Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries: Difference between revisions

}}{{TOC left}}<br>These repositories preserve sources, maintain indexes, and provide services to help genealogists document their ancestors who lived in Pennsylvania.  

American Swedish Historical Museum{{·}} [[Bristol Public Library]] 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]] 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]] DC{{·}} Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia{{·}} Luzerne County Historical Society Bishop Library{{·}} [[National Archives at Philadelphia]]{{·}} [[New York Public Library]]{{·}} [[Pennsylvania Department of Health]]{{·}} [[Pennsylvania State Archives]]{{·}} Philadelphia City Archives{{·}} Presbyterian Historical Society{{·}} [[State Library of Pennsylvania]]{{·}} [[Swarthmore College Friends Historical Library]]{{·}} Temple University Urban Archives{{·}} University of Pennsylvania Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center

|}

:[[New Sweden|New Sweden]] colony, and Swedish heritage in the Delaware Valley (northern '''''Delaware''''', southern '''''New Jersey''''', and southeast '''''Pennsylvania''''').<ref>[http://www.americanswedish.org/frames.htm About the Museum] in ''American Swedish Historical Museum'' (accessed 24 December 2013).</ref>

:Reformed Church parish registers, leaders' biographies, and photos. By appointment only.<ref>[http://www.erhs.info/page4/index.html Resources] in ''Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society'' (accessed 24 December 2013).</ref>

:"Hessian" (German) soldiers in the American Revolution, history, government, Pennsylvania-German culture, U.S. Civil War.<ref>[http://library.fandm.edu/archives/genealogy.php Genealogy Resources/Church Records] in ''Franklin and Marshall College Library'' (accessed 24 December 2013).</ref>

:Quaker Collection of diaries, photos, family papers, meeting and organizational records; 35,000 books, 2,400 linear feet of manuscripts.<ref>[http://www.haverford.edu/library/special/collections/quaker/ About the Quaker Collection] in ''Haverford Libraries'' (accessed 24 December 2013).</ref>

: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).<ref>[http://ltsp.edu/lutheran-archives-philadelphia The Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia] in ''The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia'' (accessed 24 December 2013).</ref>

:National archives of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Includes biographical files, foreign missionary index, congregation vertical file index, congregation histories,<ref>[http://www.history.pcusa.org/collections/ Collections] in ''Presbyterian Historical Society'' (accessed 24 December 2013).</ref> and records of American Presbyterian congregations.<ref>[http://www.history.pcusa.org/resources/genealogy/ Genealogy and Family History Research at the Presbyterian Historical Society] in ''Presbyterian Historical Society'' (accessed 26 December 2013).</ref>

: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.<ref>[http://www.swarthmore.edu/academics/friends-historical-library.xml Friends Historical Library] in ''Swarthmore College'' (accessed 24 December 2013).</ref>

:The GSP now maintains a mostly digital collection—the old tangible GSP collection was given to the [[Historical Society of Pennsylvania]]. GSP online collections (some available to GSP members only) include indexes and transcripts to [http://genpa.org/collections/browse/Baptism%20%2526%20Birth%20Indexes%20and%20Transcriptions baptisms], [http://genpa.org/collections/browse/Burial%20%2526%20Cemetery%20Record%20Indexes%20and%20Transcriptions burials], [http://genpa.org/collections/browse/Church%20Record%20Indexes%20and%20Transcriptions parish registers], [http://genpa.org/collections/browse/Research%20Aids research aids], [http://genpa.org/collections/browse/Court%20Record%20Indexes%20and%20Transcriptions court records], [http://genpa.org/collections/browse/Surname%20Files%20%2526%20Family%20Histories surname files], [http://genpa.org/collections/browse/Funeral%20Home%20Records%20and%20Indexes funeral home records], [http://genpa.org/collections/browse/Marriage%20Indexes%20and%20Licenses marriages], [http://genpa.org/collections/browse/Miscellaneous%20Collections miscellaneous collections] (to wit: departure lists, conscientious objectors, police blotters, and bath association), [http://genpa.org/collections/browse/Newspaper%20Indexes%20and%20Transcriptions newspapers], GSP [http://genpa.org/collections/browse/Penn%20in%20Hand%20Quarterly%20Newsletter newsletters], and GSP [http://genpa.org/collections/browse/Pennsylvania%20Genealogical%20Magazine magazines].<ref>[http://genpa.org/gsp-collections Online Collections] in ''Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania'' (accessed 27 December 2013).</ref>  

: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.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Society_of_Pennsylvania German Society of Pennsylvania] in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'' (accessed 26 December 2013).</ref>

: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, <ref>Dollarhide and Bremer, 95.</ref> 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.<ref>[http://hsp.org/collections/about-our-collections About Our Collections] in ''Historical Society of Pennsylvania'' (accessed 27 December 2013).</ref>

: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].<ref>[http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/birth_and_death_certificates/11596 Birth and Death Certificates] in ''Pennsylvania Department of Health'' (accessed 27 December 2013).</ref>[[Image:Pennsylvania State Archive building.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg]]

:This huge collection has indexes and original sources associated with the {{FHL|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<ref name="DB97">Dollarhide and Bremer, 97.</ref> <ref>[http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/research_topics/3162 Research Topics at the Pennsylvania State Archives] in ''Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission'' (accessed 23 December 2013).</ref> including [http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/archival_research_topics/3162 online genealogy guides].

