Loading content...
Loading...Preparing your family history experience
Research Archives
Primary Sources & Documentation
The letters, photographs, certificates, and records that preserve four centuries of family history
Every story on this site is grounded in documentary evidence. This archive page serves as a guide to the primary sources, repositories, and research methods that underpin our narrative of the Van Dyke family's four-century journey through American history.
From Revolutionary War pension applications to Benjamin Franklin Van Dyke's handwritten memoir, from glass plate photographs to SAR certificates, these materials form the evidentiary foundation of our work.
Key Document Collections
Benjamin's Autobiographical Letter
Date: Circa 1931 (Age 69)
10 handwritten pages documenting Benjamin Franklin Van Dyke's memories of pioneer life in Iowa, his family's Dutch heritage, the Civil War's impact, and his journey to Oklahoma Territory. A rare firsthand account of 19th-century American frontier life.
View Full Letter & Transcription →
SAR Certificate Image
(To be added)
SAR Certificate
Date: 1920
Sons of the American Revolution certificate documenting Benjamin Franklin Van Dyke's descent from William Van Dyck, who served in Captain Abraham Vroom's company at the Battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778.
Glass Plate Collection Preview
(93 Images)
Glass Plate Photograph Collection
Date: Circa 1890s-1920s
93 glass plate negatives captured by Benjamin Franklin Van Dyke, documenting life in Oklahoma Territory and early statehood. Digitized and preserved by his great-grandson Bill Arnett.
View Full Collection →
Inmates' Watch Image
(Historical Artifact)
The Inmates' Watch
Date: 1909-1911
A gold watch presented to Benjamin Franklin Van Dyke by the inmates of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, where he served as warden. A remarkable artifact documenting respect across the boundary between keeper and kept.
View Full Story →
Repository Guide
These institutions and archives hold primary source materials related to the Van Dyke family:
Military & Patriot Records
- National Archives (NARA) - Revolutionary War pension applications, military service records
- Sons of the American Revolution - Patriot ancestor documentation, membership applications
- Monmouth County Historical Association - Battle of Monmouth research, local militia rosters
State & County Records
- Somerset County, NJ Archives - Land records, tax lists, probate records (1700s-1800s)
- Ohio County Records - Migration and settlement documentation (1800s)
- Iowa State Historical Society - Pioneer settlement records
- Oklahoma Historical Society - Territory-era records, land patents, legal documents
Family Archives
- Van Dyke Family Papers - Personal letters, photographs, documents preserved across generations
- Bill Arnett Collection - Digitized glass plates, family photographs (arnett.us.com/BFVD/plates/)
- Caroline McMichael Collection - Materials related to Lenore Arnett Young
Digital Resources
- FamilySearch - Genealogical records, census data, church records
- Ancestry.com - Census records, military records, newspaper archives
- Fold3 - Military records, pension files
Research Methodology
Source Hierarchy
We prioritize sources in this order:
- Primary sources - Contemporary documents (letters, certificates, photographs)
- Official records - Government documents, church records, court filings
- Secondary sources - Compiled genealogies, published histories
- Family tradition - Oral history, noted as such with corroboration attempts
Citation Standards
All factual claims are supported by cited sources. When multiple sources conflict, we note the discrepancy and explain our reasoning for accepting one version over another.
Ongoing Research
Family history is never complete. Research notes on biography pages identify areas where documentation is thin, contradictory, or missing. We update pages as new sources emerge.
Image Credits & Attributions
View detailed attribution information for all historical images, maps, and contextual photographs used throughout this site.
View Image Credits →