Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries: Difference between revisions

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The following archives, libraries, and societies have major collections or services helpful to genealogical researchers.
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<br>These repositories preserve sources, maintain indexes, and provide services to help genealogists document their ancestors who lived in Pennsylvania.


=== Pennsylvania State Archives ===
==Wiki Articles on Major Repositories for Pennsylvania==


P.O. Box 1026<br />Harrisburg, PA 17108-1026<br />Telephone: 717-783-3281<br />Internet: http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/overview.htm
American Swedish Historical Museum{{·}} [[Bristol Public Library]] (Bristol, VA){{·}} Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh{{·}} [[Citizens Library]]{{·}} Erie County Library{{·}} Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society{{·}} [[Franklin and Marshall College Library]]{{·}} Free Library of Philadelphia{{·}} [[Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania]]{{·}} German Society of Pennsylvania{{·}} [[Handley Regional Library]] (Winchester, VA){{·}} [[Haverford College Library]]{{·}} [[Historical Society of Pennsylvania]]{{·}} Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania{{·}} Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia{{·}} Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society{{·}} Library Company of Philadelphia{{·}} [[Library of Congress]] (Washington, DC){{·}} Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia{{·}} Luzerne County Historical Society Bishop Library{{·}} [[National Archives at Philadelphia]]{{·}} [[New York Public Library]] (New York City, NY){{·}} [[Pennsylvania Department of Health]]{{·}} [[Pennsylvania State Archives]]{{·}} Philadelphia City Archives{{·}} Presbyterian Historical Society{{·}} [[State Library of Pennsylvania]]{{·}} [[SUNY Fredonia Reed Library]] (Fredonia, NY){{·}} [[Swarthmore College Friends Historical Library]]{{·}} Temple University Urban Archives{{·}} University of Pennsylvania Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center{{·}} [[Western Reserve Historical Society]] (Cleveland, OH)


The Family History Library has these important guides to collections at the State Archives:
==Online Records of Pennsylvania==


Suran, Frank M. ''Guide to the Record Groups in the Pennsylvania State Archives'', Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1980. (FHL book 974.8 A1 no. 393.)
{| style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|<div id="fsButtons"><span class="online_records_button">[[Pennsylvania Online Genealogy Records]]</span></div>{{DCfollowup}}<br>


Baumann, Roland M., and Diane S. Wallace. ''Guide to the Microfilm Collections in the Pennsylvania State Archives''. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1980. (FHL book 974.8 A3ba.)
*[http://www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Research-Online/Pages/default.aspx Pennnsylvania Historical and Museum Commission] online site with birth and death indexes, military indexes, land records, and photos.
*[http://www.powerlibrary.org/collections/#.WFqvAfJSOmR Power Library: Pennsylvania's Electronic Library] gives access to digitized documents from Pennsylvania libraries.
|}
==Nationwide Repositories==
{| style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|[[Image:National Archives at Philadelphia sign.jpg|thumb|right|235px|Entrance to the National Archives at Philadelphia]]
===[[National Archives at Philadelphia]]===
14700 Townsend Road<br>Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096<br>Telephone: 215-305-2044<br>Fax: 215-305-2052<br>E-mail: [mailto:Philadelphia.archives@nara.gov Philadelphia.archives@nara.gov]<br>Internet: [http://www.archives.gov/philadelphia/ Website] <br>
:Has federal agency and court records for '''''Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia''''', and '''''West Virginia'''''. All U.S. federal censuses 1790-1940, and indexes. Also have passenger arrivals in Philadelphia 1800-1945 and Baltimore, pension and bounty land warrant applications, naturalizations 1790-1990, early federal history, diplomacy, military history, Chinese-Americans, World War II homefront, National Park Service, merchant marine, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, federal tax evasion and smuggling cases.
|}<br>
[[Image:American Swedish Historical Museum.JPG|thumb|right|280px|American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia]]


Dructor, Robert M. ''A Guide to Genealogical Sources at the Pennsylvania State Archives''. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1980. (FHL book 974.8 D23p.)
===American Swedish Historical Museum===
1900 Pattison Avenue <br>Philadelphia, PA 19145 <br>Telephone: 215-389-1776 <br>E-mail: [mailto:info@americanswedish.org info@americanswedish.org]<br>[http://www.americanswedish.org/ Website] <br>
:[[New Sweden|New Sweden]] colony, and Swedish heritage in the Delaware Valley (northern '''''Delaware''''', southern '''''New Jersey''''', and southeast '''''Pennsylvania''''').<br><br>


Fortna, Nancy L. P., and Frank M. Suran. ''Guide to County and Municipal Records on Microfilm in the Pennsylvania State Archives''. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1982. (FHL book 974.8 Al no. 613.)
===Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society===
Lancaster Theological Seminary Library, 2nd floor<br>555 West James Street<br>Lancaster, PA 17603<br>Telephone: 717-290-8734<br>Email: [mailto:info@erhistoricalsociety.org info@erhistoricalsociety.org]<br>[https://erhistoricalsociety.org/ Website] <br>
:Official repository for the former Reformed Church in the United States, the Hungarian Reformed Church, the Evangelical Synod of North America, and the combined Evangelical and Reformed Church. The historical society maintains two repositories that include parish registers, leaders' biographies, and photos. Check website for hours and visiting tips.<br><br>


Whipkey, Harry E. ''Guide to the Manuscript Groups in the Pennsylvania State Archives''. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1976. (FHL book 974.8 A5w; film 1036704 item 13.)
[[Image:Franklin and Marshall College Library Lancaster.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Franklin & Marshall Coll. Library in Lancaster]]


''Guide to the Microfilm of the Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments, 1775-1790''<nowiki>: (record group 27) in the Pennsylvania State Archives. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1979. (FHL book 974.8 N23g.)</nowiki>
===[[Franklin and Marshall College Library]]===
450 College Avenue<br>Lancaster, PA 17603<br>Telephone: 717-291-4216<br>[https://fandm.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b7RSP4ZquJkeORn Online email form]<br>[https://www.fandm.edu/academics/library Website]<br>
:"Hessian" (German) soldiers in the American Revolution, history, government, Pennsylvania-German culture, U.S. Civil War.<br><br>


For an index to this guide, see:
===[[Haverford College Library]]===
Quaker and Special Collections<br>James P. Magill Library<br>370 Lancaster Avenue<br>Haverford, PA 19041-1392<br>Telephone: 610-896-1175<br>Fax: 610-896-1102<br>Email: [mailto:hc-special@haverford.edu hc-special@haverford.edu]<br>[https://www.haverford.edu/library/quaker-special-collections Website] <br>
:Quaker Collection of diaries, photos, family papers, meeting and organizational records; 35,000 books, 2,400 linear feet of manuscripts.<br><br><br>


Baumann, Roland M. and Diane Smith Wallace. ''Index to the Guide to the Microfilm of the Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments, 1775-1790'', in the Pennsylvania State Archives. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1980. (FHL book 974.8 N23g index.)
[[Image:Lutheran Theological Seminary Brossman Center.JPG|thumb|right|280px|Lutheran Archives Center in Philadelphia]]


