PA State Archives

Hours, Directions, & Fees

Research Topics

Finding Aids for Collections

Land Records

Allegheny County

Allegheny County was established in September 1788 from portions of Westmoreland and Washington Counties. The county was named after the Allegheny River, which was named in honor of the extinct tribe, the "Allegewi" Indians. The boundaries of the county are defined in Smith's Law, volume 12 page 448. The county seat of Pittsburgh was given city status in 1816, and the city emerged as a major manufacturing center during the Civil War. Between 1874 and 1880 the native oil, papermaking, and wood products industries were pushed aside as steel emerged as the city's preeminent employer. From 1882 to 1901 the partnership of Henry Clay Frick and Andrew Carnegie distinguished Pittsburgh as a world center for the production of steel. Key events in the county's history include the strategic establishment and use of the bastion of Fort Pitt during the French and Indian War and the railroad strike of 1876. The Great Fire of 1845 in Pittsburgh destroyed nearly 982 buildings, including the Smithfield Street Bridge, leaving 12,000 people homeless and causing approximately eight million dollars in damage. The Homestead Steel Strike of 1892 on the banks of the Monongahelia River scarred the Pittsburgh steel industry for nearly fifty years. After failing to break the backbone of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers, General Manager of the Carnegie Steel Company Henry C. Frick called in 300 Pinkerton detectives to assist his cause. The confrontation erupted in a clash of arms when strikers fired at the Pinkertons, killing three, along with seven local civilians. Today, farms still occupy 9.2 percent of the land, and Allegheny County is the ninth ranked mushroom-producing county in Pennsylvania.

Board of County Commissioners

Tax Records,
1877-1935.
(3,981volumes)

{series #47.1} [Holdings]

Grouped alphabetically by name of borough, city or township, thereunder chronologically by year, and then alphabetically by first letter of taxpayer's surname.

Information provided about each taxpayer includes name, occupation and property; valuations, including real, personal, and occupational; and taxes paid to the county, the state, and the poor. The records vary over time to include such additional information as the address, size of lot, and a description of the home, and other structures.

Campaign Expense Files,
1978.
(3 cartons)

{series #47.2} [Holdings]

Arranged by a number assigned by the Department of Elections.

Documentation showing expenses and income generated by candidates from Allegheny County who sought office in the General Assembly of Pennsylvania. This series primarily consists of two types of reports and their supporting documentation. The "Report of Receipts and Expenditures of a Candidate" includes financial information on an individual candidate's campaign, while the "Report of Receipts and Expenditures of a Political Committee" includes financial information generated by a committee to elect a candidate. Both types of reports contain the following information: amount and date of each receipt, name of person to whom paid, the purpose, and the amounts of disbursements and unpaid debts and obligations. Additional items found in the files include originals or copies of canceled checks and invoices for services. For more records documenting the campaign expenses of political candidates, see also State Campaign Expense Account Files, 1974-1994, {series #26.85}; Federal Campaign Expense Reports for the U.S. House of Representatives, 1972-1981, {series #26.58}; and Federal Campaign Expense Reports for the U.S. Senate and Presidential Campaigns, 1972-1976, {series #26.59}.

Personal Property Taxes,
1914-1916, 1930-1931.
(110 volumes)

{series #47.196} [Holdings]

Grouped by ward for Pittsburgh, thence grouped alphabetically by last name of person taxed, thereunder grouped by street of residence listed alphabetically by street name, thence arranged by house number. For boroughs, grouped by borough, thence grouped alphabetically by last name of person taxed, thence grouped by street of residence.

Books for 1915-1916 list tax payees and following data: name of payee, receipt number, tax valuations (county, road, poor, dog, state, total tax amount, discount, and net amount), and remarks. Books for 1931 list payees and following data: name of payee, date of payment, receipt number, house number, street name, occupation, tax valuations (county, road, poor, bond interest, total tax amount, discount, and net amount), and remarks.

Controller

Pittsburgh Riot Claims,
1880-1882.
(7 cartons)

{series #47.3} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date claim was paid.

Records of claims submitted by individuals and companies whose goods and property were destroyed during the riots in Pittsburgh that occurred on July 21-22, 1877. The riots occurred as a result of a strike by the Trainmen's Union protesting wage and job cuts. When the strikers were fired on by the Philadelphia Militia, the strikers became riotous and in the ensuing chaos at least 26 died, more than 30 buildings were destroyed, together with 104 locomotives and 2,152 railroad cars. The county handled claims brought against the Pennsylvania Railroad. Information found about each claimant includes name, claim number, a description of the property damage, and the amount of the claim. Various documents accompany the claims, including power of attorney papers, shipper affidavits, consignee statements, documentation from the railroad, as well as invoices and receipts from numerous companies that describe the goods destroyed and their cost.

Analysis Records,
1918-1924.
(3 volumes)

{series #47.197} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by year and grouped by appropriation number.

Record of payments for the various components of each appropriation. Components such as supplies, salaries, contracted work, utilities, services, and miscellaneous are grouped under each appropriation number. The last volume is dated 1924-1926, however only data for 1924 is entered.

Bills,
1916-1921.
(1 volume)

{series #47.198} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of outgoing correspondence.

Indexed internally by name of addressee.

Copies of outgoing bills and statements of account from the Controller’s office concerning bills owed to the county.

Bond Ledger,
1880-1938.
(1 volume)

{series #47.199} [Holdings]

Grouped randomly by bond purchaser.

Indexed internally by last name of purchaser.

Ledger of bond purchasers with record of bond payments and purchases. Various types of bonds are listed.

Book of Laws,
1913.
(1 volume)

{series #47.200} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by title of law or section of law.

Indexed internally by topic.

Copies of laws and ordinances relating to government operations and conduct at all levels of government within the state.

Daybook Journals,
1920-1927.
(4 volumes)

{series #47.201} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date and year of issuance of warrant.

Daily register of warrants issued against appropriations. Data includes appropriation number and title, to whom warrant issued, reason, amount of warrant, total for appropriation, and total for day. Amount issued to sundries is also listed.

Delinquent Tax Registers,
1896-1902, 1920-1927.
(8 volumes)

{series #47.202} [Holdings]

Grouped by year, thereunder by borough, township, or ward, and finally arranged alphabetically by surname of taxpayer.

Internally indexed by ward, borough, or township.

Listing of taxpayers from whom payment had not been received. Data includes name of taxpayer, description of property, county tax, poor tax, road tax, dog tax (later replaced by bond interest), and total.

Discharged Criminal Case Registers,
1920-1926.
(2 volumes)

{series #47.203} [Holdings]

Entries are grouped by court officer, and thereunder arranged chronologically by date of report.

Indexed internally by surname of defendant.

