Our Collections

Our library and archival collections include over 1,300 bound volumes that focus on Somerset County history, genealogy, New Jersey state history, and the American Revolution. Among our resources, we feature the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, a partial run of the Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, and extensive family files, manuscripts, photographs, maps, microfilm, and more.

Over the past two years, we’ve had the opportunity to process several legacy manuscript collections, which include deeds and land records (some dating back to the early 1700s), family and business correspondence, genealogical research, and bound manuscripts, along with photographs and more. For a comprehensive overview, click the “Manuscript Collection” PDF below to download a list of processed collections, including family files. Detailed container lists for our library and archival collections, specifically for numbered collections, are available upon request.

The Van Horn Library and archival collections include over 400 family files, featuring research queries, genealogies, notes, news clippings, and more. The sizes of these family files vary from a single page to multiple documents. Please contact us before your visit to ensure that relevant materials are available. For a complete list of family names, download the “Family Files” PDF below, which is part of our manuscript collection.

We’re always grateful for donations of books, manuscripts, photographs, ephemera, and small artifacts that tell the story of Somerset County, New Jersey. These items can enrich our family files and enhance our library and archival collections. If you’d like to contribute to our manuscript collection, please email the Librarian at info@somersethistorynj.org. 

Please do not ship items—all donations need a signed Deed of Gift to be included in our collections.