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Images of cash books, daybooks, ledgers, journals, receipt book, vouchers, payroll requisitions, and related types of records kept by the Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia. more Information provided varies with type of record but generally documents revenue received and expenditures made by the Wardens in the course of carrying out their duties. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of Certificates of ship masters certifying the name of the ship master, ownership of the vessel, and certifying that no foreigners have any share in more the property of the vessel. Also present are bonds to the king by the ship master and merchant attesting to the same. Information provided on the certificates is name of the ship master, type of vessel, name of vessel, where anchored, ship burthen in tons, number of any guns mounted on the vessel, number of crew members, number of crew members who were His Majesty's subjects, where the vessel was bound and also the next port after that to which bound, name of naval officer by whom surveyed, and date of certificate. The bonds to the king give the date of the bond, name of the shipmaster, name of the vessel, name of merchant providing bond, amount of the bond, and date of the bond. less

Images of lists of attorneys granted permission to practice in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In order to practice at this level, attorneys were required to more have a sponsor. Information given includes names of attorney and sponsor, and date of admission. From 1903 on, either the county of residence or the place of admission of the attorney are also noted. At the end of the first volume (1742-1902) is a "List of attorneys of the Supreme Court of the Province of Pennsylvania admitted at various times previous to the Revolution," which is noted as having been copied from "Sheriff's Deed Book B," and which shows the names of the attorneys, and their dates of admission. For related records, see link below. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of three types of certification recordings for mine foremen and assistant foremen: certificate books, certificate receipt books, and registers. The certificate books contain copies of more the certificates issued to eligible applicants, spanning the years 1886-1923 for foremen and 1891-1940 for assistant foremen. Information provided includes the certificate number and date issued; the name, residence, age, and place of birth of the applicant; length and nature of the applicant's service; mine district; and the report's number and date. The certificate receipt books, which cover the years from 1938-1963, contain only the receipt portion, not the actual certificate, and show the applicant's name, age, place of birth and length of service; the examining board's name; certificate number and date issued; and the applicant's test score. Finally, the registers list the name, residence, place of birth, and age of the applicant; the report's number and date; the certificate number and date issued; and length and nature of the applicant's service. The registers for foremen cover the period 1923-1955, and for assistant foremen from 1923-1968. 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 record of appellate cases in the Supreme Court, Western District. Cases deal with issues under the Court's mandatory and discretionary jurisdiction. Cases falling more within the Court's mandatory jurisdiction dealt with capital punishment, questions of constitutionality, finance and revenue, elections, and others. Cases falling within the Court's discretionary jurisdiction included cases where two intermediate courts had opposing decisions or cases that posed open questions of law, among others. Entries for each case list: the plaintiff (appellant) and defendant (appellee); the names of the attorneys appearing for the parties; the county and the lower courts from which the appellate cases arose; a chronological listing of the documents filed and proceedings held in the case; and the Court's subsequent decision or orders. Justices delivering the opinions are often noted, and from 1795 to 1836, the name of the prothonotary recording the case is entered. During the period 1894-1919, many of the dockets contain statistical summaries concerning the number and types of cases processed, and from 1930 to 1965, penciled notations are found that refer to the published cases and opinions of the Supreme Court in the Pennsylvania State Reports. A reference number that indicates when the case was recorded as having been argued in the Court Minute Books appears from 1935 onwards. Docket sheets dating after 2000 were printed from an electronic database and may contain a report date postdating the docket date. Dockets postdating 2000 may also be found online through the Administrative Offices of the Pennsylvania Courts' website. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of dockets of appeals petitioned to the Supreme Court, Eastern District. Information given for each case includes the dates of returnable papers; arguments and opinions; more the decision rendered; the names of the plaintiff(s), defendant(s), and their respective attorneys; and the corresponding case number. For eighteenth and nineteenth century dockets, the date that an original writ was issued by the Supreme Court, and whether it was a summons, capias or writ of error, is also noted. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Applicant files include patient name, date of admission, rank, and other personal information. This collection is part of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs which more is responsible for administering the Pennsylvania National Guard, and administers various programs of assistance to veterans. less

