Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library

New York City

Located at Columbia University, the Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library is one of the best research libraries for the study of American architecture. Its collections are especially rich in 18th and 19th century materials. The Avery Classics Collection consists is one of the finest in the world for rare architectural books. Similarly, the Avery Drawings & Archives feature a large assortment of drawings, photographs, and other records related to American and New York City architecture in the 19th century. Of particular note is the Seymour B. Durst Old York Library, a 40,000 item archive of New York City’s architecture dating back to the 18th century, much of which has been digitized. A Collections List for the archival material is available.

Bird Library

Syracuse

Bird Library is the main library for Syracuse University. Its Special Collections Research Center holds various early American sources. Much of this material is focused upon upstate New York and spans the 18th and 19th centuries. Collection Areas of note include New York State History and Ephemera, Science and Medicine, and Religious and Utopian Communities. The latter area is home to the Oneida Community Collection. There are multiple ways to Search the Collections, including finding aids and Bird Library’s online catalog. Much of the Research Center’s holdings have been digitized and be be viewed through its Digital Collections.

Bronx County Historical Society

New York City

The Bronx County Historical Society holds various 18th and 19th century materials. Its Research Library is home to many Collections that document the culture and history of the Bronx. These Archival Holdings include personal papers of prominent families, deeds and town charters, business and organizational records, newspapers, maps, police and fire department records, and much more. Also available is the Historic Image Collection, which consists of 75,000 photographs that document well the changing landscape of the Bronx from the 1850s to the present. The Society also offers Exhibitions. Research may search the Society’s holding through its Online Catalog. Some of the Society’s materials have been digitized for its Digital Collections, but they do not appear to consist of any pre-1900 sources.

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library

Buffalo

The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library maintains a decent collection of early New York sources. Its Specials Collections holds resources related to Genealogy, Maps, Music, and Local History. Special Collections is also home to the Rare Book Room and the Mark Twain Room, both of which hold unique items related to American literature and the history of the book. The Library offers various Subject Guides to assist with research, and its holdings may be searched through its Online Catalog.

Buffalo History Museum

Buffalo

Formerly the Buffalo Historical Society, the Buffalo History Museum is home to various sources related to early New York. It features several Exhibits that display the cultural and material heritage of western New York. There is also a Research Library which maintains the Museum’s 2D objects. These include books, business records, diaries, letters, newspapers, organizational records, pamphlets, personal papers, photographs, and much more. Items held by the Museum can be searched with its online catalog, FRANK. Some of the Museum’s holdings have been digitized and are available online through its Digital Collections.

Butler Library

New York City

Butler Library serves as the main library for Columbia University. Its Rare Book & Manuscript Library (RBML) maintains an important archive of early American sources from across several Collection Areas. Among these is a sizeable selection of Rare Books, particularly American and British literature. There are also various Manuscripts, Papers, & Records related to the Atlantic World, colonial America, the Age of Revolutions, the U.S. Civil War, and New York City. A major feature of the RBML remains Columbia University’s Papers of John Jay Project. More details about the RBML’s rare books and manuscripts can be found here. There are many ways to Find Materials at the RBML, including the Archival Collections Portal and Butler Library’s online catalog, CLIO. Much of the RBML’s materials have been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections.

Carl A. Kroch Library

Ithaca

The Carl A. Kroch Library is located at Cornell University and is home to Cornell University Library’s Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections. This division has several Collection Highlights, most notably its American History & Culture materials. These documents are particularly rich in colonial and revolutionary North America, and in the 19th century United States. Other holdings of interest are the History of Science Collections and the Human Sexuality Collection. There are many ways to Find Materials at the Kroch Library, including Archival Guides and Cornel University Library’s Online Catalog. Much of the Kroch Library’s holdings have been digitized and can be viewed through its Online Exhibitions and Cornell University Library’s Digital Collections. The Kroch Library offers Funding for Research, but it is limited to specific topics.

Center for Brooklyn History

Brooklyn

Formerly the Brooklyn Historical Society, the Center for Brooklyn History manages a sizeable archive of sources related to early Brooklyn and New York. Its holdings include numerous Maps and Newspapers, as well as 1,800 Archival Collections. Much of these materials date to the 17th and 18th centuries and cover various subjects such as slavery, Native Americans, the Civil War, and more. An excellent set of Research Guides are available. Many items held by the Center have been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections.

The Christoph Keller, Jr. Library

New York City

The Christoph Keller, Jr. Library serves as the main library for the General Theological Seminary. Its Special Collections & Archives features over 30,000 volumes. These materials focus on Anglican and Episcopal history and theology and include early editions of the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. Other works emphasize 16th, 17th, and 18th century English theology. There are also various printed sermons, devotional works, and patristic texts. Archival holdings include the personal papers of Episcopal bishops from the 18th century century to the present, including the papers of Samuel Seabury. Items held by the Keller Library may be searched with its Online Catalog.