Listing of defendants in criminal cases wherein charges were dropped. Data provided includes name of defendant, name of prosecutor, charge, date of information, amount of costs for alderman and for officer, and when paid. The column titled prosecutor appears to refer to the complainant rather than an officer of the court.

Ledgers,
1912-1926.
(5 volumes)

{series #47.204} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by year and thereunder grouped by appropriation.

Indexed internally by appropriation.

Chronological account of expenditures and receipts against various appropriations. There are also pages which provide account data for the bonds issued by the county. Finally, other pages are devoted to receipts and expenditures of the bond and fund accounts of the county.

Letter Press Books,
1903-1927.
(40 volumes)

{series #47.205} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of letter.

Some volumes are indexed internally by surname of addressee.

Books of onion skin copies of outgoing correspondence from the Controller’s office. Topics vary widely and include payments for services and supplies, contract matters, sales of assets, bond issues, and others. Some books contain only cover letters for remittances.

Road Bond Ledger,
1901-1939.
(1 volume)

{series #47.206} [Holdings]

Arranged by year of purchase.

Indexed internally by name of purchaser.

Accounts of bondholders of Allegheny County road bonds. Lists date and amount of bonds purchased and redeemed.

Thorn Hill School Records,
1916-1953.
(6 volumes)

{#47.303} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry of data.

Volumes recording financial and inventory information for Thorn Hill School, the county juvenile detention facility for boys. Four volumes contain expenditures yearly by appropriation. Columns record who was paid, voucher number, order number, supplies purchased, and appropriation charged. One volume contains maps of the facility for insurance purposes. Another volume records a summary of the value of school holdings by category such as kitchen dishes, hospital equipment, bake shop equipment, structures, and automobiles. Beyond the summary are pages providing detailed itemization of holdings in each building. Such listings include titles and number of books in the library, tools in the maintenance building, and bedding and other items in the cottages.

Coroner

Index to Inquests Held,
1905-1925.
(1 volume)

{series #47.4} [Holdings]

Grouped alphabetically by first letter of surname of deceased, and thereunder arranged chronologically by year inquest was held.

A reference tool used in connection with the Record of Inquests Held, 1899-1927 {series #47.5}. Information provided for each inquest includes decedent's name, inquest docket and term number, date inquest and post-mortem were held, and name of the physician who examined the body.

Record of Inquests Held,
1899-1927.
(14 volumes)

{series #47.5} [Holdings]

Arranged numerically by docket and case number, and then chronologically by year.

Indexed externally, alphabetically by surname of deceased in Index to Inquests Held, 1905-1925 {series #47.4}.

Record books of inquests held in Allegheny County. The information provided includes decedent's name, age, nationality, marital status, occupation, gender, race, date and cause of death, name of coroner, and the docket and term number.

District Attorney

District Attorney's Files,
1940-1956, bulk 1947-1951.
(24 cartons and 3 boxes)

{series #47.432} [Holdings]

Grouped by principal function of the files.

Records of the County District Attorney's office generated by the preparation for and conduct of selected trials of persons accused of criminal conduct. The papers are not arranged in any evident order and are filed by case or type of case. Trial preparation and conduct papers include hand-written notes, drafts of questions, complaints, transcripts of testimony, petitions, motions, jury selection, and reference material. Papers and objects from the crime scene were filed and presented as exhibits. Cartons 1 through 6 contain files for cases of murder, gambling, jury tampering, robbery, auto accidents, and other felonies, and the majority of these cases are dated in 1947 to 1949. Correspondence files contain a variety of questions and requests made of the District Attorney, along with his replies. The remaining cartons contain the files, exhibits, and confiscated material from the 1950 trial for sedition of Steve Nelson, Andrew Onda, and James Dolsen, leaders of the Communist Party in Western Pennsylvania. With appeals, motions, and bond petitions, these files extend to 1954. In addition to party records, the office confiscated many books, political pamphlets, newspapers, and phonograph records of speeches by national party leaders. Reference material on the national Communist Party, U.S.S.R., union disputes of the time and various peace movements are also held.

Prothonotary

Applications for Admission to the Bar and Admission Certificates of the Allegheny County Bar,
1883-1911, 1932-1980.
(5 cartons)

{series #47.6} [Holdings]

Arranged numerically by register number.

Original papers filed by attorneys in the course of applying for admission to the Allegheny County bar. Included in this series are petitions to be registered as a law student, the affidavits of sponsors as to the character and qualifications of the student, the certificates of the State Board of Law Examiners indicating that the necessary qualifications and scholastic requirements were met, and the original certificates issued by the State Board of Law Examiners. The following information can be obtained from these papers: name of attorney admitted or denied admission, names of sponsor and preceptor, contents and purpose of each paper filed, and signatures of the State Board of Law Examiners and the court. For related types of material see also the List of Attorneys and Law Students, 1788-1981 {series #47.7}, which contains a surname index of attorneys.

Dentist Registers,
1883-1897, 1914-1924, 1931-1964.
(3 volumes)

{series #47.9} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of registration.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by first letter of dentist's surname.

Register of dentist diplomas transcribed in Allegheny County. Information provided includes the dentist's name and address; name of educational institution; date of graduation; names of members of the faculty; places and dates of practice in the state; and date recorded. Dentists who possessed no diploma presented affidavits containing similar information and were also recorded in this volume. In 1897, the responsibility of maintaining these records was officially transferred to the State Dental Council and Examining Board, under the Department of Education. Volumes 2 and 4 record only the issuance of licenses under this system. The nativity of the dentist was recorded, and the recording of names of faculty and transcribing of diplomas was dropped. In 1965, the responsibility was transferred to the Department of State, State Dental Council and Examining Board. For additional dental licenses see RG-22 Record of Dental Licenses, 1923-1965 {series #22.95} and RG-26 Record of Dental Licenses, 1965-1973 {series #26.105}

List of Attorneys and Law Students,
1788-1981.
(2 volumes)

{series #47.7} [Holdings]

Arranged numerically by registration number.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by surname of attorney or law student.

List of attorneys admitted to practice before the bar and of law students who indicated their intention to study law. Information given about each attorney or law student includes name, age, place of residence, registration number, date of certificate, date of registration, date of admittance and name of preceptor. From 1971, the date of birth is given instead of the age. The remarks column occasionally provides the date of death.

Medical Registers,
1881-1889, 1913-1927.
(3 volumes)

{#47.351} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of registration.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by first letter of physician's surname.

Register of physicians authorized to practice medicine in Allegheny County. Information includes name and nativity of physician, place of residence, medical degree held and where and when conferred, places and time frame where practicing medicine, and signature of Prothonotary. Third volume notes date of license issued by the State Medical Council and where that is recorded by the Council.

Midwife Register,
1920-1931.
(1 volume)

{#47.352} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of registration.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by first letter of midwife's surname.

