Resources

A collection of 65 posts

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Podcast Episode 91: 25 Records to Research Your Civil War Ancestors

Discover 25 resources for Civil War genealogy research. Uncover your ancestors’ history through online databases, unique archives, and veteran records.

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Immigration to Pennsylvania Prior to 1800: A Timeline of Who Arrived and from Where

Knowing when a specific ethnic group arrived can help target research in records. Usually DNA is your first clue as to where (and when) to look.

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Genealogy Research in an Archives: Uncovering Your Ancestors’ Unique History

Plan your trip to one of our 800 archives in Pennsylvania by following these checklists to prepare.

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What is Probate and Why It Matters for Genealogy Research in Pennsylvania

For genealogists tracing their roots in Pennsylvania, probate records are an essential resource. They offer unique ways to view ancestors' lives, relationships, and the legacies they left behind.

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Immigration into Pennsylvania: A Focus on the Port of Philadelphia

Genealogists often overlook Philadelphia as an entry point for immigration. From 1790 to 1924, the Port of Philadelphia was actively welcoming new immigrants to America.

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Exploring Your Pennsylvania Roots with AncestryDNA's Genetic Communities

Your AncestryDNA genetic communities combined with your other records can create powerful evidence of relationships and family trees going back hundreds of years.

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Getting Started in Pennsylvania Colonial Land Records Research

Whether you doing genealogy, historical house research, or just curious about colonial history, Pennsylvania land records are key to your research. Here's how to find them.

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Discover 10 Substitutes for Vital Records in Pennsylvania

Discover alternative sources for vital records in Pennsylvania. From funeral home records to church baptisms, burial records, probate records, and more, explore methods for finding birth, marriage, and death dates of ancestors when official vital records are unavailable.

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Updates from the Pennsylvania State Archives

Ongoing updates on the construction of the new Pennsylvania State Archives building in Harrisburg, PA and new ways to access genealogy records.

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Best Practices to Resolve Name and Date Conflicts in Genealogy Research

Discover effective ways to handle conflicting data in genealogy research and learn how to develop your own methods when faced with misspelled names and date discrepancies.

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Using PHMC Historical Markers for Genealogy Research

When you know the local history your ancestors experienced, your family history comes alive. Here's how to learn it with the PHMC historical marker program.

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Studying Historical ICD Codes to Deepen Genealogy Research

Learning the meaning behind the ICD code on an ancestors' death certificate can unlock new meaning and context for their death. Here's how to find historical ICD codes for genealogy research.

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Essential Guide to Vital Records Research in Pennsylvania

Discover the significance of vital records in Pennsylvania and learn effective strategies for utilizing them in your genealogy research.

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The Labor of Your Ancestors

Your Pennsylvania ancestors worked in Lumber, Coal Mining, Oil Drilling, Steel Manufacturing, Textile Production, Tanning Leather, Consumer Products, and Agriculture.

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Where to Find Property Deeds in Pennsylvania for Family History Research

In Pennsylvania both land and property transfers are recorded at Recorder of Deeds offices around the Commonwealth. This article will give you tips on how to locate land deeds and property deeds at the Recorder of Deeds office.

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Marriage Licenses in Pennsylvania: A Comprehensive Guide for Genealogy Research

Marriage licenses have played a significant role in documenting the institution of marriage. In Pennsylvania, the regulations and requirements for obtaining marriage licenses have evolved over time. For genealogists and family historians, understanding this history and the process of obtaining a marriage license records can provide essential details of an

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Using U.S. Census Records To Boost Your Pennsylvania Genealogy Research

Census records are a common starting point for family history research in Pennsylvania. In this post, I will guide you through the process of using US Census Records to both start your Pennsylvania genealogy research and enhance your Pennsylvania genealogy research.

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The Deadliest Days in U.S. History

The Battle of Gettysburg July 1st-3rd, 1863 is one of the most studied military events in U.S. history. Perhaps you can picture your ancestors for a moment in that place. The impact of that day is still felt today in Pennsylvania.

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Peek Inside a Union Soldier Pension File, Part 1

Here's a peak at some of the documents in Union Army pension file and what it can prove to build out a family tree. In Part 1, I'm showing some of the more typical papers you'll find.

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Life in Southern Pennsylvania in June 1863

PA History in One Minute: Imagine life in southern Pennsylvania in June 1863, just before the great battle in Gettysburg and the battles that happened just before.

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Find Your PA Family History in Military Records at the National Archives

The most useful records for genealogists is military pension files. These files name spouses, children, and occasionally siblings and parents of the soldier. For many Pennsylvania researchers, the military pensions files prior to World War 1 are the most sought after.

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The Easy Way to Find Deeds in PA

Whether you call it land, property, or real estate, deeds are the documents that shows of ownership of land. In Pennsylvania, all deeds are found at the county Recorder of Deeds office. Here's the easy way to find deed records in PA counties.

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How a Deed Can Build Your Family Tree

If you’re tracing your ancestors or the history of a home In Pennsylvania, particularly in the 18th century, you’ll want to find and transcribe the real estate deeds you find. Here's how to do it.

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The Tragedy of the Boyertown Opera House Fire

The Boyertown Opera House Fire was a devastating historical event that took place in Boyertown, Berks County on January 13, 1908. The Rhodes Opera House was destroyed by a fire started by a kerosene lantern. Almost half the audience died in the inferno, 176 people.

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40 Questions to Preserve Your Family History

It’s the beginning of the holiday season and time to get together with family. Here are 40 questions you can ask parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins to collect your family history.