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Published and unpublished reports submitted to the Governor by the Pennsylvania Historical Commission concerning the activities of the Commission, funds appropriated by the legislature for the more various Commission programs, and historical markers erected by the Commission. These include the First Report of the Historical Commission of Pennsylvania (Lancaster: 1915), the Fiftieth Anniversary Reprint of the First Report of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission (Lancaster: 1964), the Second Report of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission (1918), the Third Report of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission (1922), The Marking of Historical Sites of Early Pennsylvania (Fourth Report of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission) (Harrisburg: 1926), and the Fifth Report of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission (1931). The second, third and fourth reports contain the texts of numerous historical markers and the fifth report contains updates on archaeological excavations at Clemson's Island in the Susquehanna River near Halifax in Dauphin County, the Book Mound near Academia in Juniata County, and at Safe Harbor in Lancaster County. The Sixth Report of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission, 1931-1937 (Harrisburg: 1937) is represented only by a set of photocopies and the reports for 1938 and 1944 are typescript drafts. Also included are biennial reports, bulletins, activities reports, and special reports to the Governor of the accomplishments of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission. Images are arranged chronologically by date of report. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of transcripts prepared under Works Progress Administration Project #20837 of the eleven-volume "Index to Records of Aliens' Declarations of Intentions and/or Oaths of Allegiance, 1789-1880" more in the custody of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Information provided is name of immigrant, country of former allegiance, court where application was filed, and the date of the declaration of intention and/or oath of allegiance. The index lists records from five courts: Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas (CP); Philadelphia Court of Quarter Sessions (QS); Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Eastern District (SC); United States Circuit Court, Philadelphia (CC); United States District Court (DC). Images are arranged alphabetically by surname of naturalized person. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

Transcripts of the lists of the names of members of crews of vessels arriving and departing the Port of Philadelphia. Information provided is name of crewmember, more date of list on which name appears, and page where name will be found. This group of images is an index to Transcripts of Chronological List of Masters and Crews, 1798-1880, which is also digitized and available online. Images are arranged alphabetically by name of crewmember. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

Printed, typed, and mimeographed biennial, annual, organizational, decade, accomplishment, specific powers, legislative, and activity reports issued by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Information varies with more type of report but generally includes date, name of author, and the subject. Miscellaneous reports include a report on the State Records Center, a manual on the establishment of historic districts in Pennsylvania, a study on reinvesting in Pennsylvania's heritage, and a report on maintenance and repairs needed at sites and museums administered by the PHMC. Images are grouped by type of report and arranged thereunder chronologically by date of report. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Arrivals and Clearances of Vessels, 1783-1880

Crew lists giving the names of the members of the crews serving on each vessel. These lists were originally kept under the provisions of "An Act more for the Government and Regulation of Seamen in the Merchant Service" passed by the United States Congress on July 20, 1790 and supplementary acts passed February 28, 1808 and July 20, 1840. For each vessel listed also may be given the names of the crewmen, their ages and places of birth, height, wages, hospital money, time of service, and occasional comments regarding race. Images are arranged chronologically by date of crew list. This collection is indexed in Transcripts of Alphabetical List of Crews, 1798-1880, which is also available online. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

Images of a physical inventory of records held be every county in Pennsylvania to determine their condition, importance for preservation of informational content and need for more conservation treatment. The original county records survey database was located on the Department of education mainframe and this information was then converted to seven silver negative microfiche and to four negative rolls of 35mm microfilm. Printed versions were also placed in binders. The microfiche, microfilm and binders are all accessible in the search room. The information was collected for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission funded Pennsylvania County Records Survey and Planning Study, 1984-1985. Information provided for each series is name of records, name of creating office, title of record group, the date span covered, cubic footage, location code, and VASM number (a unique numbering system used during the project to sort data for computer use). Images are arranged alphabetically by County, thereunder by Office, and then thereunder by Department or function. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

Images of inventory sheets generated from data originally on computer tape. These were also converted to seven silver negative microfiche, to four silver negative 35mm microfilm, more and paper copies were printed and placed in binders. The microfiche, microfilm and binders are all accessible in the search room. The computer tape was used to run a program produced by the Department of Education. The information was collected for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission funded Pennsylvania County Records Survey and Planning Study, 1984-1985. Information provided for each record group is title, date span, cubic footage, location code, and VASM number (a unique numbering system used during the project to sort data for computer use). Images are arranged alphabetically by office and then by record series. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