Images of applications to the Department of Banking for licenses to lend money in the Commonwealth. These consist of date of filing, name of corporation, place more of business, date and place of incorporation, names of Directors, amount of capital invested, proof of foreign ownership, and any previous convictions. Each application is signed, sworn, and notarized. Disclaimer: Not all records in this series are digitized. Holdings in this collection dated May 14, 1933 or earlier are open for researcher access. Records after that date are restricted. Please contact the Pennsylvania State Archives for additional information. less

Images of appointments and commissions issued for civil officers. Information given is name of appointee, name of Governor or commission making the appointment, the position to more which appointed, date of appointment, and the term of the appointment. Microfilm covers the period through 1944. For names of applicants who applied for positions for the period 1775-1790 see "Guide to the Microfilm of the Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments, 1775-1790," by Roland M. Baumann. Related records will be found in the following series in Record Group 27, Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments: Appointment Book, 1777-1790 series 27.19; Appointments File, Military, 1775-1790 series 27.20; and Appointments File, Political, 1775-1790 series 27.21. For more related and duplicate records, see also, Commission Books, 1775-1842 series 26.46. See internal links below. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of gubernatorial appointments and commissions. Information usually provided is name of appointee, name of Governor or Commission making the appointment, the title of the position more to which applicant was appointed, the date of appointment, term of the appointment, Gubernatorial certificate signed by the Governor and Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Senate confirmation letter. Correspondence was generally sent on behalf of applicants and may sometimes provide more detailed information about an applicant. The microfilm covers the period through 1808. For names of applicants who applied for positions during the period 1775-1790 see "Guide to the Microfilm of the Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments, 1775-1790," by Roland M. Bauman. Related records are in the following series of Records Group 27, Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments: Appointment Book, 1777-1790 series 27.19; Appointments File, Military, 1775-1790 series 27.20; and Appointments File, Political, 1775-1790 series 27.21. Also see, MG-001, Appointments and Commissions Collection. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of certification records created to comply with registration, training, and examination standards for foremen specified in the act of June 9, 1911. The first nine more volumes cover the years 1912 through 1923 and include the following information in certificate form: the name, place of birth, and age of the examiner; a description of the length and nature of his service (experience); date and number of the certificate; and the name of the Chief of the Department of Mines. From 1923 on, the volumes are presented in register format and provide the mine district number; the name, residence, place of birth, and age of the examiner; the length and nature of service; the date and number of the certificate; and the report number and date. The last volume also contains RG/045/B/5- Bituminous Mine Certification Records for Electricians, 1939-1963, for the years 1962-1963. Disclaimer: Not all records in this series are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of certification books required to be kept of foremen under statutes designed to protect the health and safety of persons employed in and about bituminous more coal mines. From 1903 to 1923 data is presented in certificate form and includes the name, mine district, place of birth, and age of the foreman; a description of the length and nature of his service (experience); the date and number of the certificate; and the name of the Chief of the Department of Mines. After 1923, the information is recorded in register format with internal indexes, and includes the mine district number; the name, residence, place of birth, and age of the applicant; the length and nature of the person's service; the date and number of the certificate; and the report number and date. The last volume also contains Bituminous Mine Certification Records for Second Grade Forman, 1903-1963 {series #45.8} for the years 1962-1963. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of certification books that were required to be kept of foreman to comply with statutes that provided for the health and safety of persons employed more in and about the bituminous mines. From 1903 to 1923 data is presented in certificate form and includes the name, mine district, place of birth, and age of the foreman; a description of the length and nature of his service (experience); the date and number of the certificate; and the name of the Chief of the Department of Mines. After 1923, the information is recorded in register format with internal indexes, and includes the mine district number; the name, residence, place of birth, and age of the applicant; the length and nature of the person's service; the date and number of the certificate; and the report number and date. The last volume also contains Bituminous Mine Certification Records for First Grade Foreman, {series #45.7} for the years 1962-1963. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of various documents filed with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, including petitions, transcripts, maps of streets and land tracts, copies of opinions, affidavits, wills, charges more of the court, and the Orphan's Court Rules for Northampton County in 1842. Of interest may be a writ of error from the United States Supreme Court authorized by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney in the 1860 case of The Pennsylvania Railroad Company v. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and papers concerning the case of Charles Fatman v. Armstrong County, Pennsylvania (1862). Also included is a series previously titled Reports, 1814-1885, which contains reports of Auditors, Examiners and Masters. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Conduct ledgers which recorded points earned by inmates incarcerated at the Industrial Reformatory at Huntingdon. Information provided is ledger number, name of inmate, age, crime for more which sentenced, date sentenced, date received, county where sentenced, date of which conduct report entry, sequentially assigned conduct report number, maximum marks reported, number of marks to earn consecution, losses or gains, dates of promotions or reductions, and dates of parole and discharge. less

