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

School Superintendents and Teachers in Berks County

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School Superintendents and Teachers in Berks County Contributed by: Bonnie Blau Source: Morton Montgomery’s History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1909 edition, p. 87. Superintendents Numerous legislative attempts were made to popularize and thoroughly introduce public education. Fifty years were spent in endeavors to educate the poorer classes of children b proposed taxation, which comparatively little … Read more

Schuyler Brossman Collection

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Schuyler Brossman Collection Schuyler C. Brossman’s love was Genealogy. His tombstone notebooks are in 7 volumes, but 8 books, Volume 1 being split into two book. The index to these volumes was done by the staff of the Genealogy Department, Fort Wayne Indiana Public Library. The Lenig Papers are three notebooks containing correspondence between Schuyler … Read more

Schuyler Brossman

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Schuyler Brossman MARRIAGE OF COUSINS TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWSPAPER PENNSBURG, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA April 20, 1901 A bill entitled an “Act making it unlawful for first cousins to be joined in marriage and making all marriages hereafter contracted in violation of this act void,” was passed by the House of Representatives at Harrisburg by a … Read more

The Migration of the Schoharie Germans to Pennsylvania and the History of Tulpehocken Township

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The Migration of the Schoharie Germans to Pennsylvania and the History of Tulpehocken Township Notes on The Meaning of Tulpehocken: Sources: Dick Creps, Judy Thayer, and Dave Becker Tulpehocken…which means “Land where the turtle sang and wooed”…also the name of a Creek in Eastern Berks County. The Swatara, a tributary of the Susquehanna, led to … Read more

The Stage Coach

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The Stage Coach Source: Morton Montgomery’s History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1909 edition, pp. 33-34. Contributed by Bonnie Blau. The first coach in New England began its trips in 1744. The first stage line between New York and Philadelphia (then the two most populous cities in the Colonies) was established in 1756. The trip was … Read more

Veterinarians of Berks County

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Veterinarians of Berks County Submitted by Bonnie Blau. Source: Morton Montgomery’s History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1909 edition, pp. 104-5. From the beginning of the first settlements until the year 1889, the practice of medicine and surgery in connection with domestic animals was carried on without any legal restrictions. Farmers and men of experience, who … Read more

Vital Records in Pennsylvania

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Vital Records in Pennsylvania Birth, death and marriage (Vital Statistics) records were mandated by the Commonwealth to be kept by counties first in 1853. The attempt was a failure. The attempt was a failure undoubtably as much due to the cost imposed on the counties as the difficulties in travel and communications in those days. … Read more

McKean County, Chapter 4, Transactions of the County Commissioners

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McKean County   CHAPTER IV TRANSACTIONS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY – HOLLAND LAND COMPANY’S LANDS – JOHN KEATING’S LIBERALITY – SMETHPORT, THE COUNTY TOWN – COUNTY ADMINISTRATION- COUNTY BUILDINGS – PUBLIC ROADS – BRIDGES – POOR FARM- MORTGAGES – FORFEITED LANDS. THE county of McKean was established March 26, 1804, … Read more