External Websites and Databases

The following external websites contain primary source and educational materials helpful in researching this state.

Church and Synagogue Records

Most church and synagogue records are maintained at the local level, so reaching out directly to your ancestors' houses of worship is an important step. Keep in mind that original records from a particular religious institution may also have been transferred to the custody of an area library or historical society for preservation and research. In some instances, such as the example of the Catholic Diocese below, regional or statewide facilities may collect particular denominational archives and hold the local records from the church or other religious institution that your ancestor attended in a centralized repository.

The following list provides a selection of the types of repositories that you may find for the denominations represented in your family or local history:

Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh External
We collect, maintain and preserve the records of organizations and institutions engaged in the work of the Catholic Church in the six Southwestern Pennsylvania counties (Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington) included in the Diocese. We make this information available to diocesan officials, the Catholic community, historians and other researchers. View the complete list of Dioceses in Pennsylvania External.
Mennonite Heritage Center External
The Mennonite Heritage Center is a museum and historical library dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of Mennonite faith and life in eastern Pennsylvania. Mennonite Christians first settled in the Delaware Valley in 1683 and have been part of eastern Pennsylvania’s community and religious life for over 300 years.
Presbyterian Historical Society External
The Presbyterian Historical Society's collections include archival records, published materials, and artifacts documenting the history of the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition in America.
Society of Friends (Quakers) - Swarthmore College Friends Historical Library External
Friends Historical Library was established in 1871 to collect, preserve, and make available archival, manuscript, printed, and visual records concerning the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) from their origins mid-seventeenth century to the present. Friends Historical Library is one of the outstanding research facilities for the study of Quaker history.

To learn more about locating church and religious records:

View the Library of Congress Church and Synagogue Records for Genealogy Research Guide.
View the tips in the Print Resources section of this guide to search the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ONLINE CATALOG for published church histories, records, abstracts, and indexes that may aide you in locating original records.

Journals

The following journals provide access to issues and articles online.

Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies External
Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies is a quarterly journal that publishes the best of current scholarship on the history of the Commonwealth and the region. In addition to regular articles, the journal features annotated documents, book reviews, and reviews of museum exhibits, films, and historical collections. Published since 1934, Pennsylvania History is the official journal of the Pennsylvania Historical Association (PHA). This journal repository, created by the Pennsylvania State University Libraries Open Publishing and Press in cooperation with the PHA, is the official digital archive of Pennsylvania History. Here readers will find all back issues of the journal--beginning with Vol. 1 (1934) and continuing up to the most recent available volume, with a 6 year embargo period before Open Access. One volume will be added to the archive each year forward.
Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography (PMHB) External
The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography (PMHB) is a quarterly scholarly journal and one of the country’s most prestigious state historical publications. Published since 1877 by The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, it is an important resource for those interested in a scholarly approach to state and local history, industry, genealogy, culture, and related subjects. On this site, readers have access to a century of back issues of the journal, beginning with Vol. 31 (1907). One new volume is added to the digital archive each year, with a 6 year embargo period from the original publication date before Open Access.
Western Pennsylvania History External
Western Pennsylvania History is an important regional journal with extensively illustrated articles that cover numerous subjects including history, archaeology, cultural interests, sports, literature, architecture, railroading, folk art, and much more. It is published by the Senator John Heinz History Center, and has been a source of information and scholarship since 1918. The journal was originally published as Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, and in the 1990s as Pittsburgh History. This electronic edition is available through the collaboration of the publisher and the Penn State University Libraries. One year of prior issues will be added to this electronic archive each year.

Maps and Geographical Resources

These historical map collections may be searched by state or county.

Atlas of Historical County Boundaries: Pennsylvania 1681-1878 External
Interactive Maps displaying boundary changes and new county formations. Provided by the Newberry Library.
David Rumsey Map Collection External
Search for Pennsylvania to see statewide results or narrow your results with a search for a county or community name.
Native Land Digital External
"We strive to map Indigenous lands in a way that changes, challenges, and improves the way people see the history of their countries and peoples." (From website)
Warrantee Township Maps External
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds warrantee township maps, which show all original land purchases from the Proprietors of the Commonwealth made inside the boundaries of present-day townships. In essence, these maps serve as a summary and geographical index for the warrants, surveys and patents held by the State Archives.

