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). These files can be read using many PDF reader programs (Windows / Mac / Linux), however Adobe Reader or Acrobat are recommended.

The Pittsburgh Directory, For 1815
(James M. Riddle, 1815, 162 pages)
This is a directory of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the year 1815. It lists the name of the primary resident, their business / occupation and street address. After the Pittsburgh section, there is another section listing Bayard's Town, Birmingham and Lawrenceville. Following this is an appendix containing a variety of useful information, but also more detailed information on some of Pittsburghs organizations: banks, societies, fire depts, churches, etc. Finally, there is a list of "Manufactories" of the area.

The Pittsburgh Directory, For 1819
(J. M. Riddle, and M. M. Murray, 1819, 175 pages)
This is a directory of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the year 1819. It lists the name of the primary resident, their business / occupation and street address. After the Pittsburgh section, there is another section listing Allegheny, Bayard's Town, Birmingham East Liberty, Kensington, Lawrenceville and Wilkinsburg. Following this is an appendix containing a variety of useful information, but also more detailed information on some of Pittsburghs organizations: banks, societies, fire depts, churches, etc. Finally, there are a number of ads for local businesses.

Pittsburgh in the Year Eighteen Hundred and Twenty-six
(S. Jones, 1826, 178 pages)
This is a directory of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the year 1826. The publication begins with brief sketches of the topograph and history of the area, followed by some general information and statistics. This is followed by a section giving brief sketches of many of the businesses and industrial houses of the area, and then the directory information. The directory lists the primary resident, their trade and street address. It covers not only Pittsburgh, but also adjoining areas such as Allegheny, Birmingham, Kensington and Northern Liberties. Lastly are a few ads for local businesses.

Harris' Pittsburgh Business Directory for the Year 1837
(Isaac Harris, 1837, 468 pages)
This is a business directory of Pittsburgh and vicinity and eastern Pennsylvania for the year 1837. The publication contains listings of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Birmingham, Lawrenceville, McKeesport, Sharpsburg and Smithfield. It also contains condensed business listings of the towns of Beaver, Bedford, Bellefonte, Bellevernon, Blairsville, Brookville, Brownsville, Butler, Canonsburg, Carlisle, Chambersburg, Ebensburg, Erie, Franklin, Freedom, Greensburg, Hollidaysburg, Huntingdon, Indiana, Johnstown, Kittanning, Lewistown, McKeesport, Monongahela City, New Brighton, New Castle, Perryopolis, Sharon, Washington, Waynesburg, and others.

Harris' Pittsburgh & Allegheny Directory [Including the Boroughs of
Lawrenceville and Birmingham] (Isaac Harris, 1839, 240 pages)
This is a directory of Pittsburgh, Allegheny and surrounding areas for the year 1839. The directory information includes the name of the primary resident, their occupation, and street address or town. Pittsburgh is featured first, then there are separate listings for Allegheny (and Manchester), Birmingham, East Liberty, Kensington (and Unionville), Lawrenceville, Millersville, Minersville, Sharpsburg and Temperance Village. After this is additional information on some of Pittsburgh's organizations.

Harris' General Business Directory of the Cities of
Pittsburgh and Allegheny (Isaac Harris, 1841, 318 pages)
This is a business directory of Pittsburgh and vicinity, as well as the wider region of western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. It begins with a brief historical sketch of Pittsburgh, followed by the directory. The directory information lists the business / businessman, their trade and street address. After this is additional information on some of Pittsburghs' organizations: banks, societies, fire depts, churches, etc. Next is a business directories of Allegheny City, Birmingham, Croghansville, East Liberty, Lawrencville, Manchester, Minersville, Sharpsburg, Sligo (including Millersville and Temperance Village), Stewartstown and Wilkinsburg. In the wider region, these towns are also given some attention in condensed form: Beaver, Bridgewater, Brighton, Economy, Elizabeth, Fallston, Freedom, Freeport, Hollidaysburg, New Castle, Phillipsburgh, Rochester, Sharon, Warren, Washington, West Greenville. Also covered are a few towns in Ohio, New York and Virginia

Harris' Business Directory of the Cities of Pittsburgh
& Allegheny (Isaac Harris, 1844, 156 pages)
According to the title page, this is a business directory primarily of the cities of Pittsburgh and Allegheny. Also included are the towns of Birmingham, East Liberty, Elizabeth, Lawrenceville, Manchester, McKeesport, Minersville, Oakland, Riceville, Sharpsburg, Sligo, Stewartstown, Temperanceville and Wilkinsburg. The directory information includes the name of the business / businessman, trade and street address. Lastly, there are a number of ads for local businesses.

Harris' General Business Directory of the Cities of
Pittsburgh & Allegheny (Isaac Harris, 1847, 292 pages)
This is a business directory primarily of the cities of Pittsburgh and Allegheny. Also included are the towns of Birmingham, East Liberty, Elizabeth, Lawrenceville, Manchester, McKeesport, Minersville, Sligo, Sharpsburg, Stewartstown and Temperanceville. This is followed by ads for local businesses.

List of Subscribers - The Central District Printing Telegraph Co., July 1894
(The Central District and Printing Telegraph Company, 1894, 186 pages)
This is an early telephone directory of Pittsburg and western Pennsylvania / eastern Ohio / northern West Virginia for the year 1894. This was a period of early adoption of this new service, so only a select few became subscribers - usually those who were wealthy or businesses. The information presented includes the name of the subscriber (person or business), their trade, street address and telephone number. Pittsburgh is the main section of the directory and includes the near by areas of: Allegheny, Bellefield, Braddock, Carnegie, East End, Hazelwood, Kensington, Manchester, Mansfield, Monongahela City, McKeesport, Oakmont, Sewickley, Sharpsburg, South Side, West End, Wilkinsburg.

