New York State Family History Records

Find your ancestors in millions of online records you can't find anywhere else.

Image

Since 1869, the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society has been preserving historical records that are useful to family history researchers investigating people from New York State.

Much of this material is now available to search and view on the web, and we're adding new online records all the time. 

Explore All Online Collections

Below you will find a complete list of each online collection. Click the title of each collection to view a full description and search the collection individually.

Looking for a specific title within our collections? Use the newly launched Titles and Volumes Directory (Beta) to search through the NYG&B's entire inventory of digital titles.

Collection Title Collection Category Location Collection Type More Info
Account Ledger of Michael W. Divine, New York County, 1864-1884 Account Books New York City Image Browse View description

Michael William Divine was born in Tallow, County Waterford, Ireland in December of 1828. He immigrated as a young boy and is found in New York City as early as 1850. By 1864, he was working as an attorney at a firm located at 52 Exchange Place; it was during his time at this firm that he created the transactions included in the ledger. 

Read More
Albany County Cemetery Records Cemetery Albany County Image Browse View description

This collection contains transcribed gravestone inscriptions from cemeteries in Albany County, New York. Researchers can browse digital images of these records, but they cannot currently be searched. The collection page contains a complete list of all cemeteries available, including waypoint links to the records of each cemetery. 

Read More
Albany County Religious Records Religious Records Albany County Text & Images View description

Transcribed genealogy records from churches in Albany County, New York. Most volumes are searchable, but two are image browse only. The collection page contains a complete list of all churches available, including waypoint links to view images from each church. 

Read More
Allegany County Cemetery Records Cemetery Allegany County Image Browse View description

Transcribed gravestone inscriptions from cemeteries in Allegany County, New York. Researchers can browse digital images of these records, but they cannot currently be searched. The collection page contains a complete list of all cemeteries available, including waypoint links to view images from each cemetery. 

Read More
American Agriculturalist Farm Directory and Reference Book, Monroe and Livingston Counties, New York Directories Monroe County, Livingston County OCR View description

This volume is text searchable—text searches entered from this page will query all text in this volume.

Read More
Ansley Family Letters Family and Personal Papers Richmond County Image Browse View description

This is a collections of 19th century letters written to Ozias Ansley of Staten Island, primarily from his children. 

There are fifteen sub-collections of letters. Thirteen of those collections are letters to Ansley from his children, with two other miscellaneous collections of dated and undated materials. While the letters are currently available to view via image browse only, each sub-collection has been arranged by sender.

Read More
Anthology and Bibliography of Niagara Falls County Histories Niagara County OCR View description

Volume One overview

Volume Two overview

Read More
Bible Records from the American Bible Society Religious Records All NY Counties Indexed View description

Beginning in 1987, the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) and the American Bible Society undertook to make the family records documented in these Bibles accessible to researchers. NYG&B volunteers examined the ABS collection and identified 632 Bibles that contained records of interest.

Read More
Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County County Histories Chautauqua County OCR View description

Published in 1891, this title contains brief but densely packed biographies of dozens of prominent figures in Chautauqua County history. A generous number of portraits and historical photos illustrate the text, and a 60-page history of the county, spanning more than 200 years, concludes the volume. Explore the book via one of the entry points below.

Read More
Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York County Histories Niagara County OCR View description

Refer to either Table of Contents to locate the page number of the section you'd like to see.

Read More
Broome County Histories and Directories County Histories Broome County OCR View description

Digitized histories and directories of Broome County, New York. These volumes provide crucial historical context and contain information on the people of Broome County. Researchers can search all volumes or browse volumes individually. The collection description contains an overview of each volume.

Read More
Cattaraugus County Cemetery Records Cemetery Cattaraugus County Image Browse View description

Transcribed gravestone inscriptions from cemeteries in Cattaraugus County, New York. Researchers can browse digital images of these records, but they cannot currently be searched. The collection page contains a complete list of all cemeteries available, including waypoint links to view images from each cemetery.

Read More
Cayuga County Religious Records Religious Records Cayuga County Text & Images View description

Transcribed genealogy records from churches in Cayuga County, New York. Researchers can browse digital images of these records, but they cannot currently be searched. The collection page contains a complete list of all congregations available, including waypoint links to images from each church. 

Read More
Chemung County Histories and Directories County Histories Chemung County OCR View description

Digitized histories and directories of Chemung County, New York. These volumes provide crucial historical context and contain information on the people of Chemung County. Researchers can search all volumes or browse volumes individually. The collection description contains an overview of each volume.

Read More
Chenango County Histories and Directories County Histories Chenango County OCR View description

Digitized histories and directories of Chenango County, New York. These volumes provide crucial historical context and contain information on the people of Chenango County. Researchers can search all volumes or browse volumes individually. The collection description contains an overview of each volume.

Read More