Trentoniana facts for kids

The Trentoniana Local History and Genealogy Collection is a special collection of old and important items found at the Trenton Free Public Library in Trenton, New Jersey. It's like a treasure chest filled with books, old papers, pictures, sounds, and objects that tell the story of Trenton and its people. This collection is great for learning about local history and finding out about your family's past (this is called genealogy).

The Trenton Public Library has been around for a very long time, since 1750! But the library as we know it today started in 1900. In 1909, the people in charge decided they wanted to create a special collection just about Trenton's history. That's how Trentoniana began!

What You Can Find at Trentoniana

Trentoniana holds many unique and interesting items. It's a fantastic place to discover how people lived in Trenton long ago.

Amazing Historical Objects

The collection includes some really cool pieces of history:

• A 10-foot piece of a wooden arch that President-elect George Washington rode under when he visited Trenton in 1789. Imagine seeing something that old!
• A large, handmade device used to teach students about electricity at the Trenton Academy. This old school used to be right where the Trenton Public Library stands today.
• Special watch fobs (small decorations for watches) made from horsehair and walnut shells. These were crafted by people staying at the Trenton State Prison.
• Original logbooks from the Trenton Police Department, showing records from 1892 to 1913.
• Records from a group that raised money in 1891 to build the veterans' monument in Cadwalader Park. This monument honors soldiers and sailors.

Pictures of Trenton's Past

Trentoniana has a huge collection of over 200,000 images! These pictures show the city and its people through many years. You can find all sorts of old photos, like:

• Tintypes (a very old type of photograph)
• Glass plate negatives
• Lantern slides
• Vintage postcards
• Cabinet cards
• Black and white prints
• Color slides
• Digital images

These pictures help us see what Trenton looked like and how people dressed and lived in different times.

Trenton's Business Stories

The collection also tells the story of businesses in Trenton. It has old newspaper clippings, yearly reports, and ads. You can also find:

• Ledgers (books for keeping financial records)
• Payroll lists (who got paid what)
• Business letters
• Collections of company letterheads and logos
• Samples of products made in Trenton.

Trenton was famous for making many things, which led to the saying, "Trenton Makes, the World Takes." You can see examples of pottery, watches, tiles, iron rope, and even a Horsman doll that were all made right here in Trenton!

Records from Local Groups

Trentoniana is also the official place where many local organizations keep their old records. This includes groups like:

• The Trenton Lions
• The YMCA
• The Trenton Historical Society
• The Mill Hill Society
• Trenton Rotary
• The Jewish Historical Society of the Greater Trenton Area

These records help us understand the history of these important community groups.

You can't take items from the Trentoniana collection home, but you can visit the library and view them there. It's a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to learn more about Trenton's rich history!