There are a variety of online resources available for research on Trenton and related topics.
History of the “Religious Society of Friends of Trenton and Vicinity,” published by A. Crozer Reeves
A History of Trenton, 1679-1929: Two Hundred and Fifty Years of a Notable Town with Links in Four Centuries. Published by the Trenton Historical Society.
Trenton Illustrated by Elwood Parsons Robbins. A downloadable version is available at the linked title.
Trenton Old and New by Harry J. Podmore.
Trenton One Hundred Years Ago by William Stryker.
The Story of New Jersey’s Civil Boundaries by John P. Snyder.
History of the Lamberton Works by Larry R. Paul.
Various public domain books about the history of Trenton are available on Google Books.
Many public domain books and documents about the history of Trenton are also available on the Internet Archive.
Journal of the American Revolution
A popular, peer-reviewed online magazine and annual hardcover volume that provides in-depth historical research and scholarship on the American Revolution and the Founding Era.
Now called the Journal of African American History, this journal is a leading scholarly publication dedicated to documenting and promoting the history of African Americans.
New Jersey Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal
A peer-reviewed, open-access journal that publishes scholarship on New Jersey’s history and culture, including peer-reviewed articles, archival materials, book and exhibit reviews, and award-winning student papers.
HathiTrust is a collaborative digital preservation and research repository for academic and research institutions, preserving millions of digitized library materials and providing access under copyright law.
The New Jersey Digital Highway is a collaborative online portal, hosted by Rutgers University Libraries, that provides access to digitized historical and cultural materials about New Jersey for the public, educators, and students.
The Wayback Machine, created by the nonprofit Internet Archive, is a digital archive providing access to billions of historical snapshots of websites, allowing users to “go back in time” and see how webpages looked in the past.
Trenton History
Summary of the battle from BritishBattles.com
A 2004 presentation created by Rediscover Trenton.
One hundred stories of New Jersey history from the Trentonian newspaper.
A photographic history of Trenton in the 1960s.
A website dedicted to the work of Trenton native, Ernie Kovacs, who was a pioneering American comedian, actor, and writer known for his visually inventive, surreal, and often improvisational style during the early days of television.
Laying the Foundation for Strong Neighborhoods
A report is the product of the ongoing collaborative effort by the City of Trenton, Isles, New Jersey Community Capital and the Center for Community Progress to build a property and neighborhood database of the city as a tool for future planning. Download the report at the linked title.
The History of Locust Hill Cemetery
A report documenting the historic research of Locust Hill Cemetery, Trenton’s largest and only remaining segregated burying ground.
This collection highlights the life and work of Richmond-born photographer and teacher Louis Draper (1935–2002). It includes his writings and photographs, showing how he used photography to speak out and tell important stories. Draper captured leaders of the civil rights movement and also offered a fuller, more personal view of everyday African American life that wasn’t often shown in the mainstream media. The collection was housed at Mercer Community College in Trenton, New Jersey between 2002-2006.
Mapping Inequality: Redlining in New Deal America
In the 1930s the federal government created redlining maps for almost every major American city. Mapping Inequality lets you explore these maps and the history of racial and ethnic discrimination in housing policy. The link above directs to redlining in Trenton, New Jersey.
A detailed history of Trenton’s robust pottery industry from the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie’s website.
R.C. Maxwell Company of Trenton was one of the earliest enduring outdoor advertising companies, founded in 1894 by Robert Chester Maxwell. It continued to operate primarily in the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania area until the company was sold in 2000.
Revolutionary War Sites in Trenton
A website dedicated to all the historic Revolutionary War sites in New Jersey. The link in the title directs to sites in Trenton.
An alphabetical list of streets in Trenton and how they were named.
The Trenton Makes Music project documents the contributions of Trenton musicians to the music industry, and the role of music in the evolution of Trenton’s cultural and economic development.
“Trenton Makes, The World Takes” Bridge Sign
The Lower Trenton Toll-Supported Bridge is the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission’s oldest and most-storied river crossing. It also is the agency’s most iconic structure, owing to the illuminated “Trenton Makes The World Takes” sign on two of the bridge’s steel trusses. Read more about the history of the bridge at the link in the title.
The Trenton250 Master Plan is a comprehensive long-range plan to guide the City of Trenton until its 250th anniversary in 2042, focusing on transforming the city into a premier economic and cultural center through improved education, increased social opportunity, and a vibrant, safe, and healthy urban environment.
