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THE ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE LIBRARY
Montclair Historical Society's Local History Research Library
Namesake:
Montclair Historical Society’s library was named after Albert Payson Terhune, renowned New Jersey author, whose foundation supports the Terhune Library.
Public Access and Policies:
The Terhune Library is open year-round for research with assistance available by appointment. The library is non-circulating, which means that all research must be done on site and no materials are available for loan. However, materials can be copied at a cost of 5 cents per copy unless very fragile. Copies of photographs are available for a fee. Food or drink is not permitted in the library. Only pencil can be used to take notes. The Library is open to the public free of charge, but donations are accepted.
Overview of the Collection:
The library collection includes 1,600 books, 800 pamphlets, 400 slides and glass plates, 300 photographs, 30 maps, plus periodicals, archival materials, Crane family papers, scrap books, memorabilia and artifacts where visitors may research questions relating to Montclair's history, architecture and genealogy. The primary focus of the collection is history of Montclair and 18th and 19th Century New Jersey. The collection is useful for researching your family’s history, or your home’s history. The collection does not contain official government documents such as birth certificates or marriage records.
Books:
All books are catalogued using the Dewey Decimal system. Searches must be done using the card catalog by author, subject or title..
Postcards:
There is a large collection of Montclair postcards available for research by subject area: homes, parks, churches, street scenes and misc.
Manuscript Collection:
The manuscript collection contains many documents including original letters, receipts, wills, diaries, photographs, etc. A finding aid has been created for the manuscript collection containing Crane material. The other manuscript collections have not been fully catalogued.
Lantern Slides:
The collection of 165 lantern slides has been inventoried. These slides are not to be handled. Copies can be made for a fee.
Maps:
Maps are available for review by researchers. The Historical Society has also had four maps digitized (see list below) which are available for purchase. (Must have Adobe Acrobat Reader.) There is a complete list of maps located in the wooden map drawers and map shelves." Click here
Highlights
http://www.montclairhistorical.org/collection/TerhuneLibrary.html
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- Tax maps for Montclair: 1899, 1918, 1928, 1943 and1957
- Map of New Jersey, 1834
- Maps of Montclair: 1857, 1865, 1881 and 1938 (digital copies available for sale)
- Maps of Montclair: 1914, 1916, 1938
City Directories:
The Terhune Library contains both hard copies and microfilm copies of city directories from Montclair and surrounding towns from 1886 through the 1960s. There are also city directories from Newark in 1835, 1836, 1855, 1856, 1864 and 1865.
City directories can be searched by the person’s last name, usually they include information about occupation, other members of the household, and work address. In some years, there is also a reverse directory, which means you can search by a street address to determine who lived there. The directories also contain listings for businesses.
City Directory Click here
Reference Material:
Highlights:
The collection contains a number of reference publications useful in doing research on Montclair’s history. In particular is a set of six volumes of a 1982 survey of homes in Montclair. The survey is indexed by street address and contains information on when the home was built, the architect and distinguishing characteristics and history. Not all homes in Montclair are listed. There is also an extensive introduction the prevalent styles and architects in Montclair. Check to see if your home or other homes are listed in the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Click here
Other reference resources include:
New Jersey History (published by the New Jersey Historical Society), volumes 65-66, 68-73, 75-76, 79-84, 86-90, 92-93, 95, 102. 1-4, vol. 103. 1-2, vol. 105. 1-4, vol. 106. 1-2, vol. 107. 1-4, vol. 108. 1-4, vol. 109. 1-4, vol. 110. 1-2, vol. 111. 1-4, vol. 112. 3-4, vol. 113. 1-4. vol. 114. 1-4. vol. 115. 1-4. index to vol. 89 1971, index to vol. 90 1972 vol. 92. 1974, index to vol. 95 1977, 1967-1983, 2000, 2002 Annual Reports for Years 1971 and 1972
Links:
There are other places that may have the information you are looking for. They are:
Montclair Public Library
www.montlib.com
The New Jersey Historical Society
www.jerseyhistory.org
Newark Public Library
www.npl.org
Montclair Genealogy Web Resources www.rootsweb.com/~njessex/towns/montclair/index.htm
© 2001, 2002, 2003 The Montclair Historical Society. All rights reserved.
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108 Orange Road • Montclair • NJ 07042 • Phone 973.744.1796 |
