New Brunswick Free Public Library has a rich local history and genealogy collection related primarily to New Brunswick and Middlesex County. Our holdings include newspaper clippings, books, pamphlets, slides, microfilms, city directories, photographs, post cards, maps, manuscripts, and letters.
Our reference staff can assist with general research requests and will guide patrons to possible resources so they can do their own searching. Please call 732-745-5108 x20 or email to
Looking for family research tips? Download the presentation slides from the Introduction to Starting your Genealogy Research workshop Ms. Jackie Oshman, our Genealogical Specialist, gave on June 6, 2023. You may also want to download the presentation slides from the Introduction to Starting your African American Genealogy Research workshop, held on July 11, 2023. Ms. Oshman also presented a workshop on August 1, 2023, that primarily went over resources in this library, and those presentation slides are available to download here; please note that the file is too large to preview, as it contains a lot of photos.
Databases
Ancestry Library contains a wide range of genealogical and historical information: It provides access to multiple resources including census collections from many different countries, passenger lists, vital record indexes and WWI draft registration cards, among others. The library's subscription is available for in-library use only.
HeritageQuest Online combines digital, searchable images of U.S. federal census records with the digitized version of the popular UMI Genealogy & Local History collection and other valuable content. (Use your New Brunswick library card number as your log-in number to access from home.)
External Links
Ellis Island Records
A free website provided by The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation.
Family Search
"FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. For over 100 years, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide. Patrons may freely access our resources and service online at FamilySearch.org."
Find-a-Grave
"Find the graves of ancestors, create virtual memorials, add 'virtual flowers' and a note to a loved one's grave, etc."
Historic New Brunswick
The History page of New Brunswick City Market's website, NewBrunswick.com.
Kean University Library newspaper databases
The Kean University Library has, among other things, a New Jersey Historical Newspapers database with access to more than 40 historic NJ newspapers, including two New Brunswick historical newspapers: the Fredonian and Political Intelligencer. This database is limited to on-site access, however: you must go to Kean to use it.
New Jersey Digital Highway
"The New Jersey Digital Highway is your 'one stop shop' for New Jersey history and culture, from the collections of NJ libraries, museums, archives and historical societies."
New Jersey State Archives
"The State Archives is New Jersey's research center for public records of enduring historical value."
Rootsweb
"An ancestry.com community."
Rutgers Postcards
A "large number of items related to the history of Rutgers University and the City of New Brunswick."
Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives
"Within its four major divisions (Sinclair New Jersey Collection, Manuscript Collection, Rare Book Collection, and University Archives), Special Collections and University Archives collects, preserves, and makes available primary sources of a rare, unique, or specialized nature to support advanced study and research in the humanities and social sciences."