County Clerk of New York

New York City

The County Clerk of New York maintains the official case files of New York County’s courts. The Division of Old Records holds the earliest court records of the county, including the Court of Chancery (1754-1847), the Court of Common Pleas (1786-1895), the Supreme Court (1799-1910), and the Superior Court of the City of New York (1828-1895). There are also court minute books dating back to 1674, naturalization records from 1794-1924, and corporation certificates from 1804-1920.

Elmer Holmes Bobst Library

New York City

The Elmer Holmes Bobst Library is the central library for New York University and home to the NYU Special Collections. These materials are rich in early American sources. Some highlights include the Fales Library of English and American Literature and the Marion Nestle Food Studies Collection. Other items are from a diverse range of subject matter, including the Collection on the Cuban Slave Trade, the Henry Barnard Papers, and various sets of family papers related to early New York. Researchers can search the Library’s holdings through its Archival Collections portal and its online catalog, BobCat.

Fenimore Art Museum

Cooperstown

Formerly the New York State Historical Association, the Fenimore Art Museum has evolved into a world class cultural institution. Its Collections include American Folk Art, American Fine Art, and Photography. Besides these permanent collections, the Museum also maintains various Exhibitions. Despite this new emphasis on art, much of the original archival materials of the Historical Association remain. The Museum’s Research Library holds these rare prints and manuscript collections, many of which document well the early history of Oswego County and upstate New York. Materials held by the Museum can be searched with its online catalog, PATHFINDER. Many of the Research Library’s items have been digitized and can be viewed through New York Heritage Digital Collections.

The Grolier Club

New York City

Founded in 1884, the Grolier Club has emerged as one of the United States’ best research institutions for the history of the book and print culture. Its Library holds over 100,000 items related to the book trade, including inventories of private libraries, catalogues of antiquarian booksellers, book auction records, and a sizeable collection of rare prints. Finding Aids and a Guide to the Collections are available. Researchers may search the Library’s holdings with its Online Catalog. Much of the Grolier Club’s material has been digitized and can be viewed through its Online Exhibitions and its Digitized Collections. The Club’s William H. Helfand Fellowship is offered annually.

Hamilton College Library

Clinton

The Hamilton College Library is home to various sources for the early Americas. Its Special Collections has robust holdings related to the Lesser Antilles and American Communal Societies. More information on the Special Collections can be found here. There is also the College Archives, which serves as the official repository for both Hamilton College and nearby Kirkland College. Besides institutional records, there are also many private collections. These include Published Materials and Manuscript Collections, especially the Samuel Kirkland Papers. Items held by both the Special Collections and the College Archives can be searched in Hamilton College Library’s Online Catalog. Researchers also have access to many Finding Aids. Much of the Library’s archival material has been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections.

The Morgan Library & Museum

New York City

Originally the private library of American financier John Pierpont Morgan, the Morgan Library & Museum has evolved into one of New York’s most important research libraries. Its Collection consists of Drawings, Music Manuscripts and Printed Music, Paintings & Art Objects, and Photography. There are also Literary & Historical Manuscripts, many of which were written by prominent early Americans. Archives of the Morgan family’s personal papers and business records are also part of the Morgan’s diverse holdings. Research Guides are available and the Morgan’s collections can be searched through its catalog, CORSAIR. Much of the Morgan’s material has been digitized and can be viewed through its Collection Online.

Museum of the City of New York

New York City

The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) specializes in the material history of New York City. Its Collections total some 750,000 unique objects, including Furniture & Decorative Arts, Costume & Textiles, Paintings & Sculpture, and Prints & Photographs. An extensive Theater Collection, featuring over 200,000 accessioned objects related to New York theatre from 1785 to the present. Besides these material objects, the MCNY also holds various Archival Collections. Among these are the Manuscripts & Ephemera Collection, the Collection on Real Estate of New York City and Surrounding Areas, and various Family and Corporate Papers. Much of these items are routinely displayed in the MCNY’s Exhibitions. The Museum’s holdings can be searched and browsed through the MCNY Collections Portal. A significant amount of the MCNY’s items have been digitized and can be viewed through MCNY Digital.

New York Academy of Medicine Library

New York City

The New York Academy of Medicine Library is one of the world’s leading research libraries of the histories of medicine and public health. Its Archives and Manuscripts not only document the institutional history of the Academy, but also contain records from various medical organizations, personal papers of students and doctors, and physicians’ case records. Much of this material dates back to the 19th century. Items held by the Library may be searched with its Online Catalog. Some of the manuscript material has been digitized and is available through the Library’s Digital Collections and Exhibits. The Library offers Fellowships each year.