A 1967 WTOA radio broadcast featuring interviews with civic leaders, business people, and local celebrities.
Walking Tour of Downtown Trenton
A tour created by an honors program at The College of New Jersey.
Current population, economy, and health statistics for Trenton, New Jersey.
Mercer County History
State of the Arts: Bonaparte’s Retreat
Bonaparte’s Estate being turned into park (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Bonaparte’s Estate being turned into park (UK Daily Mail)
Bonaparte’s Estate being turned into park (New York Times)
Bonaparte’s Estate being turned into park (CentralJersey.com)
Joseph Bonaparte and the Jersey Devil (Richard Viet)
General History
American Philosophical Society Library
The American Philosophical Society Library is an international center for research with a specialty in early American history.
National Register of Historic Places Listings in Mercer County, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, sortable by name and location.
New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places
Click on the link above to view and download a list compiled by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Historic Preservation Office.
Read more about how World War I affected the citizens of New Jersey.
Photographers of the United States of America
Use the link above to view and download a list of American photographers. Compiled for the National Stereoscopic Association.
City of Trenton
The City Clerk serves as the coordinator and manager and is responsible for implementing local archives and records retention programs.
While the Trenton Historical Society does not have it’s own library or archives, they do provide basic research services. The webpage linked above details their research services and provides a list of other places to conduct genealogy research.
Mercer County
Office of the Mercer County Clerk
The County Clerk’s Office that files and records all documents concerning real estate ownership and transfer.
Mercer County Property Information Search
Conduct detailed searches of property within Mercer County. Searches can be filtered by date, municipality, and document type.
Mercer County Surrogates’ Office
The Mercer County Surrogate’s Office handles the administration of estates, including probating wills, appointing guardians for minors, and managing adoptions.
Mercer County Historic Deed Books
The microfilm of these books is available for request through the Library’s Interlibrary Loan service. Please speak with Trentoniana staff about requesting this item from the Family Search archives.
New Jersey
New Jersey’s Missing and Alienated Records
The link above provides more information on New Jersey’s missing and alienated. Alienated records refers to items that have been stolen or improperly donated or sold.
New Jersey State Archives Statutes and Rules
The New Jersey State Archives is the state’s official research center for public records of enduring historical value, including many vital records, land documents, probate records and military service papers.
New Jersey State Archives Searchable Databases and Records Requests Forms
Visit the link above to search for birth, death, and marriage records; land, probate, and court records; military and wartime records; and photographs. Please note, some records must be requested through forms, which are also available on this website.
New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics
The Office of Vital Statistics and Registry registers vital events and maintains birth records (starting in 1925), marriage records (starting in 1951), death records (starting in 1951), domestic partnership records (starting in 2004), civil union records (starting in 2007), foreign and domestic adoptions, and certificates of birth resulting in stillbirth (starting in 1969).
New Jersey Deparment of Health – Getting Copies of Non-Genealogical Records
This website provides instructions on obtaining birth, death, marriage, civil union, and domestic partnership records.
Genealogy Resources at the N.J. State Library
New Jersey Records Preservation Group
Census Records
The 1890 United States census was destroyed due to water damage caused by a fire in the federal building where it was being held. The only 1890 census left is the special Civil War veterans’ schedule.
Decennial Censuses from 1790-2000
Unified Census Enumeration Districts, 1880-1950
United States Enumeration District, 12th-16th, 1900-1940s
Organizations
Central Jersey Genealogical Club
A membership-based group that holds monthly meetings, many of which are online.
Daughters of the American Revolution
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism across the United States. The DAR offers many free genealogy research tools on their website, no membership required.
Descendants of Founders of New Jersey
A membership-based group open to anyone who can prove direct descent from a founder of New Jersey before 17 April 1702 in any area now in the State of New Jersey.
Genealogical Society of New Jersey
A membership-based organization. The society collections are held at Rutgers’ Special Collections and University Archives in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Genealogical Society of New Jersey’s List of Professional Genealogists
GSNJ maintains a list of New Jersey professional researchers who can provide individualized research or record searches.
Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild
An organization dedicated to transcribing passenger manifests from ships carrying immigrants to the United States.
League of Historical Societies of New Jersey
A membership-based group that publishes a quarterly newsletter.
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, serving as both a resource for Congress and a cultural institution for the American people.
National Archives and Records Administration
The National Archives is the U.S. government’s official repository for historical documents and records, preserving them for public access and research into topics like family history and military service.