Images of a copy of the published guide (Bulletin No. 774, No. 4 of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission Series) and the accompanying records created by the more Historical Records Survey of the manuscript collections held by county historical societies, museums, public libraries, and college and university libraries. Completed by the Historical Records Survey, Division of Professional Service Projects, WPA. Edited by Margaret S. Eliot and S.K. Stevens, Pennsylvania Historical Commission, Department of Public Instruction, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bulletin #774, No. 4 of Historical Commission Services. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

"Full Series Title is: Harrisburg Unit Unpublished Manuscripts, including Guide to the Manuscript Collections and Holdings of the Archives Division of the Pennsylvania State Library, and more the Published Pennsylvania Archives, 8th and 9th series. An unpublished typescript entitled "Index of Votes of Pennsylvania Assembly, Page Reference to Daily Sessions of Pennsylvania Assembly" for the Pennsylvania Archives, Eighth Series edited by Director of the State Library Joseph L. Rafter under the Direction of Superintendent of Public Instruction Francis B. Haas. Also present is an unpublished typescript of "Guide to the Manuscript Collections and Holdings of the Archives Division and The Pennsylvania State Library" compiled and edited by Irene L. Cunningham of the Department of Public Instruction for the Pennsylvania Archives, Ninth Series. Images are arranged by publication and thereunder in alphabetical order. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection." less

Images of transcript of index prepared under Works Progress Administration Project 11791 from original Philadelphia Department of Public Health records deposited with the Genealogical Society of more Pennsylvania at 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia. The index covers three types of records: returns by sextons of churches and superintendents of cemeteries that were accompanied by physician's certificates, registers of deaths without information on place of burial (1833-1837), and registers of deaths providing information on place of burial (1836-1860). Information provided is the name of the deceased person, name of cemetery, occasionally the names of parents, date and cause of death, age at death in years and months, and name of physician. Note that the records do not cover all parts of the city, though an increasing number of cemeteries are represented beginning in the 1850s. Images are arranged alphabetically by surname of deceased. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

Images of inventory of the Board of Canal Commissioners' Map Books, 1810-1881 prepared by Division of Archives and Manuscripts Associate Archivist Martha L. Simonetti. Information provided more is a detailed listing of the canal commission maps in the Records of the Board of Canal Commissioners among the Records of the Land Office (RG-17). The inventory is keyed to the descriptive guide by Hubertis M. Cummings published in 1959 under the title Pennsylvania Board of Canal Commissioners' Records with Allied Records of Canal Companies Chartered by the Commonwealth, Descriptive Index. Information provided is the map number, title, date, dimensions, name of designer or draftsmen, and the page number upon which the map is described in Pennsylvania Board of Canal Commissioners' Records with Allied Records of Canal Companies Chartered by the Commonwealth, Descriptive Index. Images are arranged sequentially by page number on which map is referenced in Pennsylvania Board of Canal Commissioners' Records with Allied Records of Canal Companies Chartered by the Commonwealth, Descriptive Index by Hubertis M. Cummings. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945 less

