Our Collections

Our library holds over 1,300 bound volumes, focusing on Somerset County history and genealogy, New Jersey state history, and the American Revolution. We also have the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, a partial run of the Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, and extensive collections of family and subject files, manuscripts, photographs, maps, microfilm, and more. 

Over the past two years, we’ve had the time to process several legacy manuscript collections. These include deeds and land records (some dating to the early 1700s), family and business correspondence, genealogical research, bound manuscripts, photographs, and more. Click the “Manuscript Collection” PDF below to download a list of processed collections. Detailed container lists for numbered collections are available upon request. 

The Van Horn Library houses over 400 family files, including research queries, genealogies, notes, news clippings, and more. File sizes range from a single page to multiple documents. Please get in touch with us before visiting to confirm relevant materials are available. Download the “Family Files” PDF below for a full list of family names. 

We’re always grateful for donations of books, manuscripts, photographs, ephemera, and small artifacts that tell the story of Somerset County, New Jersey. If you’d like to contribute, 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.