A selection of the resources available to family historians in the Milstein Division, Room 121 of the NYPL Stephen A. Scwarzman Building and at The New York Public Library.
The Milstein Division hosts a number of classes, programs, and lectures given by librarians and guest speakers, including the recurring classes Uncovering Your Family History: Introduction to Genealogical Research, Part I and II, and in genealogy related subjects, such as how to write the history of your house, and how to use photographs in your family history research.
Librarians have authored a number of guides to assist you with your research, and that illuminate the collections of the Milstein Division. Topics include, how to use the census in genealogical research, overcoming the dreaded genealogy "brick wall," how to research the history of your New York City home, and how to locate obituaries.
All public reading rooms in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building offer access to computers featuring a Selected Electronic Resources menu. Library licensed subscription databases and notable free Internet sites are listed under the topic Genealogy. The Milstein Division provides free and unlimited access to the over 70 genealogy and genealogy related databases including:
Access to more than 5 billion names in more than 4,000 genealogical databases including Census Records, Passenger Lists and UK & Ireland records. Library version of Ancestry.com.
America's Historical Newspapers allows users to search more than 1,000 U.S. historical newspapers published between 1690 and 1922, including titles from all 50 states. Created by Readex through partnerships with the American Antiquarian Society, Library of Congress, Wisconsin Historical Society and others, America's Historical Newspapers enables researchers to explore virtually every aspect of America during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. This collection currently includes the following: Early American Newspapers, Series I, 1690-1876 Based on Clarence S. Brigham
Databases of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Offers full-text access to the New England Historical and Genealogical Register from 1847 to 1994, genealogies, vital records of many New England towns, military records, and church records. Updated regularly. Highlights: Death Notices from the New York Evening Post, 1801-1890; Marriage Notices from the New York Evening Post, 1801-1890 and Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850.
Searchable digitized images of millions of historical primary documents relating to the Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI, WWII, U.S. Presidents, historical newspapers and naturalization documents, many from the National Archives
Search U.S. Federal Census records, digitized family and local history books, an index to genealogical and local history periodicals, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files and the Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1874.
Includes access to digitized newspapers: Atlanta Constitution (1868-1942), the Atlanta Daily World (1931-2003), Boston Globe (1872-1927), Chicago Defender (1905-1975), Chicago Tribune (1849-1986), the Guardian & Observer (1791- 2003), the Hartford Courant (1764-1984), Los Angeles Sentinel (1934-2005), Los Angeles Times (1881-1986), New York Amsterdam News (1922-1993), New York Times (1851-2006), New York Tribune (1841-1922), Pittsburgh Courier (1911-2002), the San Francisco Chronicle (1865-1922), Wall Street Journal (1889-1992), Washington Post (1877-1993), ProQuest Civil War Era database including New York Herald (1840-1865).
Library licensed subscription databases and notable free Internet sites pertinent the subjects, with free and unlimited access in the Milstein Division, are also listed under the topics United States History and New York City History.
The Milstein Division maintains a rich and varied collection of visual materials and ephemera some of which are not cataloged or indexed. Nearly every important topic in United States and New York City history is represented in this collection, which includes photographs, postcards, scrapbooks, pamphlets and clippings. The NYPL Digital Gallery provides access to thousands of these images including historic photographs of New York City from our collection.
Vital records - birth marriage and death records - are invaluable sources of information to genealogists and family historians. The Milstein Division provides access to numerous print and digitized indexes of these records, as well as information about the location of these records.
Reference Correspondence Policy
The Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy responds to requests about Library holdings and for information on the following subjects: United States History on the national, state and local level, Genealogy, Heraldry, Personal and Family Names, and Flags.
Send your email reference question here.
Please note that the Milstein Division staff cannot engage in extensive research for correspondents. Requests which require more in-depth research may be directed to the Library's Premium Services (fee-based information service.)
Direct requests for document delivery, including copies of articles as well as photographic reproduction or microfilm copies to Premium Services.
Current and retrospective book and periodical titles in the Milstein Division can be found by searching the Library's online public catalog. Although the Milstein Division's materials do not circulate from the building, many of its U.S. history titles may be found in The New York Public Library's neighborhood libraries.
Among the services we can provide:
- check Research Libraries holdings for specific titles
- request volumes for your use from the Library's offsite storage facility in advance of your visit
- look up names and places in published indexes
- check NYC census district maps for one address/year
- look for an individual in up to three years of city directories
- please direct questions regarding World Wars I and II regimental histories to the General Research Division: grdref@nypl.org
Among the genealogical reference services we cannot provide:
- search New York City Department of Health vital records indexes (some NYC vital records indexes are available at http://www.stevemorse.org/)
- search National Archives microfilm indexes
- search old newspapers on microfilm for obituaries and death notices. Premium Services provides this for a fee.
- search telephone directories on microfilm. Premium Services provides this for a fee.
Correspondence is generally answered in order of receipt. We will make every effort to respond to your question within 2 working days, but some requests may take longer. Due to the heavy volume of requests, correspondents are asked to consider the needs of their fellow researchers and refrain from submitting multiple requests.
Other Resources
The Milstein Division has compiled extensive lists of free websites pertaining to genealogy, United States history, and New York City history. These lists are periodocally updated. If you have any suggestions for links to other pertinent websites please contact the Milstein Division at histref@nypl.org.
Nearly 200 free resources, including guides to getting started with your research, general resources, links to vital records, census information, historical newspapers, immigration and passenger lists, websites and contact details for libraries, archives, and genealogical and historical societies, and forums and blogs create by genealogists.
Over one hundred links to free resources pertaining to the colonial period, the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the Civil War, political history, African American history, and United States history in general. Resources include links to digital collections, digitized historical texts, maps, and timelines.
More than 80 free resources pertaining to the history of New York City, including links to digital exhibitions and libraries, websites, and information about the city and each of the five boroughs.
