Chemung History
Elmira, New York
Elmira City Historian - Diane Janowski
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​​​​​​​Are you in an Elmira historic district?
Overview map (accurate but not official)
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Specific maps (official but not accurate)
Elmira Civic 14901
Clinton - Columbia 14901
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Do it yourself research
CENSUS
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EASY ONLINE - Steele Memorial Library - if you have a CCLD library card you can use their HeritageQuest Online census from your home - click here
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otherwise Steele Memorial Library has microfilm of the local census from 1790-1930 that you may look at, at the downtown branch
Best, but it will cost you. www.ancestry.com
NEWSPAPERS ON MICROFILM
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EASY ONLINE, but slow - Old Fulton, NY Postcards - Elmira Morning Telegram 1888-1921, Elmira Star-Gazette 1891-1907 - click here
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otherwise Steele Memorial Library has most of the microfilm from all the local papers
Best, but it will cost you. www.newspapers.com
OLD MAPS
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EASY ONLINE - city maps Elmira 1869, 1876, 1896, 1904 - Steele Memorial Library - click here
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EASY ONLINE - Historic Map Works - search or buy - click here
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Sanborn maps - Chemung County Historical Society
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Atlases - Steele Memorial Library
CITY DIRECTORIES
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EASY ONLINE - Ancestry.com NOT FREE
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otherwise Steele Memorial Library has many but not all directories
Best, but it will cost you. www.ancestry.com
OLD PHOTOGRAPHS of Elmira
BIRTH RECORDS
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EASY ONLINE - FamilySearch.org FREE click here.
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EASY ONLINE - Ancestry.com (limited free search) click here. If you have a CCLD library card you may use the Ancestry computer at the Steele Memorial Library for FREE.
DEATH RECORDS
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EASY ONLINE - FamilySearch.org FREE click here.
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EASY ONLINE, but limited - Steele Memorial Library - click here
CEMETERY LISTS (within city limits)
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Woodlawn National Cemetery - and here is a map
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St. Peter & Paul - Steele Memorial Library is in process of digitizing it... otherwise contact the cemetery - here is the cemetery map
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Wisner Cemetery - very old records
ELMIRA HISTORY
NEW YORK STATE HISTORY
