Research your home

Here are several resources at the South Orange Public Library:

1. The Library's local history collection includes Residential Real Estate Files for South Orange properties that were on the market between 1960 to 2000. Each document includes an exterior photo of the residence along with descriptions of the interior and sale prices and dates. The files are organized by street name. Click on one of the groups below to begin your search.
   • Street Names A – D
   • Street Names E – H
   • Street Names I – L
   • Street Names M – P
   • Street Names Q – T
   • Street Names U - Z
2. Use the City Directories to find out who lived in your home. We have the Directory of the Oranges from 1880 through 1934 (alternate years) on microfilm, and selected volumes until 1970. From 1916 on there is a reverse directory by street address.
3. Use old Atlases, some of which have legends showing buildings and include the name of the landowner on the plot. The library has atlases from 1904, 1911, 1912, and 1927.
4. If the house is in the Montrose Park Historic District, ask a librarian for our vertical files including the inventory and house tour booklets.
5. The following publications have information and pictures of selected houses: South Orange, Gem of the Oranges; South Orange and Maplewood in Pictures; South Orange and South Orange Revisited by Naoma Welk.
6. The Essex County Hall of Records, located at 465 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Newark, maintains copies of records of deeds and other property transactions since 1637.