Pennsylvania Newspapers

United States &gt; Pennsylvania

Newspapers are an important source for vital records, etc., during the period before Pennsylvania began keeping civil vital records.

Pennsylvania's first newspaper was the "American Weekly Mercury," published in Philadelphia in 1719. Ben Franklin's "Pennsylvania Gazette" began in 1728.

For newspaper collections, see:

The State Library of Pennsylvania has the largest newspaper collection. An inventory of these is Louis F. Rauco, Pennsylvania Newspapers and Selected Out-of-State Newspapers ([S. l.: s. n.], 1984; Family History Library book 974.8 B3p; film 1320895 item 16).

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania has a major collection, especially of Philadelphia newspapers (1790-present).

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has a large collection, especially of Pittsburgh newspapers. It also has a card index to marriages and deaths listed in the newspapers in their collection.

The Family History Library has the Pittsburgh Daily Gazette on microfilm (1786-1880) and a few other newspapers. It has several published abstracts and indexes of Pennsylvania newspapers, including:


 * Pennsylvania Gazette, 1728 to 1748
 * Pennsylvania Chronicle, 1767 to 1774
 * Daily Telegraph, 1883 to 1900
 * German newspapers published in Philadelphia and Germantown, 1743 to 1800
 * Quaker Necrology (59,000 obituaries found in Quaker newspapers of Philadelphia and other cities), 1828 to 1960

An excellent bibliography of Pennsylvania newspapers is Ruth Salisbury, ed., Pennsylvania Newspapers, a Bibliography and Union List (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Library Association, 1969; Family History Library 974.8 A3s).

An inventory for Philadelphia County is Pennsylvania Historical Survey, Division of Community Service Programs, Work Projects Administration, A Checklist of Pennsylvania Newspapers, Philadelphia County (Harrisburg, Pa.; Pennsylvania Historical Commission, 1944; Family History Library book 974.811 B33 fiche 6101596).

Valuable newspaper information is in:

Manning, Barbara. Genealogical Abstracts from Newspapers of the German Reformed Church, 1830-1839. Bowie, Maryland.: Heritage Books, 1992. (Family History Library book 974.8 K28m.)

Manning, Barbara. Genealogical Abstracts from Newspapers of the German Reformed Church 1840-1843. Bowie, Maryland.: Heritage Books, Inc., 1995. (Family History Library book 973 K28m.)

Web Sites

 * Some early newspapers are available online from Pennsylvania State University
 * USNPL: Pennsylvania - This site provides links to Pennsylvania historical newspapers and current newspaper websites.