Register of persons authorized to practice as midwives in Allegheny County. Information includes name, residence, date and number of license issued by the Bureau of Medical Education and Licensure, and signature of Prothonotary.

Optometry Register,
1918-1971.
(1 volume)

{#47.353} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of registration.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by first letter of optometrist's surname.

Register of optometrists authorized to practice in Allegheny County. Information includes name, residence, date of license issued by the State Board of Optometrical Education, Examination, and Licensure, where such license is recorded, and signature of Prothonotary.

Osteopathic Register,
1909-1929.
(1 volume)

{#47.354} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of registration.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by first letter of osteopath's surname.

Register of osteopaths authorized to practice in Allegheny County. Information includes name, residence, date of license issued by the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners, where such license is recorded, and signature of Prothonotary.

Stallion Register,
1908-1964.
(1 volume)

{#47.355} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of registration.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by name of stallion.

Register of selected stallions in Allegheny County. Information includes number of certificate, pedigree, owner of stallion, description, year foaled, examining veterinarian, studbook entered into, date of record, and signature of Secretary, State Livestock Sanitary Board.

Veterinary Medical Register,
1889-1922.
(1 volume)

{#47.356} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of registration.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by first letter of veterinarian's surname.

Register of veterinarians authorized to practice veterinary medicine in Allegheny County. Information includes name and nativity of veterinarian, place of residence, veterinary degree held and where and when conferred, places and time frame where practicing veterinary medicine, date and number of license issued by the State Board of Veterinary Examiners, and signature of Prothonotary.

Recorder of Deeds

Commission Book,
1891-1905.
(1 volume)

{series #47.8} [Holdings]

Grouped alphabetically by surname of commissioned official, and thereunder chronologically by date of appointment.

Record book of commissions issued to officers required to be authorized by the governor before they could assume office. Types of positions documented include sheriff, coroner, prothonotary, clerk of courts, clerk of orphan's court, register of wills, recorder of deeds, justice of the peace, and industrial policeman. Information provided for each commissioned official includes name, office held, date of appointment, type of commission, and expiration of term.

Register of Aldermen and Justices of the Peace,
1877-1891.
(1 volume)

{series #47.10} [Holdings]

Grouped chronologically by year office was assumed.

Register maintained by the Recorder of Deeds, who was responsible for administering the oath of office to aldermen and justices of the peace. Information provided for each alderman and justices of the peace includes their name and the location (city, township or borough) and the ward in which they served. Additional information is found in the remarks column, including name of the justice that the current justice succeeded, whether reelected, or whether a new ward was created. A record of commissions of later justices and aldermen can be found in the Commission Book, 1891-1905 {series #47.8}.

Treasurer

Penn Township Poll Tax Book,
1933.
(1 volume)

{series #47.207} [Holdings]

Arranged by receipt number and grouped alphabetically by last name of payee.

List of persons assessed a poll tax. Data is receipt number, name of payee, address, and amount.

Beaver County

Beaver County was established in March 1800 and named for the Beaver River. The boundaries were set out in Smith's Laws, volume 3, page 421. Having a boundary that commences at the mouth of the Big Sewickly Creek on the Ohio River, Beaver County was originally parceled out from portions of Allegheny and Washington Counties. Beaver County's many water routes have in the past provided attractive habitations for several Indian communities, most notably Logstown. The county was home to a number of important military forts including Fort Pitt, Fort Duquesne, and Fort Prince George. Early industries flourished in the county, including canal transportation and the steel industry, mostly due to the innovation of Andrew Carnegie. In recent times, many innovative manufacturers came to the area to produce seamless pipe, oil drilling gear, steel barges, automobile parts, and electric-arc steel. Westinghouse Electric chose the county as a base of operations, as did oil refiners, Valvoline and Arco.

Board of County Commissioners

Tax Records,
1802-1926.
(100 cartons)

{series #47.11} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by name of borough or township, and thereunder chronologically.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by surname of property owner.

Record books of tax assessments for Beaver County. Information provided includes description and location of property, valuation of property, owner's occupation, and the amount of taxes paid (county, poor, state, and dog). Additional information provided is the number of horses and mules, cattle, carriages for hire, and dogs. These records encompass all the political subdivisions in Beaver County during the period 1802 to 1926. There are significant gaps between 1842 and 1871.

Bedford County

Bedford County was named for Fort Bedford, which in turn was named in 1759 for the Duke of Bedford. Bedford County was erected out of a part of Cumberland County on March 9, 1771 with the boundaries defined in Smith's Laws, volume 1, p. 330. The site of Fort Bedford became the county seat of Bedford and was incorporated as a borough in 1795. Bedford gained recognition partly due to the Espy House, the site of President Washington’s headquarters during the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion. During the 19th century curative spring waters, along with the establishment of the Bedford Springs Hotel lured a considerable number of elite folk into the area. The Bedford Springs Hotel was one of the meeting places for debating the outcome of the Dred Scott Decision. The latter part of the 19th century in the county was dominated by transportation and commerce due largely to the importance of the Huntingdon and Broad Top Railroads. Today transportation and commerce are still major industries in the county as a result of the interstate highway system.

Prothonotary

Appointments,
1839-1916.
(3 folders)

{#47.318} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of appointment.

Individual records of appointment to non-elective offices. Documents also contain sworn oath of appointee to faithfully perform the duties of the office. Majority of the appointments concern deputy sheriffs, deputy prothonotary, and deputy register of wills and recorder of deeds. Data includes name of appointing officer, name of appointee, office to which appointed, sumary of duties of the office, and date of the appointment. Dates are not all inclusive.

Bonds of Elected Officials,
1878-1912.
(3 folders)

{#47.319} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of bond.

Instruments of financial commitment to faithful job performance. Selected officeholders offered surety on their conduct of the financial affairs of office. Bonds provide name of bondsmen, name of elected official, office held, date and term of the office, amount of bond, and date of instrument. Offices include county commissioner, collector of borough taxes, and treasurers of county and of borough. Separately arranged are bonds for justices of the peace. A standard form, these bonds are for $1,000 and provide name of justice, name of prothonotary, name of borough or township where elected, and date of bond. Dates are not all inclusive.

Oaths of Office,
1864-1919.
(12 folders)

{#47.320} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of oath.

Individual instruments whereby an elected official swears or affirms to truly and faithfully perform the duties of the office to which elected. Also contained is a deposition that no financial irregularities have taken place in the process of the nomination or the election. Oaths may be written out or on pre-printed forms. Officials required to take the oath include commissioners, judges, tax collectors, district attorney, constables, county surveyor, mercantile appraisor, row officers, and others. Included in this file are the oaths of the special deputy sheriffs assigned to work for the Huntingdon and Broad Top Mountain Railroad Company in 1909. Separately filed are the oaths of sheriff and jury commissioners whereby they swear to make "impartial selection of competent persons" for jury duty and will not allow partiality, malice, or favor to influence selections. These oaths contain the names of the sheriff and jury commissioners, prothonotary, and date of signing. Dates are not all inclusive.

