Classic N.Y.S. Histories & Document Collections

[nearly all are full-text, searchable, downloadable]

         See also Classic Long Island Histories & Historic Document Collections
         See also the general New York State History web page
         See also under NYS counties, cities, historical period web pages

New Netherland 

• Jamesson, J. Franklin.  Narratives of New Netherland, 1609-1664.  New York:  Charles Scribner's Sons, 1909.  (Internet Archive)
   
• The Register of New Netherland; 1626 to 1674, [full text], [tr. from Holland Documents III], by E[dmund]. B[ailey]. O'Callaghan, LL.D. Albany, NY:  J. Munsell, 1865. (Internet Archive)
   
• Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, 1638-1674, [full text], compiled and translated from the Original Dutch Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, Albany, New York, by E.B. O'Callaghan.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., Printers and Stereotypers, 1868.  (Internet Archive) 
   
• Index to Volumes One, Two and Three of Translations of Dutch Manuscripts in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of New York, by E.B. O'Callaghan.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., Printers, 1870.  (Internet Archive)
   
• The Records of New Amsterdam from 1653 to 1674 Anno Domini:
  • v. 1:  Minutes of the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens, 1653-1655, [full text], ed. by Berthold Fernow and E[dmund]. B[ailey]. O'Callaghan.  New York:  Knickerbocker Press, pub. under the authority of the City of New York, 1897.  (Internet Archive) -- Burgomasters were a few selected prominent individuals; schepens were sheriffs. 
  • v. 2:  Minutes of the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens, 1656 to Aug. 27, 1658, Inclusive, [full text], ed. by Berthold Fernow and E.B. O'Callaghan.  New York:  Knickerbocker Press, publ under the authority of the City of New York, 1897.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 3:  Minutes of the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens, Sept. 3, 1658 to Dec. 30, 1661, Inclusive, [full text], ed. by Berthold Fernow and E.B. O'Callaghan.  New York:  Knickerbocker Press, pub. under the authority of the City of New York, 1897.  (Internet Archive) 
  • v. 4:  Minutes of the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens, Jan. 3, 1662 to Dec. 8, 1663, Inclusive, [full text], ed. by Berthold Fernow and E. B. O'Callaghan.  New York:  Knickerbocker Press, pub. under the authority of the City of New York, 1897. (Internet Archive)
  • v. 5:  Minutes of the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens, Jan. 8, 1664 to May 1, 1666, Inclusive, [full text], ed. by Berthold Fernow and E.B. O'Callaghan.  New York:  Knickerbocker Press, pub. under the authority of the City of New York, 1897.  (Internet Archive) 
  • v. 6:  Minutes of the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens, May 8, 1666 to Sept. 5, 1673, [full text], ed. by Berthold Fernow and E.B. O'Callaghan.  New York:  Knickerbocker Press, pub. under the authority of the City of New York, 1897. (Internet Archive)
  • v. 7:  Minutes of the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens, Sept. 11, 1673 to Nov. 10, 1674, Inclusive; Administrative Minutes, March 8, 1657 to Jan. 28, 1661, Inclusive, Index,  [full text], ed. by Berthold Fernow and E.B. O'Callaghan.  New York:  Knickerbocker Press, pub. under the authority of the City of New York, 1897.  (Internet Archive)

