Library

This is a bibliography of most of our biographical and historical volumes currently being used for transcription to our various Pennsylvania counties. Some of this information is held at the DataBoards and some is on the county pages. Links are provided to take you to the location where possible.

Multiple County Books

  • Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth Congressional District, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y.: Biographical Pub. Co., 1899, 777 pgs. – recent acquisition
  • Encyclopedia of Genealogy and Biography of the State of Pennsylvania, Vol. I, Lewis Publishing Co., 1904 – recent acquisition.
  • Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania Biography, Jordan, New York, 1915 (Vols. I, II, IV) – partially completed, please click this link to search the DataBoards for submissions from this series.
  • Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania, John W. Jordan, Vol I, New York, 1915. – Work is just getting underway on this volume.
  • History and Topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry Counties, I. Daniel Rupp, 1846 – recent acquisition
  • History of Cumberland Valley, Vol. II, (Franklin and Cumberland Cos.), George P. Donehoo, Susquehanna History Assn., 1930. – Work is just getting underway on this volume.
  • History of the Counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, J.H. Beers & Co., 1890
  • History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pa., Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1884. – currently the majority of the biographies for Bedford County have been extracted.
  • History of the Susquehanna & Juniata Valleys, Franklin Ellis, 1886. Please click this link to search the DataBoards for submissions from this volume.

Armstrong County

Beaver County

  • Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y.: Biographical Pub. Co., 1899,

Berks County

  • Reading and Berks County, Pennsylvania, a History, Cyrus T. Fox, Vol. I, Lewis Historical Pub. Co., 1925 – recent acquisition

Cameron County

Clarion County

  • History of Clarion County, A.J. Davis, Syracuse, 1887 – the biographies have been extracted and entered on the Clarion County Biography DataBoard.

Clearfield County

Forest County

Franklin County

  • Biographical annals of Franklin County, Pennsylvania : containing genealogical records of representative families, including many of the early settlers, and biographical sketches of prominent citizens. Chicago: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1905

Jefferson County

Lancaster County

Warren County

Washington County

Westmoreland County

York County

  • History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended; John Gibson; Chicago: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886
  • History of York County from its erection to the present time: 1729-1834; William C. Carter; Harrisburg, Pa.: Aurand Press, 1930

Historic Burial Places Preservation Act

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History of Berks County Written by J. Lawrence Getz, Reading, PA. Berks county (named after Berkshire in England, where the Penn family held large landed estates) was originally formed from parts of Philadelphia county east of the river Schuylkill, and from parts of Chester and Lancaster west of the same river, by an act of … Read more

German Migration to America

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German Migration to America In the book “In Search of Your German Roots” (Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc. Baltimore, MD 1987) Angus Baxter gives several reasons for German immigration to North America. According to him, the first mass entry of German colonists was in 1683 to Germantown, PA. (It totaled 13 families.) German settlement really commenced … Read more

Epidemics

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Epidemics In case you ever wondered why a large number of your ancestors disappeared during a certain period in history, this might help. Epidemics have always had a great influence on people and thus influencing, as well, the genealogists trying to trace them. Many cases of people disappearing from records can be traced to dying … Read more

Huguenot Memorials: The Alsatians and Lorraines

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Chapter IX. The Alsatians and Lorraines. Strasbourg — Seizure of the City by the French — Surrender of the Provinces — Persecution and Flight of the Inhabitants — Emigration to Pennsylvania — Alsace — Manatawny — Men of Mark — Governors Ritner and Beaver “What sought they thus afar? Bright jewels of the mine? The … Read more

Indian Names and Villages in Berks County

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Indian Names and Villages in Berks County From Morton Montgomery’s History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1909 Edition, pp. 22-23. Indian Names All the prominent streams in the county have been given Indian names; also two townships and two mountains. These names are as follows: Anglelica Antietam Allegheny: Fair water. Ganshowehanne: Roaring or tumbling stream. This … Read more

Indian Words with Their Meanings

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Indian Words with Their Meanings Source: The History of Berks County, Pennsylvania by F.W. Balthaser (1925), pages 14-15. Allegheny means “Fair water” now called Allegheny Ganshowehanne means “Tumbling stream” now called Schuylkill Gokhosing means “Place of owls” now called Cacoosing Kau-ta-tin-chunk means “Endless” now called Blue Mountain Lechauweki means “Place of forks” now called South … Read more

Insight into Irish and Scottish Surnames, Cummings, Collins, Coleman, Clark

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Insight into Irish and Scottish Surnames, Cummings, Collins, Coleman, Clark Often there is confusion concerning certain Surnames. Are they Irish or are they Scottish. Many things contribute to the confusion. Hopefully the facts here presented will clear up a bit of this confusion — at least in reference to the Surname CUMMINGS and its various … Read more

Land Terms and Measurements

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Land Terms and Measurements <!– # of degrees = angle of corner –> Term Description Acre 43,560 square ft or 160 square rods Chain 100 Links or 66 feet Circle 360 degrees Furlong 1000 Links or 660 feet Link Unit of length equal to 1/100 chain or 7.92 inches Rod 5 1/2 yds or 16 … Read more

Little Known Facts About German Graves

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Little Known Facts About German Graves Ever since I got interested in genealogy, and found that I had German ancestry, and further found the general areas where my German ancestors came from, I have wanted to go to Germany and find the graves of said ancestors. I knew that I would have trouble finding headstones … Read more