Morris County Library: Vital records, NJ

Morris County Library > Reference > NJ Collection

NJ & Local History

The collection includes both historic and current reference materials relating to New Jersey and concentrating on the Morris County area. We have some rare editions, the New Jersey Legislative Manual from 1885, current New Jersey county manuals, Morris County documents, and ordinances and master plans for many Morris County municipalities. In addition, we are one of the few libraries in the state who own Early American Imprints, in the microprint edition of the text of every non-serial title (books.pamphlets, and broadsides) printed in the United States from 1639-1800.

Reference Books We have approximately 4,500 monographs covering a wide range of subjects including state, county and local history, genealogoy, religion, politics, and government, education, agriculture, geology and biography. We have 19th century county histories, the recent Soil Surveys for nearly every county in the state, the state historic sites survey reports for each of the Morris County communities and New Jersey pension or service rosters for wars from the Revolution to the Vietnam. Our books do not circulate.

Periodicals
We hold the entire run of New Jersey History and The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, plus other titles covering archaeology, history, government, genealogy and historic preservation. New titles continue to be added.

Vertical File
Here we have, primarily, newspaper clippings and pamphlets dealing with current and historic New Jersey related subjects.

Directories
Telephone directories are for the Morris County area from 1974. Our city directories, in print or on film, are for various years and communties. See guide.

Genealogy see genealogical geography, Morris
Collections holdings include published family histories, a surname file, church, cemetery and sites records, Morris County records on microfilm (property deeds and marriage records), New Jersey federal census schedules (1830-1910), federal census indexes for New Jersey (1830-1860), the New Jersey State census (1855-1915), tax ratables on microfilm for Morris County (1778-1822), New Jersey Archives (full set), and genealogical indexes, including the Newberry Library of Chicago. We also have several genealogy databases for public searching. Vital records are available from the State or Morris County communities.

Special Collections see archives list
Manuscripts include information on histories of cemeteries, churches, organizations, historic houses, schools, etc. Personal papers in the collection record family and local history, deeds, land surveys, etc, during the 18th and 19th century. Also included are scrapbooks, postcards, pictures, prints and newspapers.

Publications
Genealogy research guides: German, Irish, Italian, Jewish/Eastern European
Guide to City Directories, parts 1, 2 (Hillside-Morristown, 1957), and 3
Historic surveys and scans, Morris County: 1752 property owners, 1788 County Tax Book, etc.