Images of dockets containing oaths, sworn before the Prothonotary of the Supreme Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, affirming an alien's intention to become a more naturalized citizen, and renouncing all allegiance to any foreign government. Data provided by the Declarations of Intention in the bulk of the series, September 24, 1832-September 24, 1906, includes name, native country, age, former monarch and signature of the alien; date of appearance; whether the alien resided in the county or city of Philadelphia; and the signature of the Prothonotary of the Supreme Court. The entries appear as standardized printed forms, with blanks into which the information was handwritten. The first volume, July 18, 1819-August 11, 1832, differs from the others, both in types of entries as well as types of information presented. It is only here that separate oaths of Allegiance appear, mixed in amongst the Declarations. In this volume, a Declaration of Intention consisted of swearing one's intent to merely settle and reside in Pennsylvania while still owing allegiance to one's former monarch. It was the separate Oath of Allegiance that actually renounced all foreign allegiances and conveyed the intent to seek United States citizenship. Sometimes both a Declaration and an Oath appear, one after the other, for the same person. In other instances, only one or the other appears. In these latter cases, it would seem that the aliens either filed the missing statement with a different court, or perhaps never followed through with the whole procedure. Data provided by the Declarations of Intention in volume 1 includes name of alien, country of birth, age, monarch to which his allegiance was owed, date of immigration, at which port arrived, city or county of residence, intended place of settlement, and signature of the Prothonotary. Names and birthplaces of immigrating family members may also be shown. Data provided by the Oaths of Allegiance about persons declaring their intention to seek citizenship includes only name, native county and signature of alien; name and country of former monarch now being renounced; and names of the Superior Court or Nisi Prius Justice and Prothonotary before whom the person appeared. less

This collection contains Board of Pardons reviews of criminal cases, except impeachment, to determine whether clemency should be recommended to the Governor for his or her more approval or disapproval. While the United States' Constitution grants the President of the United States the power to grant pardons, in Pennsylvania the pardoning power is shared between the Board of Pardons and the Governor. The Board of Pardons consists of five members including the Lieutenant Governor who serves as chairman, the Attorney General, and three members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. This collection contains applications made to, and proclamations issued by, the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons. Grouped into applications and proclamations and then arranged chronologically by date of action. The applications volumes provide brief narrative case histories and recommendations for pardons or commutations and whether the pardons or commutations were granted. Volume 1 covering the period 1874-1877 provides reasons why the Pardon Board made its recommendations while for the period 1882-1930 records of commutation actions are included. The last volume covering the period 1931-1934 contains mostly commutation records with only a few pardon actions. The proclamation volumes provide the Board's recommendations and reasons for its judgments. less

Images of a record of cases brought before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in the Middle District. Information provided about each case may include names of more parties; a brief description of the case; an explanation regarding its origin; by what means it reached the Supreme Court (by writ of error, certiorari or appeal); where the case was filed; and amounts of court costs incurred. After 1810, the final decision of the court is also noted. The dockets also contain entries giving the location of the court for various sessions, and the names of the justices who presided; as well as notations of adjournment motions, rules adopted concerning payment made to the Court, and other court actions. less