=== National Archives—Philadelphia Branch ===
===Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia===
Brossman Learning Center (in the undercroft)<br>7301 Germantown Avenue<br>Philadelphia, PA 19119-1794<br>Telephone: 215-248-6383<br>Fax: 215-248-6327<br>Email: [mailto:mtairyarchives@ltsp.edu mtairyarchives@ltsp.edu] <br>[https://www.lacphila.org/ Website] <br>
:ELCA archives for Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Upstate New York (excluding New York City) and New England. Includes clergy and synod papers, and some parish registers (baptisms, marriages, funerals, confirmations) (many written in German).<br><br>


9th and Market Streets<br />Philadelphia, PA 19107<br />Telephone: 215-597-3000<br />Fax: 215-597-2303<br />Internet: http://www.archives.gov/midatlantic/
[[Image:Presbyterian Historical Society.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia]]


=== Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania ===
===Presbyterian Historical Society===
425 Lombard Street<br>Philadelphia, PA 19147<br>Telephone: 215-627-1852<br>Email: [mailto:refdesk@history.pcusa.org refdesk@history.pcusa.org]<br> [http://www.history.pcusa.org/resources/genealogy/ Website]<br>
:National archives of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Includes biographical files, foreign missionary index, congregation vertical file index, congregation histories, and records of American Presbyterian congregations.<br><br>


1305 Locust Street<br />Philadelphia, PA 19107-5699<br />Telephone: 215-545-0391<br />Fax: 215-545-0936<br />Internet: http://www.genpa.org/
===[[Swarthmore College Friends Historical Library]]===
500 College Avenue<br>Swarthmore, PA 19081<br>Telephone: 610-328-8496<br>Fax: 610-690-5728<br>Email: [mailto:friends@swarthmore.edu friends@swarthmore.edu]<br>[http://www.swarthmore.edu/academics/friends-historical-library.xml Website]<br>
:Documents the history of the Society of Friends (Quakers) from the 17th century to the present; 45,000 books, 60,000 photos, and 9,000 volumes of original Quaker meeting records, plus local history of the Mid-Atlantic states, and social reform movements.<br><br>


See the "Genealogy" section of this outline for a discussion of the resources of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania.
==State Repositories==


=== Historical Society of Pennsylvania ===
===[[Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania]]===
2100 Byberry Road, Suite 111<br>Philadelphia, PA 19116<br>Telephone: 267-686-2296<br>Email: [mailto:info@genpa.org info@genpa.org]<br>[https://genpa.org/ https://genpa.org/]<br>
:A FamilySearch Affiliate Library. FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries offer access to about 90% of the “locked” collections on FamilySearch.org or about 700,000,000 records! Admission to the GSP FamilySearch Affiliate Library is always free. <br>
:Appointments are required. Schedule appointments for research at the GSP FamilySearch Affiliate Library or the GSP Library by emailing [mailto:info@genpa.org info@genpa.org] or calling 267-686-2296. Admission to the GSP Library is free for members and $5 for the public. The GSP Library provides access to over 1400 books and over 200 collections of records, including indexes and transcriptions of church, cemetery, and funeral home records. Check website for hours.<br>
:GSP maintains over 200 online collections in [https://genpa.org/gsp-collections/ the Ruth Bitting Hamm Digital Library]. Many of these collections can be found in the [https://genpa.org/gsp-collections/ Member Collections] section of the website. Featured member collections include: [https://genpa.org/member-collections/mahanoyhs_berryman/ the Berryman Collection] (extensive collection of church and cemetery records and other transcriptions and family history information from several Pennsylvania counties compiled by Mrs. Walter A Berryman), [https://genpa.org/member-collections/public-ledger-newspaper-indexes/ Philadelphia Public Ledger Newspaper Indexes Collection] (fully searchable indexes to origins of immigrants, local affairs, marriages, and deaths from the Philadelphia Public Ledger: 1836 – 1878), and [https://genpa.org/member-collections/john-t-humphrey-pennsylvania-births-books/ the John T. Humphrey collection of Pennsylvania birth records]. Mr. Humphrey's collection consists of baptisms extracted from early Pennsylvania church records. John T. Humphrey, the late noted Pennsylvania genealogist, left the rights to his collections to the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. The online collection includes all 16 books representing 15 counties and the records are fully-text searchable. A helpful GSP Website Tips page gives more information on how best to use the website and learn about GSP's collections. <br>
:The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania Library includes books and collections of church, cemetery, and funeral home records, family records for early GSP members, and reference books for Pennsylvania research.  The [https://genpa.org/genealogical-society-of-pennsylvania-library-catalog/ library catalog] appears on the website, with new books and collections being added regularly. GSP has several manuscript collections and collections not yet listed online, however, the website is regularly updated. Many of GSP's old tangible materials created in the 19th and 20th centuries are now located at the [[Historical Society of Pennsylvania]].


1300 Locust Street<br />Philadelphia, PA 19107-5699<br />Telephone: 215-732-6201<br />Fax: 215-732-2680<br />Internet: http://www.hsp.org/
===German Society of Pennsylvania===
611 Spring Garden Street <br>Philadelphia, PA 19123 <br>Telephone: 215-627-2332 <br>Fax: 215-627-5297 <br>Email: [mailto:librarian@germansociety.org librarian@germansociety.org] <br>[https://www.germansociety.org/ Website] <br>
:60,000 volumes, mostly in German. This is the largest private collection of German books in the United States outside of universities. Their purpose is to document German-American history, culture, and organizations, including biographies and publications.<br><br>


An important resource for this society is ''Guide to the Manuscript Collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 3rd ed.'' (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Society, 1991; FHL book 974.811 J53h).
===[[Historical Society of Pennsylvania]]===
[[Image:Historical Society of Pennsylvania.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Historical Society of PA in Philadelphia]]<br>
1300 Locust Street<br>Philadelphia, PA 19107-5699<br>Telephone: 215-732-6200<br>Fax: 215-732-2680<br>Email: [mailto:ReadyReference@hsp.org ReadyReference@hsp.org]<br>[https://hsp.org/ Website] <br>
:Has early Quakers, Germans, Scots-Irish, and other settlers in William Penn's colonies of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Records which have been published are normally well-indexed. This society also has 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century manuscripts (letters, diaries, account books, deeds, minutes, and scrapbooks), passenger arrival lists and indexes, local and regional history, ethnic and immigrant studies materials, 600,000 books, 20 million manuscripts, over 300,000 graphics items, and 300 years of newspapers.<br><br>


=== Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania/ ===
===[[Pennsylvania Department of Health]]===
Philadelphia Public Office (other public offices in Erie, Harrisburg, New Castle, Pittsburgh, and Scranton)<br>110 North 8th Street, Suite 108<br>Philadelphia, PA 19107-2412<br>Telephone: 215-560-3054<br> [https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/certificates/Pages/Vital%20Records.aspx Birth and Death Certificates]<br>
:Birth and death records 1906-present. Order in-person, [http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/birth_certificates/14121/birth_records_-_by_internet/556818 order online] via VitalChek, or [http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/birth_certificates/14121/birth_records_-_by_mail/556813 order births by mail], or [http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/death_and_fetal_death_certificates/14122/death_records_-_by_mail/556827 order deaths by mail].<br><br>[[Image:Pennsylvania State Archive building.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg]]


=== Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society ===
===[[Pennsylvania State Archives]]===
1681 North Sixth Street <br>Harrisburg, PA 17120<br>Telephone: 717-783-3281<br>Email: [mailto:ra-statearchives@pa.gov ra-statearchives@pa.gov]<br>[https://www.phmc.pa.gov/ Historical and Museum Commission]<br>
:Collection has indexes and original sources associated with the {{FSC|221762|item|disp=''Pennsylvania Archives''}} series, such as vital, military, prison, naturalization, land records, census, ships lists, railroads, mines, and 1.5 million online records including [https://www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Research-Online/Pages/Research-Guides.aspx online genealogy guides].<br><br>


