New Jersey Reference Collection
 (Jerseyana Collection)

The New Jersey Reference Collection comprises a broad selection of New Jersey materials containing 2260 monographs, pamphlets, periodicals and serials covering state, county and municipal history, government, education, genealogy, technology and literature.

Our collection also includes New Jersey State Documents. As a partial depository for state documents since 1968, Plainfield Public holds many government items concerning our area and its population. Parts of this collection are not catalogued including the New Jersey and the Plainfield clipping files. Other clipping collections are to be found in the original scrapbooks of the library. The originals of the Plainfield clippings can be seen in the Archives and copies in the Reference Department. The NJ clippings are located behind the Reference desk.

  United States History Collection

  This extensive collection contains unique   missives and serials from the Revolutionary   War, Civil War, War of 1812, World War I, and World War II. Serials and texts from both sides of the Civil War give an interesting study of the period.
           
The collection includes broadsides of newspapers during the war.  Some books describe specific branches of the Armed Services and their involvement in the conflicts. Related items include recruitment posters for the first and second world wars. Periodicals from the 19th century through the middle of the twentieth century include Harper's, Railway Age, Scientific American, St. Nicholas, the Journals of the Continental Congress, War of the Rebellion and Antiques.

Genealogy Collection
Our broad genealogy collection provides one of the library's wealthiest resources, concentrating on New Jersey county, state and regional families. Frequently used sources include genealogies of single families and collective biographies, as well as biographical indexes. Reference material also covers emigrants and Mayflower descendants, published DAR records, and biographies of New Jersey residents.
           
Searches are also possible by category of persons or by ethnic group, such as with Guide to Tracing Your African American Civil War Ancestor. Genealogical periodicals cover New Jersey, New York, New England and Pennsylvania. A subscription to the online resource HeritageQuest is part of the library's continued dedication to genealogical research in general, as well as the gathering of material regarding area families

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  Diversity Studies Collection

  The Library began development of its   Diversity Studies Collection in 2003 to   gather and preserve research materials on the minority groups of Plainfield.  Included in this focus are published and unpublished resources on the history, culture and literature of African-Americans, the Gay and Lesbian community, the Hispanic communityand the Caribbean community. Resources include monographs, periodicals, folios, sheet music, and photographs.

Fine Arts Collections
A Look at Selected Artwork

The Library's Fine Arts Collection includes three original works by Winslow Homer, two early Audubon prints, two oils by John F. Carlson and one by Jonas Lie.
           
The library also owns works by Plainfield artists Riva Helfond, Arnold Schmidt, and Alonzo Adams, as well as original sketches, drawings and watercolors by various noted children's illustrators. In all there are thirty important works. A Cloisonn and Porcelain Collection was donated by the library's founder Job Male.