Quarter Session Dockets,
1771-1786,1789, 1792-1908.
(11 volumes)

{#47.264} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of court case or data entry. First three volumes overlap with each other.

Docket Five and later are indexed alphabetically by surname of defendant.

Books which describe briefly the cases, pleas, and other information recorded before the Court of Quarter Sessions. Most dockets from the earliest dates provide the name of the defendant, plaintiff, plea, verdict, and punishment for court cases. Additionally, the names of grand jurors and elected and appointed officials are recorded. These include constables, justices of the peace, bridge and road viewers, town clerks, school inspectors, and others. Tavern licenses are listed as are recognizences for persons awaiting trial. Docket Two contains early oaths of allegience to the king and the commonwealth. Docket Four contains entries for births of mulatto children and Negro indentures from Allegheny County and some Maryland counties. Lists of retailers of foreign merchandise begin in 1831. In later years are petitions from the overseers of the poor, land condemnation requests, and reports of inquests.

Quarter Session Court Papers,
1783-1809, 1812-1909.
(23 cartons and 1 box)

{#47.265} [Holdings]

Grouped chronologically by year of court case and thereunder arranged chronologically by month of session.

Records of cases brought before the Court of Quarter Sessions. Papers include names of defendants, charges brought, court date, names of witnesses, and disposition of case. Types of records filed in criminal proceedings include indictments, motions, bonds, testimony, bills of cost, orders, appeals, subpoenas, grand jury reports, and others

Recorder of Deeds

Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court

Orphans' Court Records
1771-1990.
(39 cartons)

{series#47.192} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by surname of decedent, though in some cases particular papers for estates of people with the same surname are mixed up even though the estates are different.

Loose wills, deeds and related financial information of deceased persons. The type of information provided is name of deceased, date of death, date of will or letter of administration, names of heirs or administrators, text of wills and deeds, value of estates, and amount of inheritance tax owed.



Will Books,
1769-1966.
(23 volumes)

{#47.253} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of filing in Probate Court.

Volumes with copies of wills filed in court. These documents, also called testaments, were created during the lifetime of a person and declare that person's desires as to the disposition of property after death. Operative only after death, they are then filed in court to form the basis for the distribution of an estate. Each will contain the identity of the testator, some description of their property, and the persons or organizations who are to receive that property.

Blair County

Blair County was formed on February 26, 1846 from parts of Bedford and Huntingdon Counties and comprises about 530 square miles. It was named after John Blair, a prominent businessman and legislator. A center of agriculture and transportation, Blair County was home to considerable iron production in the early 19th century. Some of the most difficult engineering work on the canal and railroad systems linking east and west took place in the county. It is home to the famous Horseshoe Curve which assured rail transportation across the commonwealth. The county's largest city, Altoona, was created by the Pennsylvania Railroad to be home to a large complex of railyards and shops. The county seat is at Hollidaysburg.

Bradford County

Bradford County was originally called Ontario County after the lake of the same name, and was erected out of portions of Luzerne and Lycoming Counties on February 21, 1810 with the boundaries defined in Smith's Laws, volume 5, p. 89. It was formally organized and renamed Bradford County in 1812 in honor of William Bradford, the second Attorney General of the United States. Named after the Towanda Creek, the county seat of Towanda was incorporated in 1828. Englishman Robert Barclay began mining coal in Bradford County in 1812 and this resulted in construction of a canal and a railroad line. Some believe that the French Queen Marie Antionette planned to flee to the French Azilum in Bradford County to escape her doomed fate. About the time that Barclay’s mines were closing, a lumber boom commenced that flourished until about 1930. Dairy farming is presently the backbone of the economy.

Board of County Commissioners

Tax Duplicates,
1926-1955.
(308 volumes)

{series #47.322} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by name of borough or township, and thereunder chronologically by date of assessment.

Record books of tax assessments for Bradford County. Information provided includes amount of property, valuation of property, owner's occupation, and other information depending upon the year of assessment. Additional information provided may include the number of offices held, mortgages, annuities, and carriages for hire. Taxpayers are grouped alphabetically by surname within the books.

Prothonotary

Adsectum Indexes,
1813-1870, 1873-1890.
(8 volumes)

{#47.330} [Holdings]

Grouped alphabetically by surname of defendant and plaintiff.

List of judgment creditors and assignees, providing such information as court term, year, and case numbers.

Appearance Dockets,
1813-1907.
(194 volumes)

{#47.328} [Holdings]

Grouped chronologically by year and month of court term and arranged thereunder by number of court case.

Record books which act as a summary of all civil cases tried in the Court of Common Pleas. Data may include names of parties and their attorneys, dates the various papers filed, pleadings entered, description of the case, action taken, and signatures of officials. Docket 4 was not received.

Appearance Docket Indexes,
1813-1870, 1873-1890.
(5 volumes)

{#47.331} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by surname of plaintiff.

Index to books of record for civil cases heard in the Court of Common Pleas. Data includes surnames of plaintiff and defendant, case number, court term, year of term.

Auditors Report Dockets and Indexes,
1846-1957.
(13 volumes)

{#47.332} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of report.

Indexed externally, alphabetically by surname of deceased.

Reports to Judge of Orphans' Court of audits of final settlements of estates. Reports may include statements of witnesses, names of heirs, names of persons disputing settlement, statements concerning indebtedness and acquisition of assets, description of property sold and amount received, and final distribution of estate. Two indexes cover reports volumes 1-10. Volume 11 not indexed.

Chattel Mortgages Indices,
1950-1954.
(2 volumes)

{#47.325} [Holdings]

Grouped alphabetically by surname of mortgagee or mortgagor and thereunder arranged chronologically by date of mortgage.

Books of indexes for persons taking or giving mortgages on other than real property. One book is indexed by the name of the mortgagee. The other is indexed by the mortgagor. Data in either includes name of mortgagee, name of mortgagor, date of mortgage, volume of book of mortgages where recorded, page number, and date satisfied.

Defendants Index,
1871-1873.
(1 volume)

{#47.333} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by surname of defendant.

Index to court dockets. Data includes name of defendant, name of plaintiff, docket number, page, term and year of court hearing.

Dentist Registers,
1883-1956.
(2 volumes)

{series #47.12} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date information was recorded.

Registers of dentists licensed to practice in Bradford County. The information provided includes dentist's name, address, name of educational institution and faculty member names and date of graduation, places and dates of practice in the state, and date recorded. Dentists lacking a diploma presented affidavits containing similar information and these records will also be found in these volumes. For additional dental licenses, see RG-22 Record of Dental Licenses, 1923-1965 {series#22.95} and RG-26 Record of Dental Licenses, 1965-1973 {series#26.105}.

