Digital Jerseyana Collection

Written by Andrew Dauphinee

Published on July 2, 2025

Did you know that the NJ State Library maintains a Jerseyana collection aimed at preserving the history, culture, and literary works of the great state of New Jersey? 

This collection has over 20,000 items in it and staff are working to bring more and more items online into the Digital Jerseyana Collection. 

Exploring the Depths of New Jersey’s History: Highlights from the Collection

Currently, the Digital Jerseyana Collection boasts over 7,700 items, a majority of which are photographs. It features a wide-range of items and collections that can be used for all matters of interest.

Some of the highlights of the collection so far include:

• Postcards by Town
• Daniel E. Beards Photograph Collection
• Maps
• Military histories
• Regional planning documents
• Local histories

There are also some unique items and collections that offer unique insights into New Jersey’s varied history.  For example, we have the annual reports and proceedings of 2 prominent 19^th and early 20^th century benevolent societies, the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Knights of Honor of New Jersey.  We also have a written agreement between two members of the Disbrow family for the sale of an enslaved person named Harriet for a two-wheeled carriage.  For those railroad enthusiasts, you can read some of the agreements, proclamations and reports related to a number of railroads that operated in New Jersey during the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

Uncover Revolutionary New Jersey: Fresh Additions for the 250th Celebration

As we get closer and closer to the state’s celebration of its 250^th Anniversary (and that of the United States), more and more books and maps related to New Jersey’s role in the American Revolution and its state-building efforts will be available. We encourage everyone to explore this rich collection and revisit it in the coming months to see all of the newest additions.

Children playing on a shore and in the water near Fort Lee New Jersey

Autumn at Brundage Pond in Randolph, New Jersey

A map of the Morris canal from 1827 showing the entire length of the Morris canal, including nearby roads and towns

A regional planning map of the Northwest Quadrant of the Borough of Pennington, New Jersey

Directory for Camden County in 1913.

Do You Still Have Questions?

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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.