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Research Databases

Resources for genealogy, history, and more

Welcome, researchers! Our multidisciplinary research databases have a wealth of primary and secondary sources available.

To get started, simply find the resource you want to explore and click the Access button below its description. If prompted, sign in to the database using your library card number.

Don’t have a library card? Visit any one of our thirteen locations OR complete our online library card application to get one.

Several of our online resources are provided through POWER Library, Pennsylvania’s Electronic Library:

This project is made possible in part by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services and through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Library Access funds administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth Libraries. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services or the Pennsylvania Department of Education. 

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Academic Search Main Edition

Designed specifically for academic institutions, this tool provides scholarly content from over 2,000 full-text and peer-reviewed journals.

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Black Freedom Struggle Proquest

Black Freedom Struggle

“Black Freedom Struggle” by ProQuest features select primary source documents related to critical people and events in African American history. 

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POWER Library Chat With Librarian

Chat with a Librarian

Chat online with a real librarian in real time. After the chat ends, save a copy of the conversation to easily retrieve links or documentation when citing references. Available 24/7!

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Dpla Icon

Digital Public Library of America

Explore the DPLA’s collection of digitized resources from all across America. With exhibits, documents, photos, videos, and maps, history is alive and accessible to everyone!

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Greenfile

GreenFILE

Draw connections between the environment and a variety of disciplines such as agriculture, education, law, health and technology with this e-resource.

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HeritageHub Online Resources Icon Finished

HeritageHub

Explore genealogical records from 1704 – today, including hard-to-find obituary content from the mid 1900’s, coverage from all 50 states, and original obituary images from historical newspapers. Access is available 24/7.

Watch a demo on how to use this resource.

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Gale High School Button

High School Edition (Gale OneFile)

Secondary school students will have access to age-appropriate content from magazines, journals, newspapers, reference books, and engaging multi-media covering a wide range of subjects, from science, history, and literature to political science, sports, and environmental studies.

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button for intro to us history: slavery on america database

Introduction to U.S. History: Slavery in America (Gale)

This resource provides a significant account of the issue of slavery and its impact on American society and culture. It documents key aspects of the history of slavery in the United States, from its origins in Africa to its abolition, including materials on the slave trade, plantation life, emancipation, pro-slavery and anti-slavery arguments, religions views on slavery, and other related topics. Included are a variety of primary source documents published from the time of the transatlantic slave trade to the post-Civil War period –

  • Personal narratives
  • Political speeches
  • Sermons
  • Plays & songs
  • Poetic and fictional works & more

Watch a quick tutorial on how to use this resource.

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button for intro to us history: american revolution database

Introduction to U.S. History: The American Revolution (Gale)

This resource documents the revolution and war that created the United States Of America, from the Paris peace treaty in 1763 through the early protests in 1785 to the Paris peace treaty of 1783. The collection examines the political, social, and intellectual upheaval of the age, as well as the actual war for American independence through its eight long years of conflict. The archive tells the whole story of the American Revolution – the experiences of commanders and common soldiers, women and slaves, American Indians and Loyalists are all recorded. 

Primary source documents include:

  • Personal narratives and memoirs
  • Political pamphlets and speeches
  • Sermons and poems
  • Legislative journals and popular magazines
  • Maps and more.

Watch a quick tutorial on how to use this resource.

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button for intro to us history: civil war database

Introduction to U.S. History: The Civil War (Gale)

This resource documents the war that transformed America, ended slavery, and unified the nation around the principles of freedom. Included are a variety of primary source documents –

  • Personal narratives and memoirs
  • Pamphlets and political speeches
  • Sermons and songs
  • Regimental histories and photograph albums
  • Legal treatises & more

The collection examines the war and all its complexity – its causes and consequences and its leaders and common soldiers, the home front, and the military campground, and more.

Watch a quick tutorial on how to use this resource.

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MyHeritage Library Edition Button

MyHeritage Library Edition

Interested in learning more about your family’s history? This multilingual family history research database includes billions of historical documents from 48 countries, millions of historical photos, public records, indexes, and additional resources that span the past five centuries.

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Pa Photos Documents

PA Photos and Documents

Explore thousands of digitized documents and photographs from unique collections in libraries across Pennsylvania.

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Pa Digital

PADigital

Showcases historical collections and resources from PA’s libraries, historical societies, museums, and cultural heritage institutions.

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us news and world report e-resource button icon

U.S. News & World Report Magazine Archive: 1926-1984

This magazine features a broad variety of topics in current events, politics and business, and is well known for its ranked lists of businesses and institutions. With 4,900 issues included, the Archive is valuable to researchers of 20th-century current events, politics and business, as well as those interested in the history of journalism, advertising and popular culture.

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Resource Spotlight

Dive into your family history with MyHeritage Library Edition

This expansive database includes billions of historical documents and images that span the past five centuries. A few of the highlights include over 19 billion records from all over the world, US federal census (1790-1950) with images, over 500 million historical photographs, citizenship records, and more!

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Looking for more? Attend a history program at the library!