Local History
Collections Index
- Local History
- Genealogy
- Special Collections
- Items of Interest
- Search Tips
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The Local History department holds Plainfield city directories from the 1870s through 1982. The city directories are available in print, on microfilm and in an online searchable PDF format.
The 1930 directory listed numerous Plainfield deaths. Additional deaths were noted in some other directories, which are being processed, but no other volume covered as many deaths as the 1930 directory.
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The records of the Courier News document people, organizations, and events around New Jersey from the 1870s into the 2000s. The collection includes photographs, film negatives, newspaper obituaries, newspaper article clippings, and ephemera. |
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This unique collection of 16,000 architectural drawings and blueprints documents the rich history of Plainfield's architectural development. It includes residences, houses of worship, businesses, and multifamily dwellings from 1887 to 2002. The drawings have been microfilmed and digitized for preservation and Internet access.
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The Plainfield High School yearbooks, dating back to 1906, are a valuable part of the Local History Department’s Plainfield Collection. They provide a unique insight into the everyday lives of Plainfield teenagers, the effects of local and national events, and the evolution of Plainfield society over several decades. The yearbooks have not been digitized, and are available in hard copy on microfilm. If you are interested in donating a yearbook to help complete the collection, please contact the Local History Department. |
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The Plainfield Public Library's historical photograph collections include over 50,000 individual photographic prints, negatives, slides and glass plates by over a dozen local photographers from the 1860s to the present.
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The Plainfield Public Library's historical scrapbooks include numerous scrapbooks created by both individuals and organizations. The books contain a variety of materials, such as newspaper clippings, interesting ephemera, letters, photographs, artwork, and more. The books cross multiple collections and span from 1820 to 1997. |
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This collection includes a broad array of books by more than 100 local authors. A recent inventory showed that Plainfield has had authors since the early 1800s writing about everything from science to poetry to children's books. Authors include: J.M. Benjamin, Van Wyck Brooks, Judy Blume, Adele DeLeeuw, and many others. |
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Recently inventoried, this collection includes: 98 State maps beginning in 1874, 19 Plainfield flat maps, and 21 framed wall maps of Plainfield, including two copies of the oldest map of Plainfield dated 1832. This cartographic collection includes numerous atlases in the New Jersey Collection. Maps of, and information about, the nine historic districts of Plainfield can be found here. A selection of sixteen digitized images of large-scale maps of New Jersey, the city of Plainfield, and the surrounding areas are now available through the New Jersey Digital Highway.
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The Plainfield Public Library’s collection of local organizations is composed of a variety of materials including annual reports, board meeting minutes, correspondence, financial documents, photographs, scrapbooks, ephemera, and more. The Department also holds a large quantity of vertical files that document the long history of organizations, businesses, schools, and churches in Plainfield. The records date back to 1867.
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The Plainfield Public Library’s manuscript collection is housed in our Local History Department. It is composed of manuscripts, personal papers, oral histories, vital records and certificates, photographs, scrapbooks, correspondence, ephemera, and other unique material belonging to a particular person or family - usually connected to Plainfield, NJ. This collection contains the papers of Job Male, Plainfield's first mayor and namesake of the city's first library.
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A Cross-Collection Finding Aid for Archival Resources at Plainfield Public Library.
Discover the various Black history resources specific to Plainfield available in the Library’s archive. Because these records are “hidden” across multiple collections, it has been difficult for researchers, students, historians, and genealogists to locate them. This finding aid shows how to access these valuable resources.
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The Plainfield Police Department log books date from 1884 to 1971; they document local arrests, accident reports, criminal dockets, stolen articles, and more. The Treasury Department tax receipt books span from 1883 to 1905. The collection is being indexed and digitized for public access.
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The Plainfield Postcard Collection contains 2,000 postcards with 1,000 unique images. The Chase collection and the Ricketts collection make up the core of the library's holdings, depicting Plainfield in the early 1900s.
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 In addition to how-to guides and Reference Department staples on the main floor of the library, the Local History Department, located on the lower level of the library, offers many specialized resources to family historians and genealogists. Be sure to review our Plainfield resources contained in the Local History Collections.
All are encouraged to consult Department staff for assistance. This can be done in person; by phone at (908) 757-1111, ext. 136; or by sending us an e-mail at localhistory[at]plfdpl.info.