Dutch, French, & English Colonial Records

• Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New-York; Procured in Holland, England and France:  [full-text]
  • v. 1:  Transcripts of Documents in the Royal Archives at the Hague and in the Stad-Huys of the City of Amsterdam; Holland Documents:  I-VIII, 1603-1656, [full text], [procured] by John Romelyn Brodhead, Esq., Agent; ed. by E. B. O'Callaghan.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., Printers, 1856.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 2:  Transcripts of Documents in the Royal Archives at the hague; in the Stad-Huys of the City of Amsterdam, and in the Office of the Secretary of State, Albany, New-York;Holland Documents:  VIII-XVI, 1657-1678, [full text], [procured] by John RomelynBrodhead, Agent, ed. by E.B. O'Callaghan.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co, Printers, 1858.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 3:  Transcripts of Documents in the Queen's State Paper Office; in the Office of the Privy Council; in the British Museum; and in the Library of the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth, in London:  London Documents:  I-VIII, 1614-1692, [full text], [procured] by John Romelyn Brodhead, ed. by E.B. O'Callaghan.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., Printers, 1853. (Internet Archive)
  • v. 4:  Transcripts of Documents in the Queen's State Paper Office; in the Office of the Privy Council; in the British Museum; and in the Library of the Archbishop of Canturbury at Lambeth, in London: London Documents, IX-XVI, 1693-1706, [full text], [procured] by John Romelyn Brodhead, ed. by E.B. O'Callaghan.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., Printers, 1854.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 5:  Transcripts of Documents in the Queen's State Paper Office; in the Office of the Privy Council; in the British Museum; and in the Library of the Archbishop of Canturbury at Lambeth, in London: London Documents, XVII-XXIV, 1707-1733, [full text], [procured] by John Romelyn Brodhead, ed by E.B. O'Callaghan.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., Printers, 1855.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 6:  Transcripts of Documents in the Queen's State Paper Office; in the Office of the Privy Council; in the British Museum; and in the Library of the Archbishop of Canturbury at Lambeth, in London; London Documents, XXV-XXXII, 1734-1755, [full text], [procured] by John Romelyn Brodhead, Agent, ed. by E.B.O'Callaghan.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., Printers, 1855.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 7:  Transcripts of Documents in the Queen's State Paper Office; in the Office of the Privy Council; in the British Museum; and in the Library of the Archbishop of Canturbury at Lambeth, in London: London Documents:  XXXIII-XL, 1756-1767, [full text], [procured] by John Romelyn Brodhead, Agent; ed. by E.B.O'Callaghan.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., Printers, 1856.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 8: Transcripts of Documents in the Queen's State Paper Office; in the Office of the Privy Council; in the British Museum; and in the Library of the Archbishop of Canturbury at Lambeth, in London; London Documents: XLI-XLVII 1768-1782, [full text], [procured] by John Romelyn Brodhead, ed. by E.B. O'Callaghan.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co, Printers, 1857.  (Internet Archive)  
  • v. 9:  Transcripts of Documents in the "Ministere de la Marine et de Colonies;" of the "Ministere de la Guerre;" and in the "Bibliotheque du Roi," in Paris:  Paris Documents, I-VIII, 1631-1744, [full text], [procured] by John Romelyn Brodhead, ed. by E.B. O'Callaghan.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., Printers, 1855.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 10: Transcripts of Documents in the "Ministere de la Marine et de Colonies;" of the "Ministere de la Guerre;" and in the "Bibliotheque du Roi," at Paris:  Paris Documents IX-XVII, 1745-1774, [full text], [procured] by John Romelyn Brodhead, ed. by E.B.O'Callaghan.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., Printers, 1858.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 11:  General Index, [full text], prepared by E.B. O'Callaghan.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., Printers, 1861.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 12:  Documents Relating to the History of the Dutch and Swedish Settlements on the Delaware River, [full text], Translated and Compiled from Original Manuscripts in the Office of the Secretary of State, at Albany, and in the Royal Archives, at Stockholm, by B[erthold]. Fernow, Keeper of the Historical Records.  Albany, NY:  The Argus Co., Printers, 1877.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 13:  Documents Relating to the History and Settlements of the Towns Along the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers (with the Exception of Albany), from 1630 to 1684, and also Illustrating the Relations of the Settlers with the Indians, [full text], Translated, Compiled and Edited from the Original Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, at Albany, and Other Sources, Under the Direction of the Hon'ble. Joseph B. Carr, Secretary of State, by B. Fernow.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., 1881.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 14:  Documents Relating to the History of the Early Colonial Settlements Principally on Long Island, with a Map of Its Western Part Made in 1666, [full text], Translated, Compiled and Edited from the Original Records in the Office of the Secretary of State and the State Library, under the Direction of the Hon'ble. Joseph B. Carr, Secretary of State, by B. Fernow.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co.,1883.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 15:  State Archives: New York in the Revolution, v. 1, [full text], prepared under the direction of the [N.Y.S.] Board of Regents, by Berthold Fernow.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., Printers, 1887.  (Internet Archives) 
     