New York City Municipal Archives

New York City

A division of New York City’s Records and Information Services, the New York City Municipal Archives serves as the official repository for the City’s Historical Records. These Collections date back to the 17th century and contain records related to New Amsterdam, the city’s almshouses, the mayor’s office, legal files, vital statistics, public education, and much more. There is also an abundance of photographs and maps that help chronicle the material and spatial history of the city. Finding Aids and resources for Genealogy are available. Over 1.6 million images from the Archives have been digitized and can be viewed through its Online Gallery.

New-York Historical Society Museum & Library

New York City

Founded in 1804, the New-York Historical Society Museum & Library is one of the United States’ premier research institutions for the study of early America. Its Museum is the oldest in New York City and features various Exhibitions. The Patricia D. Klingenstein Library is home to millions of items organized into Printed Collections, Graphic Collections, and Manuscript Collections. Most of these items date to the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, and include Books and Pamphlets, Newspapers, Personal and Family Papers, Business and Industry Collections, Religious and Charitable Organization Collections, and Military Collections. Finding aids are available for both Manuscripts and Graphics, and the Library’s holdings can be searched through its Online Catalog. Much of the Historical Society’s holdings have been digitized and be be viewed through its Online Exhibitions and the Shelby White & Leon Levy Digital Library. The Historical Society also offers various Fellowships each year.

New York Public Library

New York City

The New York Public Library (NYPL) is the largest public library system in the United States. Several Research Divisions operate at the Library, many of which hold extensive early American sources. Its Manuscripts and Archives Division contains over 29,000 linear feet of archival material spread across 5,500 individual collections. A highlight of the Division is its Early American Manuscripts Project, which has digitized over 50,000 pages of the Library’s early American collections. Other Divisions include the Rare Book Division and the Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. Early Americanists may also be interested in the NYPL’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, which has its own Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, as well as the Lapidus Center for the Historical Analysis of Slavery. The NYPL provides a very useful Guide for exploring these archival collections, as well as an Archives Portal and a Research Catalog. Much of the NYPL’s materials have been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections. The NYPL also offers various Fellowships each year. Considering the size of the NYPL system, it is very important to Plan Your Research Visit.

The New York Society Library

New York City

Founded in 1754, the New York Society Library is New York City’s oldest library. Its Special Collections hold a large assortment of books, broadsides, newspapers, pamphlets, and periodicals. Besides a strong selection of 18th and 19th century travel narratives, early Americans may also be interested in the Hammond Collection. There are also several Manuscript Collections, which include a variety of documents from prominent literary and political leaders, as well as the institutional records of the Library itself. Finding Aids are available. Items held by the Special Collections can be searched with the Library’s Online Catalog. Some of the Special Collections material has been digitized and can be viewed through the Library’s digital project, City Readers.

New York State Archives

Albany

The New York State Archives is the official repository for the State of New York. It manages over 250 million records created by and for New York’s colonial and state governments dating back to 1630. Materials held by the State Archives are organized into Research Topics, including Colonial and Revolutionary Governments, Court Records, Dutch Records, Governors Records, Land Records, Military Records, Naturalization Records, Records Relating to Women, and many more. There are many ways to Search for Records at the State Archives, especially Finding Aids, Name Indexes, and an Online Catalog. Much of the State Archives’ materials have been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections. The State Archives also offers various Grants and Awards.

New York State Library

Albany

The New York State Library serves as the official research library for the State of New York. Its Manuscripts and Special Collections maintains an extensive selection of early American sources. These Collections include various 19th century manuscripts, private papers, and public records, a large assortment of rare books, maps dating back to 1793, and much more. Other resources at the Library include Federal Documents, New York State Documents, Military Records, Newspapers, and Genealogy materials. Early Americanists may be interested in the Library’s New Netherland Research Center, which has its own Research Collections and is responsible for the Library’s New Netherland Project. Researchers have access to several search tools at the Library, including Finding Aids and the Library’s online catalog, Excelsior. Many items held by the Library have been digitized and can be viewed through its Online Exhibits and its Digital Collections.

Owen D. Young Library

Canton

The Owen D. Young (ODY) Library serves as the main library for St. Lawrence University. Its Special Collections has a solid selection of sources related to early New York. Besides their University Archives, the Special Collections also maintains a sizeable Rare Book Collection and over 200 Manuscript Collections. The manuscript holdings are especially rich in 19th century materials. Researchers may find the the guide for North County Research useful. Search the ODY Library’s Online Catalog for specific information about the Special Collections’ holdings. Some of the Special Collections material is digitized and available through the university’s Digital Collections.

