Resource Links

Family History & Genealogy

Free access to Ancestry.com New York, available to New York State residents.

Guide to Queens Borough New York ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

A Genealogist's Guide to Tracing People from Our Past

This detailed guide culls together numerous resources for conducting genealogy research, including church records, land office records, historic American newspapers, and immigration ports databases.

Ancestry to Archives: Libraries Are Revolutionizing Family Tree Research

This informational article examines how libraries are revolutionizing family tree and genealogical research and highlights the best resources to enhance your exploration of family history.

The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation

This website allows you to look up the date of arrival, last place of residence/birth place, and ship name of your ancestor; you can also purchase an archival-quality certificate of his or her passenger record, ship manifest, and/or ship image.

Irish American Immigration History
This webpage, run by the Irish Dual Citizenship (IDC), is an extensive educational resource for understanding the history of Irish immigration.

Online Historical New York Newspapers

This guide outlines all of the principal online newspaper collections, details exactly how many of their holdings relate to New York State, and indicates where you can find them online.

The New York Public Library Digital Collections

Photographic views of New York City, 1870's-1970's, from the collections of the New York Public Library.

House & Property History

NYC Department of Records & Information Services

Research access to over 900,000 items digitized from the Municipal Archives' vast holdings, including photographs, maps, motion-pictures and audio recordings.

NYC Department of Buildings

Search for general information on a property in the city including recorded complaints and violations, actions, applications, and inspections.

NYC Department of Finance Tax Maps

Access official tax maps showing lot lines, block and lot numbers, street names, lot dimensions, and easements.

Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS)

Property records and document images for Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, and Brooklyn from 1966 to the present.

80s.NYC

Over 100,000 street segments and 800,000 building photos of 1980s New York.

Queens, New York Resources

Tables cross-referencing historic street names in Queens to their new names.

Historic Map Works

Historic digital map database of North America and the world.

Historic Districts Council: Queens-Landmarks

A complete current listing of every legally designated historic district in Queens.

House History: A Guide to Uncovering the Stories of Local Buildings and Properties
This guide from the Library of Congress provides research strategies to discover the history of a particular building or property, including architecture, location, ownership, and historical context.

Glossary of Architectural Terms
Architectural terminology and design styles help explain how buildings are constructed, decorated, and preserved. Understanding these terms fosters a greater appreciation for the built environment and the craftsmanship behind it.