Pennsylvania Research Tips and Strategies: Difference between revisions

From FamilySearch Wiki
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
No edit summary
(29 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{PA-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
=== Pennsylvania Research Strategies  ===
| link1=[[Pennsylvania, United States Genealogy|Pennsylvania]]
 
| link2=
Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Pennsylvania<br>
| link3=
 
| link4=
:[[Pennsylvania Online Genealogy Records|Pennsylvania Online Genealogy Records]]  
| link5=[[Pennsylvania Research Tips and Strategies|Research Tips and Strategies]]
:[[How to Find Pennsylvania Birth Records|How to find Pennsylvania Birth Records]]
}}
:[[How to Find Pennsylvania Marriage Records|How to find Pennsylvania Marriage Records]]  
{|style="float:right; margin-right:030px; background-color:#acd9f9" " width="25%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" border="1"
:[[How to Find Pennsylvania Death Records|How to find Pennsylvania Death Records]]
|
<center><font size = "4"><br>'''Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page'''</font></center><br>
<center>''The Pennsylvania Research Tips and Strategies page consists of links to specific research strategies for Pennsylvania. It also contains general tips and other resources for finding your ancestors in this locality.''</center><br>
|}


== Pennsylvania Research Strategies ==
=== Pennsylvania Research Tips ===
Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Pennsylvania:<br>
===Finding Pennsylvania Birth, Marriage or Death Records===
*[[GuidedResearch:Pennsylvania|Finding Pennsylvania Births, Marriages, and Deaths using Guided Research]]


===Finding Pennsylvania Records===
These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Pennsylvania.
*[[Pennsylvania Record Finder]]


===Pennsylvania Statewide Databases===
*'''Birth information:''' Between 1852-1855 Pennsylvania counties were directed to record births within their jurisdiction. However few counties complied. In 1893 counties were again required to record births within their jurisdiction. This law had a better response and remained in effect until 1906 when the state of Pennsylvania began to record births on a statewide level. The best substitute record for locating birth information is [[How to Find United States Death Records|death records]]&nbsp;(the majority of death records will list the date of birth of the decedent, and since death certificates are considered a primary resource, they can provide you with the same documentation as a birth certificate). Or, try these other [[Substitute Records For United States Birth Information|substitute records]].
*[[Pennsylvania Online Genealogy Records|Pennsylvania Online Genealogy Records]]  
*'''Finding Parents:''' Statewide registration for Pennsylvania deaths began in 1906. Prior to the state keeping death records counties kept death records beginning in 1893. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. [[How to Find United States Death Records|Search Pennsylvania death records]]
*'''Look in all censuses:''' Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. [[United States Census Online|Search U.S. Censuses]].


===Pennsylvania Research Process===
=== Pennsylvania Record Finder  ===
*[[Step-by-Step Pennsylvania Research, 1880-Present]]
*[[Step-by-Step Pennsylvania Research, 1850-1910]]
*[[Pennsylvania Descendancy Research]]
*[[How to Find Pennsylvania Birth Records|How to Find Birth Records]]
*[[How to Find Pennsylvania Marriage Records|How to Find Marriage Records]]
*[[How to Find Pennsylvania Death Records|How to Find Death Records]]


== Pennsylvania Research Tips  ==
This Record Finder is designed to help you determine the best record to search for the type of information you are looking for. It is most helpful for post-1850 research.  
These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Pennsylvania:<br>
<br>
'''Birth and Death information:'''<br>
----
*'''''Statewide registration:''''' The statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1906 and had compliance for registration by 1915.<ref>''Pennsylvania Research Outline.'' Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1988, 2005, 33. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). '''''Online at:''''' [http://files.lib.byu.edu/family-history-library/research-outlines/US/Pennsylvania.pdf BYU University - Provo]</ref>
*'''''Access to records:''''' See [[Pennsylvania Vital Records]] for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Pennsylvania.
<br>
'''Substitute Records:'''
----
*'''''Secondary source:''''' Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event.
*'''''Accuracy:''''' Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help verify information.
*'''''List of substitute records:''''' See [[Pennsylvania Substitute Records|Pennsylvania Substitute Records]] for more information.
<br>
'''Finding Parents:''' 
----
*'''''Death records:'''''  In 1906, the state required recording the deceased's birth and parent information. Information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory. 
*'''''Obituaries:''''' Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See [[Pennsylvania Newspapers]] and [[Pennsylvania Obituaries]] for more information.
*'''''Church records:''''' Knowing the denomination of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See [[Pennsylvania Church Records]] for more information.
<br>
'''Census Records:'''
----
*'''''Check all census years:''''' Always look for your ancestor in every possible census to learn more about them and their family members. See [[Pennsylvania Census|Pennsylvania Census Records]] for more information.
*'''''Clues to other records:''''' There are clues in censuses regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records.
*'''''Finding families:''''' Starting in 1850, all members of the household were listed in the census. By 1880, relationship to the head of household was added.