1212 Smallman Street<br />Pittsburgh, PA 15222<br />Telephone: 412-454-6000<br />Fax: 412-454-6028<br />Internet: http://digital.library.pitt.edu/hswp/
===[[State Library of Pennsylvania]]===
400 North Street, Keystone Building<br>Harrisburg, PA 17120-0600<br>Telephone: 717-783-5950<br>Fax: 717-772-8268<br>[https://www.statelibrary.pa.gov/Contact/Pages/The-State-Library-of-Pennsylvania.aspx Contact list and emails]<br>[https://www.statelibrary.pa.gov/GeneralPublic/Learn/Pages/genealogy.aspx Genealogy and Local History] <br>
:Indexes, genealogy surname files, state and county histories, atlases, land records maps, ship lists, church and cemetery records, federal censuses, regimental histories, ethnic and religious group records, newspapers, heraldry, adoption, obituaries, naturalizations, military, railroads and mines, historical Pennsylvania city directories. <br><br>


=== State Library of Pennsylvania ===
==Regional Repositories==
[[Image:Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh]]
===Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh===
4400 Forbes Avenue<br>Pittsburgh, PA 15213-4080<br>Phone: 412-622-3114<br>Email: [mailto:info@carnegielibrary.org info@carnegielibrary.org]<br> [https://www.carnegielibrary.org/ Website]  <br>
:Large book collection, newspapers, manuscripts, and county histories most of which are indexed. Also family histories, family folders, local histories and genealogies.<br><br>


=== Department of Education ===
[[Image:Citizens Library Washington PA.gif|thumb|right|280px|Citizens Library in Washington, PA]]
===[[Citizens Library]]===
55 South College Street<br>Washington, PA 15301<br>Telephone: 724-222-2400<br>Fax: 724-222-2606<br>Email: [mailto:citlib@citlib.org citlib@citlib.org]<br>[https://www.washlibs.org/citizens/ Website] <br>
:The Washington County, Pennsylvania area was an important staging area or gateway for travel into the Ohio River Valley and the West. As such, many records of travelers can be found here, and this library has the best biographical collection of these records.<br><br>


=== Commonwealth Libraries ===
[[Image:Erie County Public Library.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Erie County Public Library in Erie, PA]]


Walnut St. and Commonwealth Avenue<br />P.O. Box 1601<br />Harrisburg, PA 17105<br />Telephone: 717-787-4440<br />Fax: 717-783-5420<br />Internet: http://www.statelibrary.state.pa.us/libraries/site/default.asp
===Erie County Public Library===
160 East Front Street<br>Erie, PA 16507 <br>Telephone: 814-451-6927 <br>Email: [mailto:reference@erielibrary.org reference@erielibrary.org]<br>[https://erielibrary.org/resources/genealogy/ Website] <br>
:Biographical section for migrants who traveled here via the Erie Canal before moving on to Ohio and farther west. Holdings include obituary index, family histories, county histories, computer genealogy databases, and on microfilm Erie newspapers and censuses.<br><br>


A helpful source is ''A Guide to the Genealogy/Local History Section of the State Library of Pennsylvania, 3rd rev. ed.'' (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Division, 1987; FHL book 974.8 A3d; film [1985 rev. ed.] 1320564 item 6). See also Janice B. Newman, ''Genealogical Research at the State Library of Pennsylvania'', Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 35 (1988): 199-212. See the "[[Pennsylvania Periodicals|Periodicals]]" section of this outline.
[[Image:Free Library of Philadelphia Parkway Central.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Free Library of Philadelphia]]


=== City Archives of Philadelphia ===
===Free Library of Philadelphia===
1901 Vine Street<br>Philadelphia, PA 19103-1157<br>(between 19th and 20th Streets on the Parkway)<br>Telephone: 215-686-5322<br> [https://libwww.freelibrary.org/contact/ Ask a Librarian form]<br>[https://libwww.freelibrary.org/locations/parkway-central-library Website] <br>
:Large book collection, periodicals and indexes, genealogies, city directories, maps, family folders, local newspapers since 1719, naturalizations, vertical files, manuscripts, photos, government publications, and histories for all of Pennsylvania.<br><br>


Dept. of Records<br />401 N. Broad Street, Suite 942<br />Philadelphia, PA 19108-1099<br />Telephone: 215-686-1580<br />Fax: 215-686-2283<br />Internet: http://www.phila.gov/phils/Docs/Inventor/genealgy.htm
===Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania===
[[Image:Hist Soc of Western PA.JPG|thumb|right|280px|Historical Society of Western PA in Pittsburgh]]<br>Senator John Heinz History Center, Library and Archives<br>1212 Smallman Street<br>Pittsburgh, PA 15222<br>Telephone: 412-454-6364<br>Email: [mailto:library@heinzhistorycenter.org library@heinzhistorycenter.org]<br>[https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/detre-library-archives/ Website] <br>
:Large collection for western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, including the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society records.  700,000 photos, 40,000 books, 3,500 individual archival collections of families, organizations, businesses, and industries, 600 periodicals, and 500 maps and atlases.<br><br>


A helpful guide is John C. Daly, ''Descriptive Inventory of the Archives of the City and County of Philadelphia'' (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: City of Philadelphia, Department of Records, 1970; Supplement, 1980; FHL book 974.811 A3d; film 1036003 item 4).
===Jewish Genealogical and Archival Society of Greater Philadelphia===
Tuttleman Library-Gratz College<br>7605 Old York Road<br>Elkins Park, PA 19027<br>Telephone: 215-635-7304<br>Email: [mailto:library@gratz.edu library@gratz.edu]<br>[https://jgasgp.org/ Website]<br>
:Hebraica and Judaica, Jewish genealogy research manuals, society newsletters, regional cemeteries for south Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.<br><br>


=== Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh ===
===Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society===
2215 Millstream Road<br>Lancaster, PA 17602-1499<br>Telephone: 717-393-9745<br>Fax: 717-393-8751<br>Email: [mailto:lmhs@lmhs.org lmhs@lmhs.org] <br>[https://www.lmhs.org/ Website]<br>
:Center for studying the Pennsylvania Mennonites and Amish heritage. Historical and genealogical materials of southeast Pennsylvania, focusing mostly on Lancaster County, including an 800,000 person card index, 3000 genealogies, secular local histories, congregational histories, biographies, directories, passenger lists, atlases and maps, cemetery transcripts, censuses, databases, deeds, obituaries, orphans court records, periodicals, surname files, tax records, and wills.<br><br>


4400 Forbes Avenue<br />Pittsburgh, PA 15213-4080<br />Telephone: 412-622-3100<br />Fax: 412-621-1267<br />Internet: http://www.clpgh.org/
[[Image:Library Co Phila1965facade.jpg|thumb|right|168px|Library Co of Philadelphia]]


