This collection documents the history, activities, and celebrations of many of the men's Religious orders throughout New Jersey, generally spanning the years from 1842-2011. Programs, bulletins, and newspaper clippings are heavily present in each Order's materials, as well as some correspondence. Orders represented within the collection include but are not limited to: Benedictines, Augustinians (OSA and OAR), Dominicans OP, Franciscans OFM and Capuchin, Carmelites OCARM, Brothers of the Poor, Jesuits, Opus Dei, Maryknoll MM, Fathers of Charity, Paulists CSP, Passionists CP, and African Missions SMA.

Much of the older material in this collection was gathered by the Archdiocese of Newark, most likely by the office of the Vicar General; this material generally includes correspondence and records generated by the religious orders, their members, or the Archdiocese of Newark in the regular course of their activities. This material is largely in Boxes 10-15, and may be subject to access restrictions. Other materials were gathered by the Archives and Special Collections Center and include many items about the orders and their members. This material is largely in Boxes 1-9. These groupings are not definitive, and these disparate collections were combined in approximately 2006-2009. Some material exists from prior to the creation of the Diocese of Newark. Please see Vicar for Religious of the Archdiocese of Newark, ADN 0073, for more materials gathered by the Archdiocese of Newark in the course of its dealings with various religious orders.

Some material related to women's religious orders is also mixed in with this collection, generally identifiable by folder title. Please also see Women's religious orders of the Archdiocese of Newark, ADN 0012, for more of these types of materials.

This collection is not yet completely processed, but many of the materials are grouped by order.