Genealogy

This series of guides, web links, book lists, and resources will introduce you to the genealogical resources available through the Free Library of Philadelphia and to other important libraries and archives throughout the Philadelphia area. Discover your family history, family trees, genealogy records, and more today!

• Genealogy
• Genealogy

Guides

• Genealogy 101
• Genealogical Resources at the Free Library
• Censuses and Census Substitutes, including tax records
• Directories
• Biographies, Autobiographies, and Diaries
• Genealogies - Published and Unpublished
• Birth Information
• Marriage and Divorce Information
• Death and Burial Information
• Newspapers and Newspaper Indexes
• Military Records
• The Published Pennsylvania Archives
• Passenger Lists, Immigration, Emigration, Naturalization, Oaths of Allegiance and Passports
• Deeds, Wills, Maps, and Property Histories
• Government Publications, Laws, and Case Reporters
• Local libraries, Archives, and Other Repositories

Links

• Catholic Historical Research Center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

  Contains Catholic marriage and baptismal registers before the year 1900. Other resources include Catholic newspapers, parish histories and manuscripts published mainly between 1840 and 1910.

• Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet

  A wonderful Internet site to start research.

• Family History Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

  Comprehensive materials for anyone interested in their family history.

• Free Library of Philadelphia Digital Map Collection

  A large selection of maps and atlases dating back to 1843.

• Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania

  Great for local genealogy. Some resources are for subscribers only.

• Jewish Genealogical and Archival Society of Greater Philadelphia

  Dedicated to Jewish genealogical research.

• Library of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania

  One of the best places in the Philadelphia area for genealogical research.

• National Archives - Mid-Atlantic Branch

  This center provides access to a host of Federal records such as military pension data.

• Pennsylvania Department of Vital Records

  Get access to birth, marriage and death records.

• Pennsylvania State Archives

  Research center for Pennsylvania history.

• Philadelphia City Archives

  Provides access to city documents dating back to the founding of the city in 1683.

• Philadelphia Department of Records

  This department provides access to city records such as property information and police and fire reports.

• Philadelphia Orphans court

  This is the caretaker of Philadelphia orphan information. They also maintain marriage licenses dating back to October 1885.

• Temple University's Urban Archives

  A great source for local history. Among their many resources, they have the old Philadelphia Bulletin fully indexed.

The Census for Genealogy Researchers by explore

Information for researchers who wish to use the census for genealogy researcher.

census book :a…

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Ancestry for Beginners by explore

These books will help you research your family history.

View the full list

Blog Posts

Ancestry Library Edition

Visit one of our libraries to explore our newest database,  Ancestry Library Edition , which provides the most extensive collection of genealogical information currently available online. You can explore your family’s…

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• Genealogy
• History
• Digital Media

NewspaperArchive Is a Blast From the Past!

NewspaperArchive is an online database of billions (and yes, that’s BILLIONS with a B!) of newspaper articles from Pennsylvania, the U.S. (all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands), and all over the globe…

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• Databases
• Genealogy
• History
• Newspapers

New Release of the ProQuest Sanborn Maps Database

Sanborn fire insurance maps are available once again through ProQuest’s updated and newly-released database, Sanborn Maps 1867-1970 (formerly known as Sanborn Maps Geo Edition 1867-1970). This database gives you access to…

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• Databases
• Genealogy
• Maps
• History

A Census Story

Updated Wednesday, September 30, 2020 4:45 p.m. The census deadline, originally slated for September 30 after the federal administration moved to an earlier date, has now been extended to October 5 .  In 1930, Dorothy Evelyn Hudson…

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• Genealogy
• Community
• Census

Finding "Nonno"

In addition to offering patrons ever-growing Digital Collections , dozens of research databases , and a rich variety of genealogic resources , the Free Library and the Special Collections Division deliver an exceptional customer…

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• Archives
• Fleisher Collection
• Genealogy
• Special Collections
• Teachers
• History of Philadelphia

Who's Your Granddaddy?

It’s been said that "everybody has a past." Would you like to delve into yours? If so, we can help you find links to the unknowns in your life and the life of your family with our newest program "Who’s your…

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• Events at the Library
• Central Senior Services
• Digital Collections
• Genealogy
• Parkway Central
• Seniors

Remember an Gorta Mór: the Great Famine

Now that the fog has lifted from St. Patrick’s Day, it occurs to us at the Free Library that the holiday is the moment where the fact of an Irish diaspora is felt most strongly in Philadelphia. However, as St. Patrick’s Day…

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• Events at the Library
• Genealogy
• History
• Social Justice
• New Americans

The Philadelphia Colored Directory of 1910 Recently Scanned and Available for Download in Our Digital Collections

The Philadelphia Colored Directory , a handbook of religious, social, political, professional, business activities of the Negroes of Philadelphia, was compiled by R. (Richard) R. (Robert) Wright, Jr.; assisted by Ernest Smith. This…

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• Digital Collections
• Genealogy
• African American
• History

The Skies Proclaim the Work of His Hands ~ Carl Friederich Egelmann (1782-1860)

If you have a moment, I’d like to introduce you to Carl Friederich Egelmann, or Charles Frederick Egelmann as he came to be known in America.  He was born in Neuenkirchen, Germany on May 12, 1782  and was only 20 when he…

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• Careers
• Digital Collections
• Genealogy
• Languages
• Rare Book Department
• Pennsylvania German Collection

Rejoice My Heart for a New Year Begins

  Had Daniel Schumacher (1729-1787) been an ordinary man, we probably would never have heard of him.  His bad habits of drinking, swearing, lying, and dancing, amongst others, were not uncommon among the men of his day. …

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• Digital Collections
• Genealogy
• Rare Book Department
• Pennsylvania German Collection

Explore Your Pennsylvania German Heritage

Did you know that German immigrants started towns in Pennsylvania as early as 1683? If you have German ancestry, you might be able to connect with your Pennsylvania German heritage using the Free Library’s Fraktur Digital…

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• Digital Collections
• Genealogy

Podcasts

Walter Isaacson | The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race

Dani Shapiro | Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love

Alex Wagner | Futureface: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest, and the Secret to Belonging

Mary Morris | Gateway to the Moon with Nathaniel Popkin | Everything is Borrowed