The Bronx County Archives
In 1974, the Bronx County Historical Society's collection of historical material grew considerably when the Society assumed responsibility for nearly a million items which were then established as The Bronx County Archives. Since that date, the archival collections have grown considerably, both in number and in scope.
Collections
Today, The Bronx County Archives consist of more that 150 separate collections, which contain original audio recordings and moving images, documents, manuscripts, photographs, books, maps, and city directories going back to the early nineteenth century until the present, covering not only Bronx history and culture but also the history of New York City and lower Westchester County. There is also an important collection of Bronx newspapers housed at The Bronx County Archives, beginning with the first issue of The Bronx Home News from 1907.
An ever-increasing number of archival collections exist for The Bronx's African American and Latino populations. This is due in large part to the Bronx African American History Project, which the Society started in 2002 with Fordham University, and the Bronx Latino History Project, a joint undertaking of the Society and Lehman College. Through the medium of oral histories, both of these community-based projects have been collecting rich documentation of Black and Latino experiences in The Bronx. The projects additionally continue to generate or acquire relevant archival collections.
A complete listing of collections within The Bronx County Archives can be found here.
Research Appointments
To set up a research appointment, see Archives Appointments.
Donating to the Collections
The Bronx County Historical Society is a qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The fair market value of your donated collection is generally tax deductible. It is the responsibility of the donor to establish a value of their donation for tax purposes. To ensure that you receive the maximum tax benefit, it is recommended that you consult with your own accountant, attorney, and/or the Internal Revenue Service. The Bronx County Historical Society does not appraise the value of any collection or recommend specific appraisers. You may find a qualified appraiser by contacting the American Society of Appraisers.
Rights and Reproductions
Patrons who wish to use items from the collections within The Bronx County Archives in print or other media publications must obtain explicit permission and, when relevant, pay usage rights to do so. Please contact the research librarian to inquire further: librarian@bronxhistoricalsociety.org.