New York State Library
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Genealogy Card Indexes

For the information and convenience of historical and genealogical researchers, the New York State Library provides the following series of card indexes that supplement the Library's online catalog. The card indexes were actively maintained until the middle 1980s.

Use Excelsior, the online catalog, to identify materials more recently added to the collection.

City & Telephone Directories

Index to the Library's city and telephone directories. Arranged alphabetically by place name. Does not index current telephone directories which are located in the Phonefiche collection in the Microform Area.

Local History

A selective four-part index to historical articles and pamphlets. Arranged as follows: Albany; Other parts of New York State; United States (except for New York State); and Subjects and Biography.

New Project Genealogical Data

Index to the DAR series of the same name that contains genealogical forms submitted by applicants for membership in the DAR. Index by surname of Revolutionary ancestor. (Consult the handout DAR Records for more information.)

Revolutionary War Soldiers

Index to the DAR series Graves of Revolutionary War Soldiers in New York and The Balloting Book.
(Consult the handout DAR Records for more information.)

Surnames

Surname index to genealogies in the State Library. Includes a variety of formats, such as books, articles, pamphlets, manuscripts and Bible records.

Vital Records

Index to NYS church and cemetery records owned by the State Library. Includes wills, censuses, tax lists, DAR records and obituaries. Useful in locating vital records for the pre-1880 period. Arranged alphabetically by county and location within the county (e.g., look for Erie County; then Buffalo.)

Last Updated: February 8, 2024