Category: Research Resources

Salem County Archive Unlocks the Past

The Salem County Archive, a division of the Salem County Clerk’s Office, is a treasure trove for researchers, historians, and genealogists exploring South Jersey’s rich history. This invaluable government repository houses an extensive collection of government records and newspapers dating back to the late 1600s.

Cooper Salem County Archive
Cooper Maddocks is the archivist at the Salem County Archive.

One of the things that makes the archive exceptional is its dedicated staff. The archivist, Cooper Maddocks, possesses extensive knowledge of government record-keeping practices spanning five centuries and offers patient guidance to researchers navigating a vast body of material.

The archive’s commitment to preservation is evident, too, in its state-of-the-art records management tools, including a cutting-edge book scanner for oversized legal volumes and newspapers. This technology ensures the safeguarding of delicate and valuable documents for future generations.

Under County Clerk Dale A. Cross’s leadership, the Salem County Archive meticulously documents the county’s captivating story from the late 1600s to the present day in a wide array of record groups. Click this link for a list of government records at the Clerk’s office. The collection also contains original copies of newspapers from 1848 to 1991.

The Salem County Clerk’s Office demonstrates a strong commitment to open access. The Clerk’s office provides public access to a wealth of government records, fostering a deeper understanding of the county’s public history and governance. This commitment is further bolstered by the helpfulness of the archivist, who is dedicated to guiding researchers of all backgrounds.

Whether you’re a scholar, historian, genealogist, or simply curious about Salem County’s vibrant history, the Salem County Archive is an essential resource for delving into the past.

Salem County Newspapers Online

Chronicling America at the Library of Congress has updated its digital newspaper database with the inclusion of two historic Salem County newspapers: The Monitor and the Monitor-Register. These Woodstown, NJ papers, spanning 1884 to 1925, are now digitally accessible for historical and family history research.

The publications were successfully added through the New Jersey Digital Newspaper Project (NJDNP), a partnership involving Rutgers University Libraries, New Jersey State Archives, and New Jersey State Library. These institutions worked together to ensure this valuable resource was accessible to the public for free through a text-searchable database.

This collaboration followed their previous contribution to the online resources for Salem County when they added the Penns Grove Record in 2021. The record, which started publishing in 1865, covers 1882 to 1923.

Researchers now have an invaluable, free tool to explore various aspects of South Jersey history.  The Salem County periodicals provide a window into politics, culture, business, religion, and daily events that shaped everyday life over the generations. 

The NJDNP has over 40 newspapers from all parts of the Graden State available online. 

The comprehensive access provided by Chronicling America at the Library of Congress makes it easier than ever before for historians, genealogists, students, and anyone to delve into the rich history of South Jersey and unlock a treasure trove of information about family and local history. 

One of the Salem County newspapers, the Monitor Register from Woodstown
One of the Salem County newspapers, the Monitor Register, available at Chronicling America at the Library of Congress.

A Valuable Resource for Studying African American History: “The Book of Negroes”

“The Book of Negroes” is an essential resource for those researching African American genealogy and slavery during the American Revolution. The British meticulously compiled this enumeration during their evacuation of New York at the end of the war in 1783. The ledger contains detailed information about approximately 3,000 self-emancipated and free Black people who evacuated alongside British loyalists and soldiers.

A page of Maryland entries from the “Book of Negroes.” Note the freedom seekers from Susquehanna Ferry and “Sussex County, Marland.” (Source: The Carelton Papers, Library and Archives of Canada)

Each handwritten entry provides vital information, including the individual’s name, age, and description. By consulting this remarkable source, researchers can uncover details about their journey to freedom, including the identity of their enslavers and the circumstances around their escape.

During the American Revolution, Sir Henry Clinton, the British Commander-in-chief in the colonies from 1778 to 1782, issued the Philipsburg Proclamation on June 30, 1779. This proclamation offered protection and freedom to enslaved individuals who escaped their patriot enslavers and sought refuge with the British. According to Maya Jasanoff, the author of Liberty’s Exiles: American Loyalists in the Revolutionary World, around 20,000 enslaved people joined the British, while approximately 5,000 Black men served in the Continental Army.

On November 30, 1782, peace negotiations between Great Britain and American diplomats resulted in the signing of the preliminary articles of peace. The peace treaty stipulated that owners of self-emancipated Black people who reached British lines by that date would receive compensation, and these individuals would be granted freedom.

Sir Guy Carleton, who assumed command of British forces in America, organized the orderly evacuation of New York, the final British port. Carleton ordered the creation of the ledgers to document the loss of enslaved property, which the British government would later compensate. Carrying certificates of freedom, approximately 3,000 Black people joined the Loyalist exodus from New York to Nova Scotia in 1783.

Here are several free digital resources online to help with mining these old enumerations:

A Page from the Inspection Roll of Negroes Book. No. 1, 1793, National Archives

Atlantic County Newspapers Available Online

When it comes to researching genealogy and history, old newspapers are a goldmine of information. Unfortunately, finding these papers can be challenging, especially when working with new collections in a new area. While some commercial online databases and the Library of Congress’s Chronicling America offer substantial collections of publications, many more papers are unavailable through these providers.

Fortunately, the Atlantic County Clerk of the Court and the local library system have digitized more Atlantic County newspapers, making them more accessible to researchers. One example is The Atlantic County Record, a Jersey Shore paper published in Mays Landing, which the Atlantic County Clerk has made available for free public access from the 1860s to the 1960s. In addition to this county-seat newspaper, Atlantic County, New Jersey libraries offer even more titles for researchers.

These resources have been invaluable to my work, saving me from using a clunky old microfilm reader to eyeball the film. This digitization of old newspapers significantly benefits anyone interested in uncovering the past, particularly genealogists and historians. With greater ease of access, we now have a vast wealth of information at our fingertips.

Thank you to the Atlantic County Clerk and libraries for making the past more accessible.

For access to Atlantic County newspapers, click these links:

Atlantic County Clerk of the Court

Atlantic County Library System

atlantic county newspapers include Atlantic County Record
The Atlantic County Record from Dec. 13, 1941, carries information about civil defense protection following the attack on Pearl Harbor (Source: Atlantic County Clerk of the Court)