Divorce Indexes,
1879-1977.
(2 volumes)

{#47.334} [Holdings]

Grouped alphabetically by surnames of persons against whom decrees in divorce have been granted, against persons whom injunctions have been granted restraining them from selling real estate, or against persons adjudged lunatics or drunkards, and arranged thereunder chronologically by date of decree.

Index of persons against whom various forms of decrees may have been adjudged. Data includes name of person, name of petitioner, case number, term and year of court hearing, number of docket, nature of case, and date of decree.

Ejectment Index,
1856-1891.
(1 volume)

{#47.324} [Holdings]

Grouped alphabeticaly by surname of defendant and thereunder arranged chronologically by date of court term.

Book of persons involved in special court cases not listed in other indexes. Cases included ejectment proceedings from real property, habitual drunkeness, lunacy, divorce, injunctions restraining persons from selling real property, and other cases specifically provided by law. Data provided includes name of defendant, case number, month and year of court term, name of plaintiff, date of ejectment order, and brief description of land to include amount and location.

Execution Indices and Dockets,
1822-1961.
(53 volumes)

{#47.326} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of court term.

Indexed externally by separate index volumes.

Books containing the names of parties to cases in execution proceedings heard before the court. The dockets are a brief record of all steps taken in the proceedings and include amount of debt or judgment for which execution is being issued. Additional data provided includes names of parties, summary of writs issued, court costs, and amount of interest. There are 48 dockets covering the years from 1822-1861. Dockets 3, 24, and 25 were not transferred to the Archives. The Indices are five in number and cover the years between 1858 and 1934 despite not being numbered consecutively.

Index to Assigned Judgments,
1878-1915.
(1 volume)

{#47.327} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by surname of assignee.

A separate record of those judgments, once procured, which have since been assigned. Data includes names of original parties to judgment, court term and case number, name of assignee, name of assignor, amount assigned, and remarks.

Judgement Dockets,
1827-1886.
(20 volumes)

{#47.323} [Holdings]

Grouped chronologically by date of court case and arranged thereunder alphabetically by surname of defendant.

Record book of every judgment of the court. Data provided is the same as that contained in the Judgment Indexes, and that is whether judgement is satisfied, names of defendants, names of plaintiffs, number of case, term of court, amount of debt, appearance docket number, date of interest, amount of cost, date of lien, nature of lien, number of fieri facias writ, and number of scire facias writ.

Judgment Indexes,
1881-1923.
(22 volumes)

{#47.258} [Holdings]

Grouped alphabetically by last name of defendant and arranged thereunder chronologically by date of court case.

Record books of every judgment or award of the court. Data includes date of satisfaction of judgement, names of defendants, names of plaintiffs, number of case, term of court, amount of debt, appearance docket number, date of interest, amount of cost, date of entry, nature of lien, number of fieri facias, and number of scire facias.

Locality Indexes,
1903-1980.
(2 volumes)

{#47.335} [Holdings]

Arranged geographically by name of township or borough.

Index listing persons against whom tax claims or municipal liens have been filed. Data includes name of geographic subdivision, name of property owner, street or road, street number, number of acres, description of property boundary, tax claim kind and amount, year levied, date of filing, data on municipal lien, if any.

Mechanics Lien Dockets and Index,
1840-1938.
(11 volumes)

{#47.336} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of filing.

Indexed externally alphabetically by surname of defendant and plaintiff. Index covers period 1840-1976.

Record of liens imposed on property owners for failure to settle accounts with mechanics and tradesmen. Data includes name of person claiming a lien, amount of debt, description of property against which lien was imposed, date of filing, name of property owner, and description of work done or materials delivered. Date of satisfaction of lien may be shown. Index information is name of defendant, name of plaintiff, case number, term of hearing, docket and page number.

Optometrist Register,
1918-1967.
(1 volume)

{series #47.13} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by surname of optometrist.

Register of optometrists licensed to practice in Bradford County. The information provided is name and address of the optometrist, date and place of birth, record of education, date of certification, and name of certifying institution.

Osteopathic Register,
1909-1924.
(1 volume)

{series #47.14} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by surname of osteopath.

Register of osteopathic physicians certified to practice in Bradford County. The information provided is name and address of osteopath, date and place of birth, type of education, date certified, and name of certifying institute.

Oyer and Terminer Dockets and Index,
1851-1956, 1968.
(10 volumes)

{#47.337} [Holdings]

Arranged sequentially by case number and term of court.

Some volumes indexed internally by surname of defendant. Indexed externally alphabetically by surname of defendant and chronologically by case number. External index dated 1851-1904.

Record of all hearings comprising trials in criminal court. Data includes name of defendant, charge, name of prosecutor, attorneys, jurors, court costs, summary of trial, and sentence imposed. Other data may include summary of previous indictment, bail, pleas, and motions. The index provides the month and year of the hearing, name of defendant, and case number.

Partition Dockets,
1878-1912.
(2 volumes)

{#47.338} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of court hearing.

Indexed internally alphabetically by names of plaintiff and defendant.

Record of cases heard in partition hearings whereby land is subdivided. Data includes names of parties, testimony, description of land, and judicial decision.

Physician Registers,
1881-1939.
(2 volumes)

{series #47.15} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by surname of physician.

Registers of physicians licensed to practice in Bradford County. The information provided is name and address of physician, date and place of birth, description of education, and the name of the medical institute attended.

Plaintiffs Index,
1871-1873.
(1 volume)

{#47.339} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by surname of plaintiff.

Index to court dockets. Data includes name of plaintiff, name of defendant docket number, page, term and year of court hearing.

Record of Married Women to Secure Their Separate Earnings,
1873-1895.
(1 volume)

{series #47.16} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by surname.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by surname.

Records of income earned by married women separately from their husbands. Each document bears a notary seal, and is usually signed by the prothonotary. The information provided is date notarized, name of married woman and amount of income earned.

Session Dockets,
1813-1842, 1850-1884, 1887-1968.
(62 volumes)

{#47.340} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of hearing in court.

Later dockets indexed internally by surname of defendant.

Records of court sessions. Data includes name of defendant, summary of what was decided, i.e. sentence, bail, continuance, etc.

Session Docket Indexes,
1814-1968, 1980-1985.
(5 volumes)
{#47.341} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by surname of defendant.

Indexes to dockets of court sessions. Data includes name of defendant, name of plaintiff, case number, court term, docket, page number.

Stallion Registers,
1893-1950.
(3 volumes)

{series #47.17} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Indexed alphabetically by surname of owner.