== Further Pennsylvania Research  ==
{| width="100%" border="1"
*[http://files.lib.byu.edu/family-history-library/research-outlines/US/Pennsylvania.pdf Pennsylvania Family History Library Research Outline]  
|-
*[http://www.pagenweb.org/ PAGenWeb] - Pennsylvania GenWeb Project
| '''1. What you are looking for:'''
*[http://genealogytrails.com/penn/ Pennsylvania Genealogy Trails] - collection of transcribed data for the state of Pennsylvania
| '''2. Try these records first:'''
*[http://www.cyndislist.com/us/pa/ Cyndi's List] - Pennsylvania genealogy websites
| '''3. Other useful records'''
*[http://www.raogk.org/pennsylvania-genealogy/ Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness] - State of Pennsylvania Records Guide
|-
| Birth information
| [[How to Find Pennsylvania Birth Records|Birth records]], [[How to Find Pennsylvania Death Records|Death records]], [[Pennsylvania Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[Pennsylvania Church Records|Church records]]
| [[Pennsylvania Cemeteries|Cemeteries]], [[Pennsylvania Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]], [[Pennsylvania Bible Records|Bible records]], [[Pennsylvania Military Records|Military records]] (pension)
|-
| Marriage information
| [[How to Find Pennsylvania Marriage Records|Marriage records]], [[Pennsylvania Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[Pennsylvania Bible Records|Bible records]]
| [[Pennsylvania Church Records|Church records]], [[Pennsylvania Probate Records|Probate records]], [[Pennsylvania Military Records|Military records]]
|-
| Death information
| [[How to Find Pennsylvania Death Records|Death Records]], [[Pennsylvania Cemeteries|Cemeteries]], [[Pennsylvania Obituaries|Obituaries]]  
| [[Pennsylvania Probate Records|Probate Records]], [[Pennsylvania Church Records|Church Records]], [[Pennsylvania Bible Records|Bible Records]]
|-
| Parents
| [[How to Find Pennsylvania Birth Records|Birth records]],&nbsp;[[How to Find Pennsylvania Death Records|Death records]], [[Pennsylvania Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[Pennsylvania Census|Census]], [[Pennsylvania Church Records|Church records]]
| [[Pennsylvania Biography|Biography]], [[Pennsylvania Genealogy|Genealogy]]
|-
| Maiden name
| [[How to Find Pennsylvania Marriage Records|Marriage Records]], [[Pennsylvania Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[Pennsylvania Probate Records|Probate records]]
| [[Pennsylvania Church Records|Church Records]], [[Pennsylvania Military Records|Military Records]] (pension)
|-
| Immigration date
| [[Pennsylvania Emigration and Immigration|Emigration and Immigration]], [[Pennsylvania Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]], [[Pennsylvania Census|Census]]
| [[Pennsylvania Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[Pennsylvania Biography|Biography]], [[Pennsylvania History|History]]
|-
| Naturalization
| [[Pennsylvania Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]], [[Pennsylvania Census|Census]], [[Pennsylvania Court Records|Court Records]]
| [[Pennsylvania Voting Registers|Voting Registers]], [[Pennsylvania Biography|Biography]], [[Pennsylvania Periodicals|Periodicals]]
|-
| Physical description
| [[Pennsylvania Military Records|Military Records]], [[Pennsylvania Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]] (after 1906)
| [[Pennsylvania Biography|Biography]], [[Pennsylvania History|History]]
|}


==References==
To look for more Pennsylvania records, go here
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Pennsylvania, United States]][[Category:United States Research Strategies]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Research Tips and Strategies]]

Revision as of 18:00, 23 January 2015

Pennsylvania Research Strategies[edit | edit source]

Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Online Genealogy Records
How to find Pennsylvania Birth Records
How to find Pennsylvania Marriage Records
How to find Pennsylvania Death Records

Pennsylvania Research Tips[edit | edit source]

These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Pennsylvania.

  • Birth information: Between 1852-1855 Pennsylvania counties were directed to record births within their jurisdiction. However few counties complied. In 1893 counties were again required to record births within their jurisdiction. This law had a better response and remained in effect until 1906 when the state of Pennsylvania began to record births on a statewide level. The best substitute record for locating birth information is death records (the majority of death records will list the date of birth of the decedent, and since death certificates are considered a primary resource, they can provide you with the same documentation as a birth certificate). Or, try these other substitute records.
  • Finding Parents: Statewide registration for Pennsylvania deaths began in 1906. Prior to the state keeping death records counties kept death records beginning in 1893. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. Search Pennsylvania death records
  • Look in all censuses: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. Search U.S. Censuses.

Pennsylvania Record Finder[edit | edit source]

This Record Finder is designed to help you determine the best record to search for the type of information you are looking for. It is most helpful for post-1850 research.

1. What you are looking for: 2. Try these records first: 3. Other useful records
Birth information Birth records, Death records, Obituaries, Church records Cemeteries, Naturalization and Citizenship, Bible records, Military records (pension)
Marriage information Marriage records, Obituaries, Bible records Church records, Probate records, Military records
Death information Death Records, Cemeteries, Obituaries Probate Records, Church Records, Bible Records
Parents Birth records, Death records, Obituaries, Census, Church records Biography, Genealogy
Maiden name Marriage Records, Obituaries, Probate records Church Records, Military Records (pension)
Immigration date Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census Obituaries, Biography, History
Naturalization Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Court Records Voting Registers, Biography, Periodicals
Physical description Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship (after 1906) Biography, History

To look for more Pennsylvania records, go here

Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Pennsylvania_Research_Tips_and_Strategies&oldid=1957951"