Articles & Databases

Explore our collection of hundreds of online resources and databases. Use our free online content to help with your research, whether it's finding a single article, tracing a family tree, learning a new language, or anything in between.

Brooklyn Newsstand

Developed by the Brooklyn Public Library, this free database provides access to 44 Brooklyn newspapers from 1809-1964, including the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from 1841 to 1963, Brooklyn Life from 1890-1924, and Brooklyn Life and Activities of Long Island Society from 1924-1931.

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All Branch LibrariesBronx Library CenterSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureSt. George Library CenterStavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)Stephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business Center
Genealogy, New York City History, Historical Newspapers, U.S. Newspapers
<p>The Brooklyn Daily Eagle was published from 1841 to 1955 and was revived for a short time from 1960 to 1963.</p>
English

Digital Sanborn Maps, 1867–1970

Library Card Required

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are highly detailed city plans providing researchers with a wealth of information about urban change in American cities. These maps were originally produced between 1867 and 1970 for the purpose of assessing risk and cost of insurance. The Sanborn maps are arranged by state, then city and release data.  Currently there are over several sheets from city sets online in the following states: Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.

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All Branch LibrariesSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business Center
History, New York City History, Maps, Atlases, Cartography, Building and Construction, Maps, Atlases, and Cartography
English

Gateway to North America: People, Places, and Organizations of 19th-Century New York

On-Site Access Only

A collection of historical directories, member lists, and other name-rich sources, focusing on New York City during the long 19th century.  Documents are fully text-searchable and originate from the print collection of the New-York Historical Society.  Other categories of documents include maps, illustrated advertisements, burial lists, and gazetteers. The list of titles available in this database is available here. 

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All Branch LibrariesSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)Stephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business Center
Genealogy, New York City History, United States History, Directories, Manuscripts and Rare Books, History
English

Newsday (1940-1994)

On-Site Access Only

Historical coverage from Newsday, the Long Island and New York City News Source. 

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All Branch LibrariesSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)Stephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business Center
New York City History, Historical Newspapers, U.S. Newspapers
English

New York Amsterdam News (1922-2010)

Library Card Required

Searchable full-text and page images of the leading Black newspaper of the 20th century. 

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All Branch LibrariesSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business Center
New York City History, Historical Newspapers, U.S. Newspapers, Area and Cultural Studies, African American Studies
<p>This leading Black newspaper of the 20th century reached its peak in the 1940s. The Amsterdam News was a strong advocate for the desegregation of the U.S. military during World War II, and also covered the historically important Harlem Renaissance.</p>
English

New Yorker Digital Archive

Library Card Required

The entire run of the New Yorker, in full text and full color, from 1925-present. 

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All Branch LibrariesSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business Center
Advertising, History, New York City History, United States History, Language and Literature, Performing Arts, Magazines, Journals and Serials, American Studies, Business
English

New York Herald (1840-1865)

Library Card Required

Searchable full-text and page images from the New York Herald, 1840-1865, through the ProQuest Civil War Era database. 

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All Branch LibrariesSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business Center
New York City History, United States History, Historical Newspapers, American Studies, History
English

New York State County Histories

On-Site Access Only

Full-text searchable 19th century histories of counties in all of New York state. 

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All Branch LibrariesSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business CenterStavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)
Genealogy, New York City History
<p>Part I (Southeast) contains the following counties; Westchester, Queens, Kings, Richmond, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, and Sullivan. Part II (Central) contains the following counties; Columbia, Greene, Delaware, Albany, Schoharie, Otsego, Madison, Chenango, Broome, Cortlandt, Tioga, Tompkins, Chemung, Dutchess and Ulster. Part III contains the following counties and area; Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Northwestern New York, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Schuyler, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.</p>
English

New York State Newspapers

Library Card Required

A collection of major New York State newspapers, available in full-text. 

