Local History & Genealogy

The Genealogy and Local History rooms are located on the the Main floor of the Adriance Memorial Library. The Genealogy Room is open to the public during all hours of library operations. Access to the Local History Room is by appointment.

Call (845) 485-3445 x 3350 or email localhistory@poklib.org for more information or to make an appointment.

Main & Market

Digital collection of historic photographs and postcards from Poughkeepsie and the Hudson Valley.

Genealogy Databases

Submit a Question

Ask our Local History and Special Collections Librarian!

Local Newspapers

The Library District owns a complete run, on microfilm, of the Poughkeepsie Journal and its antecedents going back to 1785.

Adriance Memorial Library has three microfilm readers available on a first come, first served basis. You may print black and white copies for .20/apiece, 8.5 x 11 only.

Online, you can use Newspapers.com which features page image newspapers that are keyword searchable from many parts of New York State. The Poughkeepsie Eagle News is available from November 30, 1861 – December 30, 1922 (with some coverage gaps). Also included are the Kingston Daily Freeman (1873-1977), and the Middletown Herald and variant names (1894-1970s). Offsite access limited to Poughkeepsie Public Library District Cardholders.

***If you are inside a PPLD library building, click HERE for immediate access.

Walkway Over the Hudson Collection

A collection donated by the Walkway organization, consisting mostly of blueprints, maintenance records (from when it was an active railroad bridge) & the research materials from Carleton Mabee’s book about the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge. As the materials are held off site, appointments are required to view any materials.

Finding Aids:

Collection Overview

Genealogy Collection

The Genealogy collection places particular emphasis on the history of Dutchess County and the families who have settled here, but the collection also contains information regarding families & towns from the greater Hudson Valley & New York State.

Resources that can be found in the Genealogy collection include:

Federal Census records: in print, on microfilm or online using HeritageQuest (PPLD cardholders only).
Obituary indexes for Poughkeepsie newspapers
Family histories/genealogies
County & town histories; county biographical & genealogical records
Military & immigration records
Church records
Palatine & Huguenot records
Genealogy periodicals: The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, New York Genealogical & Biographical Record, The Dutchess, et al.

All material in the Genealogy room can be searched via the online catalog. Items in this collection do not circulate and cannot be loaned via interlibrary loan. Additionally, many items–due to their fragile nature–are subject to photocopying restrictions. The materials & room are available during all hours of library operation.

Local History Collection

The Local History room houses materials documenting the history of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, and the surrounding Mid-Hudson Valley. This collection contains both published secondary source and unique primary source materials, dating from the late 1700’s to the present.

Resources that can be found in the Local History room include:

Maps
Correspondence
Records of local civic, social & fraternal organizations
Town & village histories
Local government information
Information on local public & private schools (current & defunct)

Most material in the Local History room can be searched via the online catalog, others through the use of specialized finding aids. Items in this collection do not circulate or leave the Local History room. Because many items are unique, fragile, and/or valuable, access to this collection is restricted. The Local History room is not staffed during all hours of operation, so it is strongly recommended that you call prior to making a visit, especially if you require specialized assistance.

Additional resources:

The Dutchess County Clerk Ancient Document Search allows you to explore digital images of 37,000 pages of eighteenth-century legal documents. These records comprise the oldest surviving manuscripts from the Dutchess County Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions, which began operation in 1721 through 1786 (document numbers 1-11400). These documents detail daily life in Dutchess County as seen through both civil and criminal cases that came before the judges and justices of the peace.

Local History staff entertains queries via telephone, mail or email regarding information contained within these collections. Due to staff limitations, however, in-depth research cannot be undertaken. If you wish to pose a question, please make it as specific as possible & include all pertinent background information. When requesting obituaries, please limit the number to three (3) per request. When requesting newspaper articles, please provide the exact date & page, when possible. If this is not known, staff will search a specified fourteen (14) day period.