To learn more about the history and record-keeping systems of Pennsylvania counties, use the county archive inventories produced around 1940 by the Historical Records Survey. The Family History Library has copies of 17 published inventories and 40 unpublished inventories. See:
===Library Company of Philadelphia===
1314 Locust Street <br>Philadelphia, PA 19107<br>Telephone: 215-546-3181<br>Fax: 215-546-5167<br>Email: [mailto:cking@librarycompany.org cking@librarycompany.org] <br>[https://librarycompany.org/ Website]<br>
:Large German-American collection; helpful for documenting Civil War ancestors from Pennsylvania. Half a million rare books, manuscripts, and graphics documenting American history and culture to 1900 including African Americana, American Judaica, women's history, and photography in Philadelphia. Many early Philadelphia records.<br><br>


''Inventory of the County Archives of Pennsylvania: Records of the Works Project Administration, Pennsylvania Historical Writer's Project''. Historical Records Survey. (On 5 FHL films beginning with 1014724.) These records contain material on many counties that did not publish an inventory.
===Luzerne County Historical Society Bishop Library===
49 South Franklin Street<br>Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701<br>Telephone: 570-823-6244<br>Fax: 570-823-9011<br>[https://luzernehistory.org/about/our-mission/ Website]<br>
:Research New England migrants into Pennsylvania and places farther south. 13,000 family folders, transcribed wills 1787-1896, personal papers and correspondence, 10,000 photos, county and local histories, church histories, family histories, biographies, Native Americans and ethnic groups, city directories, maps, births 1893-1905, marriages 1885-1950, deaths 1886-1962, newspapers and obituaries, land records 1787-1907, and index to Orphans' Court wills, land sales, and guardians 1787-1866.<br><br>


A more current list is:
===Philadelphia City Archives===
3101 Market Street <br>Philadelphia, PA 19104<br>Telephone: 215-685-9401<br>Fax: 215-685-9409<br>[http://www.phila.gov/phils/ Website]<br>
:Births 1860-1915 (a few starting 1829), marriages 1860-1915, divorces 1851-1875, deaths 1803-1915, naturalizations 1793-1930, city directories 1785-1935, county deeds 1683-1952, county mortgages 1736-1963, constables 1854-1925, and some court records. They have indexes to early Philadelphia materials, such as tax records, prisoners, commissioners reports, mayors warrants and appointments, as well as cemeteries, board of health records, and streets.<br><br>


''County Records Survey, 1985-1986 [of Pennsylvania].'' [Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]: Pennsylvania Historical &amp; Museum Commission. Division of Archives and Manuscripts, 1986. (On 7 FHL fiche 6333952.) Philadelphia County is not included, but Pittsburgh city is.
[[Image:Temple Univ Samuel Paley Library.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Temple University Paley Library in Philadelphia]]


A very helpful guide is Sylvester K. Stevens and Donald H. Kent, eds., ''County Government and Archives in Pennsylvania'' (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1947; FHL book 974.8 N2s; film 1320887 item 10). This guide describes the records kept by the county, the information they contain, when most began, and important history of their development.
===Temple University Urban Archives===
Samuel Paley Library<br>Berks and 13th Streets<br>Philadelphia, PA 19122<br>Telephone: 215-204-5750<br>[http://library.temple.edu/asktulibraries#quicktabs-ask_tu_libraries=2 Ask a Librarian form]<br> [https://library.temple.edu/collections/urban-archives/ Website]<br>
:Church records, fraternal groups, ethnic groups, unions, guilds, and people-oriented collection of organizations, clubs, businesses, and societies related to the growth of the Philadelphia area since the 1800s. 4 million images, 7 million news clippings, city directories, Philadelphia atlases, and Sanborn fire insurance maps.<br><br>


Also helpful though dated is Irwin Richman, ''Historical Manuscript Depositories in Pennsylvania'' (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1965; FHL book 974.8 H23r). It provides a detailed description of the manuscripts in most libraries and archives in Pennsylvania in 1965.
[[Image:Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center.JPG|thumb|right|280px|University of Pennsylvania Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center in Philadelphia]]


A useful directory of eastern Pennsylvania libraries is ''Directory of Libraries and Information Sources in the Philadelphia Area ''(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Special Libraries Association, Philadelphia Chapter, 1977; FHL book 974.811 J54s; film 1036557 item 9).
===University of Pennsylvania Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center===
3420 Walnut Street <br>Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206 <br>Telephone: 215-898-7556<br>[http://www.library.upenn.edu/forms/reference.html Ask a Reference Question form]<br>[http://www.library.upenn.edu/vanpelt/ Website]<br>
:Large manuscript collection, newspapers, county records and histories, biographical sources, ethnic resources, church records, and government records. Subject specialties include Africana, Asian Americans, Chinese, French, Germans, history, immigration, Italians, Japanese, Judaic studies, Koreans, Latin Americans, Philadelphia studies, religions, Russians and East Europeans, South Asians, and Spaniards.<br><br>


=== Computer Networks and Bulletin Boards ===
'''For early colonial immigrants in nine southeast Pennsylvania counties see:'''


Computers with modems are important tools for obtaining information from selected archives and libraries. In a way, computer networks themselves serve as a library. The Internet, certain computer bulletin boards, and commercial online services help family history researchers:
:*'''[https://www.achs-pa.org/ Adams County Historical Society Library]'''
:*'''[http://www.mercermuseum.org/collections-and-research/library-collections/ Bucks County Historical Society Library]'''
:*'''[http://www.berkshistory.org/library/ Historical Society of Berks County Library]'''
:*'''[http://www.chestercohistorical.org/library Chester County Historical Society Library]'''
:*'''[http://www.padelcohistory.org/research/ Delaware County Historical Society Library]'''
:*'''[http://www.lancasterhistory.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=61 Lancaster County Historical Society Library]'''
:*'''[https://www.lebanoncountyhistory.org/research/ Lebanon County Historical Society Research Archives]'''
:*'''[http://www.hsmcpa.org/ Historical Society of Montgomery County Library]'''
:*'''[http://www.yorkheritage.org/page.asp?id=27 Historical Society of York County Library and Archives]'''<br><br>


* Locate other researchers
==Repositories Outside of Pennsylvania==
* Post queries
[[File:Bristol library.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Bristol Public Library in Virginia]]
* Send and receive E-mail
===[[Bristol Public Library]]===
* Search large databases
701 Goode Street <br>Bristol, VA 24201-4199 <br>Telephone: 540-645-8780 <br>Fax: 276-669-5593 <br>Email: [mailto:bplref@yahoo.com bplref@yahoo.com]<br>[http://www.bristol-library.org/ Bristol Public Library]<br>
* Search computer libraries
:Small family folder collection; important resource for settlers coming from '''''Pennsylvania, Maryland''''', and northern '''''Virginia'''''  along the [[Great Valley Road]] into '''''Tennessee, Kentucky''''', and '''''North Carolina'''''.
* Join in computer chat and lecture sessions
[[Image:Handley Library Winchester Virginia.jpg|thumb|220px|Handley Library Winchester Virginia]]<br><br>


You can find computerized research tips and information about ancestors from Pennsylvania in a variety of local, state, national, and international sources. The list of sources is growing rapidly. Most of the information is available at no cost. Addresses on the Internet are subject to frequent changes. The following sites are important gateways linking you to many more network and bulletin board sites:
===[[Handley Regional Library]]===
100 W. Piccadilly Street<br>PO Box 58 <br>Winchester, Virginia 22604<br>Telephone: 540-662-9041<br>Fax: 540-722-4769<br>Email: [mailto:archives@handleyregional.org archives@handleyregional.org]<br>[https://www.handleyregional.org/ Website] <br>
:Large collection about Germans and Scots-Irish who traveled the [[Great Valley Road]] from '''''Pennsylvania''''' to '''''Virginia''''', including manuscripts, newspapers, biographies, and histories, and people of the Lower Shenandoah Valley since 1732, emphasizing Winchester and Frederick County in 4000 books, county court abstracts, county histories, genealogies, regimental histories, battles, newspapers since 1787, censuses, 600 linear feet of manuscripts, maps, photos, and oral history tapes.<br><br>


