RESEARCH

The Somerset County Historical Society holds a collection of published and unpublished historical reference and genealogical materials for Somerset County and the State of New Jersey. While our resources are limited, we are happy to provide assistance to anyone undertaking historical or genealogical research related to Somerset County, New Jersey.  The library is open Tuesdays from 11-3 pm and 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 12- 3pm.

For those not able to come to the library, we provide limited research services for a fee.  Requests are handled in the order they are received. Typical wait time is 4 to 8 weeks.

You can contact us by e-mail, U.S. mail, or telephone. Please include your name, mailing address, and your preferred method of contact, email or phone number, with your query, along with payment for  your request.  Optionally, you may scroll to the bottom of the page to make payment online.

SCHS Fee Schedule:

Research:  $25 fee for two hours research of materials in our collections regardless of results found. This research fee includes up to 10 photocopies.  Fees for postage and additional photocopies ($.20 page) may apply.

Photocopies: Requests for photocopies of specific items will be charged at $.20 per page + postage with a minimum charge of $5.00.

Photographs:  Digital copies of photographs in our collection can be obtained for $15.00 per item.   

Please see our Photocopy & Photo Reproduction Policy below.

Contact information:

Research volunteers: Marian Meyer , Jackie Lubinski, Mary Jane Baker

E-mail: info@somersethistorynj.org

Mail: 9 Van Veghten Drive, Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Phone: 908-218-1281

HELP US TO HELP YOU:  Please  include your postal address and phone number if you email your inquiry.   Sometimes we have questions or need clarification.   Also, it's important to share as much information as you can about the party you want research help with.  Dates, names of other family members, etc.  The early settlers in this area frequently named their sons for their fathers.  So requesting information with only a name can be almost impossible to answer!  And finally, be sure you  need Somerset County,  NJ.  There is a Somerset County in Pennsylvania, too.

Other resources

All genealogy begins with family.  For help interviewing your older relatives visit https://ourpublicrecords.org/interview-elderly-relatives.

Please familiarize  yourself with our research policy before visiting the library. 

Hours: The library is open every Tuesday from 11 am to 3 pm and the 2nd  Saturday of each month from 12 pm to 3 pm, except for major holidays.  Alternate arrangements may be made at the discretion of the librarian or research assistant. If traveling from out of the town, please call or email prior to your visit to confirm we are open. Prior notice of your visit will also allow us to confirm we have materials relevant to your research.   

Registration: Upon arrival, please sign in at the front table. The library is on the second floor to the right.   

1.  Hang your coat and personal items on the hooks provided.  Tote bags, computer cases, etc. may be placed on open shelves. Only keep the materials essential for note taking with  you.

2. Pencils only may be used in the library. Pens, markers, etc. are NOT permitted. Laptop computers and tablets are welcome. Scanners are not allowed. 

3.  To protect our historical materials, no smoking is allowed in the  building. Eating and drinking are prohibited on the second floor.  

4.  Volunteers will assist you with finding appropriate materials to  begin your research. Visitors are allowed in the research library only.   Materials needed from other areas will be retrieved by a volunteer. 

5.  All library/archival materials must be handled carefully; use only one  folder at a time and keep the papers in their existing order. Do not  place books or volumes face down or stack open books on top of each  other. Do not lean or press on archival materials. Do not trace maps or  other records. Please use gloves, if you are asked to do so. 

6. No library/archival materials may be removed from the library. 

7. Please leave books on the table when done. Do not reshelve.  All other materials should be returned to a volunteer.  

Unless  restricted or protected by copyright, photocopies of library material  will be supplied for research purposes for a fee of 20 cents per page. A  volunteer will photocopy the materials for you. 

Archival  materials may be photocopied at the discretion of the librarian. With  permission, researchers may use a digital camera or cell phone without flash to copy archival documents.  No photographs or scans of archival  photographs are permitted.  Should there be a need, researchers can  request that the society create a digital copy of a photographic image.   The fee is $15.00 per image.  The purchaser will also  need to complete a Right to Publish Form which permits a one-time use of  the image if used for anything other than personal use.

If publishing or displaying any documents or images from our archival or photograph collections, Somerset County Historical Society must be credited.

Researchers  are advised that it is their responsibility, not the historical  society’s, to obtain copyright clearance to publish or otherwise  reproduce or distribute archival material.