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Local Historiana

LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION

The Library’s Somerset Hills Historical Collection is a resource that documents the history of primarily Bedminster and Far Hills, New Jersey as well as other communities in the Somerset Hills. The purpose of the Somerset Hills Collection is to collect, preserve, describe, and make accessible these materials to the local community as well as to visiting and online researchers. The Collection is housed in the Anne O’Brien Room which is named in memory of the former Bedminster Township Historian and Committeewoman and tireless champion of historical preservation and research.

The Collection includes books, monographs maps, letters, diaries, photographs, and physical artifacts. There is an extensive vertical file collection indexed by subject that contains both primary and secondary information.

DIGITAL ARCHIVE

The Digital Archive includes over a thousand extensively annotated images from the Collection’s historical photograph trove as well as documents.  These items range from the 18th century day book of merchant John Boylan to Thomas Edison’s warm letter to Clarence Dillon to Gilded Age and later photos of local gentry driving four-in-hand horse drawn carriages, riding to the hounds, and the local blacksmith.  CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE DIGITAL COLLECTION

COME VISIT US

Whether for the scholarship, genealogical search, general use, or plain interest please do visit the Room and its beloved curator. No appointment needed, and the room’s comfortable leather chairs, artwork, and work table are part of the deal.  For more information please call the Reference Department at 908-234-2325 ext. 116 or email ref@dillonlibrary.org

OTHER LOCAL HISTORY RESOURCES

The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills: http://www.historicalsocietyofsomersethills.org/
Somerset County Historical Society: http://www.schsnj.com/libraryPublications.htm
Morris County Historical Society: http://www.jvanderveerhouse.org/ornhall.org/morris-county-historical-society.html
Jacobus Vanderveer House and Museum: http://www.jvanderveerhouse.org/
Bernardsville Public Library: http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/local/
The Bernardsville News Archive – available in-library use only