=== USGenWeb ===
===[[Library of Congress]]===
[[Image:Library of Congress Jefferson Building.jpg|thumb|right|450px|Library of Congress Jefferson Building in Washington, D.C.]]<br>
101 Independence Ave. SE <br>Thomas Jefferson Building, LJ G4 <br>Washington, D.C. 20540-4660 <br>Telephone: Reading Room: 202-707-5537<br>Fax: 202-707-1957 <br>Email:  [http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ask-genealogy.html Ask a Librarian]<br>[http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/ Website] <br>
:Genealogical guides and indexes. Part of the world's largest library including 50,000 genealogies, 100,000 local histories, and collections of manuscripts, microfilms, maps, newspapers, photographs, and published material, strong in North American, British Isles, and German sources. Includes one of the best '''Pennsylvania''' collections in the world.<br><br>


http://www.usgenweb.com/
[[Image:New York Public Library exterior.jpg|thumb|right|280px|New York Public Library in Manhattan]]


A cooperative effort by many volunteers to list genealogical databases, libraries, bulletin boards, and other resources available on the Internet for each county, state, and country.
===[[New York Public Library]]===
U.S. History, Local History & Genealogy Division<br>Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, Room 315S<br>New York, NY 10018-2788<br>Telephone: 212-930-0829<br>[http://www.nypl.org/locations/tid/36/node/126488 Ask a librarian form]<br>[http://www.nypl.org/ Website]<br>
:One of the largest research libraries in the world, including excellent genealogical resources for '''Pennsylvania'''. The library has city and telephone directories, vital records indexes, local histories, genealogies, federal and state censuses, passenger lists, genealogical collections (including DAR transcripts), and church records. For maps, write to the Map Division at the same address.<br><br>


=== Roots-L ===
===[[SUNY Fredonia Reed Library]]===
{{Multiple image
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| image1 = Holland Land Co holdings in NY & PA.png
| caption1 =  
| image2 = Reed Library Fredonia.jpg
| caption2 = <center>Reed Library at SUNY Fredonia in New York</center>
}}
State University of New York<br>280 Central Ave<br>Fredonia, NY 14063<br>Telephone: Library 716-673-3184; Special Collections 716-673-3183;<br>Special Collections Fax: 716-673-3185<br>Email: [mailto:reedref@fredonia.edu reedref@fredonia.edu]<br>[http://www.fredonia.edu/library/ The State University of New York at Fredonia Daniel A. Reed Library]<br>[http://fredonia.libguides.com/archives/holland Holland Land Company] historical background, contents, inventory, supplementary collections, and Holland Land Company records in other libraries.<br>
:The '''State University of New York at Fredonia Daniel A. Reed Library''' has indexes to, and most of the original patents (first deeds) showing the transfer of land ownership between 1801 and 1840 from the '''[[New_York_Land_and_Property#Land_Companies|Holland Land Company]]''' (1789-1869) to private individuals in western New York and '''Pennsylvania'''. Some names on the patents could be fictitious. Other collections include American Indian records including primarily the Seneca, with some for the Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, and Tuscarora tribes, local histories for Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, and the bordering counties in New York and Pennsylvania, manuscripts including church papers, and databases.<br><br>


http://www.rootsweb.com/roots-l/usa/
===[[Western Reserve Historical Society]]===
[[Image:Connecticut Western Reserve in northeast Ohio.png|thumb|right|280px|Western Reserve Hist Soc in Cleveland OH]]<br>10825 East Boulevard <br>Cleveland, OH 44106-1788 <br>Telephone: 216-721-5722 x1509 <br>Fax: 216-721-0645 <br>Email: [mailto:reference@wrhs.org reference@wrhs.org] <br>[http://www.wrhs.org/research/library/genealogy/ Family History and Genealogical Research]<br>
:The Western Reserve was a large part of Ohio at first intended for settlement by '''Connecticut''' Revolutionary War refugees. The '''Research Library''' at the '''''Western Reserve Historical Society''''' ''History Center '' is the premier repository for Cleveland, Ohio and the ''Connecticut Western Reserve '' history material. This important collection includes original land records, as well as many genealogies, biographies, histories, and Bibles from '''Pennsylvania''', New York, and New England. Includes over 20 million manuscripts for genealogical research and northeast Ohio history. They have the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of Shaker materials. Other important collections include the American Civil War, and the automotive industry.<br>
:*Kermit J. Pike, ''A Guide to the Manuscripts and Archives of the Western Reserve Historical Society'' (Cleveland, Ohio: Western Reserve Historical Society, 1972). {{WorldCat|483574}}; {{FSC|94342|item|disp=FS Library Book 977.1 A3p}}.<br>
:*Western Reserve Historical Society. History Library. ''Card Catalog to the Manuscripts Collection in the Library of the Western Reserve Historical Society'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974). {{WorldCat|865891564}}; {{FSC|210248|item|disp=FS Library Films 934566-69; 934617-18}}.<br><br>


A useful list of sites and resources. Includes a large, regularly updated research coordination list.
==FamilySearch Centers==
Some of the above collections are partially duplicated at the [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library] and its branch '''[https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/ FamilySearch Centers]''' around the world. Most centers can help you by:[[File:Image 3 of Valley Forge Family History Center.JPG|thumb|right|280px|Valley Forge Family History Center in Broomall]]


To get started with computer network research regarding Pennsylvania, contact the following:
*Giving you limited, personal, one-on-one research suggestions (but they do not do research for you)
*Providing access to genealogical records through the premium online Internet '''[[FamilySearch Center Portal|FamilySearch Center Portal]]'''.
*Offering free how-to classes (varies by location)
*Fostering contact between genealogical enthusiasts


=== Ohio River Valley Families ===
There are several [[:Category:Pennsylvania FamilySearch Centers|centers located in Pennsylvania]], ''for example:'' 


http://orvf.com/
::[[Valley Forge Pennsylvania FamilySearch Center]]<br>721 Paxon Hollow Rd<br>Broomall PA 19008 USA<br>Telephone: 610-356-8507
:::Each center is staffed by volunteers and has varying hours and services. Telephone in advance to verify their hours.


