Pennsylvania Research Tips and Strategies

Pennsylvania Research Strategies
Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Pennsylvania


 * Pennsylvania Online Genealogy Records
 * How to find Pennsylvania Birth Records
 * How to find Pennsylvania Marriage Records
 * How to find Pennsylvania Death Records

Pennsylvania Research Tips
These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Pennsylvania.


 * Birth information: Between 1852-1855 Pennsylvania counties were directed to record births within their jurisdiction. However few counties complied. In 1893 counties were again required to record births within their jurisdiction. This law had a better response and remained in effect until 1906 when the state of Pennsylvania began to record births on a statewide level. The best substitute record for locating birth information is death records (the majority of death records will list the date of birth of the decedent, and since death certificates are considered a primary resource, they can provide you with the same documentation as a birth certificate). Or, try these other substitute records.
 * Finding Parents: Statewide registration for Pennsylvania deaths began in 1906. Prior to the state keeping death records counties kept death records beginning in 1893. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. Search Pennsylvania death records
 * Look in all censuses: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. Search U.S. Censuses.
 * Marriage Records. Coverage map showing FamilySearch county marriage holdings.   FamilySearch Historical Records

Pennsylvania Record Finder
This Record Finder is designed to help you determine the best record to search for the type of information you are looking for. It is most helpful for post-1850 research.

Further Pennsylvania Research
For more research on Pennsylvania, including research at the county level, visit the Pennsylvania page on the Research Wiki.

Search all of the Pennsylvania record collections at FamilySearch.