This is a collection of various historical and genealogical reference works on Pennsylvania. These references cover 1000's of individuals, and are an excellent way to start or continue research focused on PA.

This material was scanned from original publications and will be provided as text searchable PDFs (unless noted in description). You will receive an email with the download link after purchasing online. These files can be read using many PDF reader programs (Windows / Mac / Linux), however Adobe Reader or Acrobat are recommended.

The Business Directory of Harrisburg, Lancaster, Columbia & York and the
Rural Adjacent Villages for 1858-'59 (Wallace & Phillips, 1858, 108 pages)
This is an early business directory of southeastern PA, covering the major towns and cities of Dauphin, Lancaster, and York Counties. The listings are arranged by town, and are alphabetized by trade. There are also numerous ads for local businesses throughout. The towns covered are: Columbia, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Marietta, Middletown, Mount Joy, Wrightsville and York.

Boyd's Business Directory of the Counties of Adams, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware,
Franklin, Lancaster, Montgomery and York, PA. together with a General Directory of all the Inhabitants
of Harrisburg 1860 (William H. Boyd, 1860, 326 pages)
This is an early resident directory of Harrisburg, and business directory of 10 counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. The directory of Harrisburg lists the resident's name, occupation, street address and whether they board or own the home. The business directory is arranged alphabetically by trade and lists the name of the business or business-person, and their location (Town). Along with the directory listings, there are also numerous ads for local businesses.

Gopsill's Directory of Lancaster, Harrisburg, Lebanon and York 1863-4
(James Gopsill, 1863, 428 pages)
This is a resident and business directory of the cities of Harrisburg, [Dauphin County], Lancaster [Lancaster County], Lebanon [Lebanon County], and York [York County], PA for the year 1863-64. The directory lists residents and businesses alphabetically by city, and includes the name of the resident, their occupation and street address. At the end of the publication there is an appendix for each city listing further useful information such as county and borough officers, schools with teachers' names, banks with employee's names, churches and their clergymen, etc.

Authentic General Directory of the Boroughs of York,
Hanover & Wrightsville, York County, PA For 1877
(Herman & Miller and Thomas, 1877, 179 pages)
The complete titles is: Authentic General Directory of the Boroughs of York, Hanover & Wrightsville, York County, PA For 1877, containing in addition a complete list of the societies, churches, depots, business men of the county, and all points of interest, connected with a history of the several boroughs. As the title indicates, this begins with a general history of the county and the boroughs mentioned, followed by the directory. The directory information is arranged alphabetically under each town, and notes the resident's name, occupation and street address. The directory also included a number of ads for local businesses as well as engravings of buildings and places within the county.

List of Subscribers - March 1st, 1886 [Telephone Directory, Eastern PA]
(Pennsylvania Telephone Company, 1886, 84 pages)
This is a very early telephone directory covering parts of Berks, Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Northampton, Northumberland, Schuylkill and York Counties, Pennsylvania and parts of western New Jersey for the year 1886. The directory information includes the resident or business name, (if a business) the type of business, and the address. At the time of publication, actual phone numbers were not in use. The directory information is listed alphabetically by name, and grouped according to location. Also, please note: at the time of publication for this directory, telephones were not in common use. Each of the towns listed below had at least one subscriber in 1886, but some of them had only one.

