Philadelphia Resources
Do you know of a website that would be of interest to Philadelphia
researchers? Email us
the link.
Below are links to websites of interest that pertain to
Philadelphia's Resources:
- HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF
PENNSYLVANIA (HSP), This world-class library is the outstanding genealogy and
history collection in the Philadelphia area; the library's
collection is strong in all areas of genealogical and historical
research.
- GENEALOGICAL
SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA (GSP). The GSP has a number of online databases for members. They have a library with several valuable
collections.
-
NATIONAL
ARCHIVES - MID-ATLANTIC BRANCH (NARA). NARA's strengths are
censuses, military records, passenger and immigration records,
federal naturalization records, native American records, federal
court records, and federal tax records. NARA has an outstanding
reference book and periodical area and has many useful
genealogical handouts.
-
PHILADELPHIA CITY ARCHIVES (PAR). Inventories of PAR
holdings are available in the PAR reference area, an area that
should be examined in detail because it contains numerous
one-of-a-kind indexes not readily available elsewhere.
Generally, PAR is the best place to search for Philadelphia
birth and death records from 1860 to 1915, marriage records
before 1886, deeds prior to 1952, and naturalization records of
Philadelphia county courts.
- FREE LIBRARY OF
PHILADELPHIA (FLP). FLP has many items of interest not
available elsewhere or, if available elsewhere, more
conveniently accessible at FLP. The FLP's strengths are maps,
directories, newspapers and newspaper indexes, government
documents, hard-to-find ship photographs, ethnic guidebooks,
collective biographies, free Internet access, and interlibrary
loan. FLP has
very detailed genealogy WWW pages that describe their
holdings of interest to genealogists.
- REGISTER OF
WILLS (CHW). Use this office for indexes to wills and
administrations. Ask the clerk about the locations of the actual
documents.
- ORPHAN'S
COURT (CHO). Use this office for marriages after 1885.
- COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (CHC), City Hall, Broad and Market
St., Room 266, Phila., PA, 19107, (215) 686-6652. Use this
office for divorce records from 1875 to the present. It is
usually better to call this office before visiting or writing.
Generally speaking, the only things usually available on a
divorce record are the names of the parties and the date of the
divorce. For divorce records prior to 1875, call the
Philadelphia City Archives. See above.
- DEPARTMENT
OF RECORDS (CHR). Use this office for deeds after 1951. For
deeds prior to 1952, visit the Philadelphia City Archives.
- DEPARTMENT OF VITAL RECORDS, COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE (DVR), 1400 Spring Garden St., Room 1009,
Philadelphia, PA, 19130, (215) 560-3054 for a recorded message.
Use this office for Philadelphia births and deaths after 1905.
To request birth and death information for other PA counties,
including Philadelphia, contact the
PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF VITAL RECORDS OFFICE in New
Castle, PA.
- CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS - FAMILY HISTORY
CENTER (LDS), 2076 Red Lion Rd, Phila., PA, (215) 673-2770. The Mormon Church has the largest genealogical
collection in the world. The collection includes the
International Genealogical Index, Ancestral File, U.S. Social
Security Death Index, U.S. Military Index (Korean and Vietnam
War dead), and the Family History Library Catalog. Most of their
microfilm collection can be borrowed through this branch
library. There are numerous
other Family
History Centers in the Philadelphia Region and throughout
the country. Most early Philadelphia birth, marriage, and death
information is available via the LDS.
- U. S. DISTRICT COURT , EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA,
ATTN: Naturalization Clerk, 601 Market St., Phila., PA
19106-1797, (215) 597-7731. Use this office for 20th century
naturalization information.
- TEMPLE URBAN
ARCHIVES. Especially important for early 20th century
Philadelphia Bulletin newspaper clipping files.
- UNIVERSTITY OF
PENNSYLVANIA LIBRARY
- COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.
- CIVIL WAR LIBRARY
AND MUSEUM.
- GERMAN SOCIETY OF
PENNSYLVANIA. Much of the material in this collection is in
the German Language.
- AMERICAN SWEDISH
HISTORICAL MUSEUM AND FOUNDATION.
- PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY SONS OF
THE REVOLUTION.
- SONS OF
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION - PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER.
-
PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION. For photographs of
streets and buildings, especially those no longer in existence
because of new construction.
- JENKINS LAW LIBRARY.
For federal, state, and local laws and case reporters.
- GERMANTOWN
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
THE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF GERMANTOWN
UNIVERSITY CITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
WISSINOMING HISTORICAL
SOCIETY.
There are numerous other Philadelphia neighborhood
history organizations in Philadelphia: Chestnut Hill, Tacony,
Frankford, just to name a few. Few have WWW pages. The best
way to find out how to contact these organizations is to inquire
at the branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia that serves
the area of interest.
-
CEMETERIES IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA
- PHILADELPHIA AREA
CONSORTIUM OF SPECIAL COLLECTION LIBRARIES
-
PHILADELPHIA PASSENGER ARRIVALS
OTHER HELPFUL MISCELLANEOUS RESOURCES |