Images of a record of equity in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Docket entries were generally begun one or two terms before the case was actually more brought before the court. Entries provide such information as names of defendant, plaintiff, attorneys and witnesses involved and a listing of dates and types of documents filed or rules and judgments rendered. Some of these cases are indexed in RG/033/A/42- Ejectment Index, 1857-1874. less

Images of a partial, external index to the 11 volume series RG/033/A/35- Declaration of Intention Dockets, 1819-1870, 1873-1875, 1881-1906. Volumes 2-10, and part of 11/12 of more that series are indexed by this book (volume 1 has an internal index of its own, while the entries in volume 11/12 after December 2, 1901 appear to be unindexed). Information provided for each name includes volume and page number references to where the individual's Declaration can be found. less

Images of records relating to the construction of bridges, canals, river improvements, roads and turnpikes, public buildings and their grounds. Records cover the following date spans more for each category, bridge companies, 1790-1902, canal and navigation companies, 1792-1873, river improvement papers, 1790-1871, public buildings and grounds, 1790-1897, and road and turnpike records, 1790-1902. Among the earliest records is A General Statement of the Contracts for Opening and Improving Roads and Clearing River, 1797 and appropriation records for internal improvements funded by the Commonwealth, 1790-1814. Buildings documented by the records include Congress Hall (1790-1801), the Presidents House (1791-1802), and the State House (1790-1816). The microfilm covers the period through 1816. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of twelve volumes of indices containing the following information for each judgment: case title, court term when judgment was rendered, page number, and sometimes additional more information on the settlement. less

Images of bound and published records of the daily proceedings of the General Assembly under the title "The Legislative Record" that were published by the authority more of the legislature. These volumes were originally kept by the State Library and provide a detailed daily record of the business conducted in the House and Senate including motions made, bills and resolutions introduced, roll calls of votes taken, speeches delivered, and record of bills passed or sent to committees. Disclaimer: Not all records in this series are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of a list showing the names of orphans and their date of admission at Chester Springs, Harford, and Uniontown Soldiers' Orphan School. At the end more of the list is a summary table showing monthly totals. less

Born in 1840 in Salisbury, Somerset County, photographer, author and Civil War veteran William Henry Welfley would earn a reputation as "the county's historian." Serving 19 more terms as burgess of Somerset, the county seat, he carried on in this position even after growing deaf. As noted in his Meyersdale Republican newspaper obituary, the scrapbooks Welfley kept over the years were believed to be the most valuable volumes in his extensive library. Upon leaving his uptown Somerset apartment for the final time, he was said to have looked upon these books and quietly remarked, "Farewell old friends; I may never see you again." On the initial page of the first scrapbook contained within this collection, Welfley notes in January of 1895: "The writer of these lines in preserving the cuttings has been impressed with the belief that in years yet to come many of these cuttings will have a value of their own, and that there will be those who may be much pleased that they have been preserved." William H. Welfley passed away in 1920, just16 days shy of his 80th birthday. Holding ten of the notable historian's obituary scrapbooks within its Pennsylvania Room collections, the Meyersdale Public Library has digitized these scrapbooks in the hope today's historians will indeed be much pleased they have not only been preserved, but shared with as many researchers as possible. less

Images of military commissions issued for officers. Information given is name, county of residence, rank, date of taking rank, military unit, regiment, company, and date of more commission. Notations also reveal information concerning discharges, transfers, and deaths during service. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Department of State which was created in 1776. less

Images of record books containing minutes of the meetings of the Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date and place of meeting, names more of those present, and a description of the business transacted. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of minutes of cases heard by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the Court of Nisi Prius in the Eastern District. Information provided includes: justices more present or absent; date of session with respective times of convention, recess, and adjournment; and details of cases submitted, cases discontinued, quashed appeals, judgments on non-pros entered; cases remanded to a lower court; judgments and opinions filed, cases argued, and cases continued from previous sessions. Details provided for each case include: names of the plaintiff(s), defendant(s), representing attorneys and jurors; charges and/or complaints against the defendant; justices who did not participate in the case; whether a dissenting or concurring opinion filed; party responsible for costs associated with the appeal; and whether the appeal was affirmed or reversed. Some entries are marked as to whether or not the case continues, or as to whether it was heard in the Supreme Court, or in Nisi Prius. Other items of interest, such as induction ceremonies, memorial services, admissions to the bar, and portrait presentations, are also noted. Minutes dating from 1952-1981 are from the Supreme Court, Eastern District only. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of minutes of cases heard by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in the Middle District. Information provided includes names of plaintiff, defendant, attorneys and jurors more involved; date of court session; and an account of the proceedings. less