Registers of stallions kept for breeding purposes that were required to be licensed with the Department of Agriculture. The information provided is name and address of the owner; name of the animal, and the license number.

Surplus Bond Record and Index,
1898-1976.
(2 volumes)

{#47.342} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by case number and term of court.

Indexed externally alphabetically by name of purchaser.

Record of sales of land seized for non-payment of taxes. Data includes date of sale, amount of sale, name of purchaser, description of property, and name of former owner. Index provides name of purchaser, docket, page number, amount, date of entry, and location of land.

Veterinarian Registers,
1889-1896, 1905-1911.
(2 volumes)

{series #47.18} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by surname of veterinarian.

Register of veterinarians licensed to practice in Bradford County. The information provided is name and address of the veterinarian, date and place of birth, date and name of institution where veterinary education was received, and the signatures of the prothonotary and the veterinarian.

Bucks County

Bucks County was one of the original counties created by William Penn in 1682 with the first line of demarcation from Philadelphia County defined at a meeting of the Provincial Council in Philadelphia on the First Day of the Second Month 1685. It was named for Buckinghamshire in England where the Penn family had lived for generations. Named for innkeeper William Doyle, Doylestown replaced Newtown as the county seat in 1812 and was incorporated as a borough in 1838. Most original settlers were Quakers. William Penn’s estate was at Pennsbury Manor overlooking the Delaware River. The controversial Walking Purchase of 1737 took place in Bucks County , creating a schism among colonist and Indian relations in the area. Bucks was among four counties where Fries’ Rebellion broke out in 1798 to protest the implementation of a federal tax on dwelling houses, sometimes called the "window tax". The tax was intended to raise revenue to defend against possible hostilities with France when France broke relations with the United States to protest the Jay Treaty with England. Bucks County was the home of Andalusia, an estate of Nicholas Biddle, the President of the Second Bank of the United States. Pennsbury Manor, the country home of William Penn, is located in Bucks County. The Levittown community was completed in 1957, proving to be a model for suburban housing. Today, the area's main industries are dairy farming and textile manufacturing.

Board of County Commissioners

Applications for Burial of Deceased Soldiers and Their Widows,
1909-1923.
(1 carton)

{series #47.19} [Holdings]

Arramged chronologically by year of application.

Applications and related records pertaining to "An Act authorizing and requiring the County Commissioners of each county in the State...at the expense of the county, to look after, bury and provide a headstone for the body of any honorably discharged soldier, sailor or marine who served in the Army or Navy of the United States during the late rebellion or any preceding war, and shall thereafter die in their county, leaving insufficient means to defray the necessary burial expenses" (May 12,1885) or to "An Act Relative to the Burial of the bodies of certain indigent deceased widows at the county expense" (April 12, 1917). Information provided includes name of the soldier and/or soldier's widow, rank of the soldier, company, regiment or unit in which served, date of discharge, date of death, place of burial, occupation immediately preceding death, an affirmation statement made by people who knew the decedent, and a statement of the costs to bury the body, including the laying out of the body, coffin, grave digging and hearse hire. In addition, canceled checks and headstone order receipts are also frequently found among these records.

Bounty Claims for Killing Noxious Animals,
1905-1907, 1909, 1911.
(1 carton)

{series #47.20} [Holdings]

Grouped chronologically by the year affidavit was filed.

Affidavits and certificates submitted by persons who killed such disruptive animals as foxes or minks to collect bounties. The information provided is date of killing of the animal, name of person claiming bounty, the type of animal, township where killed, the amount owed for the bounty, and the signatures of the person claiming the bounty, the justice of the peace, and the witness. The first page of each folder has a list of individual's names along with the number of noxious animals they killed and the amount paid for the bounty. The county treasurer's receipt of payment for the bounties is also included.

Coroner's Financial Reports,
1919-1923.
(1 carton)

{series #47.21} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by the year report was filed.

Financial reports prepared by the Bucks County Coroner showing the amounts of money due to the county coroner for inquisitions and viewing of bodies. Also present are the canceled checks the county used to pay the coroner and a list of viewing costs that the coroner was owed.

Miscellaneous Records,
1895-1923.
(1 carton)

{series #47.22} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by the date the record was filed.

County expense sheets and payment vouchers broken down by borough, ward, and/or township, along with canceled checks. Other documents include orders for county works projects showing the amount owed, and mortgage payment slips with their canceled checks.

Statements of Constables' Cost and of Attendance and Mileage of Witnesses,
1887-1902.
(6 folders)

{series #47.23} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of case.

Reports of cases heard before the the county Court of Quarter Sessions concerning misuse of state mileage privileges. Each report provides the name of the individual the commonwealth is issuing charges upon, along with the date and surcharge, the name of the witness or witnesses, the number of days each attended to the court, the number of miles driven, and the amount they were due in payment for driving for business purposes. The signature of the charged individual is given on the report, along with the signatures of the witnesses and the district attorney.

Board of Elections & Voter Registrations

Deceased and Canceled Foreign-Born Voter Registration Forms,
1937-1974.
(12 cartons)

{series #47.24} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by surname of foreign-born voter.

Original certificates of canceled or deceased foreign-born voter registration forms. Data provided includes each voter's name, address, and occupation; original place of birth and birth date; personal information, such as sex, height, hair color, eye color; voting record throughout the years, and political party affiliation. Each document is signed by the voter and registrar, and is stamped "canceled" or "deceased".

Clerk of the Orphans' Court

Lists of Deaths Returned by the Assessors,
1893-1907.
(2 cartons)

{series #47.25} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically and grouped by ward or borough.

A list of all the deaths that were recorded by the assessor in a particular borough or ward. Each document includes most of the following information: the date of the record; and personal information concerning the deceased, such as place and date of birth, color, sex, age, occupation, marital status, place and date of death, cause of death, place of interment, and the burial date. Each document is signed and notarized by the assessor.

Butler County

Beginning at the mouth of the Buffaloe creek on the Allegheny River and named for General Richard Butler, Butler County was erected from a portion of Allegheny County on March 12, 1800 with the boundaries defined in Smith's Laws, Volume 3, p. 421. It remained attached to Allegheny County for administrative purposes until 1803. The county seat of Butler was laid out in 1803, incorporated as a borough in 1807, and chartered as a city in 1918. Made up of Donation and Depreciation lands that were intended to compensate Revolutionary War veterans, Butler was the scene of many disputes over land titles in its early years. Butler County was the home of the Harmony Society, a German self-survivng religious communal organization. The Harmonists were founded by German weaver Johann George Rapp. Modernization and a decline in membership forced the Harmonists to dissolve as an entity in 1905. Former successful industries in the area include railroad, coal, rubber, and glass, but today the primary industry in the county is farming.

