state of New Jersey. Its Collections are quite large and include various early American sources. A Rare Books collection encompasses several areas of historical knowledge with many items dating back to the 18th century. There are also Newspapers and Periodicals, with many volumes spanning back to the late 1700s. An extensive Maps and Atlases collection has cartographic materials dating back to the 1600s. Also of interest is the Jerseyana Collection, which features material on all aspects of New Jersey’s history. Several Genealogy and Local History resources are also among the State Library’s holdings. It is also worth check the State Library’s list of New Jersey Resources. Much of the State Library’s materials have been digitized and can be viewed through the Digital Jerseyana Collection and the New Jersey Digital Collection Highlights.

New Jersey State Museum

Trenton

The New Jersey State Museum serves as the official museum for the State of New Jersey. Its holdings are vast and document well the material history and culture of the New Jersey area. Among its Collections are some 2 million archaeological and ethnographic items, over 13,000 cultural artifacts, and 12,000 works of fine art. These objects are featured regularly in the Museum’s various Exhibits.

Theodore Sedgwick Wright Library

Princeton

The Theodore Sedgwick Wright Library serves as the main library for Princeton Theological Seminary. Its Special Collections and Archives maintains a vast selection of early American sources, particularly Christian materials. There are over 75,000 printed works and nearly 5,200 linear feet of manuscripts. These holdings capture well the work of Christian missionaries throughout the Atlantic World, especially North America and West Africa. Some standouts among the printed works include the Sprague Collection of Early American Religious Pamphlets, the Baptism Controversy Collection, and the Puritan Collection of English and American Literature. Archival holdings feature the Barnard Family Manuscript Collection, the Ethiopian Manuscript Collection, and the George Whitefield Manuscript Collection. Dozens of Finding Aids are available. Items held by the Wright Library may be searched with its Online Catalog. Much of the Special Collections material has been digitized and can be searched through Wright Library’s Digital Collections.

Walsh Library

South Orange

Walsh Library serves as the main library for Seton Hall University. Its Archives & Special Collections maintains some early American sources from the 18th and 19th centuries, especially Catholic materials. Chief among these are the Archdiocese of Newark Archival Collections, which consist of church records and personal papers of Catholics related to the Archdiocese of Newark. Other Catholic records include the Women in the Catholic Church Archival Collections and the Irish American Archival Collections. There are also several American Civil War Archival Collections. A subject guide on New Jersey Catholic History is available. Items held by the Special Collections may be searched with its Online Catalog. Some of the Special Collections material has been digitized and can be viewed through the Seton Hall University Libraries’ Digital Collections.

Other New Jersey Archives & Sources

The League of Historical Societies of New Jersey keeps a running list of member organizations. Much of New Jersey’s court records can be found at their respective courthouses. Check with county clerks for more information.

Various regional repositories hold materials related to early New Jersey. Sources can be found at the American Philosophical Society, the Delaware Historical Society, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the New-York Historical Society, the New York Public Library, and the Pennsylvania State Archives.

As the site of Dutch, English, and Swedish colonization, New Jersey sources can be found at the Netherlands’ Nationaal Archief, Sweden’s Riksarkivet, and the United Kingdom’s British Library and National Archives at Kew.