Most of the early Buffalo cemeteries have disappeared. Forest Lawn is the only major cemetery within the city limits. The other major Buffalo cemetery complex, Mount Calvary, is actually over the city line in the town of Cheektowaga. Some of the early Mount Calvary Cemetery records are available on microfilm in the collection of the Western New York Genealogical Society which is located in the Special Collections Room at the main branch of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. Some information is available on-line about Roman Catholic cemeteries in Buffalo.
The 1800 U.S. census was the first to enumerate people living in the Buffalo area. U.S. censuses are available for Buffalo for 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920 as well as the special veteran's census of 1890. New York State censuses for Buffalo are available for 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915 and 1925.
Map of Buffalo with ward boundaries
for the 1855-1890 censuses.
Many Buffalo church records have been microfilmed and are available in the Special Collections Room at the main branch of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society research library and from any local LDS Family History Center. Some information is available on-line about Buffalo Roman Catholic parishes
The city directories are one of the most important resources for genealogical research in Buffalo and a survey of the directories can be one of the best ways to get started. The city directories have been microfilmed and are available in the Special Collections Room at the main branch of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society research library and from any local LDS Family History Center. A listing of Buffalo photographers from the directories can be useful for dating old photographs.
Deeds for Buffalo from 1808 are available in the Erie County Clerk's Office.
French's Gazetteer provides a concise snapshot of Buffalo in 1860 as well as a summary of its history to that time. The Buffalo tax roll of 1800 shows a total of $4.55 in real estate taxes collected that year. A listing of original Buffalo lot holders from Bingham's 1931 history includes many land speculators who never settled in Buffalo.
Naturalization records from 1827 to 1929 are filed in the Erie County Clerk's Office. The Immigration and Naturalization Service has naturalization records created after September 26, 1906.
Many Buffalo newspapers are available on microfilm in the Special Collections Room at the main branch of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library and in the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society research library.
No customs or immigration passenger lists exist for Buffalo. Most immigrants to Buffalo arrived via New York City and should be found in the New York City Passenger lists. Because of Niagara Falls, there is no direct water route from Europe to Buffalo, therefore, all immigrants arriving at the Port of Buffalo had to first land at another U.S. or Canadian port. Some immigrants simply walked over one of the Niagara River bridges from Canada.
Wills and probate records are available from the Surrogate's Court in Erie County Hall.
Adoption records in New York State are closed to the public forever.
The vital statistics office in Buffalo City Hall has birth records from about 1876 to the present date. The Erie County Clerk has some birth records from 1881 until 1913. From 1914 on, birth records are also available from the New York State Department of Health.
Divorce records from the early 1800's to the present are available from the Erie County Clerk's Office, however, these records are closed to the public for 100 years according to New York State law.
The vital statistics office in Buffalo City Hall has marriage records from 1908 to the present date. The Erie County Clerk's office has Buffalo marriage records from 1878 to April 29, 1935. From 1914 on, Buffalo marriage records are also available from the New York State Department of Health.
Death records are available from Buffalo City Hall from 1886 to the present. From 1914 on, Buffalo death records are also available from the New York State Department of Health.
