The Caroline Rose Foster North Jersey History & Genealogy Center

The Caroline Rose Foster North Jersey History and Genealogy Center is a department within the Morristown & Morris Township Library, located in the building’s lower level. We invite you to explore our exceptional collection of New Jersey and early American histories, genealogies, maps, historical newspapers, historic preservation materials, manuscripts, records, rare books, and fine art and prints. Our collection is open to all. You can discover more about our collections through our online catalog, our collections page, our digital images, and also by clicking Archival and Manuscript Collection Finding Aids in the column to the right.

The Caroline Rose Foster North Jersey History & Genealogy Center has an exceptional collection of New Jersey historical material, historic preservation resources, books about publishing, typography, book illustration and binding, and one of the best genealogical collections on the east coast. We collect with an emphasis on Morris County and New Jersey, but because many New Jersey families migrated to the Midwest in the 18th and 19th centuries, we also acquire historical and genealogical material for the eastern third of the United States.

Research material in the Caroline Rose Foster North Jersey History & Genealogy Center includes approximately 60,000 books, maps, microfilm, and microfiche, as well as over 1000 linear feet of archival and manuscript collections relating to New Jersey. These collections, which include deeds, church, government and charitable association records, and business and family papers, make this library an especially valuable resource for historians and genealogists. There are over 1700 maps, a large collection of photographs, oral history transcriptions, an extensive microfilm collection of old newspapers, and New Jersey State Census schedules. The center has a collection of rare books dating back to 1556, as well as material about book binding, publishing, typography, and illustration, and resources on historic preservation and the preservation and conservation of books, manuscripts, and fine art.

We hold some of the finest collections of published and original material by and about the life and work of Thomas Nast, the 19th century political cartoonist who lived in Morristown, NJ, from 1872-1902. We also have collections of several other important artists and illustrators who have been local to Morris County.

The Caroline Rose Foster North Jersey History and Genealogy Center Reading Room has publicly accessible shelves, computers with access to genealogical and historical databases, wifi access, and microfilm readers. Other collection material is stored in closed stacks and is available to researchers upon request.

Both card and computerized catalogs are available, and there is always a staff member on duty to help patrons.

Patrons unable to visit our library may request research by mail.  For more information, please see:  Requesting research by mail.

Please note that our collection does not circulate.  All material must be used in the Reading Room. There are printers for the computers and microfilm readers as well as a color/scanner copier. Digital camera use is permitted. The Caroline Rose Foster North Jersey History & Genealogy Center is a special collections facility and patrons must use pencils while working in the Reading Room. Food and drink are not permitted.

Phone: 973-538-3473
Please email us at njhgc@mmt.mainlib.org for more information.