Pennsylvania Subscribers:
Allentown (including: Aineyville, Alburtis, Ballietsville, Breinigsville, Catasauqua, Chapman's Station, Coplay, Egypt, Emaus, Fogelsville, Fullerton, Helfrich's Springs, Hokendauqua, Macungie, Salsburg, Stemton, Unionville, Wescoesville, Whitehall), Bethlehem (including: Bath, Bingen, Coopersburg, Fountain Hill, Freemansburg, Friedensville, Hellertown, Seidersville, South Bethlehem, West Bethlehem, Wyandotte), Carlisle (including: Boiling Springs, Newville), Columbia (including: Chestnut Hill, Chickies, Fairview, Ironville, Marietta, Mountville, Norwood, Wrightsville), Easton (including: Bangor, Bloomsbury NJ, Bushkill, College Hill, Dock, Edelman's Station, Glendon, Lehicton, Nazareth, Northampton, North Bank, Odenweldertown, Pen Argyle, Phillipsburg NJ, South Easton, Stockertown), Hanover (including: East Berlin), Harrisburg (including: Bridgeport, Camp Hill, Lochiel, New Cumberland, Steeton and Susquehanna Twp.), Lancaster (including: Akron, Bareville, Gordonville, Lampeter Twp., Leacock, Lime Valley, Manheim Twp., Millport, Neffsville, Paradise, Refton, Rockland), Lebanon (including: Annville, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Guilford, Jonestown, Klinefeltersvillle, Myerstown, North Lebanon, Reistville, Richland, Shaeffertown), Lititz (including: Akron, Brickerville, Brownstown, Brunerville, Ephrata, Lexington, Pennville, Rothsville, Warwick, West Earl), Manheim, Mauch Chunk (including: East Mauch Chunk, Lansford, Lehighton, Parryville, Summit Hill, Weissport), Mechanicsburg (including: Hoguestown), Middletown (including: Goldsboro and Hummelstown), Mount Joy, Pottsville (including Ashland, Centralia, Cressona, Delano, Fountain Spring, Frackville, Gilberton, Gordon, Locust Dale, Locust Gap, Lost Creek, Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Plane, Minersville, Mount Carmel, Myersville, Orwigsburg, Port Carbon, Rothsville, Schuylkill Haven, Shenandoah, St. Clair, Tamaqua, Tamenend, Yorkville), Reading (including: Adamtown, Amityville, Bechtelsville, Bernville, Birdsboro, Blandon, Bridgeport, Boyertown, Brownsville, Cacoosing, Churchville, Clayton, Cumru Twp., Denver, Douglassville, East Reading, Esbach's Crossing, Fleetwood, Friedensburg, Gablesville, Gibraltar, Greisemersville, Hamburg, Hendleton, Kutztown, Leesport, Lyons, Maiden Creek, Mineral Springs, Mohnsville, Mount Pleasant, Oley, Neversink, New Berlinville, Newmanstown, North Reading, Robesonia, Spring Garden, Shanesville, Sheridan, Sinking Spring, South Reading, Spangsville, Steinsville, Stevens, Stonersville, Stouchsburg, Tulpehocken, Wernersville, West Leesport, West Reading, Womelsdorf, Yellow House), Rohrerstown, Slatington (including: Berlinville, Cherryford, Lehigh Gap, Lehighton, Treichler's, Walnutport, Williamstown), Strasburg, York (including: Dallastown, Delta, Emigsville, Glen Rock, Loganville, Manchester, Peach Bottom, Red Lion, Seitzland, Spring Garden Twp., Spring Grove, York Haven)

New Jersey Subscribers:
Belvidere NJ, Clinton NJ (including: Annandale, Landsdown, Glen Gardner), Flemington NJ, Hackettstown NJ (including: Allamunchy, Beattystown, Danville, Mt. Olive, Schooley's Mt., Stanhope, Vienna), Lambertville NJ (including: New Hope, PA), Washington NJ (including: Broadway, CHangewater, Hampton Junction, Oxford, Port Colden)

Boyd's York City Directory 1887-1888 (W. Harry Boyd, 1887, 244 pages)
This is a directory of the city of York City, York Co., PA for the year 1887-1888. The directory lists residents as well as businesses within the cities, providing the resident (or business) name, occupation, and street address for each. This was part of a larger directory, but only the section on York is contained.

The Bell Publishing Co's York City and County Directory 1894-'95
(The Bell Publishing Co., 1894, 472 pages)
This is a resident and business directory of York County, PA for the year 1894-95. According to the title page, this is contains "a general directory of York city, Delta, Hanover and Wrightsville. Also an alphabetical directory of York County, and a classified business directory." There is also a list of county and city officers and a new street directory. The directory information is arranged alphabetically by area and lists the residents and businesses, the street address and the occupation of the resident. There are, in many cases, several residents of a particular address listed. Directories of this era are an excellent resource for historical or genealogical research, filling, to a degree, the missing 1890 Federal Census which was destroyed.

Business Directory of York, Delta, Hanover, Wrightsville, and Columbia 1896-7
(Barks Ink Co., 1896, 53 pages)
This is a business directory for the towns noted above. The directory information is arranged alphabetically by trade under each town, and notes the business name and street address. The directory also included a number of ads for local businesses as well as engravings of buildings and places within the county.

Official Directory - Local & Long Distance Telephone
Telephone Directory - October 1910 Lancaster, Gettysburg,
Hanover, York and Nearby Places (Bell Telephone Co. of PA, 1910, 68 pages)
This is a telephone directory covering parts of Adams, Lancaster and York Counties, Pennsylvania and parts of Maryland for the year 1910. The directory information lists the resident's name, street address and telephone number arranged alphabetically by town.

