This section lists the societies of New Jersey, giving details about each one and what resources and publications they offer.
Statewide and Regional Societies
County Societies
Statewide Societies
New Jersey Genealogical Society
The association has a wide range of archives held in Special Collections and University Archives, Alexander Library, 169 College Avenue, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
These archives include:
- Bible Records
- Cemetery Records
- Emigrant Register
- Gravestone Inscriptions
- Military Service Records: Chester N Jones Collection containing 30000 Cards regarding Soldiers in the Revolution
- Papers and Collections
An index to Bible Records is available on the site.
They have published a Genealogical Magazine since 1925. A complete listing of articles that have appeared in the magazine is available to download from the site in PDF Format.
Website:
http://www.gsnj.org
New Jersey Historical Society
The society was established in 1845 and is a museum, library and archives.
Its aim is to collect and preserve the history of the state.
Many archives are available in their library, which include:
- Business Records
- Church Registers
- Diaries
- Manuscripts
- Maps
- Pamphlets
- Personal Papers
- Photographs
- Receipt Books
- Reference Books
An on-line database of collection finding guides is also accessible.
Website:
http://www.jerseyhistory.org
County Societies
Atlantic County Historical Society
The society is a non-profit making association established in 1913 and their aims are to preserve the history of Atlantic Co. and to promote and encourage the study of local history and genealogy.
They were briefly renamed Atlantic Heritage Centre in 2006, but restored the original name in 2011.
Many archives are accessible in their Library, which include:
- Account Books
- Bibles
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Census Returns
- Church Registers
- Deeds
- Diaries
Archives available at the Library also include:
- Letters
- Manuscripts
- Marriage Notices
- Obituary Notices
- School Record Books
- Ship’s Logs
- Wills
Website:
http://www.atlanticcountyhistoricalsocietynj.org
Bergen County Genealogical Society
The association was established in 1973, its aims being to help people researching their genealogy and family history and to render assistance to people preserving information regarding genealogical records of Bergen County.
The association has a comprehensive collection of resources that are located in the Local History and Genealogical Centre in Ridgewood Public Library. These resources include:
- CD’s
- Genealogies
- Journals
- Newspapers
- Periodicals
- Vital Records relating the region, other NJ Counties and New York
Family Group Sheets are also available, which can be used to document your family history research. Most of the books held by the organisation are included in the Library’s on-line catalogue.
Website:
http://njgsbc.org
Bergen County Historical Society
The association was established in 1902. Many archives are accessible in their Library, including:
- Atlases
- Bible Records
- Books
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Church Registers
- Diaries
- Genealogies
- Manuscripts
- Maps
- Photographs
- Postcards
Website:
http://www.bergencountyhistory.org
Burlington County Historical Society
The association was established in 1915. Many resources are available in their Library, which include:
- Business Papers
- Deeds
- Family Albums
- Family Files
- Manuscripts
- Maps
- Marriage Certificates
- Photographs
- Prints
- Rare Books
Website:
http://www.burlingtoncountyhistoricalsociety.org
Cape May County Historical and Genealogical Society
The association was established in 1927 and their aim is to preserve the history of Cape May County for future generations.
They opened a Historical Museum in 1930 which was in Cape May Co. Court House building. The society moved from this location to 504 Route 9 North in 1976 as their collection grew. Their exhibits are housed in three historic buildings.
Numerous archives are available at the Society’s Library, which incorporate:
- Bible Records
- Births 1835-1878(Marshallville) and 1877-1926(Tuckahoe)
- Cemetery Inscriptions
- Church Registers
- Craig’s Marriage Records 1700’s-1800’s
- Federal Census Returns
- Mayflower Families
- New Jersey Marriages 1665-1800
- Photographs
- Surrogate Index to Wills 1800-2000
- Town Photographs
Many databases are on the site, including:
- Berkey’s List of Early Cape May Co. Deeds
- Dorwart’s List of Early Whalers/Yeomen
- Early Landowners by Dr Maurice Beesley
- Lewis T. Stevens List of Early Cattle Earmarks
- Wills of Early Settlers of Cape May
Website:
http://www.cmcmuseum.org
Gloucester County Historical Society
Many resources are available at the Society’s Library, which incorporate:
- Account Books
- African American Sources
- Atlases and Maps
- Cemetery and Church Records
- City Directories
- Civil War Letters Index
- Family Files
- Genealogical Charts
- Private Survey Collection
- Road Surveys Collection
For further information about resources held, please download the appropriate Finding Aid from their site. A Library Catalogue is also accessible.
