1. Are Your Ancestors in the
Buffalo History Museum?
Cynthia M. Van Ness, MLS
Research Library
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
2. www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
How to visit us
•1 Museum Court, formerly 25 Nottingham Court
•North of Rt. 198 off Elmwood Ave.
•Free parking plus a bike rack
•Take the #20 Elmwood bus route, exit at Nottingham
•The Library is in the white marble temple on the main floor
3. Us at a Glance
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
4. •Founded in 1862 and collecting ever since!
•20,000 books
•200,000 photographs
•2,000 manuscript collections
•7,000 postcards
•10,000 maps, drawings, posters, prints, stored off-site
•6,000+ microfilms of newspapers and other materials
•Extensive Vertical/Pamphlet File
•Clippings & articles file
Us at a Glance
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
5. Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
•Open Wednesdays through Saturdays,
1-5 pm
•No appointments necessary
•Professional librarians are on duty
during all public service hours
•Please note: the entire Museum is
closed on Mondays
About the Research Library
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
6. Admission
•Free to Museum members
•$7.00 for all others
•Because the Library doesn’t have children’s books, children’s furniture, or
children’s activities, we urge you to bring kids to museum exhibits and events
instead of the Library.
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
7. •Everyone must sign in with full name & address
•We now have a tablet computer for digital sign-in
A Few Rules
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
8. •Purses, backpacks, briefcases, etc., are kept behind the desk during your visit
•Library materials may not be borrowed or removed from room
•We supply cotton gloves for handling photographs
•Staff does all photocopying, size & condition permitting
•We are a closed-stack library, meaning that most pictures, books & manuscripts are
shelved in staff-only areas. Retrieval takes only minutes.
A Few Rules
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
9. Camera Use Policy
•You may take pictures of museum buildings, grounds, exhibits, programs, and
library scenery. Please add them to our Flickr group!
www.flickr.com/groups/bechs/
•You may not take pictures of library books, photos, maps, documents, collections,
etc., or bring in your own scanner. We now have tablet computers for limited picture-
taking. Please check with staff.
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
10. Please turn off cell phones and step outside
of the library to make phone calls
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
11. No Food or Drink
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
12. Pencils only. We have lots.
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
13. Technology on Site
•Public computer with searchable online catalog, FRANK
•Free WiFi, laptops welcome!
•Two microfilm reader-printers, $.25/page
•Two microfilm readers
•Two Samsung Note tablets for limited picture-taking
•Photocopies made by staff when size & condition permit, $.25 each
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
14. Our Most Popular Tool
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
15. What We Have for Genealogy
•Part One: Basic Sources
•Part Two: Unique Sources
•Part Three: Online Sources
•Part Four: What We Don’t Have
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
16. Part One: Basic Sources
•City directories
•Censuses
•Church records
•Cemetery records
•Newspapers & obituaries
•Military service records
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
17. City Directories
•Great beginner starting place!
•Buffalo: 1828 to 2001, with a few gaps
•Years 1882-1932 are on microfilm, with
a few gaps
•Copies may be made only from film
versions
•Like a phone book
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
18. City Directories
•Last name, first name, address, occupation
or employer
•Women usually omitted until the 1920s
•Minors are not listed
1869
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
19. City Directories
Special section starting in 1929:
Addresses, usually on pink or green
pages in the back
1942
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
20. Suburban Directories
•Erie County & Suburban: 1927, 1929, 1931, 1949, 1959-2001
•Almost no rural or town directories were published before the
suburban era of the 1950s
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
21. Federal Censuses on Microfilm
Erie County: 1790-1880, 1900-1930
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
22. •The backbone of American genealogy
•Arranged geographically, so you need to know the town or ward where the
family lived.
•We have ward maps for the city of Buffalo
•Starting in 1850, gives name, age, sex, race, occupation of everyone in the
household
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
Federal Censuses on Microfilm
23. Ward Maps
Complete collection of Buffalo
ward maps to expedite census
searching
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
24. Our Federal Census Indexes
•1790-1850: All of New York State
•1850: Black Rock
•1860: Erie County & Upstate NY
•1890: NY State Union Veterans
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
25. Our Federal Census Indexes
•These indexes list names in
alphabetical order, so you can
find a family or individual in the
index before tackling film
•The index will tell you the
census film & page number
where the individual or family is
enumerated
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
26. Our NY State Censuses
on Microfilm
• We have Erie County:
1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, 1925
• State censuses are not as informative as
federal ones
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
27. Our NY State Census Indexes
•1855: Erie County towns outside of Buffalo
•No other NYS censuses have been indexed in book or print form
•Now online at FamilySearch.org
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
28. Our Church Records on Microfilm
•Many are Roman Catholic or Episcopal
•Include baptisms, marriages, deaths – a vital records substitute!
•Sometimes in Latin, German, Polish, etc.