• University of the State of New York.  New York State Library.  Calendar of Council Minutes,1668-1783, [full text], ed. by Berthold Fernow (New York State Library.  Bulletin 58 (March1902).  Albany, NY:  The University, 1902. (Internet Archive)
   
• History of the State of New York, by John Romeyn Brodhead
  • v. 1:  First Period, 1609-1664 [full text].  New York:  Harper & Brothers, Publisher,1853. (Internet Archive)
  • v. 2:  Second Period, [1665-1691] [full text].  New York:  Harper & Brothers, Publisher, 1871. (Internet Archive)
     
• New  York (State).  Commissioners of Statutory Revision.  The Colonial Laws of New York:  From the Year 1664 to the Revolution, Including the Charters tot he Duke of York, the Commissions and Instructions to Colonial Governors, the Duke's Laws, the Laws of the Dongan and Leisler Assembies, the Charters of Albany and New York, and the Acts of the Colonial Legislatures from 1691 to 1775, Inclusive
  • v. 1 [full text; covering 1664-ca. 1714].  Albany, NY:  J.B. Lyon, State Printer, 1894.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 2 [full text; covering ca. 1720-ca. 1737].  Albany, NY:  J.B. Lyon, State Printer,1894.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 3 [full text; covering ca. 1739-ca. 1753].  Albany, NY:  J.B. Lyon, State Printer,1894.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 4 [full text; covering ca. 1759-ca. 1764].  Albany, NY:  J.B. Lyon, State Printer,1894.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 5 [full text; covering ca. 1769-1776].  Albany, NY:  J.B. Lyon, State Printer, 1894.  (Internet Archive)
     
• The History of the Late Province of New-York, from Its Discovery to the Appointment of Governor Colden, in 1762: 
  • v. 1 [full-text], by the Hon. William Smith, Formerly of New-York, and late Chief Justice of Lower Canada.  New York:  Pub. under the Direction of the New-York Historical Society, 1829.  (Internet Archive)
  • v. 2 [full-text], by the Hon. William Smith.  New York:  Pub. under the Direction of the New-York Historical Society, 1829.  (Internet Archive)
• Continuation of the History of New-York [to 1762] [full text], by William Smith, [Jr.], In Collections of the New-York Historical Society, for the Year 1826, v. 4) [full-text] New York:  Printed for the Society, by J. Seymour, 1826  (Internet Archive)
   
• Minutes of the Executive Council of the Province of New York:  Administration of Francis Lovelace, 1668-1673
  • v. 1.:  Minutes, Collateral and Illustrative:  Documents I-XIX, ed. by Victor Hugo Paltsits.  Albany, NY:  J.B. Lyons, State Publishers, 1909, repr. 1910 (Internet Archive)
  • v. 2:  Collateral and Illustrative Documents XX-XCVIII, ed. by Victor Hugo Paltsits.  Albany, NY:  J.B. Lyons, State Publishers, 1910 (Internet Archive)
     
• A Brief Description of New York, Formerly Called New Netherland, with the Places Thereunto Adjoining, Together with the Manner of Its Scituation, Fertility of the Soyl, Healthfulness of the Climate, and the Commodities Thence Produced.  Also, Some Directions and Advice to Such as Shall Go Thither:  An Account of What Commodities They Shall Take with Them:  The Profit and Pleasure that May Accrue to Them Thereby.  Likewise a Brief Relation of the Customs of the Indians There, [full-text], by Daniel Denton, ed. by John Pennington.  London; [s.l.]:  [s.n.]; Press of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1670, repr.1845.  (Internet Archive)
   