Numerous databases are on the site, which include:
- Burlington Co. Cemeteries
- Burlington Co. Vital Statistics
- Cemetery Records(1700’s-1900’s)
- Deaths 1686-1939
- Index to Slaves and Servants in the NJ Calendar of Wills 1670-1817
- Marriages 1686-1939
Many publications are available for sale, which include:
- Bible Records
- Church Registers
- Cumberland Co. Cemeteries
- Families Information
- Gloucester Co. Residents in 1850
- Marriages
- Salem Co. Census 1860
- Testaments
Website:
https://gchsnj.org/
Hudson County Genealogical and Historical Society
Many databases are on the site, including:
- Bayonne City Directory 1914-1915
- Bayonne Herald and Greenville Register Death Notices
- Bayonne Times Death Notices 1915-1945
- Civil War Veterans buried in Speer and Jersey City/Harsimus Cemeteries
- Funeral Home Records
- Holy Name Cemetery Burial Index
- Hudson Co. Civil War Veterans
- Hudson Observer Death Notices
Databases also include:
- Jersey Journal Death Notices
- Old Bergen Reformed Church Marriages and Deaths
- Saint Mary of the Sea Bayonne Baptisms 1884-1889
- Union City Deaths 1936-1946
- Union City Street Name Changes
- Union Hill Soldier Deaths during World War I
- West New York Memorial High School Yearbooks 1922-1923
Many Photographs, Genealogies and Documents are also held by the society.
Website:
http://www.hudsoncountynjgenealogy.org
Hunterdon County Historical Society
The largest collection of Genealogical material is available in Hiram E. Deats Memorial Library. This collection includes:
- 6000 Printed Volumes
- Broadsides
- Deeds
- Federal Census Returns covering 1830-1910 for Hunterdon, Mercer and Somerset Counties
- Genealogies
- Histories
- Hunterdon Co. State Census Returns 1855-1885
- Hunterdon Co. Wills before 1807
- Hunterdon Co. Wills post 1807
Their collection also includes:
- Maps
- Newspapers
- Photographs
- Private Genealogical Research Notebooks compiled by Hiram E. Deats
- Tax Maps and Records
- Tombstone Inscriptions
- Various Church Records
Some Resources are also held in their environmentally-controlled Archives Building at 67 River Road in Raritan Township. These include:
- Census Returns
- Church Registers
- Deeds
- Family Bibles
- Genealogies of over 1200 Hunterdon Families
- Manuscripts
- Maps
- Newspapers from 1825
- Photographs
- Wills
Website:
http://hunterdonhistory.org
Metuchen-Edison Historical Society
The association aims to promote interest in the history of the area in and around the Borough of Metuchen and the township of Edison.
The society’s archive is situated in the Grimstead room of the Metuchen Public Library, 480 Middlesex Avenue, Metchuen, New Jersey.
A list of Veterans buried in Metuchen Cemeteries as of 1930 is on the site.
Many publications are available for sale, including Crumbs of Comfort, Map of Metuchen in 1868, Map of Raritan Township in 1876 and Note Cards.
Publications available for sale also include:
- Guide to Edison Township
- Images of America: Edison
- Images of America: Fords
- Images of America: Metuchen.
Website:
http://metuchen-edisonhistsoc.org/
Monmouth County Historical Association
The association has a Library and Archives where several archives are available, including:
- Archaeology Reports
- Business Papers
- Cemetery Inscriptions
- Census Returns
- Family Files
- Genealogies
Archives available also incorporate:
- Manuscripts
- Maps
- Newspapers
- Obituaries
- Photographs
- Postcards
- Tax Records
To find out more about archives held, please peruse their on-line catalogue. Lists of Collections, both Alphabetical and by Subject, are also accessible.