Pennsylvania Towns Included:
Abbottstown, Airville, Akron, Atglen, Aspers, Bainbridge, Bamford, Bareville, Bartville, Bellaire, Belview, Bendersville, Benton Station, Bethesda, Beyerstown, Biglersville, Bird-in-hand, Bittinger Station, Blue Ball, Bonneauville, Breeze Hill, Bridgeton, Brodbecks, Brogue, Brogueville, Brownstown, Brownton, Bryansville, Brysonia, Buck, Camargo, Cashtown, Castle Pin, Centennial, Central Rapho, Centre Mills, Centreville, Chanceford, Cherry Hill, Chestnut Level, Christiana, Cochranville, Codorus Station Collins, Collinsville, Columbia, Cly, Conawago Chapel, Craley, Cream, Constitution, Cross Roads, Dallastown, Del Roy, Delta, Deodate, Donegal, Donnerville, Dover, Draco, Dunmore Centre, East Berlin, East Prospect, Eden, Edge Grove, Edisonville, Edwin, Elizabethtown, Elstonville, Emigsville, Ephrata, Fairfield, Fairland, Fairmount, Fairview, Falls View, Fawn Grove, Felton, Fernglen, Fishing Creek, Flora Dale, Florin, Fousts, Fremont, Fruitville, Fulton House, Gap, Gatchelville, Georgetown, Gettysburg, Glen Rock, Glen Roy, Glenville, Glenwood, Goldsboro, Gordonville, Goshen, Grahamville, Greenland, Green Ridge Station, Greentree, Groffs Mills, Guernsey, Gum Tree, Hanover, Harristown, Hayesville, Hellam, Hensel, Hess Station, High Rock, Homeville, Hopkins Mill, Intercourse, Irishtown, Iva, Jack, Jacobus, Jefferson, Keys, Kinzer, Kirk's Mills, Kirkwood, Kyleville, Lampeter, Lancaster, Lancaster Junction, Landisville, Laurel, Lawn, Leaman Place, Lenover, Leola, Letort, Liberty Square, Lime Valley, Lititz, Littlestown, Loganville, Long Level, Lyles, McCalls Ferry, McKinghtstown, McSherrystown, Manchester, Manheim, Marietta, Masonville, Mastersonville, May, Maytown, Mechanics Grove, Mechanicsburg, Mechanicsville, Menges Mills, Millway, Milton Grove, Millersville, Mt. Hope, Mount Joy, Mount Vernon, Mountville, Mount Nebo, Mt. Wolf, Muddy Creek Forks, Mummasburg, Narrows, Nashville, Neffsville, Neimans, New Bridgeville, New Danville, New Freedom, New Holland, New Oxford, New Park, New Providence, Nine Points, Newville, Norrisville, Oak Bottom, Oak Hill, Oakryn, Oak Shade, Oak Vale, Old Line, Oyster Point, Paradise, Park, Peach Bottom, Penn Hill, Pennville, Penryn, Petersburg, Pine Grove, Pleasant Grove, Point Lookout, Puseyville, Quarryville, Railroad Borough, Rqawlinsville, Red Lion, Repton, Rheems, Ridgeway, Rinely, Rock Hill, Rocky Springs, Rohrerstown, Roseville, Rothsville, Russellville, Rye, Safe Harbor, Salunga, Seitzland, Sells Station, Seven Stars, Seven Valley, Shrewsbury, Silver Spring, Sinsheim, Slab, Slackwater, Smyrna, Smyser, Sporting Hill, Spring Garden, Spring Grove, Springers Road, Springville, Spruce Grove, Spry, Steeleville, Steartstown, Stony Brook, Stony Hill, Strasburg, Sunnyburg, Table Rock, Tayloria, Terre Hill, Texas, Thomasville, Tillie, Townsend, Tweedale, Unicorn, Union, Union Square, Upper Rapho, Wabank, Wakefield, Washington Borough, Weiglestown, West Bangor, West Willow, White Hall, White Horse, White Oak, White Rock, Wilben, Windom, Windsor Station, Windsorville, Winterstown, Wiota, Witmer, Woodbine, Wrightsdale, Wrightsville, Yoe, York, York Haven, York Furnace

Maryland Towns Included:
Ady, Berkley, Cardiff, Castleton, Cherry Hill, Clermont, Conowingo, Darlington, Dublin, Flintville, Forest Hill, Harkins, Macton, Poole, Prospect, Pylesville, Rocks, Scarborough, Sharon, Slate Hill, Street, Whiteford

Farmers' Directory of York County Pennsylvania 1915-1920
(Wilmer Atkinson Company, 1915, 434 pages)
This is a Farm and Rural Directory of York County, PA for the year s 1915-1920. It contains a list of York County public officials and a number of local advertisements as well as the directory information. The directory information consists of the names of farmers and details such as the wife's name, number of children, location of farm, number of horses/cattle, a notation of whether they are retired, own their farm or are tenants, etc. There is also a business directory of the county following the farm directory information.

Telephone Directory - June 1918
(York Telephone and Telegraph Co., 1918, 182 pages)
This is an early telephone directory covering York County, Pennsylvania and part of Maryland for the year 1918 including towns and rural country. This directory lists many of the residents and businesses from these areas, providing the resident's (or business') name, address and telephone number.

Maryland Towns Included:
Bentley, Maryland Line, New Freedom, Parkton, Stewartstown, White Hall