•Not always indexed
•Most of these films are also owned by the LDS Family History Library
•We have no way of knowing which film might include your ancestor
•Our list is online here: http://tinyurl.com/BECHS003
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
29. Our Cemetery Records on Film
•Mostly small rural cemeteries
•Most of these films are also owned by the LDS Family History Library
•There is no master index of burials in Erie County’s 200 or so cemeteries,
so we have no way of knowing which film your ancestor might be on
•Our list is online here: http://tinyurl.com/BECHS003
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
30. •Buffalo’s first paper, The Buffalo Gazette,
on microfilm starting in 1811.
•Multiple daily, religious, and ethnic
newspapers ever since
•Nearly all are from the City of Buffalo
•Our list of newspaper films is online here:
http://tinyurl.com/BECHS002
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
Our Newspaper
Collection
31. Our Newspaper Index
A card file identifying some of the people,
places, things & events covered by the
Buffalo Evening News and the Courier-
Express in the 20th century
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
32. Our Obituary Index
•Card file to obituaries in Buffalo
newspapers, 1811-2001, about 99,000
names!
•Includes mainly obituaries, omits most
death notices
•Does not list everyone who ever lived or
died in Buffalo or Erie County
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
33. Published Obituary Index
•Our index, years 1811-1884, is published in book
form
•Available at many libraries across the US
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
34. Our Military Service
Records
•Index to War of 1812 Williamsville Hospital
patients
•Gives name, rank, unit, date, medical
condition, fate
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
35. Our Military
Service Records
•Index of Erie County Civil War
Enlistees
•Gives name, age, enlistment date, unit,
rank, battles
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
36. Our Military
Service Records
•Index of soldiers from Erie County who
served in World War II
•Gives name, rank, parents, fate
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
37. Our Military
Service Records
•Index of soldiers from Erie County who
served in Korean War
•Gives name, rank, parents, fate
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
38. Part Two: Unique Sources
•Letters, diaries
•Organizational records
•Business records
•Photographs
•Papers of prominent residents & collectors
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
39. Some of our Letters & Diaries
Search keyword Diaries in FRANK, our online catalog, and you
will get about 120 hits, including familiar Buffalo names like
Rumsey, Emslie, Fillmore, etc.
http://tinyurl.com/frank-catalog
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
40. Some of Our Organizational Records
For example…
•Buffalo Orphan Asylum, 1836-1939
•Press Cycling Club, 1890-1957
•Buffalo Republican League, 1884-1896
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
41. Our Business Records
For example…
•Larkin Company
•These collections rarely contain personnel
files
•A list is online at:
www.worldcat.org/profiles/BECHS/
lists/
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
42. Our Photographs
•About 200,000 in about 100 distinct
collections
•Most date from 1870-1980
•Popular with house researchers
•We scan only for publication or exhibition
•A detailed guide is online at:
•http://tinyurl.com/BECHS014
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
43. For example…
•Letters received by Millard Fillmore
•Grover Cleveland Papers
•Peter B. Porter papers
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
Some of Our
Personal Papers
44. Part Three: Online Sources
• FRANK
• NewYorkHeritage.org
• New York State Newspaper Project
• Google Books
• WorldCat.org
• Delicious.com
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
45. FRANK
Find Resources And New Knowledge.
A free online catalog of our book &
manuscript collections. Does not
include images.
http://tinyurl.com/frank-
catalog
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
46. NYHeritage.org
•Digital collections from us & our
peer institutions across the state
•War of 1812 documents
•Crystal Beach photos
•Buffalo address books
•And a lot more
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
47. Google Books
•Millions of searchable books
•http://books.google.com
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
48. Google Books
•Search for your name in quotes, as in
“Smith Family”
•Add your ancestral city, like “Smith
family” Buffalo
•Search for record types, like church
records, city directories + name of city
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
49. New York State Newspaper Project
•Lists all surviving Erie County
newspapers on microfilm and who
owns them
•http://tinyurl.com/p6tfkp
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
50. WorldCat.org
•One free database of 1 billion offline
items in thousands of libraries around the
world
•Books, periodicals, newspapers, videos,
films, sound recordings, archival
collections, letters, diaries, etc.
•Helps you decide whether an out-of-town
research trip is worthwhile
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
51. •Over 1,100 useful links that
we’ve collected & sorted by
category or “tag”
•Tags include Cemetery Records,
Census Records, Military, etc.
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
Delicious.com/BufHistory
52. Part Four: What We Don’t Have
•Official vital records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
•Passenger lists
•Naturalization records
•School or college attendance records
•Deeds or property transactions
•Employment or personnel records
•Police or crime records
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
53. What We Cannot Do
•We are not qualified to draw genealogical conclusions or do your family
tree for you
•We cannot provide open-ended research on a list of names or “fill in
gaps” on your genealogy charts
•We cannot appraise or establish the value of your books or other
collectibles
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
54. Contact us
•Email: library@buffalohistory.org
•Phone: (716) 873-9644 x 306
•For best phone results, call Wednesdays through Saturdays, 1-5 pm
Buffalo History Museum
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY14216
www.buffalohistory.org
library@buffalohistory.org
The End