Camden Genealogy Records
Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey, and one of the oldest cities in the state. Genealogy records for Camden cover birth, marriage, death, property, and estate files dating back to the mid-1800s. Camden County was formed from Gloucester County in 1844, so older records may be found in Gloucester County files. Searching Camden genealogy records starts at the city vital statistics office, the county clerk, or the Camden County Historical Society. The State Archives in Trenton and several online databases also hold records tied to Camden families going back many generations.
Camden Quick Facts
Camden City Vital Statistics
The Camden City Vital Statistics Office holds birth, marriage, and death certificates from 1924 to the present. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You should arrive by 2:30 p.m. for same-day processing. Marriages and corrections are handled by appointment only. You can email vitalstat@camdennj.gov to schedule one.
The first copy of a certificate costs $25. Each extra copy bought the same day costs $10. These fees took effect in January 2024. If you order by mail, expect 10 to 15 business days for processing once the office gets your request. Marriage licenses are issued on Tuesday and Wednesday only, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Both people must be present with a witness over 18 years old.
For genealogy records before 1924, the Camden vital statistics office cannot help. You will need to check the New Jersey State Archives or the Camden County Historical Society for older Camden records.
Camden County Historical Society Records
The Camden County Historical Society runs the Richard H. Hineline Research Library, which is one of the best genealogy resources in the area. The library holds nearly 100,000 items. These include 20,000 books, 1,100 manuscripts, 20,000 photos, and 3,500 deeds, church records, newspapers, and genealogies. For Camden family research, this is a rich source of primary documents that you will not find anywhere else.
The society holds cemetery records for many local burial sites. These include Evergreen Cemetery records from 1851 to 2000, New Camden Cemetery from 1887 to 1969, Old Camden Cemetery, Cedar Grove Cemetery from 1852 to 1963, and Lakeland from the 1920s to 1990s. Their newspaper collection is the most complete set of historical Camden County papers on microfilm. It includes the Camden County Courier from 1880 to 1893, Camden Daily Courier from 1882 to 1925, Camden Evening Courier from 1925 to 1949, and the Camden Courier Post from 1949 to the present. City directories for Camden from 1839 to 1947 are also in the collection, along with Philadelphia directories from 1819 to 1860 and 1889 to 1930.
The research library is open Wednesdays and Fridays by appointment from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Members get free admission. Non-members pay $5. Copies cost $0.50 per page. The mailing address is PO Box 378, Collingswood, NJ 08108. You can email admin@cchsnj.org to schedule a visit.
The society also holds census and tax records. Their collections include U.S. Federal Census data from 1830 to 1950, New Jersey State Census records for Camden County from 1885, 1895, and 1905, and Camden City Tax Ledgers from 1850 to 1938. These records can help you track Camden families across many decades.
Note: The Camden County Historical Society does not hold vital records such as birth, marriage, or death certificates.
Camden County Clerk Genealogy Records
The Camden County Clerk's Office holds land records and marriage records from 1844, when the county was formed. Pamela Lampitt serves as County Clerk. The office has an online property records search system and e-recording. For Camden genealogy, the clerk is your main source for deeds, mortgages, and older marriage filings at the county level. You can reach them at (856) 225-5300.
The Camden County Surrogate's Court handles probate records, wills, and estate files. The main office is at 509 Lakeland Road in Blackwood. There is also a satellite location at the Camden City Hall of Justice at 101 South 5th Street in Camden. The surrogate is Michelle Gentek-Mayer. Appointments are required for in-person visits. Documents requested at the Camden City satellite are mailed out and not issued the same day.
Probate records can be very useful for Camden genealogy. Wills often list family members, property, and personal items. Letters of administration are filed when someone dies without a will. Both types of records can reveal family connections that vital records alone may miss.
Searching Camden Records at State Level
The New Jersey State Archives holds vital records on microfilm that cover Camden. Birth records from 1848 to 1923, marriage records from 1848 to 1948, and death records from 1848 to 1963 are all open for public research at no charge. Online databases let you search marriage indexes from 1666 to 1900 and death indexes from 1848 to 1900. These are especially useful for finding Camden ancestors from the 1800s.
The Department of Health Office of Vital Statistics handles more recent records. Birth records from 1925, marriage records from 1951, and death records from 1951 are held in Trenton. Copies cost $25 for the first and $2 for each extra copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Genealogical records are defined as births over 80 years old, marriages over 50 years old, and deaths over 40 years old. You need proof of identity and, for certified copies, proof of relationship.
Note: Since Camden County was carved from Gloucester County in 1844, records before that date may be in Gloucester County files.
Online Genealogy Tools for Camden
Several online platforms cover Camden genealogy records. The Ancestry.com New Jersey collections include census records, vital indexes, and immigration files. The Camden County Library System offers Ancestry Library Edition at all branches for free in-library use. Heritage Quest Online is also available for cardholders.
The Reclaim The Records project has posted free New Jersey vital record indexes online. FamilySearch has digitized many New Jersey records that include Camden. The NJ GenWeb Project links to county-level genealogy resources for every county in the state, including Camden County.
Camden County Genealogy Records
Camden is the county seat of Camden County. The county clerk, surrogate, historical society, and library system all hold genealogy records that cover the city and surrounding areas. For a full guide to Camden County genealogy resources, office locations, and contact details, visit the Camden County genealogy records page.