Your Pennsylvania Ancestors

In this episode, Patrick Clarke, Director of President James Buchanan's Wheatland, shares the policies and politics of James Buchanan's time as President so we can think about how our ancestors may have supported those policies. The politics of the 1850's was an interesting time in American history and one I wish I could ask my ancestors about. Wheatland was Buchanan's home in Lancaster County, PA...

Subscribe to PA Ancestors Discoveries Newsletter Make a discovery about your ancestors? I'd love to hear about it! Have a question on how research in PA? Submit it here for the  Research Q & A Become an Inner Circle Member and get exclusive content while supporting the podcast Catch-up on all the past episodes Music: My Days Have Been So Wondrous and Free , composed by Francis Hopkinson in 1788 in...

If you have an ancestor who was in a profession such as medicine, dentistry, or law, get some tips on how to research for their records. Also get some tips on how to verify if you have Revolutionary War Patriots in your family tree. Links Subscribe to PA Ancestors Discoveries Newsletter Make a discovery about your ancestors? I'd love to hear about it! Have a question on how research in PA? Submit...

Over the last thirty years in the United States our culture became more open and accepting of expressions of sexuality and gender identity. We also know as genealogy researchers, our attitudes and norms now, were not our ancestors' attitudes and norms. Despite these challenges, our ancestors' still left clues to their LGBTQ life.  In this episode Stewart shares: What the definition of LGBTQ is. Wh...

Most genealogy researchers will spend hundreds of hours on the computer trying to solve their brick walls - areas of their research where they are stuck, usually involving finding the parents of an ancestor. Most brick walls problems can be solved using local records. In this episode Michelle Ebert shares: The most common reasons researchers have brick walls. Key records genealogical societies hol...

When Pennsylvania formed it's court system, they made a unique title for their civil county court administration. It's confused a lot of researchers over the years, and in this episode we unravel and simplify what a prothonotary is and what the office does. In this episode Jonathan Del Collo shares: The key civil cases his office handles What genealogical information can be found in court records...

Donna Cox Baker has a Ph. D. in history and has enjoyed careers in technical and historical writing, editing, and publishing for several decades. In 2020 Donna combined her passions for genealogy and history into "genohistory" and launched it into the world. In this episode, Donna shares: What genohistory is Why genohistory is important How to participate and be a genohistorian And some stories of...

Topics Discussed Charlie Adams is a Trustee of the Berks History Center in Reading, PA. The Berks History Center, formerly called the Historical Society of Berks County, has preserved the stories and records of the residents for 150 years. Charlie covers how he does his research, how connecting in person can make a difference, and why local historical journals are worth reading. Listen in and get...

Topics Discussed While journaling current events, Denys realized that there were areas of her ancestors lives she missed which could unlock some ancestor mysteries. Denys reads some excerpts of history journal articles about the 1918 Flu Pandemic and its impact on Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Its a piece of history you won't want to miss. Then Denys answers a listener question on how to find recor...

Topics Discussed Lauren's family goes back to early 1700's Pennsylvania and through diaries, letters, and newspapers, she learned what her ancestors' life was like during the 1793 Yellow Fever Epidemic in Philadelphia, PA. Much of what was experienced then is similar to what we are experiencing now. Then Denys shares how to use newspapers to find historical context for your ancestors' lives. A lis...

Genealogist Julie Medlock Flake shares the story of her Irish ancestors in the late 1700's and and what the trials of their lives taught her. Most of what Julie learned was found in letters the family wrote to one another. Denys then tells you how you could find your ancestors in letters and journals in archives. Denys also checks in on the 14 Days of Journaling project. Join other family historia...

Family Historian Heather Wylie shares stories of three different ancestors' experiences with scarlet fever, polio, and the 1918 flu pandemic. She also shares her passion for journaling and why every family historian would want to begin. Denys launches the 14 Days of Journaling project. Join other family historians in taking time each day for 14 days to capture this moment in history for future gen...

