Header
home to YCLSto the Catalog of itemsOur Libraries in York County, PAdatabases and other online materialsthe Kid's pagethe Teen's pagePOWER Library database 
Genealogy



-Your Attention Please-

It may not always be possible to provice individualized assistance for Genealogy research. 
Please check with your local library.

 

If you are from out-of-area, you may wish to use these research services

 

Genealogy and Local History Resources


YCLS Libraries - Many of the York County libraries have local historical information and other materials that are specific to their area.  Click here for an interactive map to determine the library nearest to the borough or township of interest.  You may also search our online catalog by subject keyword for the name of the borough, township, or family you are interested in.  Be aware, however, that some libraries also have uncataloged materials; call or email the library for more information.  

No  public library has microfilm except for Guthrie Memorial Library.  The best place to go for Microfilm is the York Heritage Trust.

Guthrie Memorial Library at 261 N. Franklin Street in Hanover, PA has an excellent collection of local history and genealogy materials in their Pennsylvania Room, including resources for Hanover, York County, and surrounding areas.  The Pennsylvania Room's print materials are included in the York Libraries catalog; microfilm, however, is not.  (Click here for a list of microfilm holdings.)  Hours vary; please call or check the Pennsylvania Room schedule before visiting.

 

Documents and Links

Women's History in York County (PDF)  Published by the York Daily Record

 

Genealogy and Local History Resources at Other Area Facilities

York Town Square  James McClure is the editor of the York Daily Record/Sunday News, Board member of the York County Heritage Trust and 5 time author on local history . His blog deals with regional history, and offers a fascinating insight into Historical York County.

York Heritage Trust
Resources: County documents, church records (e.g. baptisms, marriages) and correspondence. An impressive collection of local history items, and invaluable to people doing family research. 

Click here for a list of the newspapers and periodicals that they have available on microfilm, some of which go back as far as the 1700's.  For more details: 848-1587


York County Archives
Resources: County government records, York County Birth and Death Records from 1893 to 1906, wills and deeds.
For details: 840-7222

State Library of Pennsylvania: Genealogy/Local History  
Resources: The State Library of Pennsylvania maintains census records from 1790 – 1920, except records for the year 1890, which were destroyed by fire.        
For details: (717) 783-5991
 

Pennsylvania State Archives
Resources: Original records of colonial and state government, county courthouse and municipal vital  records on microfilm, and some private family and business records.
For details: 787-3362


South Central Pennsylvania Genealogical Society
$30 fee for non members, and is limited to simple research.  Membership is reasonably priced, and not only drops the cost of research but also grants you more resources to do your own (on their website) Contact the department  that best fits your needs.
 

Penn State York - The Penn State York library has a small collection of York County newspapers on microfilm.  Dates vary.  The library also has York County census records for some years and the U.S. Direct Tax of 1798 for York County.

Stewartstown Historical Society is located at 6 S. Main St in Stewartstown. The society is open most Sundays from 2 to 4 PM and has a collection of local memorabilia available to the public. Society members are currently organizing and computerizing collections of photos, school items, postcards, local advertising items, genealogy and family histories, etc. Display cases contain items of interest and public meetings are held periodically. All History Buffs and anyone interested in preserving local history are invited to visit and join the Stewartstown Historical Society. Please call 717-993-5003 and leave message.

Birth and Death Certificates  

For York County Birth and Death Records from 1893 to 1906, you need to contact the
York County Archives, 150 Pleasant Acres Rd., York, PA 17402, Telephone (717) 840-7222

Records for persons after 1906 are kept at The Department of Health Division of Vital Records 

York Newspapers - Obituaries from the York Daily Record, York Dispatch, and York Sunday News are archived online.  Currently you can search obituaries from the past thirty days.

Martin Memorial Library - has a subscription to Newsbank; their reference desk can help access past news articles and obituaries.  This is a free service.

 

 

 

Other Aids to Assist in Genealogical Research

 

For genealogical research beyond birth and death records, there are a variety of aids and resources available.  Following is a listing of some of the most helpful resources:

 

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors is a computerized database which includes 6.3 million soldiers who fought in the Civil war - for  further research the original service records of Union and Confederate Civil War Soldiers and the pension records of Union veterans are maintained at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.  They are available for research to anyone at least age 16.

 

Roots Web list of Genealogy  resources in York County

 

York County GenWeb has an impressive amount of York County Resources available online.  

