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Pennsylvania Societies and Archives

Genealogists are generally positive and energetic, and most are ready to share their findings or research experience with anyone they can help. There are hundreds of genealogical societies at the grass-roots level. Knowledge of the genealogical community will place you in the midst of much activity, increase your productivity, and alert you to the importance of research standards and etiquette.

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Pennsylvania Archives

It is wise to acquaint yourself with any repository which you might visit by writing to the appropriate archive or library in advance. Every repository has published materials that introduce its collections and research policy. State archives and historical agencies also have Internet sites that provide the same information. Some even have downloadable databases for some or parts of their collections.

• The Pennsylvania Archives Online
  As one of the original 13 colonies, Pennsylvania played an important part in our nation's early history. Many significant records were created and kept by Pennsylvania, as Philadelphia was both the site of the Continental Congress and the largest port of the time. Many of those early documents, and others through the 1800s, were transcribed into the published Pennsylvania Archives. These volumes should not be confused with the repository in Harrisburg where official colonial and state records are kept. The images here are pages from the 138-volume, 10-series set of the well-known collection of early government records transcribed and printed by the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Archives has been relied upon by scholars, genealogists, and historians for valuable historical information for over a century. The only online availability of virtually all of the Pennsylvania Archives is here, with free access, on Footnote.com.
• Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
  William Penn Memorial Museum and Archives Building, 3rd Avenue and Forster Street, P.O. Box 1026, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1026
  Referred to as the Pennsylvania State Archives, the bureau holds various source materials, including vital records, censuses, maps, and tax lists 
• Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, [Order Online]
  P.O. Box 90, Health and Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA 17108 ; Phone: 501-661-2174, EMAIL
  On January 1, 1906, birth and death records began to be officially recorded by the Commonwealth. Prior to 1906, records were not required to be maintained except in a few exceptional cases. During the years 1852-1854 , the Register of Wills for each county was required by law to keep records and indexes of births, deaths and marriages. Copies from 49 of the 64 counties existing at that time are maintained at the Archives; however, returns are not inclusive for these years. From 1893 to 1906, birth and death records were recorded and maintained by the Clerk of the Orphans court at the various county courthouses ; however, many individuals failed to comply with this law. Marriage licenses have been kept by the county Clerk of Orphans Court or the Marriage License Clerk since September 30. 1885 .

Pennsylvania Historical & Genealogical Societies

Because family history research relies greatly upon records found at the county level, many local societies represent counties. Organizations also form around shared interests. Ethnic or religious origins account for many groups, such as the Polish Genealogical Society of America and P.O.I.N.T. (Pursuing Our Italian Names Together). Societies also form around common locales of origin for members’ ancestors; hence, the Palatines to America and Germans from Russia societies. To locate these and other societies, consult Juliana Szucs Smith’s The Ancestry Family Historian’s Address Book. It lists addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and Internet addresses of thousands of organizations throughout the United States.

For almost every state there is a state genealogical society, a state genealogical council, or both. In addition to their own work, state-level groups sometimes help coordinate the efforts of local societies within the state. Their publications, newsletters and quarterlies, supplement those produced by the local societies.

• State Library of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Avenue and Walnut Street, P.O. Box 1601, Harrisburg, PA 17105-1601
  Genealogies, local histories, maps, censuses, newspapers, periodicals, and city directories are at the state library.
• Historical Society Of Pennsylvania. 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107; Phone: 215-732-6200, Fax: 215-732-2680
  Founded in 1824, the historical society has published the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography since 1877
• South Central Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, Address: PO Box 1824, York, PA 17405, Phone: 717-843-6169; email: secretary@scpgs.org Contact: Pat Gross
   This society has distinguished itself through the publication of many source records, including Bible records, tax lists, private vital records, cemetery inscriptions, and naturalizations.
• Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania and
  Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, 4400 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh 15213
  Covering the western half of the commonwealth, the historical society has published The Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine (now Pittsburgh History) since 1918, with cumulative indexes for volumes 1-43 and 44-53. The genealogical society, which has no formal office or library, publishes Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly
• Genealogical Society Of Pennsylvania
  215 S. Broad St., 7th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5325; Phone: (215) 545-0391, Fax: (215) 545-0936; EMAIL, Days and hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday
  Beginning in 1895 the society produced Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, renamed Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine in 1948. The society charges a research fee for mail inquiries.
• Directory of Pennsylvania Genealogical, Historical and Preservation Societies