LIBRARY

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The Library of the Lancaster County Historical Society is a research facility of genealogical and local history materials for Lancaster County. Containing over 15,000 volumes, the collection also includes, maps, family files, subject information files, microfilm and CD’s. A reference collection consisting of indexes, journals and books is available for browsing. All other books are housed in closed stacks and must be requested at the reference desk. Author, title and keyword access to library material is through the Library Catalog.

Major collections in the Library

Atlases and maps

Lancaster County has three published atlases: 1864 (with index), 1875 (with index) and 1899 that show landowners, acreage, churches, graveyards and schools. The earliest indexed map is the Joshua Scott map of 1824. All maps are listed in the Library Catalog. Read more about atlases and maps.

Cemetery Transcriptions

The best resource to use is Churches and Cemeteries of Lancaster County: a Complete Guide, by A. Hunter Rineer. This book guides you to the location of church and cemetery records. This book is for sale through our Bookstore.

Census Records

Federal population schedules for Lancaster County are available on microfilm from 1790-1930 (except 1890). Indexes are available from 1790 – 1870. The collection also includes indexes to the 1850 and 1870 Pennsylvania Mortality schedules, the Manufacturer’s census of Lancaster County for 1820 and 1850-1880, the Pennsylvania Septennial census for various years and the Agricultural Schedules for 1850-1880. We also have much of the Lancaster County census in CD format. We subscribe to Heritage Quest Online giving access to census records throughout the country.

Church Records

The book, Churches and Cemeteries of Lancaster County: a Complete Guide, compiled by A. Hunter Rineer, guides you to the location of church records. This book is on sale through our Bookstore. Church records are also listed in our Library Catalog.

County Histories

A variety of county histories give a general overview of the county and its residents. Specific titles are listed in the Library Catalog.

Deeds

Deeds from 1729-1877 and 1935-1958 are available on microfilm. There is a microfilm index of Grantees and Grantors for 1729-1958. Learn how to search for a deed.

Directories

Names, addresses, occupations, business advertisements, organizations and more are available in city and county directories. The earliest city directory is 1843 and the earliest county directory is 1869. We have Lancaster City directories on microfilm for the years 1903-1935.

Family Files

An extensive vertical file collection of surname information contains miscellaneous material gathered from a variety of sources. Check the Library Catalog to see if we have a family file for a particular surname.

Genealogies

Many family histories are in the collection. Check the Library Catalog for listings.

LCHS Journal

Published for over 100 years the Journal has articles of both historical and genealogical interest. Each article is searchable by using the Library Catalog.

Marriages and Deaths

An onsite database contains marriages and deaths from 1800 to 1905 found in Lancaster city newspapers.

Newspapers

Microfilm is available for major Lancaster newspapers and various other communities in the county.

Pennsylvania Archives

This multi-volume set of materials, along with the earlier Colonial Records, is especially useful for pre-1800 information.

Periodicals

The library receives a variety of periodicals in the areas of genealogy and history. Many of the articles are fully-cataloged and searchable through the Library Catalog.

Ship Passenger Lists

The collection includes a variety of listings of immigrants. The multi-volume Passenger and Immigration Lists Index and Germans to America are available in the reference collection.

Tax Records

Local tax records are available from 1750-1939 (with gaps). Indexes are available for pre-1729, 1750, 1770 and 1780. We also have the 1798 window tax on microfilm and the 1815 direct tax in bound volumes. Read more about tax records.

Wills

An index to wills from 1729-1947 is available, as is microfilm of the wills from 1729-1908.