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=== Pennsylvania Research Strategies ===
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<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>
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Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Pennsylvania<br>  
== Pennsylvania Research Strategies  ==
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]]


:[[Pennsylvania Online Genealogy Records|Pennsylvania Online Genealogy Records]]
===Finding Pennsylvania Records===
:[[How to Find Pennsylvania Birth Records|How to find Pennsylvania Birth Records]]
*[[Pennsylvania Record Finder]]
:[[How to Find Pennsylvania Marriage Records|How to find Pennsylvania Marriage Records]]
:[[How to Find Pennsylvania Death Records|How to find Pennsylvania Death Records]]


=== Pennsylvania Research Tips  ===
===Pennsylvania Statewide Databases===
*[[Pennsylvania Online Genealogy Records|Pennsylvania Online Genealogy Records]]


These tips will help you as your research your ancestors in Pennsylvania.
===Pennsylvania Research Process===
*[[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]]


*'''Birth information:''' Birth records in Pennsylvania start on the county level in 1905 - although not all counties complied with the law. 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 Research Tips  ==
*'''Finding Parents:''' The State of Pennsylvania began recording deaths in 1905. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. [[How to Find United States Death Records|Search Pennsylvania death records]]  
These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Pennsylvania:<br>
*'''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]].
<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.


[[Category:Pennsylvania]]
== Further Pennsylvania Research  ==
*[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
*[http://genealogytrails.com/penn/ Pennsylvania Genealogy Trails] - collection of transcribed data for the state of Pennsylvania
*[http://www.cyndislist.com/us/pa/ Cyndi's List] - Pennsylvania  genealogy websites
*[http://www.raogk.org/pennsylvania-genealogy/ Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness] - State of Pennsylvania  Records Guide
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:Pennsylvania, United States]][[Category:United States Research Strategies]]
[[Category:Research Tips and Strategies]]

Latest revision as of 20:55, 23 February 2025

Pennsylvania Wiki Topics
Pennsylvania flag.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Pennsylvania Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources

Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page

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.

Pennsylvania Research Strategies[edit | edit source]

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

Finding Pennsylvania Birth, Marriage or Death Records[edit | edit source]

Finding Pennsylvania Records[edit | edit source]

Pennsylvania Statewide Databases[edit | edit source]

Pennsylvania Research Process[edit | edit source]

Pennsylvania Research Tips[edit | edit source]

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

Birth and Death information:

  • Statewide registration: The statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1906 and had compliance for registration by 1915.[1]
  • Access to records: See Pennsylvania Vital Records for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Pennsylvania.


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 for more information.


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.


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 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[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Pennsylvania Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1988, 2005, 33. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
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