: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. <ref>[http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/genealogy_and_local_history/8730 Genealogy and Local History] in ''Pennsylvania Department of Education'' (accessed 27 December 2013).</ref>

:Large book collection, newspapers, manuscripts, and county histories most of which are indexed. Also family histories, family folders, local histories and genealogies.<ref name="DB97" />

: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.<ref name="DB97" />

:This library has the best biographical section for migrants who traveled here via the Erie Canal before moving on to Ohio and farther west.<ref name="DB97" /> They also have an [http://www.erielibrary.org/obits/ online obituary index] for Erie County, Pennsylvania from 1822 to present, family histories, county histories, computer genealogy databases, and on microfilm Erie newspapers and censuses.<ref>[http://www.erielibrary.org/services/genealogy/ Genealogy] in ''Erie County Public Library'' (accessed 27 December 2013).</ref>

:Very 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.</ref> <ref>[http://libwww.freelibrary.org/explore/shell.cfm?topicTitle=Genealogy{{amp}}template=genealogyhand.cfm Genealogy 101] in ''Free Library of Philadelphia (accessed 28 December 2013).</ref>

:This large collection is for western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, including the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society records.<ref name="DB97" /> 700,000 photos, 40,000 books, 3,500 individual archival collections of families, organizations, businesses, and industries, 600 periodicals, and 500 maps and atlases.<ref>[http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/libraryArchives.aspx Library and Archives] in ''Senator John Heinz History Center'' (accessed 26 December 2013).</ref>

:Hebraica and Judaica, Jewish genealogy research manuals, society newsletters, regional cemeteries, and [http://www.jgsgp.org/Documents/ResourceGuidev5C.pdf resource guide] for south Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.<ref>[http://www.jgsgp.org/Pages/library.html The JGSGP Library] in ''Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia'' (accessed 24 December 2013).</ref>

:Center for studying the Pennsylvania Mennonites and Amish heritage. They collect historical and genealogical materials of southeast Pennsylvania, focusing most 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.<ref>[http://www.lmhs.org/Home/Research/Genealogy/Genealogy_Resources Genealogy Resources] in ''Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society'' (accessed 26 December 2013).</ref>

:This library has a very large German-American collection, and is good 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, womens' history, and photography in Philadelphia. They also have enough early Philadelphia records to make this virtually a second city archives.</ref> <ref>[http://www.librarycompany.org/collections/index.htm Collections Overview] in ''Library Company of Philadelphia'' (accessed 28 December 2013).</ref>

:This facility is important for research about New England migrants into Pennsylvania and places farther south.<ref name="DB97" /> They have 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.<ref>[http://luzernehistory.org/?page_id=169 Resources] in ''Luzerne County Historical Society'' (accessed 28 December 2013).</ref>

: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.</ref> <ref>[http://www.phila.gov/phils/Docs/Inventor/genealgy.htm Genealogical Resources at the Philadelphia City Archives] in ''City of Philadelphia Department of Records'' (accessed 26 December 2013).</ref>

: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.</ref> 4 million images, 7 million news clippings, city directories, Philadelphia atlases, and Sanborn fire insurance maps.<ref>[http://library.temple.edu/collections/scrc/urban-archives Urban Archives] in ''Temple University Libraries'' (accessed 28 December 2013).</ref>

:*'''[http://www.yorkheritage.org/page.asp?id=27 Historical Society of York County Library and Archives]'''

701 Goode Street <br>Bristol, VA 24201-4199 <br>Telephone: 540-645-8780 <br>Fax: 276-669-5593 <br>E-mail: [mailto:bplref@yahoo.com bplref@yahoo.com]<br>Internet: [http://www.bristol-library.org/ Bristol Public Library]<br>

 

:Very large collection about Germans and Scots-Irish who traveled the [[Great Valley Road]] from '''''Pennsylvania''''' to '''''Virginia''''', including manuscripts, newspapers, biographies, and histories,<ref name="DB97" /> 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.<ref>[http://www.handleyregional.org/handley/services.asp?loc=5 Family and Local History] in ''Handley Regional Library'' (accessed 28 December 2013).</ref>

:Use this library for its outstanding genealogical guides and indexes. They are 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. The "Local History and Genealogy Reading Room" has moved to the main reading room, but services are unchanged.<ref>[http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/lhgcoll.html The Collections] in ''Local History and Genealogy Reference Services'' in ''Library of Congress'' (accessed 2 February 2014).</ref> <ref name="DB29">Dollarhide and Bremer, 29.</ref> Includes one of the best '''Pennsylvania''' collections in the world.

:This is 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.<ref name="DB81">Dollarhide and Bremer, 81.</ref> For maps, write to the Map Division at the same address.

To locate one of these 4,500 centers in your own neighborhood, see [http://familysearch.org/locations/centerlocator Find a Family History Center].

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

*Irene E. Fink, ''Directory of Libraries and Information Sources in the Philadelphia Area ''(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania&nbsp;: Special Libraries Association. Philadelphia Chapter, 1973). {{WorldCat|7303762|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}. {{FHL|290593|item|disp=FHL book 974.811 J54s; film 1036557 item 9}}. For eastern Pennsylvania libraries only.