Useful Links and Resources
- I have linked to many sites throughout these pages. Here they are listed again, with some additional websites.
By sharing sources, and my process of investigating my own family history, I hope to inspire others to do the same.
The Most Important Resource...
is your family! Ask your parents, grandparents, and - if you are lucky enough to still have them! - great grandparents. Family photos are a great place to start. Write down who people are, what was the occasion, and be sure to protect and preserve your family photos and documents (see these helpful tips from the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts). My interest in art and history probably stems from my own family, and I am fortunate to have several people in my family before me that have researched and recorded family history. They have been an inspiration and giant help in beginning this quest.
General Research
Google
- I recommend starting with a general Google search. You might discover something you never thought to look for directly. This is how I discovered the finding aid for Lower Merion Historical Society's Levering Family Collection. The collection was processed through The Historical Society of Pennsylvania'a "Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories" - a project with the goal to make better known and more accessible the largely hidden archival collections of small, often volunteer-run historical organizations in the Philadelphia area.
FamilySearch
- Genealogy super search engine operated by the LDS Church. This site is easy to use, and free; though to access some document images you will need to sign in/register for a free account. Sometimes they want you to leave the site, and pay through Ancestry.com OR access all at a local Family History Center.
National Archives
- The National Archives and Records Administration is the nation's record keeper, charged with preserving and increasing public access to historical government documents. They offer helpful research guides for genealogists and teacher resources.
Library of Congress
- It's the national library for the United States, so, yes they have a lot of stuff!
Find a Grave
- Find a Grave allows anyone to access and add to its database of cemetery records.
Ellis Island
- Search passenger and immigration lists for one of the U.S.'s most important port of entries from 1892 to 1954.
Census Finder
- Find census records online
A Guide to Researching the History of a House
- This is a great resource guide suggested to me by a reader through the Contact Me form. It is from HomeAdvisor, a website that connects homeowners with prescreened, local service professionals for home improvement, maintenance and remodeling projects. The guide includes many useful links to local/regional and national internet resources - from general guides on how to begin your research process, how to search former owners or help with property legal issues, where to find census records, maps and geographical resources, and a nice roundup of the popular paid subscription internet services.
Local (Philadelphia area) History
Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network
- This is one of my favorite websites. This is a project by PACSCL (Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries); the majority of the material available on this website was digitized by the awesome folks at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia's Regional Digital Imaging Center. The site includes an interactive map viewer that allows users to overlay historic maps with modern maps. I mostly use the real estate atlases and the City Directories - they have nearly a complete run of Philadelphia City Directories available from 1793 through 1865. I hope they continue to add more!
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- HSP has an overwhelming amount of information - they've been collecting since 1824! Admission is not free ($8 per visit) to access the research collections, but that does include free full access to Ancestry.com and FamilySearch. They have city directories in print and microfilm through 1935 (as does the Free Library of Philadelphia). They offer subject guides to help begin your research, and I'd recommend searching their online catalogue before you go - limited hours means you'll want to make the most of your time there.
-More options for City Directories
Free Library of Philadelphia has the same as HSP
DonsList.net has the same digitized directories as on Philadelphia GeoHistory Network - PLUS 1895
More Local (Philadelphia area) History - Special Collections
Lower Merion Historical Society
Chester County Historical Society
Friends Historical Society at Swarthmore College
Montgomery County Archives
Historical Society of Montgomery County
Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society
PA State Archives
Villanova University Digital Library
- Digital collections from Villanova University's Special Collections and University Archives, as well as many regional partners including American Catholic Historical Society, Catholic Historical Research Center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, German Society of Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Montgomery County, Radnor Historical Society, Independence Seaport Museum, and many others.
By sharing sources, and my process of investigating my own family history, I hope to inspire others to do the same.
The Most Important Resource...
is your family! Ask your parents, grandparents, and - if you are lucky enough to still have them! - great grandparents. Family photos are a great place to start. Write down who people are, what was the occasion, and be sure to protect and preserve your family photos and documents (see these helpful tips from the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts). My interest in art and history probably stems from my own family, and I am fortunate to have several people in my family before me that have researched and recorded family history. They have been an inspiration and giant help in beginning this quest.
General Research
- I recommend starting with a general Google search. You might discover something you never thought to look for directly. This is how I discovered the finding aid for Lower Merion Historical Society's Levering Family Collection. The collection was processed through The Historical Society of Pennsylvania'a "Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories" - a project with the goal to make better known and more accessible the largely hidden archival collections of small, often volunteer-run historical organizations in the Philadelphia area.
FamilySearch
- Genealogy super search engine operated by the LDS Church. This site is easy to use, and free; though to access some document images you will need to sign in/register for a free account. Sometimes they want you to leave the site, and pay through Ancestry.com OR access all at a local Family History Center.
National Archives
- The National Archives and Records Administration is the nation's record keeper, charged with preserving and increasing public access to historical government documents. They offer helpful research guides for genealogists and teacher resources.
Library of Congress
- It's the national library for the United States, so, yes they have a lot of stuff!
Find a Grave
- Find a Grave allows anyone to access and add to its database of cemetery records.
Ellis Island
- Search passenger and immigration lists for one of the U.S.'s most important port of entries from 1892 to 1954.
Census Finder
- Find census records online
A Guide to Researching the History of a House
- This is a great resource guide suggested to me by a reader through the Contact Me form. It is from HomeAdvisor, a website that connects homeowners with prescreened, local service professionals for home improvement, maintenance and remodeling projects. The guide includes many useful links to local/regional and national internet resources - from general guides on how to begin your research process, how to search former owners or help with property legal issues, where to find census records, maps and geographical resources, and a nice roundup of the popular paid subscription internet services.
Local (Philadelphia area) History
Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network
- This is one of my favorite websites. This is a project by PACSCL (Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries); the majority of the material available on this website was digitized by the awesome folks at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia's Regional Digital Imaging Center. The site includes an interactive map viewer that allows users to overlay historic maps with modern maps. I mostly use the real estate atlases and the City Directories - they have nearly a complete run of Philadelphia City Directories available from 1793 through 1865. I hope they continue to add more!
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- HSP has an overwhelming amount of information - they've been collecting since 1824! Admission is not free ($8 per visit) to access the research collections, but that does include free full access to Ancestry.com and FamilySearch. They have city directories in print and microfilm through 1935 (as does the Free Library of Philadelphia). They offer subject guides to help begin your research, and I'd recommend searching their online catalogue before you go - limited hours means you'll want to make the most of your time there.
-More options for City Directories
Free Library of Philadelphia has the same as HSP
DonsList.net has the same digitized directories as on Philadelphia GeoHistory Network - PLUS 1895
More Local (Philadelphia area) History - Special Collections
Lower Merion Historical Society
Chester County Historical Society
Friends Historical Society at Swarthmore College
Montgomery County Archives
Historical Society of Montgomery County
Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society
PA State Archives
Villanova University Digital Library
- Digital collections from Villanova University's Special Collections and University Archives, as well as many regional partners including American Catholic Historical Society, Catholic Historical Research Center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, German Society of Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Montgomery County, Radnor Historical Society, Independence Seaport Museum, and many others.