Book overview
Pennsylvania has over 800 archives - courthouses, historical societies, university libraries, museums, genealogical societies, and government offices - each with different collections, different access rules, and different hours. Most genealogists waste their first visit to any archive because they didn't know what to ask for or how the collection was organized.
Archives in Pennsylvania for Genealogy Research is the guide you read before you walk through the door. It covers how Pennsylvania archives work, what records they hold, and how to get the most out of every research trip or remote request.
Inside this guide:- A step-by-step research trip checklist - what to do before, during, and after your archive visit
- How to read finding aids, navigate catalog systems, and request records you can't find online
- What types of records are held by courthouses vs. historical societies vs. state archives - and why it matters for your search
- When and how to hire a professional researcher, including what to expect and what to ask
- How to work with archive staff and volunteers to get beyond the catalog and into the collections that aren't indexed
Whether you're planning your first visit to the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg, requesting records from a county courthouse by mail, or trying to figure out which of Pennsylvania's dozens of historical societies holds the records for your ancestor's town - this book will save you time and dead ends.
Includes downloadable templates: Ancestor Profile, Research Focus, and Common Terms Used in Archives.
Part of the PA Ancestors Genealogy Guides series by Denyse Allen, author of Pennsylvania Vital Records Research.