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All Branch LibrariesSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business Center
New York City History, U.S. Newspapers
<p>The following New York State newspapers are available in full-text:</p> <p>Buffalo News [Buffalo, NY]</p> <p>Herald-American [Syracuse, NY]</p> <p>New York Observer [New York, NY]</p> <p>New York Times [New York, NY]</p> <p>Post-Standard [Syracuse, NY]</p>
English

New York Times (1851-2019) w/ Index

On-Site Access Only

Searchable full-text and page images from The New York Times archive with the option to search by subject headings (index covers 1851-1993). 

 

 

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All Branch LibrariesSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business Center
Business, Government and Law, History, Genealogy, New York City History, United States History, Performing Arts, Reference, Magazines, Journals and Serials, Historical Newspapers, U.S. Newspapers, American Studies, World History
English

New York Times (1980-present)

Library Card Required

Full-text articles from The New York Times. 

The following publications are included in this search: The Daily (Podcast); New York Times, Late Edition; New York Times Book Review; New York Times Español (July 26, 2020-present); New York Times Magazine (1997-present); New York Times Online (1996-present)

 

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All Branch LibrariesSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business Center
History, New York City History, U.S. Newspapers, World History
<p>New York Book Review, 1997 to the present. New York Magazine, 1997 to the present.</p>
English

New York Tribune / Herald Tribune (1841-1962)

Library Card Required

Full text and full page and article images of the following titles: New-York Tribune (1841-1842); New-York Daily Tribune (1842-1866); New-York Tribune (1866-1924);  New York Herald, New York Tribune (1924-1926); The New York Herald Tribune (1926-1962). 

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All Branch LibrariesSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business Center
History, New York City History, United States History, Reference, Historical Newspapers, U.S. Newspapers
English

ProQuest Historical Newspapers: U.S. Northeast Collection

Library Card Required

Searchable full-text and page images of the Northeast Regional Historical Newspapers collections, which includes the following titles related to New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: U.S. Northeast Collection is accessible from home with the library card. This database includes the New York Daily News

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All Branch LibrariesSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business Center
Business, Government and Law, History, Genealogy, United States History, World History, Language and Literature, Performing Arts, Homework Help, Historical Newspapers, U.S. Newspapers, Area and Cultural Studies, African American Studies, American Studies, Asian Studies, Jewish Studies
<p>Asbury Park Press (Asbury Park, NJ)—1905-2009 The Burlington Free Press (Burlington, VT)—1848-2007 Courier News (Bridgewater, NJ)—1891-2010 Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, NJ)—1949-2009 The Daily Journal (Vineland, NJ)—1925-2011 Daily Record (Morristown, NJ)—1974-2012 Home News Tribune (East Brunswick, NJ)—1903-2009 The Ithaca Journal (Ithaca, NY)—1914-2011 The Journal News (Rockland: West Nyack, NY)—1889-1990 The Journal News (Yorktown: White Plains, NY)—TBD The Morning Call (Allentown, PA)—1883-2010 New York Daily News (New York, NY)—1919-2009 The News Journal (Wilmington, DE)—1871-2009 Philadelphia Daily News (Philadelphia, PA)—1960-2001 Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, PA)—1960-2001 Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, NY)—1785-2010 Press &amp; Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, NY)—1904-2009 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY)—1871-2008 Star-Gazette (Elmira, NY)—1891-2011)</p>
English

Wall Street Journal (1889-2010)

On-Site Access Only

Searchable full-text and page images from the Wall Street Journal archive.  

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All Branch LibrariesSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business Center
Finance, New York City History, Historical Newspapers, U.S. Newspapers, Business
<p>The digital backfile of the Wall Street Journal provides historical coverage of business news and worldwide financial markets. Part of ProQuest Historical Newspapers, this database delivers cover-to-cover full-images in PDF and searchable ASCII text.</p>
English

Wall Street Journal, 1984-present

On-Site Access Only

 Full text of the Wall Street Journal, 1984-present.  

 

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All Branch LibrariesBronx Library CenterSchomburg Center for Research in Black CultureStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThe New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsThomas Yoseloff Business Center
Business, Market Research, Government and Law, United States History, U.S. Newspapers, History
English