Reference assistance at NYPL
Librarians are a great resource for people researching their family history, and librarians at the Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy specialize in genealogy research. We can help you find books and records at NYPL and elsewhere, useful resources that will answer your research question, and that help you overcome your genealogy brick walls. We offer free regular classes in genealogy research, speak at local and national genealogy conferences, and write on the subject of genealogy, producing articles, and research guides for genealogists. If you need help, email us at history@nypl.org.
You can also consult the following pages
About the Milstein Division of U.S., Local History and Genealogy
Reference questions
In the Irma and Paul Milstein Division librarians specialize in helping patrons with their genealogy and history research. Librarians have history and genealogy qualifications, and years of experience with answering reference questions, and assisting genealogists with their research.
You can visit or write to us at the the Milstein Division:
The Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
476 Fifth Avenue (42nd St and Fifth Ave)
First Floor , Room 121
New York, NY 10018
Email librarians for research assistance, or set up a 30 minute consultation at history@nypl.org, or using the Milstein Division's Email Reference Form.
Consultations
Most genealogy research questions can be answered quite easily by email. But if you need to set aside some time to speak to a reference librarian who specializes in genealogy research, you can make a 30 minute consultation appointment to do just that. When the library is open, you will be able to do that in person, or you can arrange an online or telephone consultation.
You have two options to make a consultation appointment:
- Book a consultation with a librarian who specializes in genealogy research using LibCal.
- Email us direct at history@nypl.org. Please allow at least 3 days notice.
Research guides and blog posts
The Milstein Division and NYPL librarians have created dozens of blog posts and LibGuides designed to help you with your genealogy research.
A selection of recent blog posts include:
- At-Home Library Resources to Start (or Re-Start) Genealogical Research
- April Fooling With Suffragists a Century Ago—And How to Find Out if Your Ancestors Were Involved With the Suffrage Movement
- Genealogy Tips: Using NYPL Resources at Home to Research Immigrant Ancestors
- Using Maps for Genealogy Research
- Genealogy Tips: Getting Down to (Family) Business
Search for posts published by the Milstein Division
- Blog Posts by Subject: Genealogy
Genealogy related blog posts written by librarians at The New York Public Library
Other sources
National Archives: Start Your Genealogy Research
A great guide from the National Archives that includes information about records, how to get started, with videos and handouts.
"The FamilySearch Research Wiki is a free, online genealogical guide created and maintained by FamilySearch, a non-profit organization. It contains links to genealogy databases, websites, other resources, research strategies, and genealogical guidance to assist in the search for your ancestors. Articles included are locality pages for countries around the world and topic pages that include pertinent genealogy record types explaining how to use the record, what it contains, and how to find it."
Email