Please check out the Library's research databases page for online newspaper access and other subscription services.
*Some files require Adobe Reader in order to view - Download Adobe Reader |
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In addition, the 1930 Plainfield city directory listed numerous Plainfield deaths. Additional deaths were noted in some other directories, which are being processed, but no other volume covered as many deaths as the 1930 directory. |
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The Local History staff can direct researchers to online access to many of the state censuses through our subscription services, but the microfilmed records are in standard census format, available for browsing. |
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The indexing of Plainfield records is an important part of the preservation of the city's history. Records date back to 1734 and many are part of the Library's own collection; others are on loan to us for special projects. Items include local church records, family bibles, obituary files, marriage records, and more. The indexes and transcriptions will be made publicly available as they are completed. |
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The Memorial Funeral Home records date from 1906 to 1996 and include files from the A. M. Runyon Funeral Home. File data varies, but will usually contain funeral and burial information, cause of death, and often other family details. The files are currently being processed, but Local History staff are happy to assist patrons with requests. The collection is not open to the public and private personal information, including Social Security Numbers, will not be released under any circumstances. Indexes will be posted to the website as they are created. See our list of local cemeteries and funeral homes.
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Our Special Collections include genealogy and family histories, fine art, diversity studies, oral histories, New Jersey and United States history, as well as the original Library collection from the 1800’s. There is also an additional set of books on subjects that support sour collections such as photography, art, architecture, and historic preservation. For further information, please contact the local history department at 908-757-1111 ext. 136.
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The purpose of the project is to create a genealogical footprint for NJ residents living in Essex County in the 18th and early 19th century by using the 1793 NJ Militia census. |
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The Children's Authors & Illustrators Collection documents Plainfield Public Library's Children's Department’s Summer Reading Club of 1969 and the Book Festivals of 1971 & 1977. The collection includes a variety of items from nearly 70 different authors and illustrators of children's books. Materials include manuscripts, original illustrations, letters, book jackets, galley pages, folded & gathered (F&G) pages, book marks, book lists, photographs, and ephemera. Many of the items are signed, unique and original works. |
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The Library began development of its Diversity Studies Collection in 2003 to gather and preserve research materials on the minority groups of Plainfield. The collection scope includes published and unpublished resources on the history, culture and literature of African Americans, the Gay and Lesbian community, the Hispanic community and the Caribbean community. Resources include monographs, periodicals, folios, sheet music, and photographs. The collection also includes oral history interviews as part of the StoryCorps Griot, Latinos in Conversation, and Hispanics in America initiatives. |
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The goal of this project is to document the men of Essex County and the surrounding areas who were part of the fight for independence in the Central New Jersey area. |
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The Library's Fine Arts Collection includes two original works by Winslow Homer, three early Audubon prints, two oils by John F. Carlson and one by Jonas Lie. Also included are works by Plainfield artists Riva Helfond, Arnold Schmidt, and Alonzo Adams (image on left), as well as original sketches, drawings and watercolors by various noted children's illustrators. In all there are about forty important works. A Cloisonné and Porcelain Collection was donated by the Library's founder Job Male. |
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The New Jersey Reference Collection comprises a broad selection of New Jersey materials containing 2260 monographs, pamphlets, periodicals and serials covering state, county and municipal history, government, education, genealogy, technology and literature. As a partial depository for New Jersey State documents since 1968, Plainfield Public holds many government items concerning our area and its population. Parts of this collection are not catalogued, including the New Jersey and the Plainfield clipping files. Other clipping collections are to be found in the original scrapbooks of the library. The originals of the Plainfield clippings can be seen in the Archives. Copies are available for viewing in the Reference Department. |
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Online exhibits allow the Library to showcase its local history resources through thematic presentations. Some have been developed specifically for the website, while others document short-term physical exhibits and make them available to future generations. Viewers can appreciate the creativity and scholarship invested in the original exhibit while learning about the range and depth of the Library's local history collections.
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The Oral History Collection includes oral-history interviews as part of the StoryCorps Griot, Latinos in Conversation, and Historias initiatives. StoryCorps is a not-for-profit company that conducts oral histories nationwide. These projects ensure that the voices, experiences, and life stories of Union County's African-American, Latino, and Hispanic communities will be preserved and presented with dignity. Since 2007, the collection has grown to include over thirty six interviews with local Plainfield and Union County residents representing fourteen different countries. Many of the interviews were also transcribed with the help of a Union County History Grant.
