THE COLLECTIONS OF THE LIBRARY OF THE NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Library of the New Jersey Historical Society documents New Jersey's historical and cultural heritage, from pre-history to the present. The collections, amassed over more than 140 years, are the most comprehensive privately-funded library open to the public focusing on New Jersey history. A diverse clientele including scholars, amateur historians, genealogists and others utilize the extraordinary variety of sources. Materials range from the rarest documents of the 17th century to political broadsides expressing in fiery language the turmoil of democracy in action. The Library's book holdings, which number approximately 65,000 volumes, range from the earliest books printed inthe state up to the most current. Virtually every phase and era of state and community history is documented in this collection of books and pamphlets. The Library's rare book holdings include such unique items as the first Bible printed in the state (1788), the Edwin A. Ely collection, and approximately 1,000 rare, pre-1850 New Jersey imprints. The Ely collection has been frequently used as a research source by historians as it focuses on the period of the American Revolution. The value of the pre-1850 New Jersey imprints derives not only from their uniqueness but also from their richness as examples of the history of printing in the state. The Library's other printed matter, such as pamphlets and broadsides, serve to document social and political history in a particularly dramatic way. Broadsides give vivid testimony to the passion and fervor of change, turnoil and dissent as they illustrate not only state-wide concerns but also national trends as well from the 18th century to the present. Newspapers, which offer first-hand accounts and insights into both the unusual and commonplace events of the state's history, are maintained in both their original pages and on microfilm. Virtually every communityis reflected in the sizeable collection that his proved again and again to be a detailed resource of great research value to scholar and lay historian, and members of the general public. Chronologically, the holdings range from the 1777 Jersey Gazette to today's Newark Star Ledger, which is clipped and arranged in subject files. The Library's extensive periodical collection included both old and current items. from general interest magazines to arcane journals that has served to illuminate broad areas of New Jersey history. A remarkable range of newsletters from organizations, churches, clubs and schools document the activities of New Jersey interest groups and also hightlight the doings of individual communities and local personalities. For many years the Library's family history resources have been frequently consulted as researchers from across the nation and around the world re- trace the routes taken by ancestors who immigrated to the United States. Such resources as city directories, local histories and vital records for the original thirteen states, major genealogical journals, original church records and special indexes to New Jersey materials have proven invaluable to genealogists, both distinguished and amateur. The manuscript collection of the Library include more than one million items orgainzed into approximately 1,300 distinct manuscript groups. Manu- script materials,(a wide variety of items that share the fact that they have never been published, and are therefore unique) aer diverse: they in- clude diaries, ledgers, family and personal papers, architectural drawings, autograph collections, records of churches,business organizations, social welfare agencies and other archives. Among the outstanding holdings in this extraordinarily comprehensive collection are the original charter from Charles II deeding the lands which were to become New Jersey to the Duke of York (1664); the papers of such notables as Mahlon Dickerson (1770-1853), Secretary of the Navy under Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren; Joseph P. Bradley (1813-1892), an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; and the Stevens family, including Colonel John Stevens (1749-1838), the steamship and steam locomotive pioneer. Also of increasing interest and importance to a new generation of scholars, are the materials which serve to document the life of the everyday citizen of the 18th and 19th centuries. An 1870 recipe book, a 100-year old play in manuscript form, scrapbooks and account books are examples of vernacular materials that are available here for use by historical researchers. One of the Library's most exciting collections is its map resources. They illustrate the state of New Jersey's transformation over the centuries in a way that can be accomplished by no other medium. Perhaps the Library's most famous map is that created in 1783 by Abel Buell, showing the boundaries of the emerging nation: other rare maps include "A Map of New Jersey" by John Seller and William Fisher (1677) and William Faden's 1777 "Map of the Province of New Jersey, divided into East and West". These and more than 2,000 other maps are not only invaluable for researchers but also are of immense interest to members of the Library's general public. Available to users of the map collections are holdings for all the counties and localities from the 18th century to the present--a remarkably comp- rehensive coverage. In order to preserve and protect these invaluable resources, the Library's Conservator practices state-of-the-art techniques to repair and restore works on paper, so that they will be accessible to the researchers of the 21st century and beyond. Because of the variety and depty of its collections, the Library of the New Jersey Historical Society is a unique facility, available to all, for the study and preservation of New Jersey's heritage. Sarah Collins Director of the Library July 1986. [Note: The Library, at 230 Broadway, Newark, NJ, is open Wednesday thru Friday, and the third Saturday of each month, from 10:00am to 4:00pm] 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 � This file appears on The Source of Magic BBS, Ridgefield CT � � 203-431-4687, specializing in genealogy, radio, and writing. � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 Date: Sat Mar 30 1991 11:49:22 From: Bob Gleason To: ALL Subj: NJ Research Attr: genealogy ------------------------------- Another one from NJHS Genealogy Club Newsletter. GUIDE TO FAMILY HISTORY SOURCES IN THE NEW JERSEY STATE ARCHIVES, compiled by Bette Barker, Daniel P. Jones and Karl J. Niederer is now available in an updated second edition. This is a valuable guide for anyone doing New Jersey research. It contains information on the state's military records, divorce records, proprietary deeds, vital statistics, court records and more! To obtain a copy send a check for $5.00 (made out to New Jersey General Treasury) to New Jersey State Archives, 185 West State St., CN 307, Trenton, NJ 08625. If you are in the Newark, NJ area, there is a copy of the above publication in the Library of the New Jersey Historical Society, 230 Broadway, Newark, NJ. (201)483-3939. --- * Origin: Kin Ships - East Orange, NJ - (201) 676-7066 - (1:269/123) Date: Sat Mar 30 1991 11:49:22 From: Bob Gleason To: ALL Subj: NJ Research Attr: genealogy ------------------------------- Another one from NJHS Genealogy Club Newsletter. GUIDE TO FAMILY HISTORY SOURCES IN THE NEW JERSEY STATE ARCHIVES, compiled by Bette Barker, Daniel P. Jones and Karl J. Niederer is now available in an updated second edition. This is a valuable guide for anyone doing New Jersey research. It contains information on the state's military records, divorce records, proprietary deeds, vital statistics, court records and more! To obtain a copy send a check for $5.00 (made out to New Jersey General Treasury) to New Jersey State Archives, 185 West State St., CN 307, Trenton, NJ 08625. If you are in the Newark, NJ area, there is a copy of the above publication in the Library of the New Jersey Historical Society, 230 Broadway, Newark, NJ. (201)483-3939. --- * Origin: Kin Ships - East Orange, NJ - (201) 676-7066 - (1:269/123)