• Papers Relating to the Trade and Manufactures of the Province of New York, 1703-1757.  Albany, NY:  s.n., 1850 (Internet Archive)
   
• Journal of the Legislative Council of the Colony of New-York, Began the 9th Day of April 1691; and Ended the 27 of September 1743, [full-text], ed. by E.B. O'Callaghan.  Albany, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co., Printers; Pub. by order of the Senate of the State of New-York, 1861.  (Internet Archive)
   
• History of the New Netherlands, Province of New York, and State of New York, to the Adoption of the Federal Constitution:
  • v. 1, [full-text], by William Dunlap.  New York:  Printed for the Author, by Carter and Thorp, 1839 (Internet Archive)  -- Prehistory to 1775 
  • v. 2, [full-text], by William Dunlap.  New York:  Printed for the Author's Representatives, by Carter and Thorp, 1840 (Internet Archive) -- 1776-[1840]
     
• Barber, John Warner and Henry Howe.  Historical Collections of the State of New York; Containing a General Collection of the Most Interesting Facts, Traditions, Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, &c. Relating to Its History and Antiquities, with Geographical Descriptions of Every Township in the State, Illustrated by 230 Engravings.  New York:  Published for the Authors, by S. Tuttle. 1846.  (Internet Archive)
   
• Catalogue of the Library of the Late E.B. O'Callaghan, M.D., LL.D., Historian of New York [full text], comp. by E.W. Nash.  New York:  Doouglas Taylor, Printer, 1882.  (Internet Archive)
   
• History of New York State for the Use of High Schools and Academies and for Supplementary Reading, [full text], by William Reed Prentice.  Syracuse, N.Y.:  C.W. Bardeen, Publisher, 1900  (Internet Archive)
   
• See also classics under more specific headings, for example:  
  • Under "History - Revolution, 1775-1783":
    • New York in the Revolution as Colony and State, vols. 1-2
  • Under  "Canals":
    • History of the Canal System of the State of New York

---  PML Catalog Sampler: 