Queens Historical Society

Flushing

Located in New York City’s largest borough, the Queens Historical Society preserves the last 300 years of Queens’ heritage. Its Library & Collections holds materials dating back to the 18th century. These include the personal papers and material artifacts of Queens’ earliest European colonists, as well as maps, photographs, rare books, and other ephemera. There are also genealogical resources available. Much of the Society’s material objects are displayed in its Exhibitions, some of which are virtual.

Queens Public Library

The Queens Public Library holds a sizeable collection of early American sources. These materials are held by the Archives at Queens Public Library. Early Americanists will be most interested in the Historic Manuscripts & Photos Collections. This collection has significant holdings of 18th and 19th century materials related to Queens, New York, and the surrounding region. The Archives also hold Maps and Historic Newspapers. These collections can be searched through the Library’s Online Catalog.

Stevens-German Library

Oneonta

The Stevens-German Library serves as the central library for Hartwick College. Its Paul F. Cooper, Jr. Archives contain manuscripts related to the first Lutheran seminary in American and the history of upstate New York. One highlight is the Judge William Cooper Papers, which chronicle the founding of Cooperstown and the American colonization of Iroquois homelands. More information on the Archives’ Collections and Findings Aids is available. The Library’s Rare Books Room is home to the College’s Rare Books Core Collection and a sizeable Newspapers Collection. Early Americanists may also be interested in the Willard E. Yager Collection. Researchers may search the Library’s holdings through its Online Catalog. Some of the Library’s early archival holdings have been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections.

Thompson Library

Poughkeepsie

Thompson Library is the main library for Vassar College. Its Catherine Pelton Durrell ‘25 Archives & Special Collections Library preserves the College’s rarest and most unique holdings. These Collections include the Vassar College Rare Book Collections and the Virginia B. Smith Memorial Manuscript Collection. The latter collection is made up of a diverse array of materials. Some highlights are the Dutchess County Loyalists Papers, the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Papers, the Jasper Parish Papers, the Lucy Maynard Salmon Historical Materials Collection, and the Susan B. Anthony Papers. A Subject List for the manuscript holdings is available. The Special Collections Library also maintains several Exhibitions and provides Grants for Researchers.

United States Military Academy Library

West Point

The United States Military Academy Library collects and preserves the administrative records of the United States Military Academy. These records are held at the Library’s Archives and Special Collections and are the core of the National Archives and Records Administration’s Record Group 404. Much of these materials tell the administrative history of the Academy from its inception in 1802 to the present. Other materials held by the Special Collections include the personal papers and transcripts of Academy cadets. More information about the Special Collections’ holdings can be found here. Items held by the Library can be searched with its online catalog, Scout. Some of the Library’s holdings have been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collection. As the Academy is a United States military installation, researchers should consult its Information for Visitors before arriving.

William D. Walsh Family Library

New York City

Located at Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus, the William D. Walsh Family Library contains a small but significant collection of early American sources. Its Archives and Special Collections holds much of these materials. Of note is the Rare Books and Special Collections, which has a solid collection of Americana from the beginning of American printing to 1865. The Archives and Manuscript Collections are comprised mostly of 20th century materials, but the Charles Allen Munn Collections include several feet of letters, diaries, and other papers related to the American Revolution, as well as dozens of drawings by John Trumbull. Items held by the Special Collections can be searched in the Walsh Library’s Online Catalog. Some of the Special Collections’ material has been digitized and can be viewed through the Library’s Digital Collections.

Other New York Archives & Sources

Various county courts still retain their county’s oldest records. Check with local county clerks’ offices for more information. Some materials related to early New York can be found at the Oneida County History Center and the Ontario County Historical Society. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society keeps a running list of local historical societies and museums found throughout New York. Similarly, the Gotham Center keeps a list of Archives related to New York City. Another useful resource is New York Heritage: Digital Collections, a statewide digitization project that provides access to photographs, letters, diaries, and maps from libraries, museums, and across across New York.

New York has long maintained a strong presence along the mid-Atlantic. As such, sources on New York can also be found at several regional repositories including the American Philosophical Society, the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, the John Carter Brown Library, the Massachusetts Historical Society, and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Addition New York sources can be found at the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration.

New York has a long history as both a Dutch and an English colony. As such, there are sources on early New York in the Netherlands’ Nationaal Archief at the Hague, and the Stadsarchief Amsterdam. In the United Kingdom, both the British Library and the National Archives at Kew hold early New York sources.