R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Pennsylvania
Research Outline
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Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
Historical Geography
History
Land And Property
Law And Legislation
Maps
Military Records
Minorities
Native Races
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Societies
Taxation
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

PERIODICALSLook this term up in the glossary.


Most family history periodicals reprint copies of local sources of genealogical value. These may include genealogies, information about local records and archives, queries, census indexes, and transcripts of family Bibles, church records, court records, cemetery records, land records, obituaries, and wills. The major genealogical periodicals and magazines helpful for Pennsylvania research are:

Keystone Kuzzins. 1972-. Published by the Erie Society for Genealogical Research, P.O. Box 1403, Erie, PA 16512-1403. (FHL book 974.899 B2k; computer number 226813.) This has a cumulative index to 1981.

Mennonite Family History. 1982-. Published by Mennonite Family History, 10 W. Main Street, P. O. Box 171, Elverson, PA. 19520-0171. (FHL book 970 F25m: computer number 116623.)

The Pennsylvania Dutchman. 8 vols. 1949-1957 (FHL book 974.8 B2pf; computer number 37516.) This was continuted by Pennsylvania Folklife 1958-. Published by Pennsylvania Dutch Folklore Center, P. O. Box 92, Collegeville, Pennsylvania 19426. (FHL book 974.8 B2pf; computer number 143207.)

A partial index to these is Judith E. Fryer, 25 Year Index to Pennsylvania Folklife (Including The Pennsylvania Dutchman and The Dutchman), volumes 1-25, 1949-1976 (Collegeville, Pa.: Pennsylvania Folklife Society, 1980; FHL book 974.8 B2pf index; computer number 368493).

The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine. 1895-. Published by Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, 1305 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107-5699, Telephone: 215-545-0391; Fax: 215-545-0936. (FHL book 974.8 B2p; computer number 213580.)

Volumes 1-15 of this periodical were published as Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (FHL book 974.8 B2p; on 10 films beginning with 1698098 item 2; computer number 213593).

The Pennsylvania-German. 1900-1911. 12 vols. Published by the Pennsylvania-German Society. (FHL book 974.8 B2pg; film 1697727; computer number 316383.) The Family History Library has vols. 1-8, 11; no. 11.

Pennsylvania German Society Proceedings and Addresses. 1890-1966. 63 vols. (The library has most volumes from 9-63.) (FHL book 974.8 B4pg; on 16 FHL films beginning with 924110; vols. 42-44 on fiche 6051507-9; computer number 261202.)

Proceedings are continued in Publications of the Pennsylvania German Society, 1968-. Published by the Pennsylvania German Society, P.O. 397, Birdsboro, PA 19508. (FHL book 974.8 B4pgp; computer number 261251.

More information about Pennsylvania Germans, including earlier volumes of the Proceedings and Addresses and early books and periodicals, is indexed in Card Index to Pennsylvania Germans in the Magazines. See the “Minorities” section of this outline.

The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. 1877-. Published by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. (FHL book 974.8 B2pm [includes index to vols. 1-75]; on 24 films beginning with 1597675; the index to vols. 1-75 is on film 924847 item 1; computer number 223918.)

The Pennsylvania Traveler-Post (formerly Pennsylvania Ancestors and Their Descendants Today). 1964-. Published by Richard and Mildred Williams, P. O. Box 776, Newtown, PA 18940. (FHL book 974.8 B2pt; computer number 223224.)

Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Quarterly. 1974-. Published by the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, 4338 Bigelow Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Telephone: 412-681-5533. (FHL book 974.8 B2wg; on 2 FHL films beginning with 1697797 items 7-8; computer number 260301.) Films do not circulate to Family History Centers.

Your Family Tree. 1948-1983. Published by Floyd G. Hoenstine, 414 Montgomery St., P.O. Box 208, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. (FHL book 974.8 B2y; computer number 36973.) This emphasizes the genealogy and history of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Indexes. Most of the periodicals listed above have annual indexes in the final issue for the year. For nationwide indexes to Keystone Kuzzins, The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, The Pennsylvania Traveler-Post, Your Family Tree, and other family history periodicals, see:

PERiodical Source Index (PERSI). Ft. Wayne, Ind.: Allen County Public Library Foundation, 1987-. (FHL book 973 D25per; fiche 6016863 [set of 40](1847-1985); fiche 6016864 [set of 15](1986-1990); computer number 658308.) Indexes thousands of English-language and French-Canadian family history periodicals. Annual indexes have been published yearly since 1986. For further details, see the PERiodical Source Index Resource Guide (34119).

For more family history periodicals, study the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

PENNSYLVANIA - PERIODICALSPENNSYLVANIA - GENEALOGY - PERIODICALSPENNSYLVANIA - SOCIETIES - PERIODICALSPENNSYLVANIA, [COUNTY] - PERIODICALSPENNSYLVANIA, [COUNTY] - GENEALOGY - PERIODICALSPENNSYLVANIA, [COUNTY] - SOCIETIES - PERIODICALS

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