• New York (State).  Secretary of State.  Calendar of N.Y. Colonial Manuscripts:  Indorsed Land Papers in the Office of the Secretary of State of New York, 1643-1803, comp. by E.B. O'Callaghan, rev. repr.  Albany, NY; Harrison, NY:  Weed, Parsons and Co.; Harbor Hill Books, 1864, repr. 1987.
• New York Colonial Muster Rolls, 1664-1775:  Report of the State Historian of the State of New York, vols. 1-2.  Baltimore, MD:  Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1897, repr. 2000.  
• New York (Colony).  Council.  Calendar of Council Minutes, 1668-1783, comp. by Berthold Fernow.  New York:  Harbor Hill Books, 1987.
• New York Historical Manuscripts, English, vol. 22:  Administrative Papers of Governors Richard Nichols and Francis Lovelace, 1664-1673, ed. by Peter R. Christoph.  Baltimore:  Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1980.  
• The Andros Papers, 1674-1676:  Files of the Provincial Secretary of New York During the Administration of Governor Sir Edmund Andros, 1674-1680, vol. 1, ed. by Peter R. Christoph and Florence A. Christoph, with translations from the Dutch by Charles T. Gehring.  Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 1989.
• The Dongan Papers, 1683-1688, Part I:  Admiralty Court and Other Records of the Administration of New York Governor Thomas Dongan, ed. by Peter R. Christoph.  Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 1993.
• A Gazetteer of the State of New-York:  Embracing an Ample Survey and Description of Its Counties, Towns, Cities, Villages, Canals, Mountains, Lakes, Rivers, Creeks, and Natural Topography.   Arranged in One Series, Alphabetically:  with An Appendix..., by Horatio Gates Spaford.  Interlaken, NY:  Heart of the Lakes Publishing, 1824, repr. 1981. 
• Barber, John Warner and Henry Howe.  Historical Collections of the State of New York:  Containing a General Collection of the Most Interesting Facts, Traditions, Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, &c., Relating to Its History and Antiquities, with Geographical Descriptions of Every Township in the State.  Port Washington, NY:  Kennikat Press, Ira J. Friedman Division, 1841, repr. 1970.
• Gazetteer of the State of New York, Embracing a Comprehensive View of the Geography, Geology, and General History of the State, a Complete History and Description of Every County, City, Town, Village, and Locality.  With Full Tables of Statistics (Empire State Historical Publication Series, No. 72), by J[ohn]. H[oher]. French.  Port Washington, NY:  Ira J. Friedman, Inc., 1860, repr. 1969.
• Seymour, Horatio.  History and Topography of New York:  A Lecture [given at Cornell University].  Utica, NY:  Grove and Bailey, 1870. 
• Roberts, Ellis Henry.  New York:  The Planting and Growth of the Empire State; with a Supplementary Chapter Dealing with the Period from 1885 to 1900, v. 1-2.  Boston; New York:  Houghton Mifflin and Co., 1896, rev. and exp. [ca. 1900].  
• Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of New York, 1783-1821, 4 vols., comp. & ed. by Hugh Hastings.  Albany, NY:  James B. Lyon, State Printer, 1901-1902.  
• Pelletreau, William Smith.  Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Family History of New York, v. 1-4.  New York; Baltimore:  Lewis Publishing Co.; Genealogical Publishing Co., 1907, repr. 1998.
• Williams, Sherman.  New York's Part in History.  New York:  D. Appleton, [ca. 1915].
• Mershon, Stephen Lyon.  Shore Front Rights in the State of New York.  Montclair, NJ:  [s.n.],1929.
• History of the State of New York, v. 1-10, ed. by Alexander C. Flick.  New York:  Columbia University; publised under the auspices of the New York State Historical Association, 1933-1937.
• Nutting, Wallace.  New York Beautiful.  Garden City, NY:  Garden City Publishing Co.; published in cooperation with Old America Co., [1936]. 
• New York:  A Guide to the Empire State (American Guide Series), comp. by workers of the Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of New York.  New York:  Oxford University Press, sponsored by the New York State Historical Association, 1940.
• Historical Atlas of New York State, ed. and copyright by William P. Munger.  Phoenix, NY:  F.E. Richards, [ca. 1941]. 
• Mau, Clayton.  The Development of Central and Western New York:  From the Arrival of the White Man to the Eve of the Civil War, Portrayed Chronologically in Contemporary Accounts.  Rochester, NY:  DuBois Press, 1944.
• Ellis, David Maldwyn, et al.  A History of New York State, rev. ed.  Ithaca, NY; Cooperstown, NY:  Cornell University Press; in cooperation with the New York State Historical Association, 1957, rev. and repr., 1967.
• New York (State).  Division for Historic Preservation.  The National Register of Historic Places in New York State:  The First Five Years, 1969-1973.  Albany, NY:  The Office,1976.
• New York (State).  American Revolution Bicentennial Commission.  Essays on the Genesis of the Empire State.  New York:  The Commission, 1979.
• Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.  New York, John H. Long ed., comp. by Kathryn Ford Thorne.  New York:  Simon & Schuster, 1993.
• The National Register of Historic Places in New York State, comp. for the Preservation League of New York State by Peter Shaver.  New York:  Rizzoli, 1993.
• The Empire State:  A History of New York, ed. by Milton M. Klein.  Ithaca, NY; Cooperstown, NY:  Cornell University Press; with the New York State Historical Association; distr. by University Presses Marketing, 2001, repr. 2005.  -- an excellent, engaging, readable overview
• The Encyclopedia of New York State, Peter Eisenstadt, ed.-in-chief; Laura-Eve Moss, managing ed.  Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 2005.  -- magesterial, signed articles, well-researched, though still has a long way to go in its L.I. coverage