Contains 13,035 related family members dating back to the 15th century.
To locate one of these 4,500 centers in your own neighborhood, see [https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/ Find a Family History Center].<br><br>


=== Sullivan-Rutland Genealogy Project ===
==Museums List==


http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/srgpmain.htm
Museums sometime preserve genealogical sources. A {{wpd|List of museums in Pennsylvania}} is available on Wikipedia.<br><br>


Contains 60,000 ancestors and descendants of the early 19th century pioneers of Sullivan and Rutland townships in Tioga County, PA. Includes all cemetery and census information and some diaries and letters from 1850 to the present.
==Guidebooks==


For further details about using computer networks, bulletin boards, and news groups for family history research, see the [http://www.familysearchwiki.org/../united-states-research-outline United States Research Outline], 2nd ed., in the  Archives and Library section.
*''County Records Survey, 1985-1986 [of Pennsylvania].'' ([Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Division of Archives and Manuscripts, 1986). {{WorldCat|866279775|item|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}. {{FSC|623270|item|disp=On 7 FS Library fiche 6333952}}. Philadelphia County is not included, but Pittsburgh city is.
*Sylvester K. Stevens and Donald H. Kent, eds., ''County Government and Archives in Pennsylvania'' (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1947) {{WorldCat|1143928|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}. {{FSC|248877|item|disp=FS Catalog book 974.8 N2s; FS Library film 1320887 item 10}}. This guide describes the records kept by each county, the information they contain, when most began, and important history of their development.
*Irwin Richman, ''Historical Manuscript Depositories in Pennsylvania'' (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania : Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1965). {{WorldCat|2379724|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}. {{FSC|176489|item|disp=FS Catalog book 974.8 H23r}} It provides a detailed description of the manuscripts in most libraries and archives in Pennsylvania in 1965, but dated.
*Irene E. Fink, ''Directory of Libraries and Information Sources in the Philadelphia Area ''(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : Special Libraries Association. Philadelphia Chapter, 1973). {{WorldCat|7303762|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}. {{FSC|290593|item|disp=FS Catalog book 974.811 J54s; film 1036557 item 9}}. For eastern Pennsylvania libraries only.<br><br>


=== FamilySearch™ ===
==References==
 
{{reflist}} {{Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania}}{{U.S. Archives and Libraries}}{{-}} 
[http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]]  
 
[[Category:United States Repositories|Pennsylvania]]
The Family History Library and some Family History Centers have computers with FamilySearch™. FamilySearch, a collection of computer files containing several million names, is a good place to begin your research. Some of the records come from compiled sources; some have been automated from original sources.

Latest revision as of 20:40, 25 May 2024

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


These repositories preserve sources, maintain indexes, and provide services to help genealogists document their ancestors who lived in Pennsylvania.

Wiki Articles on Major Repositories for Pennsylvania[edit | edit source]

American Swedish Historical Museum · Bristol Public Library (Bristol, VA) · Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh · Citizens Library · Erie County Library · Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society · Franklin and Marshall College Library · Free Library of Philadelphia · Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania · German Society of Pennsylvania · Handley Regional Library (Winchester, VA) · Haverford College Library · Historical Society of Pennsylvania · Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania · Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia · Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society · Library Company of Philadelphia · Library of Congress (Washington, DC) · Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia · Luzerne County Historical Society Bishop Library · National Archives at Philadelphia · New York Public Library (New York City, NY) · Pennsylvania Department of Health · Pennsylvania State Archives · Philadelphia City Archives · Presbyterian Historical Society · State Library of Pennsylvania · SUNY Fredonia Reed Library (Fredonia, NY) · Swarthmore College Friends Historical Library · Temple University Urban Archives · University of Pennsylvania Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center · Western Reserve Historical Society (Cleveland, OH)

Online Records of Pennsylvania[edit | edit source]

Links to online databases and indexes that may include vital records, biographies, cemeteries, censuses, histories, immigration records, land records, maps, military records, naturalizations, newspapers, obituaries, or probate records.

Nationwide Repositories[edit | edit source]

Entrance to the National Archives at Philadelphia

National Archives at Philadelphia[edit | edit source]

14700 Townsend Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096
Telephone: 215-305-2044
Fax: 215-305-2052
E-mail: Philadelphia.archives@nara.gov
Internet: Website

Has federal agency and court records for Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. All U.S. federal censuses 1790-1940, and indexes. Also have passenger arrivals in Philadelphia 1800-1945 and Baltimore, pension and bounty land warrant applications, naturalizations 1790-1990, early federal history, diplomacy, military history, Chinese-Americans, World War II homefront, National Park Service, merchant marine, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, federal tax evasion and smuggling cases.


American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia

American Swedish Historical Museum[edit | edit source]

1900 Pattison Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19145
Telephone: 215-389-1776
E-mail: info@americanswedish.org
Website

New Sweden colony, and Swedish heritage in the Delaware Valley (northern Delaware, southern New Jersey, and southeast Pennsylvania).

Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society[edit | edit source]

Lancaster Theological Seminary Library, 2nd floor
555 West James Street
Lancaster, PA 17603
Telephone: 717-290-8734
Email: info@erhistoricalsociety.org
Website

Official repository for the former Reformed Church in the United States, the Hungarian Reformed Church, the Evangelical Synod of North America, and the combined Evangelical and Reformed Church. The historical society maintains two repositories that include parish registers, leaders' biographies, and photos. Check website for hours and visiting tips.

Franklin & Marshall Coll. Library in Lancaster

Franklin and Marshall College Library[edit | edit source]

450 College Avenue
Lancaster, PA 17603
Telephone: 717-291-4216
Online email form
Website

"Hessian" (German) soldiers in the American Revolution, history, government, Pennsylvania-German culture, U.S. Civil War.

Haverford College Library[edit | edit source]

Quaker and Special Collections
James P. Magill Library
370 Lancaster Avenue
Haverford, PA 19041-1392
Telephone: 610-896-1175
Fax: 610-896-1102
Email: hc-special@haverford.edu
Website

Quaker Collection of diaries, photos, family papers, meeting and organizational records; 35,000 books, 2,400 linear feet of manuscripts.


Lutheran Archives Center in Philadelphia

Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia[edit | edit source]

Brossman Learning Center (in the undercroft)
7301 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19119-1794
Telephone: 215-248-6383
Fax: 215-248-6327
Email: mtairyarchives@ltsp.edu
Website

ELCA archives for Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Upstate New York (excluding New York City) and New England. Includes clergy and synod papers, and some parish registers (baptisms, marriages, funerals, confirmations) (many written in German).

Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia

Presbyterian Historical Society[edit | edit source]

425 Lombard Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Telephone: 215-627-1852
Email: refdesk@history.pcusa.org
Website

National archives of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Includes biographical files, foreign missionary index, congregation vertical file index, congregation histories, and records of American Presbyterian congregations.

Swarthmore College Friends Historical Library[edit | edit source]

500 College Avenue
Swarthmore, PA 19081
Telephone: 610-328-8496
Fax: 610-690-5728
Email: friends@swarthmore.edu
Website

Documents the history of the Society of Friends (Quakers) from the 17th century to the present; 45,000 books, 60,000 photos, and 9,000 volumes of original Quaker meeting records, plus local history of the Mid-Atlantic states, and social reform movements.

