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Archival and Historical Research Collections

The Atlantic City Heritage Collections contain archival collections of papers, photographs, scrapbooks and other materials that are preserved and made accessible for research. These collections are unique and many contain primary source documents. Because the archival collections are unique, they are in a closed-stack area and require staff assistance to access them. To view the collections listed below, make an appointment at least 1 week in advance in advance and receive confirmation of your visit. Research hours are Wednesday's 11 AM to 5 PM.

Below, are several subject guides, which may be a good place to start research. These guides contain information for African American History, History of Gambling in Atlantic City, the Miss America Pageant and Wartime in Atlantic City and Atlantic City Veterans.

There is also a guide for conducting genealogy research. This guide includes information where to search for vital records, books in the Atlantic City Free Public Library’s collection, how to search for obituaries and local history materials in the Atlantic City Heritage Collection.

SUBJECT GUIDES:

HISTORY OF ATLANTIC CITY

AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY

HISTORY OF GAMBLING IN ATLANTIC CITY

MISS AMERICA

WARTIME IN ATLANTIC CITY AND ATLANTIC CITY VETERANS

GENEALOGY RESOURCES

Below is a list of collection names that are located in the Atlantic City Heritage Collection’s Heston Room. There are finding aids available for the items that are linked in the list below. Finding aids describe what is within each collection and help locate information within the collection. Some information contained in finding aids include time period covered by the materials in the collection, size of the collection, biographical or historical information about the collection, description of organizational structure of the collection, and container list describing the contents of the collection at the box or folder level.

Collection Names (finding aids are linked, if available)
ACFPL Atlantic City High School Collection
ACFPL Collection of Atlantic City Music
ACFPL Collection of Atlantic City Photographs
ACFPL Collection of Atlantic City Photographs, 2007 Aerial Photographs
ACFPL Collection of Atlantic City Postcards
ACFPL Collection of Atlantic City Realia
ACFPL Film Collection
ACFPL Game Collection
ACFPL Living History Project
ACFPL Atlantic City Oral HIstories Collection
ACFPL Map Collection
ACFPL Menu Collection, 1903-present
ACFPL Oral History Project, "30 Years, 30 Voices" [SEE: "30 Years, 30 Voices" ACFPL Oral History Project, 2008]
ACFPL Poster and Art Collection
ACFPL Scrapbook Collection
Harold P. Abrams Collection
Dorothy Alexander Miss America Pageant Judge Papers, 1975
Altman Family Papers
Apex Country Club Photograph Collection
Col. John Jacob Astor Camp #28 Records, 1924-1933
Atlantic City Aero Club Scrapbook Collection, 1910-1912
Atlantic City Beach Patrol Collection
Atlantic City Centennial Celebration Scrapbook
Atlantic City Climatological Data Records
Atlantic City Directories
Atlantic City Convention Hall Collection
Atlantic City Housing Authority Records Collection
Atlantic City Post Office Time Capsule Collection
"Atlantic City Remembers World War II" Exhibit
Atlantic City Sea Gulls Hockey Team Collection, 1936-1941

Dorothy J. Beatty "Black History of Atlantic City" Oral History Project, 1977
Cornelius "Corney" Bell Collection
Alexander C. Black Miss America Photographs
Bossert-Lee Family Papers
Amelia Smith and Patricia Booye Papers
Boyd Family Papers
Brathwaite Family Papers
Brisco Family Papers, 1923-1950

Chicken Bone Beach Collection
Club Harlem Collection
City of Atlantic City, City Council Records
Dr. F.B. Coll Swim Team Collection, 1927-1940
Vibrina Coronado Miss America Research Collection

Ed Davis Papers
Desroches Family Miss America Collection
Dramateurs Theatre Group Collection, 1941-1983

Records of Fay-Mor-Wee, Home for the Aged and Infirmary, Inc.
Morton Feldman Papers
Samuel Formicola Miss America Collection, 1957-1968
Anne Fothergill Collection of Preserved Algae
Arnette French Collection of Realia

Dr. Richlyn Goddard "Northside History" Oral History Project

Julie Hallman Family Papers
Alfred M. Heston Papers
Hispanic Heritage Oral History Project, 2015
Joe Hooker Post #32 Grand Army of the Republic Records
Alma Fay Horn Photograph Collection
George E. Humphries Photograph Collection

Bonnie Josephine Papers

Karabashian Eddington Planning Group, LLC Collection of Photographs of Atlantic City
Dr. James R. Karmel Atlantic City Project Oral History Interviews, 2002-2006
Kiwanis Club of Atlantic City Records, 1920-2014
Donna Knorr Photographs of Sands Casino Demolition
Kutschera Postcard Collection

Eleanor Lindley Miss Greater Camden 1922 Scrapbook
The Links, Inc. (Atlantic City Chapter) Records
Pop Lloyd Collection
Local History Biography Files
Local History Subject Files
Gladys Lody Papers

Microfilm Collection
Miss America Collection, 1922-present
Morris Guards Collection, approx. 1893-1977
Mosque No. 10 Oral History Collection, 2016

101 Women Plus Records

Anthony Panico Atlantic City High School Collection, 1923-1992

Dr. Thomas K. Reed Paintings, 1907 - 1910

David Roberts Papers

Salty Breezes Newspaper Collection
Sand Snipers Basketball Team Photograph CollectionSSS
Samuel "Sonny" Schwartz Papers
John Keith Schwarz Photograph Exhibit: "Atlantic City - The Transition - A Picture Story"
Stan and Mary Sladek's Collection of Sands Casino Memorabilia, 1980-2004
Amelia Smith and Patricia Booye Papers
Soroptimist Club Records
Studio 9 Photo Center Aerial Photographs Collection
George Swinton Papers

Mayor Thomas Taggart Papers
"30 Years, 30 Voices" ACFPL Oral History Project, 2008
Gayle Trimble and Carol Lothman Papers

Walls Family Photograph Collection
Sarah Spencer Washington Exhibit Materials
Women's Research Club Records
WPG Radio Collection

Yates Family Papers

Louis Zaris Papers