Prothonotary

Justice of the Peace Account Books,
1814-1858.
(3 volumes)

{series #47.178} [Holdings]

Indexed alphabetically by surname of the individual being accounted.

Inventories of the fees brought in by the justice of the peace from individual proceedings.

Justice of the Peace Docket Book,
1825-1840.
(1 volume)

{series #47.179} [Holdings]

Arranged numerically by case number.

Record of the proceedings brought before the justice of the peace. The information provided includes the name of the parties involved; type of case; charges preferred and claims made; bonds and their amounts; amounts of judgments rendered; fines/costs paid; and appeals to higher courts.

Carbon County

With a name reflecting its large deposits of anthracite coal, Carbon County was erected out of portions of Northampton and Monroe Counties on March 13, 1843 with the boundaries defined in Laws of Pennsylvania, Volume Year 1843, p. 85. The county seat was originally incorporated in 1850 as the borough of Mauch Chunk, an Indian name meaning "bear mountain." In January 1956 the borough of Jim Thorpe, named for the famous Indian athlete who is buried there, was incorporated as a result of the consolidation of the boroughs of Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk. Consisting largely of land Pennsylvania obtained by the Walking Purchase from the Delaware Indians in 1737, it was the scene of Moravian missions to the Indians, frontier fighting during the French and Indian War, and Tory raids during the American Revolution. One of the most noteworthy events in the history of Carbon County was the Molly Maguires. In the mid 1870s twenty Irish immigrant coal miners were suspected of establishing a secret organization known as the "Molly Maguires" to combat unfair labor relations. They were convicted of murdering sixteen men during the conspiracy. All twenty of alleged conspirators were executed in Mauch Chunk with very little evidence against them. In the past, the county was known for its railroads, lumber, coal, and steel industries, whereas today clothing and tourism reign.

Board of Commissioners

Election Records,
1875-1937.
(1 carton)

{series #47.300} [Holdings]

Grouped by type of record and arranged thereunder chronologically by date of record.

Reports and affadavits covering the various elements of holding elections. Some files contain petitions concerning the number and location of election districts. Election expense reports from candidates either state that expenses did not exceed fifty dollars or they itemized the expenses. Returns and tally sheets list the number of votes received by candidate and the office contested. There are lists of voters and election officials.

Tax Records,
1965.
(47 volumes)

{series #47.420} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by name of political subdivision.

Records of assessments of real property and occupations made to compute tax liaibility. Two forms of records exist for most subdivisions. One is titled Tax Duplicates. The other is Annual Enumeration and Assessment. Both contain names, occupations, occupation assessed value, mailing address, description of real estate according to Recorder of Deeds records, assessed valuation of land, building and improvements, total real estate, and changes. The tax duplicate books also note the county taxes assessed.

Prothonotary

Affidavits of Registered Physicians,
1869-1898.
(3 folders)

{series #47.26} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by name of physician.

Forms that include each physician's name and address, place and date of birth, name of medical institute attended and date of graduation, name of the prothonotary, and date when physician and prothonotary signed the affidavit.

Civil Court Records,
1847-1920.
(32 folders)

{#47.301} [Holdings]

Grouped by type of record and arranged thereunder chronologically by date of record.

Records generally related to the operation of the court. There are jurors' lists which name those eligible for service on a jury, and there are lists of grand juries. There are trial lists which itemize the cases to be heard at a given session. Information provided includes names of both parties, date of case, and cause of dispute. A few civil boundary petitions and requests for a new school district are to be found.

Coroner's Reports,
1857, 1867-1871, 1873-1887.
(8 folders)

{series #47.27} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by the year the report was filed.

Official reports of the coroner in relation to bodies examined after death. Each document includes a description of the coroner's findings, the coroner's signature, along with those of witnesses and a notarizing seal.

Criminal Case Records,
1882.
(7 folders)

{#47.302} [Holdings]

Arranged numerically in order of appearance at court session.

Records directing the appearance of all parties at a criminal trial. Included are true bills describing the offense, the accused, and the witnesses. Additional information may include the plea of the accused, bail posted, and court costs. Other records may include subpoenas for witnesses, recognizances binding individuals to return for later hearings, and warrants for the sheriff to compel court appearance.

Medical Diploma Copies,
1861-1896.
(5 folders)

{series #47.28} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by last name.

Copies of the medical diplomas of registered physicians filed with the prothonotary. Each document provides all or some of the following information: applicant's name, place of nativity, place of residence, medical degree institute and date of graduation, place of medical practice, and the affidavit statement signed by the prothonotary with the date and in some cases notarization.

Notices of Application for Admission to Citizenship,
1916-1920.
(1 folder)

{series #47.29} [Holdings]

Grouped chronologically and thereunder alphabetically by surname.

Official applications for citizenship, which show each applicant's name and address, birth location and date, where he/she arrived in the United States, petition date, and name and address of the applicant's witness.

Treasurer

Treasurer's reports,
1859-1864, 1866-1869, 1890.
(1 box)

{#47.304} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by year of report.

Audited reports to the county commissioners from the Treasurer detailing the financial condition of the county. Data includes sources of revenues, expenditures by category, accounts of commissioners, state of indebtedness, and statement of auditors. Separate records list assessments imposed, militia fines, and jury fines.

Clinton County

Clinton County was created on June 21, 1839 from parts of Centre and Lycoming counties. It is thought to have been named for DeWitt Clinton, governor of New York. The county seat, Lock Haven, draws its name from being part of the West Branch Canal. It was incorporated as a borough in 1840 and as a city on March 28, 1870.

Prothonotary

Tavern Licenses,
1840-1923.
(11 cartons)

{#47.388} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by term of Court of Quarter Sessions.

Petitions to Justices of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Clinton County to grant licenses to sell liquors and to maintain public houses of entertainment. When approved, the petitions were endorsed to reflect that a license was approved. Over time, the amount of information pertaining to each petition increased significantly. Originally, the petitioner's name and location of business were all that was required. Later, accompanying petitions supporting the granting of a license were included as well as bonds taken out by sponsors pledging the good behavior of the licensee. By the late nineteenth century, the petitioner's place of birth, and place of naturalization if foreign born, was included. Remonstrances against the granting of licenses are included as are depositions from witnesses concerning the facts in dispute over contested license applications.

Peddler Licenses,
1841-1896.
(2 folders)

{#47.507} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of submittal.

Petitions of persons to sell wares throughout the jurisdiction. The petitioners generally were disabled to some degree and unable to perform manual labor. In some cases they are former soldiers. The petitions state the nature of the disability and often verify that the wares in their possession were all that they would be selling.

Soldier Licenses,
1860-1896.
(1 folder)

{#47.508} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of submittal.

Petitions of former soldiers to sell wares throughout the jurisdiction. Similar to peddler licenses except that all had been soldiers and many state in which unit they had served. The reason for their disability and inability to perform manual labor is also decribed. Some petitions include physician's statements.

