Credible websites and online resources on New Jersey
Use control + F to identify which of the sources below will work best for the assigned topic.
Paterson Great Falls Historical Site - This National Park site features museums that spotlight the important role that New Jersey played in the industrial revolution. Paterson was a world leader in silk production and home to the Rogers Locomotive works. (Fun fact, Mrs. Manganello's great-grandfather arrived in the US under an indenture to Rogers Locomotive works.)
Peter Mott House - Located in Lawnside, NJ, the Peter Mott House highlights the important connection that NJ holds to the Underground Railroad. The site includes a timeline and a number of videos that explain the history of Lawnside and why it is so important to the Black community.
"Did you know South Jersey had dozens of stops on the Underground Railroad?"- This article from the Cherry Hill Courier-Post lists the Underground Railroad sites in New Jersey. Most sites do not have individual websites, but there is a link to the National Park Services map of Underground Railroad sites along with videos and photographs.
Salem County, Culture and Heritage: 7 Steps to Freedom - This is a fantastic collection of resources on abolition and Underground Railroad sites throughout the county. These include Abigail Goodwin, Hetty Saunders, and
Abigail Goodwin, Quaker Abolitionist - From the Salem County Historical Project, this site includes primary sources, recordings of Goodwin's written words, and a description of her connection to the wider Abolition movement.
Transcriptions and photographs of letters between Abigail Goodwin and William Still are available from Dickinson College.
Hetty Saunders, Escaped Slave and Poet- From the Salem County Historical Project, the page on Hetty Saunders includes a description of her escape, one of her poems, an illustration, along with a recording of her poem.
Thomas Clement Oliver, Underground Railroad Conductor- From the Salem County Historical Project, the page on Thomas Clement Oliver includes a link to The Underground Railroad (1898) that mentions Thomas Clement Oliver's work helping people to escape slavery.
New Jersey Slavery Records - "Is a searchable database that documents the history of slavery in our communities using archival sources and digital maps." It includes ship manifests, county clerk records, runaway slave advertisments, and an interactive map of slave ownership in New Jersey.
It also links to local slavery data as connected to Rutgers University. The Rutgers virtual tour includes primary sources that link to the university's previous involvement in slavery.
Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission - A collection of historic photographs of the canal. Each image has a short caption that explains the location on the canal.
The American Canal Society- This is a database of the American Canal Society newsletters. Search this Google doc index (use control +F to search) Choose a search term like Raritan to find all the articles connected to the Raritan Canal. It has some really interesting information if one is creative and patient with the process.
Here is an example. The article on page three discusses the history of the Delaware and Raritan Canal, including some of the businesses that used the canal to transport their goods.
Canal Society of New Jersey- Includes a brief explanation of the history of the Delaware and Raritan Canal along with a collection of historical photographs at the bottom of the page.
Library of Congress (New Jersey Railroads)- Filtered for primary sources on New Jersey railroads, this result set can be further limited by changing the settings along the left side.
Harriet Tubman: Shadows and Light in New Jersey - This PBS documentary highlights Harriet Tubman's connection to New Jersey. It includes a number of primary source photos and illustrations. It includes a tour of the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May. (While the Museum is open the official website has not been updated to show this.)
Oyez (United States v. Amistad) - Recounts the Supreme Court Case brought by the kidnapped Africans on the Amistad after they rebelled and killed the Captain and first mate to take control of the ship.
John Quincy Adams and the Amistad case, 1840 - This primary source shows former President John Quincy Adams' work representing the Amistad captives’ petition for freedom before the Supreme Court.