Images of inventory questionnaire forms documenting churches and synagogues across Pennsylvania. Information provided on the questionnaire forms is both the official name and the name by more which the congregation was most commonly known, address of congregation, date originally formed, date of formal organization, and the name of founder or mother church body. Also given are any changes in the name over time, any former addresses and dates of occupancy, method of organization, information on any properties purchased or sold together with the dates of such transactions and the names of sellers or purchasers. Also noted is the type of building occupied, date building was erected, dates consecrated and dedicated, and architectural characteristics. Also given is name of first settled pastor or rabbi and his secular occupation, name of then current pastor or rabbi and date commenced service, status of administrative records and minute books, and information on Sunday Schools, published and unpublished histories, directories, registers of baptisms, births, deaths, marriages, membership, and cemeteries. Accompanying the inventory forms, brochures, programs, and photographs also may be found. Disclaimer: Additional records from this series are available on Ancestry.com in the Pennsylvania, U.S., WPA Church Archives, 1937-1940 collection, which covers the contents of microfilm rolls #298-299 and 3258-3313. Not all records in this series are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Archive inventories, typed manuscripts, and correspondence relating to inventories conducted at each of the county archives by the Division of Community Service Programs of the Pennsylvania more Historical Survey. Maps, blueprints and historical background of archive facilities are occasionally included. Also present are published inventory guides for these counties: Berks, Blair, Bradford, Cambria, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Lancaster, Lawrence, Washington and Wayne. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of field notes and pre-final and final typed drafts of biographical entries for a projected but never published biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania. Information given is more job number, surname of author, date of draft, surname of typist, number of words, initials of proofreader, source from which information was extracted, name of subject, and text of the biographical entry. Though this project was never completed, in recent years a number of independently published works have been printed covering some of this territory. This includes the first two volumes of "Lawmaking and Legislators in Pennsylvania, A Biographical Dictionary," 1682-1756, edited by Craig W. Horle, et. al. (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991, 1997) that focus exclusively on Pennsylvania legislators. The "Pennsylvania Biographical Dictionary" issued by Somerset Publishers, Inc. (St. Clair Shores, MI: 1999) is the most recent effort to create a popularly styled general biographical dictionary for Pennsylvania. "The Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania," edited by Hiram Shenk and Esther Shenk (Harrisburg: National Historical Association, Inc., 1932) was the standard work at the time this Works Progress Administration project was begun. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

A published Manual of Newspaper Transcription prepared in 1941 by the Works Projects Administration and edited by Sylvester K. Stevens and Donald H. Kent for the more Pennsylvania Historical Commission. Provides detailed instructions for researchers in transcribing and properly documenting information from newspapers. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

Minutes of the meetings of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission. Information provided is date and location of meeting, names of those present, and a summary of the more discussions and business transacted. Subjects most frequently concern approvals for historical markers, research among Delaware and Seneca tribes living in Oklahoma, historical trails, archaeological excavations at Native American sites, a statewide burial ground survey, and discussions concerning acquisition, or possible acquisition, of such sites as Bushy Run, Ephrata Cloister, Windsor Forge, and Pennsbury Manor. Also present is a newspaper photograph from Philadelphia's The North American dated March 9, 1924 depicting the five members of the Commission. Images are arranged chronologically by date of meeting. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

Images of twenty-six cartons of transcripts of articles that appeared in 18th and 19th century newspapers and three cartons of checklists of holdings of newspapers held more in each county. The subject categories include agriculture, biography, culture, education, finance, government, labor, manufacturing, merchants, military, mineral industries, physiography (sic), political, population, public opinion, religion, social life, transportation and communication, utilities, and welfare. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of a register compiled between 1965 and 1971 from 3 x 5 cards that were possibly assembled under the Federal Writers' Project and containing 1,500 more names of members of the Harmony Society. Old Economy Village Director Daniel B. Reibel compared the names in this register against the names published in Karl Arndt's George Rapp's Harmony Society, 1785-1847 (Cranberry, N. J.: 1971) but they have not been checked against the original records. If a date of death is given it means that the person died as a member of the Harmony Society. Images are arranged alphabetically by surname of member. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

Volume I, numbers 1-5 and Volume II, numbers 1-3 of Pennsylvania Notes published internally by the Pennsylvania Historical Commission. Subject matter includes historical celebrations, Commission properties more and activities, the 1938 annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies, the Pennsylvania 300th Anniversary of Swedish settlement, the 75th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg, the 175th anniversary of the battle of Bushy Run, and work underway at Pennsbury Manor. Images are arranged numerically. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

A published history of the expedition of the Baron de Longueuil in 1739 that covered over 1,600 miles of lakes, trails and rivers from Montreal to more the vicinity of present day Memphis, Tennessee. This was the first large European military expedition to pass over the Chautauqua-Allegheny corridor, and also the first to pass through northwestern Pennsylvania. Occurring ten years before Celoron's expedition that installed lead plates to establish French claims in the region, the Longueuil operation was part of a campaign against the Chickasaw Indians living along the northern Mississippi whose presence threatened communications between Louisiana and French Canada. The history is illustrated with numerous maps of the route. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