State Repositories[edit | edit source]

Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania[edit | edit source]

2100 Byberry Road, Suite 111
Philadelphia, PA 19116
Telephone: 267-686-2296
Email: info@genpa.org
https://genpa.org/

A FamilySearch Affiliate Library. FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries offer access to about 90% of the “locked” collections on FamilySearch.org or about 700,000,000 records! Admission to the GSP FamilySearch Affiliate Library is always free.
Appointments are required. Schedule appointments for research at the GSP FamilySearch Affiliate Library or the GSP Library by emailing info@genpa.org or calling 267-686-2296. Admission to the GSP Library is free for members and $5 for the public. The GSP Library provides access to over 1400 books and over 200 collections of records, including indexes and transcriptions of church, cemetery, and funeral home records. Check website for hours.
GSP maintains over 200 online collections in the Ruth Bitting Hamm Digital Library. Many of these collections can be found in the Member Collections section of the website. Featured member collections include: the Berryman Collection (extensive collection of church and cemetery records and other transcriptions and family history information from several Pennsylvania counties compiled by Mrs. Walter A Berryman), Philadelphia Public Ledger Newspaper Indexes Collection (fully searchable indexes to origins of immigrants, local affairs, marriages, and deaths from the Philadelphia Public Ledger: 1836 – 1878), and the John T. Humphrey collection of Pennsylvania birth records. Mr. Humphrey's collection consists of baptisms extracted from early Pennsylvania church records. John T. Humphrey, the late noted Pennsylvania genealogist, left the rights to his collections to the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. The online collection includes all 16 books representing 15 counties and the records are fully-text searchable. A helpful GSP Website Tips page gives more information on how best to use the website and learn about GSP's collections.
The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania Library includes books and collections of church, cemetery, and funeral home records, family records for early GSP members, and reference books for Pennsylvania research. The library catalog appears on the website, with new books and collections being added regularly. GSP has several manuscript collections and collections not yet listed online, however, the website is regularly updated. Many of GSP's old tangible materials created in the 19th and 20th centuries are now located at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

German Society of Pennsylvania[edit | edit source]

611 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Telephone: 215-627-2332
Fax: 215-627-5297
Email: librarian@germansociety.org
Website

60,000 volumes, mostly in German. This is the largest private collection of German books in the United States outside of universities. Their purpose is to document German-American history, culture, and organizations, including biographies and publications.

Historical Society of Pennsylvania[edit | edit source]

Historical Society of PA in Philadelphia


1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107-5699
Telephone: 215-732-6200
Fax: 215-732-2680
Email: ReadyReference@hsp.org
Website

Has early Quakers, Germans, Scots-Irish, and other settlers in William Penn's colonies of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Records which have been published are normally well-indexed. This society also has 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century manuscripts (letters, diaries, account books, deeds, minutes, and scrapbooks), passenger arrival lists and indexes, local and regional history, ethnic and immigrant studies materials, 600,000 books, 20 million manuscripts, over 300,000 graphics items, and 300 years of newspapers.

Pennsylvania Department of Health[edit | edit source]

Philadelphia Public Office (other public offices in Erie, Harrisburg, New Castle, Pittsburgh, and Scranton)
110 North 8th Street, Suite 108
Philadelphia, PA 19107-2412
Telephone: 215-560-3054
Birth and Death Certificates

Birth and death records 1906-present. Order in-person, order online via VitalChek, or order births by mail, or order deaths by mail.

Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg

Pennsylvania State Archives[edit | edit source]

1681 North Sixth Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Telephone: 717-783-3281
Email: ra-statearchives@pa.gov
Historical and Museum Commission

Collection has indexes and original sources associated with the Pennsylvania Archives series, such as vital, military, prison, naturalization, land records, census, ships lists, railroads, mines, and 1.5 million online records including online genealogy guides.

State Library of Pennsylvania[edit | edit source]

400 North Street, Keystone Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0600
Telephone: 717-783-5950
Fax: 717-772-8268
Contact list and emails
Genealogy and Local History

Indexes, genealogy surname files, state and county histories, atlases, land records maps, ship lists, church and cemetery records, federal censuses, regimental histories, ethnic and religious group records, newspapers, heraldry, adoption, obituaries, naturalizations, military, railroads and mines, historical Pennsylvania city directories.

Regional Repositories[edit | edit source]

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh[edit | edit source]

4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-4080
Phone: 412-622-3114
Email: info@carnegielibrary.org
Website

Large book collection, newspapers, manuscripts, and county histories most of which are indexed. Also family histories, family folders, local histories and genealogies.

Citizens Library in Washington, PA

Citizens Library[edit | edit source]

55 South College Street
Washington, PA 15301
Telephone: 724-222-2400
Fax: 724-222-2606
Email: citlib@citlib.org
Website

The Washington County, Pennsylvania area was an important staging area or gateway for travel into the Ohio River Valley and the West. As such, many records of travelers can be found here, and this library has the best biographical collection of these records.

Erie County Public Library in Erie, PA

Erie County Public Library[edit | edit source]

160 East Front Street
Erie, PA 16507
Telephone: 814-451-6927
Email: reference@erielibrary.org
Website

Biographical section for migrants who traveled here via the Erie Canal before moving on to Ohio and farther west. Holdings include obituary index, family histories, county histories, computer genealogy databases, and on microfilm Erie newspapers and censuses.

Free Library of Philadelphia

Free Library of Philadelphia[edit | edit source]

1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1157
(between 19th and 20th Streets on the Parkway)
Telephone: 215-686-5322
Ask a Librarian form
Website

Large book collection, periodicals and indexes, genealogies, city directories, maps, family folders, local newspapers since 1719, naturalizations, vertical files, manuscripts, photos, government publications, and histories for all of Pennsylvania.

Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania[edit | edit source]

Historical Society of Western PA in Pittsburgh


Senator John Heinz History Center, Library and Archives
1212 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Telephone: 412-454-6364
Email: library@heinzhistorycenter.org
Website

Large collection for western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, including the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society records. 700,000 photos, 40,000 books, 3,500 individual archival collections of families, organizations, businesses, and industries, 600 periodicals, and 500 maps and atlases.

Jewish Genealogical and Archival Society of Greater Philadelphia[edit | edit source]

Tuttleman Library-Gratz College
7605 Old York Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027
Telephone: 215-635-7304
Email: library@gratz.edu
Website

Hebraica and Judaica, Jewish genealogy research manuals, society newsletters, regional cemeteries for south Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society[edit | edit source]

2215 Millstream Road
Lancaster, PA 17602-1499
Telephone: 717-393-9745
Fax: 717-393-8751
Email: lmhs@lmhs.org
Website

Center for studying the Pennsylvania Mennonites and Amish heritage. Historical and genealogical materials of southeast Pennsylvania, focusing mostly on Lancaster County, including an 800,000 person card index, 3000 genealogies, secular local histories, congregational histories, biographies, directories, passenger lists, atlases and maps, cemetery transcripts, censuses, databases, deeds, obituaries, orphans court records, periodicals, surname files, tax records, and wills.

Library Co of Philadelphia

Library Company of Philadelphia[edit | edit source]

1314 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Telephone: 215-546-3181
Fax: 215-546-5167
Email: cking@librarycompany.org
Website

Large German-American collection; helpful for documenting Civil War ancestors from Pennsylvania. Half a million rare books, manuscripts, and graphics documenting American history and culture to 1900 including African Americana, American Judaica, women's history, and photography in Philadelphia. Many early Philadelphia records.

Luzerne County Historical Society Bishop Library[edit | edit source]

49 South Franklin Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
Telephone: 570-823-6244
Fax: 570-823-9011
Website

Research New England migrants into Pennsylvania and places farther south. 13,000 family folders, transcribed wills 1787-1896, personal papers and correspondence, 10,000 photos, county and local histories, church histories, family histories, biographies, Native Americans and ethnic groups, city directories, maps, births 1893-1905, marriages 1885-1950, deaths 1886-1962, newspapers and obituaries, land records 1787-1907, and index to Orphans' Court wills, land sales, and guardians 1787-1866.