Columbia County

Beginning at the nine mile tree bank on the northeast branch of the Susquehanna River and named for the romantic feminine deity symbolizing the land discovered by Christopher Columbus, Columbia County was erected out of Northumberland County on March 22, 1813 with the boundaries described in Smith's Laws, Volume 6, p. 46. Named for Northumberland County Commissioner Samuel Bloom, Bloomsburg became the county seat in 1847 and was incorporated as a town in 1870. Danville, the county seat from 1813 to 1846, is now the seat of Montour County. There were underground railroad stations at Berwick and Millville. Some of the accused Molly Maguires were tried in Bloomsburg in 1877. Columbia County earned notoriety for the Centralia Mine Fire, which began in the early 1960s and still burns. This once flourishing anthracite mining town no longer exists since trash began burning in an open mine pit, forcing residents to abandon their homes. Farming is the county's key industry today, replacing the former top moneymakers in the rail, silk, and mining business.

Board of Commissioners

Annual and Triennial Tax Assessments,
1802-1910.
(98 cartons)

{series #47.31} [Holdings]

Arranged by name of municipality.

Returns of "Taxables for the state, county, city, district, ward, township, or borough for the purposes of actual value thereof". Each return provides the name of the owner or owners of the real estate property, the name of the property occupier, the amount of acres of seated and unseated lands, the gross actual value of seated and unseated lands, and the amount of the county tax and the state tax.

Prothonotary

Common Pleas Civil Papers,
1794-1965.
(38 cartons)

{series #47.32} [Holdings]

Grouped chronologically by court term and thereunder arranged numerically by case number.

Papers filed in the proceedings of the Columbia County Court of Common Pleas. Types of documents present include writs, justice of the peace transcripts, court opinions, judgment bonds, declarations, plaintiff statements, subpoenas, and bail bonds. Most of the papers provide the names of the parties and attorneys involved, and the official seal or signatures of the notaries.

Little Common Pleas Civil Papers,
1814-1968.
(21 cartons)

{#47.252} [Holdings]

Grouped chronologically by term of court and arranged thereunder by number assigned to case.

Records of cases brought before a civil division of the Columbia County court system. Some cases were filed under the term "Common Pleas", others under the term "Little Common Pleas". Types of cases filed here include appointment of guardians to handle the estates of weak-minded persons, child custody, charters, name changes, disputes caused by government exercise of eminent domain, petitions for quiet title to land, oversight of school district audits and sale of real estate, and vote fraud among others. First and final reports of those appointed as guardians were filed separately and will be found together in carton 21.

Marriage License Applications and Returns,
1885-1952.
(22 cartons and 1 box)

{#47.329} [Holdings]

Arranged numerically by the consecutive number of the license issued.

Records of marriage licenses issued with return reporting that the marriage was performed. Some returns may also have certificates of consent where a parent or guardian was required by law to agree to the marriage. Data includes names of parties to the marriage and their ages, residence, occupation, color, names and addresses of parents, and birthplaces of parents. Returns give date of marriage, name of person performing ceremony, and address of such person.

Oyer and Terminer and Quarter Session Papers,
1877-1968.
(4 cartons)

{#47.251} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of case.

Records of cases brought before the Court of Oyer and Terminer. Data provided includes names of parties, charges filed, court term number and date, names of witnesses, explanation of the case, verdict with penalty imposed, and signature of judge. Types of records filed in criminal proceedings include trial lists, grand jury reports, petitions, warrants, praecipes, notices to defendants, motions, indictments, bonds, subpoenas, bills of cost, testimony, orders, verdicts, appeals, court rules and orders, releases from probation, orders for parole, and disposition. The February 1877 records include the case of three men charged with being members of the Molly Maguires.

Crawford County

Beginning at the northeast corner of Mercer County and named for frontiersman Colonel William Crawford, Crawford County was erected out of a part of Allegheny County on March 12, 1800 with the boundaries defined in the Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania, volume 3, p. 421. The county seat of Meadville was named for founder David Mead, incorporated as a borough in 1823, and chartered as a city in 1866.

Municipal Annual Financial Reports,
1956-1977.
(5 cartons)

{series #47.33} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by the date the report was filed.

Inventory booklets listing the expenditures, funds, and receipts of all the boroughs and townships in the county. The tax and detailed debt statements are also provided, along with canceled checks, showing that all the expenses were paid off.

Quarter Session Records,
1800-1903.
(21 cartons)

{series #47.399} [Holdings]

Grouped chronologically by date of court term and thereunder arranged numerically by case number.

Records of cases brought before the Court of Quarter Sessions. Records may include bills of indictment, subpoenas, recognizances, trial costs, transcripts, warrants, and petitions among other papers. Data includes court term and date, case number, names of plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses, jurors, nature of the offense, and a summary of the date and place of the offense.

Cumberland County

Register of Wills

Bond Books,
1852-1856, 1865-1945.
(20 volumes)

{#47.306} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of issuance of bond.

Indexed internally by name of deceased whose estate is being administered.

Register of bonds taken out by persons appointed to administer estates of deceased persons. Data on bonds includes name(s) of persons appointed to administer estate, name of deceased, amount of bond, and date of bond. Book numbers are not in a normal progression.

Bond Books for Order of Sales,
1823-1881, 1897-1930.
(7 volumes)

{#47.307} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of issuance of bond.

Indexed internally by name of deceased whose estate is being administered.

Register of bonds taken out by estate administrators who must sell real estate to complete the probate of a deceased person's estate. Data includes name of administrator, name of deceased, date, and amount of bond.

Guardian Bond Books,
1878-1907, 1918-1926.
(6 volumes)

{#47.308} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of issuance of bond.

Indexed internally by name of person over whom a guardian has been appointed.

Register of bonds taken out by persons appointed to be guardians of minor children. Data includes name of guardian, amount and date of bond, names of minor children, names of deceased parent, and promise to render accounts every three years.

Veterans' Affairs Office

Veterans Grave Registration Records,
1935, 1948, 1950.
(1 volume)

{#47.305} [Holdings]

Grouped geographically by township or municipality, thereunder grouped by cemetery name, and arranged thereunder alphabetically by name of veteran.

Report to county commissioners of veterans buried in various cemeteries in Cumberland County. Most of the report was completed in 1935. Some additional pages were added in 1948 and 1950. Veterans of all wars from Revolutionary War to World War I were included in initial report. Veterans of World war II were included in addition. Data included name of veteran, war in which veteran served, branch of service, dates of service, number of company or regiment, rank, period of service, cemetery in which buried, plot location, character of headstone, source and date of information.

PA State Archives

Hours, Directions, & Fees

Research Topics

Finding Aids for Collections

Land Records