Arranged numerically by job number, the following subseries are typed transcripts of field notes, pre-final drafts and final drafts of manuscripts, and photographs selected to illustrate more the American Guide Series. The federal project was designed to provide work for unemployed writers during the Great Depression by publishing comprehensive historical guides for each state. In Pennsylvania the project resulted in publication of a number of topical and county guides. Information given is title of guide, name of reporter, name of town or county, date, name of typist, signature of proofreader, and source of the information including title, name of author and library call number, and the transcript of the text. Information accompanying the photographs provides the title of the guide, job number, photograph number, subject, name of photographer, name to appear in credit line, and region where taken. Though most of the photographs are by Federal Writers' Project Photographer Frederick Ritter, many were obtained from local newspapers, freelance photographers, local chambers of commerce, private businesses, and such state agencies as the Department of Forests and Waters, Department of Highways, and Department of Commerce. Among those provided by the United States Farm Security Administration the photographers included Walker Evans, Carl Mydans, Arthur Rothstein, and Ben Shahn. In addition to published American Guide Series volumes mentioned in the series described below, the Federal Writers' Project also resulted in publication of "The Floods of Johnstown" sponsored by Johnstown's Mayor's Committee (Johnstown: 1939) and "A Picture of Clinton County" sponsored by the Commissioners of Clinton County (Williamsport: 1942). Related materials located in Manuscript Group 400, Works Progress Administration Records [ca. 1766-1909] include an assortment of commissioner minutes, quarter sessions dockets, assessment lists, and road books for Clearfield, Clinton, Lycoming, Potter, and Union Counties and newspaper transcripts for both these counties as well as Northumberland County. For a history of the Federal Writers' Project see "The Dream and the Deal, The Federal Writers' Project, 1935-1943" by Jerre Mangione (Philadelphia: 1983). For a history of the entire federal arts program see "Federal Relief Administration and the Arts, The Origins and Administrative History of Arts Projects of the Works Progress Administration" by William F. McDonald (Ohio State University Press: 1969). less

Abstract card file containing transcriptions of data extracted from original records in the custody of the Pennsylvania State Archives concerning Revolutionary War service in the Pennsylvania more Militia, Pennsylvania Line, and the Navy. All pertinent information has been included on the cards and accurately reflects the information contained in the original records. Note that duty after November 1783 is not considered Revolutionary War service. Information provided is name and rank of soldier, whether active or inactive duty, county of residence, battalion in which served, and record from which information was extracted. Also noted are whether soldier was delinquent and fined or whether militia fines were abated. Images are arranged alphabetically by surname of soldier. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are available on this site. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

A history of the Venango Trail prepared by the Works Progress Administration and edited by Sylvester K. Stevens and Donald H. Kent. The Venango Trail consisted more of the Presque Isle portage that connected Lake Erie with the headwaters of French Creek, thence extended from Lake Le Boeuf to the junction of French Creek and the Allegheny River, and from the Allegheny-French Creek junction to the Ohio River. It was long a major highway for the Indians of the Six Nations and also proved an important trade route for such European Indian traders as George Croghan. Colonel George Washington followed this corridor on his fateful mission to Fort Le Boeuf in 1754 and it was by means of this route that the French subsequently attempted to defend Fort Duquesne and Fort Michault during the French and Indian War. Included are copies of maps prepared by Joseph Gaspard Chaussegras de Lery in 1755 and a table giving distances in perches and feet of landmarks along the trail. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

