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Genealogy and Local History

Home Research Library About Our Collections Genealogy and Local History

The NJ State Library’s (NJSL) Genealogy collection consists of about 18,000 items in book or microform format.

NJSL Genealogy and Local History

Our collection includes resources for all over the United States and even some international resources, so you may follow your New Jersey ancestors out of the state!

Our most popular resources include:

Histories and Directories

Screenshot of the Genealogy LibGuide Homepage

A Genealogy
Research Guide

Click here for an extensive guide to help you with your genealogy journey.

Electronic Subscriptions

We also maintain electronic subscriptions to Ancestry.com (Library edition), HeritageQuest, and NewsBank, which members of the public may use at our State Street location in Trenton. See our Visiting the State Library for details.

Explore our collection of Family History Charts

These visual representations of compiler’s genealogy research might inspire you to create your own family tree!

Family History Charts Quick Guide (Excel)Download
Family History Charts Quick Guide (PDF)Download

Newspapers

NJSL maintains a large New Jersey newspaper collection. For a complete list of our subscriptions, please visit the Newspapers Research Guide. If you are looking for historic digitized New Jersey newspapers, please visit the New Jersey Digital Newspaper Project Research Guide.

A page from V. & H.V. Rolland's Illustrations to the Armorial General by J.-B. Rietstap in the NJ State Library Genealogy Collection. Heraldic Book Company. Baltimore, Maryland 1967
A page from V. & H.V. Rolland’s Illustrations to the Armorial General by J.-B. Rietstap in the NJ State Library Genealogy Collection. Heraldic Book Company. Baltimore, Maryland 1967

New Jersey Records Collections

If you are looking for New Jersey State primary document records (New Jersey Birth, Marriage, or Death Records, Wills, Deeds, Military Service Records) please contact the New Jersey State Archives.

A shelf in the NJ State Library Genealogy collection, featuring The Search for Missing Friends, Volume I - IV.
A shelf in the NJSL Genealogy collection, featuring The Search for Missing Friends, Volume I – IV.

Additional Resources

Keep Informed

For more information about New Jersey Genealogy, and the holdings of NJSL, New Jersey State Archives, and County Clerks’ and Surrogates’ Offices, please visit the Genealogy Research Guide.

Blog and Events

NJ State Library Blogs banner with an abstract blue background of angled lines and textures, and a digital illustration of people round a phone, looking at their laptops.

Genealogy Blog

Follow our Genealogy Blog, along with events from the calendar to stay up to date.

Do You Still Have Questions?

NJ State Library Ask A Librarian graphic on an abstract blue background.

Have a question? Need help with research or finding reliable information? The Research Library Ask a Librarian page is here to assist you.

Whether you’re exploring state resources, diving into historical archives, or simply looking for guidance on your next research project, our team of expert librarians is ready to help.

Regina Fitzpatrick, Genealogy Librarian at the NJ State Library

Regina Fitzpatrick

Genealogy Librarian
Research Library
NJ State Library
genealogy@njstatelib.org

NJ250 Exhibition from the NJ State Library, in partnership with New Jersey State Archives.