Subscribe to PA Ancestors Discoveries Newsletter Make a discovery about your ancestors? I'd love to hear about it! Have a question on how research in PA? Submit it here for the  Research Q & A Become an Inner Circle Member and get exclusive content while supporting the podcast Catch-up on all the past episodes Music: My Days Have Been So Wondrous and Free , composed by Francis Hopkinson in 1788 in...

Links Subscribe to PA Ancestors Discoveries Newsletter Make a discovery about your ancestors? I'd love to hear about it! Have a question on how research in PA? Submit it here for the  Research Q & A Become an Inner Circle Member and get exclusive content while supporting the podcast Catch-up on all the past episodes Music: My Days Have Been So Wondrous and Free , composed by Francis Hopkinson in 1...

PACSCL is an umbrella organization representing an extraordinary collection held by forty member libraries and archives. (Scroll down to see the list of members.) If your ancestors lived in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware, there could be something related to their life in one of these archives. Searching archival collections is nothing like searching online, and this...

The Erie Society for Genealogical Research is an all volunteer group which works out of the Hagan History Center in Erie, PA. They are who you want to contact to further your research in Erie and the surrounding counties. Jodi covers: What's unique about Erie and Erie County. What resources the Society has created and collected for members. Why genealogists with ancestors in the area would love a...

Denys does a quick run down of current learning opportunities for Pennsylvania genealogy in 2020. Links Pennsylvania's local historical and genealogical societies can be found on my website PAancestors.com under the Research Guide . Internet Archive has digitized copies of PA county histories. Type the "county + PA + history" in the search bar to find them. Create a free account and save your favo...

Topics Discussed The Centre County Library and Historical Museum has a special collection and area just for genealogists called "The Pennsylvania Room." Here you'll find resources and records to help you with your research in Centre County and the adjoining counties. Robbin covers: What county government records the Centre County Library, Pennsylvania Room holds in their collection. How to access...

Topics Discussed The Ross Library in Lock Haven, PA is the center of genealogical research and resources for Clinton County. Lou covers: What genealogical records are housed at the Ross Library. What to expect as a first time researcher. And some great stories from Clinton's history! Listen in for enjoyable history and genealogy of Clinton County! Links Annie Halenbake Ross Library main website: w...

Topics Discussed Transitioning from online research to in-person research in archives can be difficult. Prepare yourself using the five tips, plus bonus tip, Denys shares in this episode. Listen in and you'll feel comfortable making your first visit for on-site research! Links Pennsylvania's local historical and genealogical societies can be found on my website PAancestors.com under the Research G...

Topics Discussed The City of Philadelphia, Department of Records, City Archive is the home of all the city's records, with documents going back to 1683. Joshua covers: How to access commonly used genealogical records of birth, death and marriage in person and from all over the world. What to expect when you research deeds and naturalization records. Where to go to get probate records for Philadelp...

Topics Discussed If you live within driving distance of Pittsburgh or have ancestors who lived in western Pennsylvania, you have a great resource available to you! WPGS houses a collection of genealogical research materials at the Carnegie Library available 7 days a week. Learn what's in the collection, some great stories of discovery, and how to access the collection if you can't make it to Pitts...

Topics Discussed If you have ancestors from northeastern Pennsylvania, NEPGS almost certainly has a record of them. Their extensive collection is cataloged on their website and Sara and Sandra share some of their most accessed records in this interview. Don't miss the memorable stories of discovery at the end of the episode! It's amazing what a society like NEPGS can help you find because they kno...

In this episode, Kathy Hale, Supervisor of Public Services for the State Library of Pennsylvania, shares what kinds of records genealogists can expect to find at the State Library in Harrisburg, PA and how to make the most of your visit. Learn what kind of holdings the State Library of Pennsylvania has and how to find them. Some holdings can be sent through inter-library loan around the country, a...

Lee Arnold, Chief Operating Officer for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, shares what kinds of records genealogists can expect to find at HSP in Philadelphia, PA and how to make the most of your visit. Learn about various collections at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and what to expect when you are on-site doing research. It's a special place and you'll feel like you stepped back in...