 
Census records may also be obtained from:
         Bureau of the Census
         Personal Census Search Unit
         PO Box 1545
         Jeffersonville, IN  47131
         (812) 218-3300

Research Services

York County Archives
records can be requested by email or through US mail.  Before placing a request, check Records Available Through the Archives and, if applicable, search the online indexes for references. If the record series is not indexed online, the Archives will search the series when provided with specific names and, if possible, dates and townships.  A price list is available online.

York County Heritage Trust offers a Research Service to to individuals over 100 miles away.  This search service is limited to one name (of an individual/event/subject) per request.   Upon receipt of payment, a standard set of resources is checked.

South Central Pennsylvania Genealogical Society offers simple research at the York County Heritage Trust library free to its members.   A $15.00 donation is required, however, if the request is complex and lengthy.  Letters from non-members are answered only if the request is a simple one and a $30.00 fee is charged.

Hanover Library's Pennsylvania Room charges $15.00 per hour (prorated) for research.   The copy charge per page is 50 cents from books and $1.00 from microfilm.  Requests for photocopies or research must include a postal return address and all replies will be by mail only. Requests must state that you agree to pay research and photocopying charges. You may set any limit you choose.

York County GenWeb volunteers will provide free lookups from a limited number of York County Resources.
 

 

Genealogical Societies

South Central Pennsylvania Genealogical Society - The Society publishes a monthly newsletter, which is mailed to all members. Included in this publication are listings of future programs and events and queries from members (at no charge).  Members also receive, as published, Special Publications, booklets of varying length, which contain genealogical resource material. Most of the information is previously unpublished primary source material. The society also maintains an up-to-date file on computer of all surnames being researched by its members.


York County Museums, Historic Sites, and Historical Societies 

The History & Heritage section of VisitPa.com can point you to a variety of other resources for local history and genealogy.  Select a category such as History Museums or Historical and Genealogical Societies from the menu in the lower right portion of the page, then search for sites within a specified distance of York.
Contact Us | Home

York Heritage Trusts' list of Newspapers on Microfilm

-          Age (York) Jan, 1883 – Jul, 1889

-          Cartridge Box (York Civil War Hospital) Mar, 1864 – Jul 1865

-          Delta Weekly Herald – Feb 5, 1879 – Dec. 9, 1879

-          Delta Herald 1881 – 1894 Miscellaneous issues

-          Delta Times 1887 – 1893 Miscellaneous issues

-          Delta Herald and Times – Dec 13, 1907 – Dec 19, 1946

-          Gazette (German) May 20, 1796 – Mar 14, 1834

-          Glen Rock Item Jul 2, 1874  – Jan 21, 1943; incomplete

-          Hanover Gazette 1810 – Feb, 1859

-          Hanover Guardian Sep 1818 – Jan 1827

-          Hanover Intelligencer Apr 7, 1824 – Apr 13, 1826

-          Item Jul 2, 1874 – Nov 5, 1886

-          Pa. Gazette Jan 1, 1775 – May 30, 1781

-          Pa. Herald & York Gen. Advertiser 
Jan 1, 1789 – Dec 1793; Jan 1, 1794 – Dec 1798 (n/c)

-          Pa. Republican # 139 July 1, 1863

-          People’s Advocate Sep 1849 – Jul 1855

-          Record Advertiser  Sep 1974 – Dec 1983 Shippensburg Messenger June 28, 1797

-          Shippensburg Messenger June 28, 1797

-          Stewartstown News 1890- 1933

-          True Democrat Jun 1864 – Dec 1865;
Jun 1866 – Dec 1872; Jun 1873 – May 1875

-          Volksberichter Ein Yorker Wochenblatt Jul 25, 1799 – Jul 31, 1801

-          Weekly Record Jan 1992 – Mar 1993

-          Wrightsville Star 1870 – May 1873

-          York County Farmer Dec 1831 – Jan 1834

-          York County Star  May 1857 – Jan 1862; May 1866 – 1870

-          York County Star and Wrightsville Advertiser Apr 1851 – Apr 1855

-          York Daily Mar 22, 1871 – Jun 11, 1918

-          York Democratic Press Jul 1, 1839 – May 7, 1901

-          York Dispatch May 29, 1876 –  2000

-          York Gazette… Gazette & Daily… York Daily Record Nov 30, 1815 – (still receiving)

-          York Press   April 1, 1898 – Dec 30, 1903

-          York Recorder  Jan 29, 1800 – Mar 1830

-          York Republican Mar 1830 – Sep 1832