Numerous publications are available for sale, including:
- New Jersey’s Civil War Odyssey
- New Jersey goes to War: Biographies of 150 New Jerseyans Caught Up in the Struggle of the Civil War
- Slavery and Freedom in the Rural North: African Americans 1665-1865
- The American Revolution in Monmouth Co.: An Annotated Bibliography
- The American Revolution in Monmouth Co.: The Theatre of Spoil and Destruction
Website:
http://www.monmouthhistory.org
Montclair Historical Society
The Albert Payson Terhune Library preserves documents and archives relating to Montclair. Documents held incorporate:
- Archival Materials
- Books
- Crane and Speer Family Papers
- Directories
- Manuscript Collection, including Original Letters, Receipts, Wills, Diaries and Photographs
- Maps
- Pamphlets
- Periodicals
- Scrapbooks
Website:
http://montclairhistorical.org
Morris Area Genealogy Society
Many databases are accessible, including:
- Bibles
- Funeral Home Books
- Interments in Greenwood Cemetery 1872-1965
- Lost Tombstone Inscriptions
- Men from the area who served in the American Revolution (Index)
- Newsletter published by the organisation (Index)
- Roxbury Township Census 1810/1820
- Second Presbyterian Church Registers including Baptisms 1861-1892, Marriages 1869-1893 and Burials 1883-1890
- Transcribed Registers from Flanders United Methodist Church, Flanders Presbyterian Church and Flanders Hillside Cemeteries
- Transcription of Diary kept by Catherine (Fredericks) Allison of Oak Ridge in Jefferson Township
A list of surnames currently being researched by Members is also available.
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~njmags/
Passaic County Historical Society Genealogy Club
The Club was established in 1985 with the aim of preserving and publishing Genealogical resources. Many documents are available at the organisation’s Library, which include:
- Cemetery Records for Passaic, Bergen and Essex Counties
- Census Returns
- Church Registers for Passaic, Bergen and Essex Counties
- City Directories
- Genealogies
- Hereditary/Patriotic Society Publications
- Newspaper Abstracts
A list of all Genealogy and Local History resources held at the Library is on the site.
Numerous databases are accessible, including:
- Bible Collections (Indexes)
- Bible Records
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Census Returns
- Church Registers
- City Directories
Databases also include:
- High School Graduates 1873-1921
- High School Graduates 1880, 1903-1905, 1907-1910 from Paterson
- Maps
- Newspaper Extracts
- Normal School Graduates 1905-1906 from Paterson
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~njpchsgc/
Salem County Historical Society
A wide range of resources are held at the organisation’s Library, which include:
- Cemetery Records
- Census Returns
- Church Registers
- City and County Directories
- Deeds 17th-20th Centuries
- Diaries
- Family Files
- Legal Documents
Resources also include:
- Maps
- Marriages and Deaths (Indexes)
- Newspapers
- Periodicals
- Photographs
- Quaker Records
- Scrapbooks (Indexed)
- Ship Passenger Lists
- Surveys and Survey Maps
- Wills
Website:
http://www.salemcountyhistoricalsociety.com
Trenton Historical Society
An Index of Deaths and Marriages published in Newspapers 1770-1899 is in New Jersey State Archives.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has also microfilmed these Index Cards and the List of Microfilm Numbers can be found on the site, along with transcriptions of deaths for the Letter A.
Part of an Obituary Index is also accessible. For a fee, the Society can supply copies of Obituaries found in Newspapers if the date is given.
Many online databases are also available, which include:
- 1880 and 1920 Census Returns (Partial Transcriptions)
- Cemetery Records
- City Directories
- High School Yearbooks
- Land Records
- Maps of Trenton 1840, 1850, 1860 and 1870-1880
- Marriages reported in Trenton Newspapers 1770s-1899 for the Letter A
- Naturalisations 1903-1906
- Newspapers
- Petitions for Naturalisation in Mercer County for Surnames beginning with A (Index)
- Teacher’s Logs from Trenton High School for 1893-1894, 1894-1895 and 1898-1899
- Trenton Police Blotters 1892-1895, 1903, 1904 and 1910-1915
Website:
http://www.trentonhistory.org