The National Genealogical Society is an organization for family history research in the United States, offering educational resources, a scholarly journal, online and in-person learning opportunities, and annual conferences to help members develop their genealogy skills.
National Society of the Colonial Dames of America
The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America is a hereditary women’s organization founded in 1891 that promotes historic preservation, patriotic service, and education for citizens of the United States.
General Websites
Free Websites
This website provides sources for many types of genealogy records, including birth records, death records, marriage records, census records, tax records, church records, court records, military records, historical newspapers, cemeteries, and ethnic records.
A list of genealogy resources from across the internet.
A comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online.
Dead Fred Genealogy Photo Archive
A searchable database of thousands of identified and mystery photos for genealogy enthusiasts looking for long-lost family members.
Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter
A genealogy newsletter website with a discussion forum where users may read and write genealogy-related questions and answers.
The American Family Immigration History Center database contains about 65 million searchable records.
FamilySearch is the world’s largest genealogical organization, offering free access to billions of historical records and a collaboratively built online family tree.
The Family Tree Searcher is an easy way to research your ancestor at the major genealogy websites that have family trees. Enter your ancestor information once to search multiple websites.
A collaborative, user-contributed website that serves as the world’s largest online cemetery and grave record collection, allowing people to search for burial information for family, friends, and famous individuals.
A list of free genealogy websites compiled by Genealogy Explained.
German Roots: German Genealogy
A list of genealogy resources for researching German family history.
A Guide to Genealogy and Family History Research
An article providing basic genealogy research tips and advice.
A Guide to Interpreting Passenger List Annotations
A comprehensive reference guide to interpreting the markings, or annotations, found on immigration passenger lists.
History Commons is an online database of digitized American primary source materials from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries.
A free online resource for Jewish genealogy, providing access to databases of records, a community of researchers, Yizkor (memorial) books, and educational materials.
A guide to New Jersey genealogy created by FamilySearch.org.
An online project, created and maintained by volunteers, dedicated to offering free New Jersey genealogy resources to the general public.
The Official Federal Land Records Site
Access Federal land conveyance records for the Public Land States, including image access to more than five million Federal land title records issued between 1788 and the present.
A simple website with tools for finding immigration records, census records, vital records, and for dealing with calendars, maps, and foreign alphabets.
Search for postmasters appointed after 1971 and some appointed before 1971, back to the 1700s. Find complete information about more than 17,000 Post Offices.
Ship Passenger Lists and Records Online
A list of online sources for digitized or transcribed passenger records and indexes.
Free online access to historical and genealogical records for counties and states across the United States, including cemetery transcriptions, census records, obituaries, and maps.
A free resource for genealogical records. Offers local data like public record offices, cemetery locations, maps, libraries, and societies.
Subscription Websites
*some of these websites may offer free trials
This website is the home of an extensive record collection as well as photos, newspapers, and users’ family trees. Free trial available.
The largest online collection of UK and Irish genealogy records and newspaper archives. Free trial available.
An online database providing digitized US military records, including personal stories, photos, and documents. Free trial available.
A subscription-based online genealogy service that provides access to an archive of digitized U.S. historical documents, primarily newspapers, dating back to 1690.
A subscription-based online genealogy platform with tools to build family trees, search historical records, and connect with relatives. Free trial available.
A subscription-based online service with access to a collection of over a billion digitized, searchable historical newspaper pages, dating from the 1700s to the 2000s. Free trial available.
Library Databases
*require a library card to access
Ancestry Library Edition delivers billions of records in census data, vital records, directories, photos, and more. In-library use only.
A genealogy database of obituaries, death notices, and Social Security Administration records from NewsBank.
An online database of genealogical resources and family histories.
¡Venceremos! Harambee!: A Black & Puerto Rican Union? by Lauren O’Brien
An article exploring the Black and Puerto Rican coalition to create a fuller, multiracial story of the Newark Rebellion—one that recognizes and includes the vital role Puerto Ricans played in Newark’s long history of community activism.
Community Documentary – Puerto Ricans in Trenton
An 2018 documentary by The College of New Jersey students to produce oral histories with Puerto Rican artists from Trenton, as part of a larger project documenting the history of Puerto Ricans in the capital city.
English Program for Agricultural Migrant Workers
An educational program document from 1958, including lessons, activities, and teaching procedures.
The History of Puerto Ricans in Trenton
A website documenting the history of the Puerto Rican community in Trenton, New Jersey.
