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.

Church, Family, Education, Military and Miscellaneous Histories

Industrial and Commercial Resources of [Northern] Pennsylvania
(Historical Publishing Company, 1887, 125 pages)
This publication is a history and description of the business operations from a dozens of towns throughout north and western Pennsylvania. Each business is detailed in sketch form, giving, in many cases, a brief history of its existence, management, and a description of its operations. This information was only published in this publication making this a rare and useful resource for historical or genealogical research in these counties of PA.

Beaver County
-- From Rochester: -- Point Bottle Works, John W. Calder, Empire Clothing and Gent's Furnishing Goods Emporium, John D. Carter, American Fire-Brick Works, R. D. Fleming, Sharp & Hoffman, A. M. Johnson, G. C. Speyerer, J. R. Lloyd, Beaver County Banking and Safe Deposit Association, C. A. Wallover, J. N. Ogle, Mrs. L. A. Hibbard, -- From Beaver Falls: -- H. T. & J. Reeves, Economy Savings Institution, Beaver Falls Cutlery Co., Beaver Falls Steel Works, Western File Co., Hartman Steel Company, John C. Whitla, Harry Goldsmith, -- From Phillipsburg: -- Phoenix Glass Co. Works, W. Sparling, D. F. Robinson, Beaver Fire-brick Co. Limited, L. Le Goullon, Point Breeze Hotel, Hahn & Reno

History of the Newspapers of Beaver Co., PA (Francis S. Reader, 1905, 205 pages)
From the Preface: "In writing a history of the newspapers of Beaver County, the author had two objects in view, first to get a connected history of each paper as to time and name, and second to place on record a sketch and portrait of every writer and printer who attained any prominence in the work, in any line he pursued." This work details the various newspapers published throughout Beaver County, PA. It covers the style of the newspaper, the period of printing and those who were involved in each.

The Industrial World and the Beaver Falls Daily Tribune Special Edition
Descriptive of and Illustrating Beaver Falls, PA (Beaver Falls Daily Tribune, 1910, 40 pages)
This rare publication is a collection of sketches on the industries, businesses and commercial interests of Beaver Falls, Beaver County, PA. It begins with an account of the town of Beaver Falls and its vicinity, its churches, and Geneva College. Following this, the business sketches provide information on the origins, operations, and sometimes persons involved in each operation covered.

Businesses Covered:
Federal Title and Trust Company, Barker Brothers, Pearson and Son, Beaver Falls Chemical Works, White's Restaurant, William H. Bonnage, Dambach's Home Bakery, Frank H. Miller, F. M. Steele and Brother, Frank Daquila, Murphy's Antiseptic Barber Shop, F. C. Hicks Wholesale Liquors, Joseph McFerron, Mrs. A. M. Geisel, A. B. Chalfant's Photo Studio, J. E. Kirchartz, J. Gordon Grocer and General Merchandise, E. S. Frishkorn Bottling Works, William Prudence, P. Petitler & Son, Morris Gordon Dry Goods, J. F. McCreary & Son, C. W. Reich, W. L. Davis Grocer, Estermeyer & Groth, William Sloan, W. J. Davidson, J. B. Rayl Grocery, W. F. Damaska Grocer, Glasgow Woolen Mills Co., F. M. Kirby & Co., L. Hoffman, P. L. Quillen, Brittain Glover and McAnlis, Leigh's Photograph Studio, Curl & Curl, A. Guy Leyda Drugs, H. S. Rich, W. E. Sheldrake & Son, The Mayer Pottery Company, Armstrong Cork Company, Hotel Phillis, The Peoples Store, J. R. Rogers, Valley Machine Company, John G. Allen, L. A. McDanel, P. H. Nippery, Reed's Grocery, The Central Barber Shop, J. S. Mitchell & Son, The Filley Millinery Co., Stauffer & Shontz, McConnell and Campbell, Independent Brewing Company, R. H. Tindall, Wm. Whittenberger, Purviance & Flinner, Keystone Driller Company, Hooper's Restaurant, W. H. Fox, H. Bucholtz Meat Market, C. Steinfield, Harry M. Roberts Hardware, F. E. Marr Grocer, Valley Ice Company, Beaver Falls Planing Mill Co., J. L. Miksch, Mrs. L. A. Emerick, Gibney & Son Plumbing, Boggs & Brandon, F. B. Bruce & Co., W. T. Reeder, Hotel Windsor, Howard Stove Company, Harry Bindman, Jos. E. Arthurs Cafe, Keystone Tailoring Co., W. J. McFadden Grocery, Boyle & Patterson, Beaver Falls Upholstering Co., The Lincoln Confectionary, The Lester Shoe Company, Dershimer and Haggart, M. Rosenberg, L. Sutter Grocer, The Sterling Studio, Hantman's Jewelry Store, J. D. McAnlis & Son Jewelry Store, J. S. McFerron Groceries, Butcher's Business College, M. W. McCandless, A. M. Beaner Hardware, George Woolslayer Restaurant, R. O. Irvin, Kemp's Kandy Kitchen, A. Roderwalt Grocery, Kirk & Clark Dry Goods, Chas. Cova Fruit and Confectionary, Champion Saw and Machine Works, V. Sakraida Men's Clothing, G. S. Hunter Planning Mill, William Pfeifke Merchant Tailor, Mrs. L. M. Vaughn Milliner, Arnold Brothers, Mrs. Jessie Weston, J. J. & S. R. Patterson Real Estate and Insurance, John P. Broggi Merchant Tailor, Wm. H. Hamilton Tailor, Hon. John W. Carson, Piper & Fullerton, Mrs. E. Gibbons Hair Dressing Parlors, Ingram-Richardson Mfg Company, P. Moegerle & Son's Saw Works, Story and Clark Piano Company, W. H. Benson Department Store, Charles A. Conti Tailor

