New Jersey State Archives

New Jersey State Archives New Jersey's official research center for public records of enduring historical value.

06/16/2026

Celebrate America’s 250th in Trenton, NJ! 🇺🇸

Join the city of Trenton for the 4th of July Parade & Festival. This celebration invites residents and visitors from all backgrounds to share a day of music, food, and entertainment.

The parade begins on Saturday, July 4th at 12:00pm at Trenton City Hall and will feature local organizations, cultural groups, performers, and community partners moving through the heart of the Capital City. It will be a lively showcase of the many voices and traditions that make Trenton what it is today.

The procession will continue to the historic Trenton Battle Monument at 1:00pm, where a wreath-laying ceremony will be held in honor of the area’s important role in American history.

Following the ceremony, the celebration continues at 1:30 PM with a multicultural festival at Mill Hill Park. Guests can enjoy food vendors offering diverse cuisines, rides, games, escape rooms, and family-friendly activities.

This is an event for the entire community to come together and enjoy a day of shared experiences in celebration of America's 250th anniversary.

View more details at www.trentonnj.org

Revolution NJ New Jersey Historical Commission - NJHC Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association - W3R Discover Central New Jersey Journey Through Jersey City of Trenton NJ - City Hall Visit Mercer NJ Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission Mercer County, New Jersey The Trenton Post Trenton Downtown Association Trenton Journal Central New Jersey Network - CNJN Visit New Jersey

06/15/2026

Did you know slavery was not fully abolished in New Jersey until 1866?

New Jersey passed An Act to Abolish Slavery in 1846 that called everyone free, but only children born after the Act was passed were fully emancipated. It wasn’t until January 23, 1866, when New Jersey ratified the 13th Amendment, that slavery was officially abolished in both New Jersey and the United States.

Read the law and discover more surprising facts about New Jersey’s quest for liberty here: https://buff.ly/y1ZBXj3
New Jersey State Archives

Excited to give another tour of our "Power to Change" exhibition, this time to members of New Jersey's Assembly.
06/12/2026

Excited to give another tour of our "Power to Change" exhibition, this time to members of New Jersey's Assembly.

Please be advised West State Street will be closed next Thursday, June 18. Plan to take the Memorial Drive exit if you v...
06/12/2026

Please be advised West State Street will be closed next Thursday, June 18. Plan to take the Memorial Drive exit if you visit us that day!

06/11/2026

Did New Jersey's 1844 Constitution end slavery in the state? In 1845, two enslaved individuals, William (born before July 4, 1804) and Mary Tiebout (born after July 4, 1804) were brought before the New Jersey Supreme Court as representatives of all enslaved people in New Jersey. Their cases helped test whether the new constitution had changed the legal status of slavery in the state.

Explore our newest digital exhibit to follow the court cases, laws, and decisions that shaped the history of slavery and emancipation in New Jersey. https://buff.ly/CVDogG2
New Jersey State Archives

06/05/2026

Your is here to teach you that colonial New Jersey had two capitals! Even after East and West Jersey were united under royal rule in 1702, the divide remained so significant that government business continued to alternate between Perth Amboy and Burlington throughout the 18th century. Separate records were even maintained for each region. Explore our digital exhibit on “The Jerseys” to learn how our state came to be what it is today.https://buff.ly/Fz7HAeK
New Jersey State Archives

In honor of Governor Sherrill’s declaration of this month as “Horse Month,” we’re bringing back a few of our favorite ho...
06/04/2026

In honor of Governor Sherrill’s declaration of this month as “Horse Month,” we’re bringing back a few of our favorite horse photos from the Department of Agriculture photograph collection [SAGSE001]. The full collection is available here: https://wwwdnet-dos.nj.gov/DOS_ArchivesDBPortal/agriphotos.aspx

During the Revolutionary War, it was not unusual for men to hire substitute soldiers to serve in their place. Wealthier ...
06/02/2026

During the Revolutionary War, it was not unusual for men to hire substitute soldiers to serve in their place. Wealthier individuals could afford to pay someone—often an indentured servant, an enslaved person, or a poorer local resident—to take their spot in military service. This month’s mini exhibit in the Manuscript Reading Room is all about these soldiers. Be sure to check it out on your next visit!

Recently, the State Archives recovered a missing 1777 New Jersey enrolled law from the Rosenbach Museum and Library in P...
05/29/2026

Recently, the State Archives recovered a missing 1777 New Jersey enrolled law from the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia. The law is entitled “An Act to exempt Isaac Collins, and four Workmen to be employed in his Printing Office, from actual Service in the Militia.” Isaac Collins was a State printer, and the Revolutionary government depended on his shop to print New Jersey money and militia pay certificates, forms, laws, and other types of documents. We believe this manuscript went missing from the State House basement vaults of the Secretary of State’s Office in the 1950s, at the same time that many others were taken by a known thief. The document has been listed as missing and reported to the FBI and State Police on the State Archives “Public Records Recovery and Amnesty” website. The Director and staff of the Rosenbach learned of this and voluntarily transferred the document to the State after the Archives demonstrated that it was formerly located in the State House. We thank them for their professionalism and courtesy.

We are so excited to share this exhibition with everyone! Yesterday, our Executive Director Joseph Klett and the New Jer...
05/28/2026

We are so excited to share this exhibition with everyone! Yesterday, our Executive Director Joseph Klett and the New Jersey State Museum Executive Director Margaret O’Reilly welcomed Senator Andy Kim and welcomed back Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dale Caldwell for a tour.

Our Power to Change exhibition will run through 2026, so please stop by the State Museum to visit too.

Address

225 W State St
Trenton, NJ
08625

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:15pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:15pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:15pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:15pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:15pm

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