Fifteen oral histories of pioneering leaders from New Jersey’s Latino community. This project was created by the New Jersey Hispanic Research and Information Center at the Newark Public Library.
Newark’s 1974 Puerto Rican Riots Through Oral Histories by Nicole Torres
An article exploring the frustrations and challenges the Puerto Rican community faced during the 1974 Puerto Rican riots in Newark, as described by those who lived through them, and explains what finally pushed the community to unite and demand to be heard.
New Jersey Hispanic Research and Information Center at the Newark Public Library
The NJHRIC preserves and makes accessible New Jersey’s Latino history and culture, serving diverse Hispanic communities through its three components: the Sala Hispanoamericana (a Spanish-language collection), the Hispanic Reference Collection (English and Spanish research materials), and the Puerto Rican Community Archives (primary historical records).
The Puerto Rican in New Jersey: His Present Status
A July 1955 report from the New Jersey State Department of Education’s Division Against Discrimination.
Library Databases
*require a library card to access
Covering more than 500 years of the African-American experience, African-American History offers a fresh way to explore the full spectrum of African-American history and culture.
Comprehensive coverage of the Black experience from the early 18th century to the present day, sourced from more than 19,000 American and global news sources.
General Websites
A podcast that explores the history and legacy of influential people in Africa, covering both well-known figures like Nelson Mandela and less-spotlighted individuals.
African, Native, and Afro-Indigenous Blogs/Podcasts
A list of African-American genealogy, African-American DNA blogs, and genealogy podcasts, curated by Radiant Roots.
Association for the Study of African American Life and History
The ASAALH is the oldest and largest historical society for the promotion and study of Black life, history, and culture.
A photographic history of Trenton in the 1960s.
Forgotten Patriots: African American and American Indian Patriots in the Revolutionary War
A guide to service, sources, and studies by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Forgotten Patriots: African American and American Indian Patriots in the Revolutionary War
An updated supplement to the above-linked guide.
Last Seen: Finding Family After Slavery
Formerly enslaved people placed ads looking for loved ones from all over the United States and sometimes from as far away as Africa. Explore the interactive map on this website to see the locations of those placing ads or locations where ads appeared.
A Google map of important locations in Trenton related to African-American history, compiled using information from the Trenton Historical Society.
New Jersey Chapter of the Afro American Historical & Genealogical Society
The New Jersey Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society strives to preserve African ancestral family history, genealogy, and cultural diversity by promoting research and disseminating information throughout the community.
A New Jersey-based partnership of cultural organizations dedicated to educating the public about African American history, with an emphasis on its connection to the state.
Sons & Daughters of the United States Middle Passage
A lineage society for descendants of those enslaved in the United States from 1619 to 1865.
Articles and Documents
African Americans in the U.S. Federal Census, 1870-1890
An article about using census data to research genealogy.
Black Lives Matter in the Past and Present by Sue Kozel
An article listing many resources that can help 6-12 grade teachers and community college faculty engage students in discussions of freedom, enslavement, citizenship or the lack thereof, and the rights of Americans in pursuit of liberty during the American Revolutionary Era.
The Education of Negroes in New Jersey by Marion Thompson Wright
Full-text of Marion Thompson Wright’s 1941 book about the black educational system in New Jersey.
Hedgepeth-Williams vs. Board of Education Court Papers
Full text of the landmark New Jersey Supreme Court case that ruled racial segregation in the state’s public schools unconstitutional, and ordered the Trenton Board of Education to admit Black students to a new, all-white school.
An article exploring how housing discrimination, segregation, and efforts to promote desegregation were connected in Trenton, New Jersey, during the mid-1900s.
The History of Locust Hill Cemetery
A report documenting the historic research of Locust Hill Cemetery, Trenton’s largest and only remaining segregated burying ground.
Three Centuries of African-American History in Trenton
This booklet documents known sites and notable individuals associated with the history of Trenton’s African-American population.
Book tells story of Trenton Firefighters
College President Accepts Recommendation to Change Name of Paul Loser Hall
Grasp of Trenton’s Past Brings Laurels for TCNJ Prof
Library Becomes Caretaker of Trenton Club’s History
Survey of History Artist William E. Pedrick to Open at New Jersey’s Ellarslie Mansion
Trenton Makes; the World Takes: The Pork Roll Cookbook
Trenton’s Puerto Rican History Captured with a Collaborative Research Project
