Gateway to North America, from the New York Historical Society, contains over 800,000 pages of content from over 1,500 print and manuscript directories, member lists, travel guides and other sources, chronicling the people and organizations of New York City from the late 18th through the early 20th century. 

The database includes residential, trade and occupational directories; membership lists for professional groups, philanthropic and governmental institutions, ethnic organizations, religious groups and leisure clubs; names and physical descriptions of Civil War deserters and the incarcerated; illustrated advertisements; commercial listings by trade; descriptions of local philanthropic, religious and governmental institutions; travel schedules; maps; postal and tax rates; and town histories.

If you have a questions about this database, or any other research question, please visit, call, email or text us.