Philadelphia City Archives[edit | edit source]

3101 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Telephone: 215-685-9401
Fax: 215-685-9409
Website

Births 1860-1915 (a few starting 1829), marriages 1860-1915, divorces 1851-1875, deaths 1803-1915, naturalizations 1793-1930, city directories 1785-1935, county deeds 1683-1952, county mortgages 1736-1963, constables 1854-1925, and some court records. They have indexes to early Philadelphia materials, such as tax records, prisoners, commissioners reports, mayors warrants and appointments, as well as cemeteries, board of health records, and streets.

Temple University Paley Library in Philadelphia

Temple University Urban Archives[edit | edit source]

Samuel Paley Library
Berks and 13th Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Telephone: 215-204-5750
Ask a Librarian form
Website

Church records, fraternal groups, ethnic groups, unions, guilds, and people-oriented collection of organizations, clubs, businesses, and societies related to the growth of the Philadelphia area since the 1800s. 4 million images, 7 million news clippings, city directories, Philadelphia atlases, and Sanborn fire insurance maps.

University of Pennsylvania Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center in Philadelphia

University of Pennsylvania Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center[edit | edit source]

3420 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206
Telephone: 215-898-7556
Ask a Reference Question form
Website

Large manuscript collection, newspapers, county records and histories, biographical sources, ethnic resources, church records, and government records. Subject specialties include Africana, Asian Americans, Chinese, French, Germans, history, immigration, Italians, Japanese, Judaic studies, Koreans, Latin Americans, Philadelphia studies, religions, Russians and East Europeans, South Asians, and Spaniards.

For early colonial immigrants in nine southeast Pennsylvania counties see:

Repositories Outside of Pennsylvania[edit | edit source]

Bristol Public Library in Virginia

Bristol Public Library[edit | edit source]

701 Goode Street
Bristol, VA 24201-4199
Telephone: 540-645-8780
Fax: 276-669-5593
Email: bplref@yahoo.com
Bristol Public Library

Small family folder collection; important resource for settlers coming from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and northern Virginia along the Great Valley Road into Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina.
Handley Library Winchester Virginia



Handley Regional Library[edit | edit source]

100 W. Piccadilly Street
PO Box 58
Winchester, Virginia 22604
Telephone: 540-662-9041
Fax: 540-722-4769
Email: archives@handleyregional.org
Website

Large collection about Germans and Scots-Irish who traveled the Great Valley Road from Pennsylvania to Virginia, including manuscripts, newspapers, biographies, and histories, and people of the Lower Shenandoah Valley since 1732, emphasizing Winchester and Frederick County in 4000 books, county court abstracts, county histories, genealogies, regimental histories, battles, newspapers since 1787, censuses, 600 linear feet of manuscripts, maps, photos, and oral history tapes.

Library of Congress[edit | edit source]

Library of Congress Jefferson Building in Washington, D.C.


101 Independence Ave. SE
Thomas Jefferson Building, LJ G4
Washington, D.C. 20540-4660
Telephone: Reading Room: 202-707-5537
Fax: 202-707-1957
Email: Ask a Librarian
Website

Genealogical guides and indexes. Part of the world's largest library including 50,000 genealogies, 100,000 local histories, and collections of manuscripts, microfilms, maps, newspapers, photographs, and published material, strong in North American, British Isles, and German sources. Includes one of the best Pennsylvania collections in the world.

New York Public Library in Manhattan

New York Public Library[edit | edit source]

U.S. History, Local History & Genealogy Division
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, Room 315S
New York, NY 10018-2788
Telephone: 212-930-0829
Ask a librarian form
Website

One of the largest research libraries in the world, including excellent genealogical resources for Pennsylvania. The library has city and telephone directories, vital records indexes, local histories, genealogies, federal and state censuses, passenger lists, genealogical collections (including DAR transcripts), and church records. For maps, write to the Map Division at the same address.

SUNY Fredonia Reed Library[edit | edit source]

Reed Library at SUNY Fredonia in New York

State University of New York
280 Central Ave
Fredonia, NY 14063
Telephone: Library 716-673-3184; Special Collections 716-673-3183;
Special Collections Fax: 716-673-3185
Email: reedref@fredonia.edu
The State University of New York at Fredonia Daniel A. Reed Library
Holland Land Company historical background, contents, inventory, supplementary collections, and Holland Land Company records in other libraries.

The State University of New York at Fredonia Daniel A. Reed Library has indexes to, and most of the original patents (first deeds) showing the transfer of land ownership between 1801 and 1840 from the Holland Land Company (1789-1869) to private individuals in western New York and Pennsylvania. Some names on the patents could be fictitious. Other collections include American Indian records including primarily the Seneca, with some for the Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, and Tuscarora tribes, local histories for Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, and the bordering counties in New York and Pennsylvania, manuscripts including church papers, and databases.

Western Reserve Historical Society[edit | edit source]

Western Reserve Hist Soc in Cleveland OH


10825 East Boulevard
Cleveland, OH 44106-1788
Telephone: 216-721-5722 x1509
Fax: 216-721-0645
Email: reference@wrhs.org
Family History and Genealogical Research

The Western Reserve was a large part of Ohio at first intended for settlement by Connecticut Revolutionary War refugees. The Research Library at the Western Reserve Historical Society History Center is the premier repository for Cleveland, Ohio and the Connecticut Western Reserve history material. This important collection includes original land records, as well as many genealogies, biographies, histories, and Bibles from Pennsylvania, New York, and New England. Includes over 20 million manuscripts for genealogical research and northeast Ohio history. They have the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of Shaker materials. Other important collections include the American Civil War, and the automotive industry.

FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]

Some of the above collections are partially duplicated at the FamilySearch Library and its branch FamilySearch Centers around the world. Most centers can help you by:

Valley Forge Family History Center in Broomall
  • Giving you limited, personal, one-on-one research suggestions (but they do not do research for you)
  • Providing access to genealogical records through the premium online Internet FamilySearch Center Portal.
  • Offering free how-to classes (varies by location)
  • Fostering contact between genealogical enthusiasts

There are several centers located in Pennsylvania, for example:

Valley Forge Pennsylvania FamilySearch Center
721 Paxon Hollow Rd
Broomall PA 19008 USA
Telephone: 610-356-8507
Each center is staffed by volunteers and has varying hours and services. Telephone in advance to verify their hours.

To locate one of these 4,500 centers in your own neighborhood, see Find a Family History Center.

Museums List[edit | edit source]

Museums sometime preserve genealogical sources. A List of museums in Pennsylvania is available on Wikipedia.

Guidebooks[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

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American Swedish Historical Museum · Bristol Public Library (Bristol, VA) · Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh · Citizens Library · Erie County Library · Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society · Franklin and Marshall College Library · Free Library of Philadelphia · Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania · German Society of Pennsylvania · Handley Regional Library (Winchester, VA) · Haverford College Library · Historical Society of Pennsylvania · Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania · Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia · Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society · Library Company of Philadelphia · Library of Congress (Washington, DC) · Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia · Luzerne County Historical Society Bishop Library · National Archives at Philadelphia · New York Public Library (New York City, NY) · Pennsylvania Department of Health · Pennsylvania State Archives · Philadelphia City Archives · Presbyterian Historical Society · State Library of Pennsylvania · SUNY Fredonia Reed Library (Fredonia, NY) · Swarthmore College Friends Historical Library · Temple University Urban Archives · University of Pennsylvania Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center · Western Reserve Historical Society (Cleveland, OH)
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