Our Collection

Our Genealogy and Local History collection is one of our largest services and consists of indexes, genealogies, state and county histories, family histories, city directories, atlases, land warranty maps, ship passenger lists, and compilations of church and cemetery records. We also have Federal Census records for Pennsylvania, from 1790 to 1930, on microfilm. Agricultural and business censuses are also available. Databases that include Accessible Archives, Ancestry.com, and HeritageQuest are also available for use at the State Library.

Items of interest to genealogists and historians often include the published Pennsylvania Archives series, regimental histories (primarily from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars), research guides for ethnic and minority groups, and guides to genealogical research in foreign countries.

Use our catalogue to search for materials.

Unable To Visit The State Library?

Many of our resources can only be accessed within the State Library. However, libraries may ask to borrow from our Genealogy and Local History collection on fiche. Libraries may ask for Table of Contents or specific pages to be copied or scanned for their patrons. 

Research

State Library staff will assist with general research for patrons, however, staff will not conduct specific genealogical searching.