The Library's most recent project, Plainfield Voices: 1967 Plainfield Uprising, records the memories of the civil disorder of July 1967. Listen to the interviews here.
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This extensive collection contains unique missives and serials from the Revolutionary War, Civil War, War of 1812, World War I, and World War II. Serials and texts from both the Union and the Confederacy give an in-depth perspective of the period. We also hold many volumes documenting all of the presidents, particularly Theodore Roosevelt. Some volumes document the history of specific branches of the Armed Forces and their involvement in the conflicts. Related items include recruitment posters from the First and Second World Wars (image on left). Periodicals from the 19th century through the middle of the 20th century include Harper's, Railway Age, Scientific American, St. Nicholas, the Journals of the Continental Congress, War of the Rebellion and Antiques. |
Items of Interest
The following items may be of interest to Plainfield residents. historians and researchers.
For further information, please contact the local history department at 908-757-1111 ext. 136.
*Some files require Adobe Reader in order to view - Download Adobe Reader
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View our lists of local cemeteries and funeral homes. These lists have been compiled with information gathered through multiple imperfect resources. Any readers who are aware of supplementary or contradictory details are invited to contact the Local History Department so that corrections and updates can be made. |
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Learn about the early history of Plainfield from before the 1600s to the 1800s.
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vertical files contain newspaper clippings, dating back to the 1970s, on various people and subjects. Most of the clippings are from the Courier News and The Star Ledger.
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The transcription of Plainfield records is an important part of the preservation of the city's history. Many of the items are part of the Local History Collection; others are on loan to us for this special project. Items include local church records, family bibles, obituary files, marriage records, and more. The transcriptions will be made publicly available as they are completed. |
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A descriptive listing of 10 of the most notable women of Plainfield. |
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The "Pioneers of Plainfield" series of 65 newspaper article was written by Oliver B. Leonard (O.B. Leonard) regarding the early European settlers in the Plainfield area dating back to 1684. The articles, called "chapters," ran in the Plainfield Courier News from October 6, 1916 to December 28, 1917. They were published once a week, usually on Fridays.
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This finding aid highlights the various Black history resources specific to Plainfield available in the Library’s archive. Because these records are “hidden” across multiple collections, it has been difficult for researchers, students, historians, and genealogists to locate them. This aid will provide easier access to this materials.
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A listing of past Mayors of Plainfield, dating back to 1869, along with their terms of office and party affiliations.
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A descriptive listing of the founders of Plainfield Public Library.
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Indexes for some of the helpful reference books available. This is an ongoing volunteer indexing project. Please contact the department if you are interested in volunteering. |
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An instructional page detailing the public resources available at the library to research the history a Plainfield home or business. Access the tutorial here.
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Search Tips for Local History Collections
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Best search is by permit number, which is available from the city's Building Department (908) 753-3222.
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Enter only the street name; do not include the words "avenue" or "street", etc.
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Omit street directions and their abbreviations (i.e. N. S. E. W. or North, South, East, West).
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Search City Directories (from a Library computer) to get the names of past owners of your building, then search blueprints by their last name.
- Learn more about the Charles Detwiller Blueprint Collection.
Please note:
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The Library does not have all blueprints.
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Newer blueprints are housed at City Hall.
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Not all blueprints have an identified street address, so expand your search by omitting house numbers.
- Digitized blueprint images will appear small in scale. Patrons must come into the Plainfield Room to view larger scale images.
- Blueprints without digitized images can be viewed on microfilm.
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Not all images are available online, and not all photographs are indexed. Patrons are invited to come into the Plainfield Room to browse through prints in our photograph binders.
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Data and images from the Courier News Photographic Archive will be available as images are processed and scanned for public access.
- If you are getting too many results - narrow your search by checking the “Show only records that contain digitized (online) images” box.
Patrons are welcome to come into the Plainfield Room to view digitized blueprints or those on microfilm,
as well as photographic prints and postcards. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment.
You can send us an email or reach us by phone at 908-757-1111 Ext. 136.
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