Military Records

Military records often reveal much more than military service. Search these records for personal details, family ties, and local history context.

The subscription resources marked with a padlock are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.

Ancestry Library Edition External
Ancestry Library Edition includes primary-source document images and database records such as: census, military, court, land, probate, church, directories, passenger lists, and more.

Using Ancestry Library Edition for Pennsylvania

Begin your search through Ancestry's vast collections, by viewing the list designated as Pennsylvania records External.

If you are a Pennsylvania resident, take advantage of the partnership between the Pennsylvania State Archives and Ancestry.com to digitize family history records in the State Archives and make them available online. This partnership entitles Pennsylvanians free access to these collections. This access requires a free Ancestry.com Pennsylvania account. To begin, go to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission External web site, enter your zip code in the form at the bottom of the page External, and follow the link to the Ancestry.com Pennsylvania search page.

Pennsylvania, WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948 External - The focus of this series is on papers filed related to World War I military service to demonstrate worthiness of compensation under Pennsylvania law. However, each soldier has a folder that may include other relevant documents filed in Pennsylvania. In particular, post-war Pennsylvania newspapers included a form asking soldiers or their families to submit information to compile a roster of all serviceman. If that form was submitted, it appears in this collection. Often included with the form were personal letters or photographs to be added. These are gems hidden throughout this already invaluable set of papers.
Pennsylvania, Veteran Compensation Application Files, WWII, 1950-1966 External - Following World War II, Pennsylvania paid honorably discharged veterans and those still in service a bonus compensation. This collection includes over a million Veterans Compensation Application Files. In addition to compensation applications, these files sometimes include letters, certificates, and photographs.
Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012 External - Contained in this database are index cards with the burial records of Pennsylvania veterans who participated in all armed conflicts in which the commonwealth (or colony) was involved.

Pennsylvania State Archives: Military Collection
Colonial era through World War I veteran card files with personal and service details for each soldier. When seeking records related to the Mexican Border War and World War I, be sure to also review the Pennsylvania National Guard Card File because Pennsylvania National Guard units converted to federal units during wartime.

State and Local Repositories

Despite the vast amount of information available online, most genealogy and local history records have not been digitized. Be sure to find the repositories of records in the specific communities where your ancestors lived. Over the years, some records have been shifted to nearby academic libraries or to state archives. Reach out to these institutions directly to discover what collections they hold and how you can access them.

Detre Library & Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center External
The Thomas & Katherine Detre Library & Archives at the Senator John Heinz History Center is Western Pennsylvania’s preeminent source for researching the region’s rich history. Founded in 1879, the Library & Archives preserves the rich history of Western Pennsylvania, and makes its collections accessible to researchers, students, and the general public. The Library & Archives collection includes: 700,000 photographs, prints, and negatives; 40,000 books, pamphlets, and monographs; 3,500 individual archival collections of families, organizations, businesses, and industries; 600 periodical titles; 500 maps and atlases.
Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania External
Our mission is to provide leadership and support in promoting genealogy through education, preservation, and access to Pennsylvania-related genealogical information.
Historical Society of Pennsylvania External
With more than 21 million items in our collections, from diaries and letters to deeds and directories, HSP is one of the most complete and professional genealogy centers in the nation—and the largest in the Mid-Atlantic region.
National Archives - Philadelphia
Explore our nation's history through documents, photographs, and records.
Pennsylvania Department, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh External
The Pennsylvania Department, housed on the third floor of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Main, specializes in local history and genealogy research. Among the holdings are: Business & Biographical Index, Clippings Files, Genealogy Databases, Genealogy Reference Collection, Local History Reference Collection, Microfilm Collection, Newspaper Collection, Orphanage Database, Pennsylvania Maps, Portrait Index, Vital Records.
Pennsylvania State Archives
The Pennsylvania State Archives collects, preserves and makes available for study the permanently-valuable public records of the Commonwealth, with particular attention given to the records of state government. The State Archives also collects papers of private citizens and organizations relevant to Pennsylvania history.
Pennsylvania State Library
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.

Pennsylvania: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide

Local History & Genealogy: Ask a Librarian