Young American Patriots - The Youth of Pennsylvania in World War II
(National Publishing Company, 1946, 674 pages)
This publication is a memorial to the service men and women of Pennsylvania who served in WWII. It contains brief sketches of 1,000's of soldiers from across the state. The sketches provide a variety of information on each soldier: Name, rank, branch of military, engagements, discharge date, military awards, birth date, parents, spouse, address, religion., etc. The information varies from soldier to soldier but most contain the information above. Also, nearly every sketch is accompanies by a portrait of the soldier. This publication is not an exhaustive listing of all the soldiers of Pennsylvania who fought in World War II. Nearly all counties are represented, but some more extensively than others. Those given more extensive coverage include: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cumberland, Dauphin, Erie, Fayette, Indiana, Lawrence, Northampton, Westmoreland,

Here is a sample listing:
Abbott, William Edward
Cpl., Army. Born Apr. 6, 1925. Entered Serv. June 12, 1943. Ft. Belvoir; N. Guinea; Phil. Is.; Okinawa. Awarded GCM, As-Pac Rib., BS, Phil. Lib. Rib. Disch. Mar. 2, 1945. Attended Clymer HS. Protestant. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Abbott. Husband of Margaret Herrington Abbott, 818 Sandusky St., N. S., Pgh, 12, Pa.

In Memory of Our Honored Dead - Souvenir Program [Beaver & Lawrence County]
(Honor Degree of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1947, 100 pages)
This booklet was published as an honorary souvenir of the men and women of Beaver and Lawrence Counties, PA who died in the course of World War II. It covers numerous individuals from each branch of the military and includes a portrait, a listing of where they lived, when they entered service and where and when they died. This is an excellent resource for research on these counties of Pennsylvania or WWII.

Maps & Atlases (*** Not text searchable ***)
1860 Map of Lawrence and Beaver Counties (N. S. Ames and Wm. Barker, Color)
1890 Map of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania With Adjoining Parts of Westmoreland, Washington and Beaver Counties (Otto Krebs, Color)

Birds-eye Town Views (*** Not text searchable ***)
New Brighton, PA (1883, Philadelphia Publishing House)
Rochester, Pennsylvania (1900, T. M. Fowler & James B. Moyer)
Beaver, Pennsylvania (1900, T. M. Fowler & James B. Moyer)
Monaca, Pennsylvania (1900, T. M. Fowler & James B. Moyer)
New Brighton, Pennsylvania (1901, T. M. Fowler & James B. Moyer)