Major Collections

Governor Brendan T. Byrne Archive

Governor of New Jersey 1974-1982

Learn More

Governor Thomas H. Kean Archive

Governor of New Jersey 1982-1990

Learn More

Governor James J. Florio Archive

Governor of New Jersey 1990-1994

Learn More

Governor Christine Todd Whitman Archive

Governor of New Jersey 1994-2001

Learn More

Governor Jon S. Corzine Archive

Governor of New Jersey 2006-2010

Learn More

Other New Jersey Governors

New Jersey Governors, 1776-Present

List of all New Jersey governors to serve under each of the state's constitutions.

Learn More

Governor Richard J. Hughes Collection

The only person in state history to serve as both governor and chief justice of the state supreme court, Richard J. Hughes served two terms as governor of New Jersey (1962-1970). The Hughes Collection includes interview excerpts, information, and analysis of the Hughes administration.

Learn More

Gubernatorial Biographies

In 2014, Rutgers University Press published The Governors of New Jersey: Biographical Essays, with extended biographies of every New Jersey governor. With the publisher's permission, we present in this section biographies of Governors Alfred Driscoll, Robert Meyner, Richard Hughes, and William Cahill.

Learn More

Commentary by Former Governors

New Jersey governors often stay active in politics even after leaving office, particularly on issues they feel most passionate about. This section collects some of the most prominent examples of gubernatorial commentary after leaving office.

Learn More

Research, History, and Analysis

Atlantic City History and Politics

This section includes history, a timeline, images, and reflections on the history of Atlantic City and the rise of casino gambling.

Learn More

Beach and Ocean Pollution Disaster: The Response of Two New Jersey Governors

This history and analysis of New Jersey’s response to the late 1980’s beach wash up disaster was commissioned by the Eagleton Center. It was written by Edward M. Neafsey who spent over 33 years in public service at the county, state and federal levels.

Learn More

A Case Study in Reimagining Transit for a Better Region: The Creation of NJ Transit

A report written and produced by the Wathen Group, lead by author Deborah Wathen Finn. The report chronicles the creation of NJ Transit during the Byrne administration, including emphasis on the work of the Department of Transportation and Commissioner Louis Gambaccini.

Learn More

Governor Thomas Kean and the Founding of the NJDEP

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding in 2020. At a 2013 Eagleton Center on the American Governor event, Governor Kean reminisced about the role he played in the founding of the department.

Learn More

Governor Donald DiFrancesco's 9/11 Address

On October 3, 2001, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, New Jersey Governor Donald DiFrancesco gave a speech to a join session of the New Jersey legislature. Video of that speech is available here.

Learn More

Use of Executive Orders by New Jersey Governors

New Jersey governors have issued executive orders for a wide range of purposes, including facilitating routine government operations, responding to crises, and instituting significant policy changes. This section examines the number of orders issued by New Jersey governors under the 1947 Constitution.

Learn More

The Governor's Party in Off-Year Elections

This 2011 PDF analyzes how successful New Jersey governors have been in leading their parties in legislative elections held in the middle of their terms.

Learn More

Voter Turnout in New Jersey Legislative Elections

This PDF compares New Jersey voter turnout rates when ticket is topped by a presidential race, a gubernatorial race, and state legislative races.

Learn More

Woodrow Wilson and the Election of 1912

Woodrow Wilson was elected president in 1912 after serving only two years as governor of New Jersey. This piece, written in 2011 by former Eagleton Center on the American Governor senior policy fellow Don Linky looks at the unique 1912 election and how it led to Wilson's victory.

Learn More

Why Woodrow Wilson Guthrie?

In 2012, the 100th anniversary of Woody Guthrie's birth, Center on the American Governor Director John Weingart considered how the famous musician and activist came to be named after the former New Jersey governor and U.S. president.

Learn More