"Transcripts and translations of important historical documents prepared by writers employed by the Works Progress Administration relating to the Frontier Forts and Trails Survey. Information provided more is title of document, source from which transcribed, date and author of the original document, project work number, and the transcription or translation of the text. Among the transcripts and translations are the writings of Abiel Holmes, Andrew Ellicott, The American Gazetteer by Jedidiah Morse (1804), American State Papers on Military Affairs (1823-1829), and the British Museum's Series 21631-21660 "Additional Manuscripts" containing the papers of Henry Bouquet (1756-1765). Also present are transcripts of the Samuel Haldimand Papers at the Library of Congress (1757-1765), the Oil City Oil Exchange Correspondence at Drake Well Museum (1876-1898) and the Townsend Collection of the Seneca Oil Company (1858-1882), Erie County historical papers (undated), and records of the Harmony Society (1798-1893). Finally, there are transcripts relating to the Cornplanter tract and other Indian records (1745-1905), Sir William Johnson's Papers at the New York Historical Society (1758-1762), and the Journal of Duke de la Rochefoucault Liancourt who visited the French Asylum colony in 1799. Microfilm roll 1131 covers the journal of Joseph Gaspard Chaussegras de Lery, 1754-1755, and provides a window on French activities in northwestern Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War. Chaussegros de Lery accompanied the Baron de Longueuil's expedition from Canada to Fort Assumption, sketching the route from Niagara Falls to the Mississippi River. His father, Gaspard Chaussegros de Lery, was the chief engineer of French Canada from 1716 and built Fort Niagara in 1726 and 1727. The younger Joseph Gaspard Chaussegros de Lery was commissioned an assistant engineer on January 1, 1739 and the map based on his survey was the first reasonably accurate map of the Ohio valley. The translation by Quebec Archivist W. Pierre-Georges Roy was made from the printed version that appeared in Repport de l'archaviste de le Province de Quebec pour 1928-1929. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection." less

Transcripts of the index to barks, brigs, schooners, sloops, and steamships arriving and departing the Port of Philadelphia. Information provided is name of vessel, year of more embarkation, and page number where entry will be found. Images are grouped alphabetically by type of vessel and arranged thereunder alphabetically by name of vessel. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

Transcripts of the minutes of wardens appointed for the Port of Philadelphia under "Act for Appointing Wardens for the Port of Philadelphia and for Regulating Pilots, more plying in the River and Bay of Delaware, and the Price of Pilotage (sic) to and from the said Port." The wardens issued certificates to persons qualified to act as pilots on ships and vessels in the Delaware River and Bay. Information provided is date of meeting, names of those present, and a description of the business transacted. The minutes reveal information concerning obstructions in the Delaware River and Bay and daily entries illuminate routine operations of the port such as maintenance of lighthouses, collection of fees, and payment of wages. Records were transcribed between 1937-1941. Images are arranged chronologically by date of entry. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

Transcripts of reports of shipwrecks and casualties recorded at the Port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date and time of shipwreck, name and nationality of vessel, more type of construction, tonnage, age of vessel, port where registered, registration number, name of master, name of owner, port from whence last departed, where bound, number of passengers, number of crew, and number of persons lost. Also given are the value of the vessel and of the cargo, type of cargo, whether vessel was carrying a deck load or was over weight, the weight of the cargo, and the estimated value of the vessel and cargo. Finally, the location where the accident occurred, nature of the accident, cause of the accident, force of the wind at the time, weather conditions, measures taken to avoid the accident, and any remarks are noted. Images are arranged chronologically by date of report. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

Images primarily of transcripts of reports, manifests, and bonds for cargoes carried by vessels captured under Letters of Marque entering the Port of Philadelphia and from more the ports of Africa, New York, Tuckerton, Elizabeth City, Little Egg Harbor, and St. Bartholomews. Also included are lists of the names of crews of ships. The type of information provided on the lists is name of vessel, date of manifest, name of master, names of each crew member, their rating, their native country, place of residence, age and height, quantities of each type of merchandise and the duties due. The ship manifests give the name of the vessel and the name of vessel which was the prize, name of prize master, where cargo was loaded, weight, breadth, depth, where constructed, name of owner, name of merchant, date embarked, and a description of the contents. less

Transcripts of manifests prepared by the captains of domestic slave ships providing the gender, age, height, class or race, and place of residence of the slaves more transported as well as the name of the shipper or owner. Two ships, the Schooner Phoebe and the schooner Prudence, are included that arrived from foreign ports bringing slaves directly from Africa. Images are arranged chronologically by date of slave manifest. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. less

Images of transcripts of the Gifford Pinchot papers, 1890-1935; county commissioner minutes, 1939-1940; county court dockets, 1940-1941; and vital statistics, undated. The county commissioner minutes cover more Adams, Blair, Cameron, Carbon, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Elk, Franklin, Greene, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lycoming, Montgomery, Perry, Warren and York counties. The court dockets cover Bradford, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Potter, and Union counties. The vital statistics records cover all of the counties with the exception of Beaver, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lehigh, and McKean counties. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission which was created in 1945. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less