Records of various types of cases brought before the Superior or Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania. Information provided by the entries includes names of plaintiff and defendant, more type of case, proceedings and dates thereof, nature of the judgment, and the locations of related case papers. Of interest may be the written addresses in memoriam of Chief Justices Henry Greer and James P. Sterrett, as well as the address given for the presentation of portraits of the Justices. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

This collection has entries prior to 1913, arranged in strict alphabetical order but after 1913 they are only grouped alphabetically by surnames. A record of physicians more who were registered in Pennsylvania from 1870 to 1917. Normally, the doctor's name, license number (from 1895 onward), postal address, county where registered, and date of registration are given. Oftentimes information concerning the death or change of address of the practitioner is included. Note: Volume H-M are not part of the physical holdings and as such are not available digitally. less

Physician record books of prisoners incarcerated at the Industrial Reformatory at Huntingdon. Information provided is name of prisoner, prisoner number, age, race, date of examination, date more of birth, nationality and occupation of father, nationality of mother, whether most resembles father or mother, general health, general appearance, date of vaccination, diseases and accidents suffered, history of past nervous or mental disorder, appetite, any problems with sleep, and problems with the bowels or urine, any evidence of hernia, general temperament, any drug habits or tobacco habits, pulse, condition of heart, condition of lungs, condition of thorax, condition of muscles, condition of eyes, condition of ears, mental condition, general remarks, and signature of physician. less

Images of records of indentures of apprenticeship to river pilots. Information provided is date of indenture, name of apprentice, name of pilot, term of indenture in more years and months, and conditions of the indenture agreement. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of record books of ships piloted. Information provided is date of entry, name of vessel, name of commander, name of pilot, from whence sailed, and more the number of persons on board. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of discharge descriptive dockets of inmates discharged from the Western State Penitentiary. Information provided is inmate registration number, name of inmate, county where convicted, age more when discharged, race, gender, crime for which convicted, date sentenced, length of sentence, date discharged, how discharged, whether detained for costs for misconduct, number of days allowed under commutation law, time served in prison, number of times punished, occupation in prison, education received in prison, weight when discharged, amount earned during imprisonment, place of intended residence, condition of mental and physical health and number of days sick during incarceration. less

Record books of prisoners received at the Pennsylvania Industrial Reformatory at Huntingdon. Information provided is prisoner number, name of prisoner, any alias employed by inmate, date more convicted, date sentenced, date received, age, race, place of birth, number of convictions, county and court in which convicted, crime for which convicted, date of death where applicable, date of parole, date of escape where applicable, date of return where applicable, date of re-parole where applicable, date of discharge and any remarks. less

Record of men paroled from the Industrial Reformatory at Huntingdon. Information provided is registration number, name of inmate, place of residence, where employed, name and address more of employer, date paroled, dates of monthly reports, and date absolutely released. less

Weekly newspaper published by the inmates of the Pennsylvania Industrial Reformatory at Huntingdon. Information provided is date of publication, names of inmates involved in various activities, more and descriptions of noteworthy events and activities. less

Registers of vessels arriving and clearing the port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date of arrival or clearance, name of vessel, from whence or to where more bound, name of owner or consignor, name of pilot on the inward leg, name of pilot on the outward leg, draught of water and signature of the captain. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

This collection contains a registry, arranged numerically by certificate numbers, of college graduates who were granted certificates to teach by the State Board of Education. Information more given includes the name, post office, and county of the teacher; the name of the college attended; the degree received; and the date the certificate was issued. less

Images of record books of wharf licenses granted by the Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia to construct or extend piers and wharves. Information provided is more date of license, location of wharf, name of applicant, description of the improvement to be made, and signature of warden. less