Other Pennsylvania Towns included:
Beaver Falls, Brookville, Butler, Connellsville, Du Bois, Ellwood City, Fairchance, Franklin, Greensburg, Greenville, Indiana, Irwin, Johnstown, Latrobe, Meadville, Mt. Pleasant, New Brighton, New Castle, Oil City, Punxsutawney, Reynoldsville, Rochester, Scottdale, Sharon, Sharpville, Titusville, Uniontown, Washington, Waynesburg

Ohio Towns included:
Bellaire, Bridgeport, East Liverpool, Martin's Ferry, New Lisbon, Niles, Steubenville, Toronto, Warren, Wellsville

West Virginia Towns included:
Altenheim, Moundsville, New Cumberland, Wellsburg, Wheeling

Official Directory of the Central District & Printing Telegraph Co. May 1898
(Central District & Printing Telegraph Co., 1898, 410 pages)
This is an early telephone directory of Pittsburg and western Pennsylvania / eastern Ohio / northern West Virginia for the year 1898. This was a period of early adoption of this new service, so only a select few became subscribers - usually those who were wealthy or businesses. The information presented includes the name of the subscriber (person or business), their trade, street address and telephone number.

Pennsylvania Towns included:
Apollo, Barnesboro, Barnesville, Beaver, Beaver Falls, Blairsville, Braddock, Brockwayville, Brookville, Brownsville, Butler, California, Callery, Cambridge Springs, Canonsburg, Carnegie, Charleroi, Chicora, Clarion, Claysville, Connellsville, Crafton, Dawson, Du Bois, Dunbar, Ebensburg, Elizabeth, Ellwood City, Emlenton, Evans City, Fairchance, Falls Creek, Finleyville, Foxburg, Franklin, Freeport, Greensburg, Greenville, Grove City, Harmony, Hastings, Homestead, Indiana, Irwin, Jeannette, Johnstown, Kittanning, Latrobe, Leechburg, Mahoningtown, Manor, Meadville, Mercer, Monaca, Monongahela, Mt. Pleasant, McDonald, McKeesport, New Brighton, New Castle, New Kensington, Oakmont, Oil City, Patton, Petersville, Punxsutawney, Reynoldsville, Rochester, Scottdale, Sewickley, Sharon, Sharpsburg, Sharpville, South Fork, Tarenturm, Tionesta, Titusville, Turtle Creek, Uniontown, Washington, Waynesburg, West Newton, Wilkinsburg, Zelienople

Ohio Towns included:
Bellaire, Bridgeport, Cadiz, Cambridge, Canal Dover, Columbiana, East Liverpool, East Palestine, Girard, Leetonia, Lisbon, Martin's Ferry, New Comerstown, New Philadelphia, Niles, St. Clairsville, Salem, Salineville, Steubenville, Toronto, Uhrichsville, Warren, Wellsville

West Virginia Towns included:
Altenheim, Benwood, Clarksburg, Elm Grove, Fairmont, Grafton, Mannington, Morgantown, Moundsville, New Cumberland, Parkersburg, Sisterville, Wellsburg, Wheeling

Mowrey's Tri-State Directory - 1907
(Mowrey Directory Co., 1907, 544 pages)
This is a business directory primarily of Western Pennsylvania but also including parts of Eastern Ohio and West Virginia for the year 1907. 1000's of businesses are listed in the directory, and many also have ads included. The directory information is arranged alphabetically by trade and lists the name of the business or businessman, and its street address. The portion on PA includes coverage of parts of these counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Clarion, Fayette, Greene, Somerset, Venango, Washington, and Westmoreland.

Pennsylvania Cities
Allegheny, Avalon, Beaver, Beaver Falls, Bellevue, Ben Avon, Braddock, Bridgeville, Butler, Canonsburg, Carnegie, Charleroi, Connellsville, Crafton, Duquesne, East Brady, Emlenton, Emsworth, Etna, Ford City, Franklin, Freedom, Greensburg, Heidelberg, Homestead, Ingram, Irwin, Jeannette, Johnstown, Kittanning, Latrobe, Mars, McKeesport, McKees Rocks, Midland, Millvale, Monaca, Monongahela, Munhall, New Brighton, New Haven, Oakmont, Oil City, Parkers Landing, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Scottdale, Sewickley, Sharpsburg, Sheridan, Uniontown, Verona, Washington, Waynesburg, Wilkinsburg, Wilmerding, Windber

Ohio Cities
Bellair, Brilliant, East Liverpool, Martins Ferry, Mingo Junction, Steubenville, Toronto, Wellsville

West Virginia Cities
Benwood, Chester, Elm Grove, Follansbee, McMechen, Moundsville, New Cumberland, Newell, Wellsburg, Wheeling

Prominent Families - Pittsburgh 1911
(The Index Company, 1911, 287 pages)
According to the foreword, this publication is a list of families of social and commercial prominence in Pittsburgh and vicinity. The information provided includes the names of the family members, address, phone number, which social clubs and organizations they belonged to, colleges attended, where they had summer homes, etc. Areas covered by the publication include Bellevue, Ben Avon, Braddock, Bridgeville, Crafton, Coraopolis, Edgewood, Edgeworth, Elizabeth, Homestead, Leetsdale, McDonald, McKeesport, Mt. Lebanon, Munhall, New Brighton, Oakmont, Pittsburgh, Sewickley, Sharpsburg, Sheridanville Station, Shields Station, Swissvale, Wilkinsburg