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 PDFs. 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. Unless notes, each of these files are text-searchable.

Boyd's Directory of Reading for 1860 (William H. Boyd, 1860, 47 pages)
This is a resident and business directory of the City of Reading, Berks Co., PA for the year 1860. The information is arranged alphabetically listing the resident's name, occupation and street address. This was part of a larger directory, but includes only the section on Reading.

Gopsill's Directory of Reading, Allentown, Easton, Pottsville and Bethlehem 1864-5
(James Gopsill, 1864, 272 pages)
This is a resident and business directory of five major cities of eastern Pennsylvania for the year 1864-65. The cities covered include Reading (Berks County), Allentown (Lehigh County), Easton (Northampton County), Pottsville (Schuylkill County), and Bethlehem (Lehigh / Northampton County). The information is arranged alphabetically listing the resident's name, occupation and street address. The directory also included a number of ads for local business of the same areas.

The Reading Directory for 1866 (J. H. Lant, 1866, 228 pages)
This is a resident and business directory of the city of Reading, Berks County, PA for 1866. It notes the householder / business, occupation / trade and street address for each listing. There is a separate classified business directory at the end, and pages of ads for local businesses in the front and rear of the publication.

Boyd's Directory of Pottsville 1871-72 (W. Harry Boyd, 1871, 343 pages)
This is a resident and business directory of Pottsville, Schuylkill County, PA for the year 1871-72. This publication also includes a business directory of several principal towns in Berks, Chester, Montgomery and Schuylkill Counties. The directory information for Pottsville includes the primary resident's (or business') name, occupation and street address. The business directory information includes the name of the business or businessman, trade, and street address.

Business Directory Information:
Ashland, Girardsville, Hamburg, Mahanoy City, Minersville, Norristown, Phoenixville, Pine Grove, Port Carbon, Pottstown, Reading, Schuylkill Have, Shenandoah, St. Clair, Tamaqua, Tremont

Bradstreet's Reports of the State of Pennsylvania - Reading
(Bradstreet Press, 1876, 14 pages)
Bradstreet's Commercial Reports was published as a reference work for banks and financial institutions providing credit and financial information on area businesses and business people. This section covers the city of Reading, Pennsylvania, and includes an estimated 1400+ separate listings. The information is arranged alphabetically and includes the name of the establishment or business owner, the type of business, the estimated wealth of the business and its general credit rating.

The Mercantile Agency Reference Book, July 1889 - Reading
(R. G. Dun & Co., 1889, 19 pages)
The Mercantile Agency Reference Book was published as a reference work for banks and financial institutions providing credit and financial information on area businesses and business people. This section covers the city of Reading, Pennsylvania, and includes an estimated 1500+ separate listings. The information is arranged alphabetically and includes the name of the establishment or business owner, the type of business, the estimated wealth of the business and its general credit rating.

Boyd's Directory of Reading - 1890 (William H. Boyd, 1890, 622 pages)
This is a resident and business directory of the City of Reading, Berks Co., PA for the year 1890. The information is arranged alphabetically listing the resident's name, occupation and street address. This was part of a larger directory, but includes only the section on Reading. Directories of this era are especially useful because they fill, to a degree, the gap left by the destroyed 1890 Federal Census.

Classified Business Directory of Eastern Pennsylvania [1919]
(Lehigh Valley Review, 1919, 212 pages)
This is a business directory of several counties in Eastern Pennsylvania for the year 1919. The counties covered in part are: Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton and Schuylkill. The directory information is listed by town, then alphabetically by trade. It gives the name of the business person or company and their address. Main emphasis is given to the major cities of the area including: Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, East Stroudsburg, Hazleton, Mauch Chunk, Phillipsburg [NJ}, Pottsville, Reading, South Bethlehem, and Stroudsburg. Also covered are some smaller areas: Aquashicola, Bangor, Bath, Belfast, Bossardsville, Bowmanstown, Brodheadsville, Catasauqua, Clemonton, Coaldale, Coopersburg, Delaware Water Gap, East Mauch Chunk, Egypt, Emaus [Emmaus], Freemansburg, Fullerton, Hellertown, Lansdale, Lehighton, Macungie, Mt. Pocono, Nazareth, Nesquehoning, Northampton, Palmerton, Pen Argyl, Perkasie, Quakertown, Rittersville, Roseto, Ross Common, Saylorsburg, Slatington, Stockertown, Summit Hill, Tamaqua, Tatamy, Walnutport, Weissport and Wind Gap.

Boyd's Directory of Reading 1924 (W. H. Boyd Co., 1924, 1378 pages)
This is a resident and business directory of Reading and vicinity, Berks County, PA for the year 1924. According to the title page this directory also contains information on Hyde Park, Mt. Penn, Pennside, Springmont, West Lawn, West Reading, and Wyomissing. The directory information is present in several ways; first is a classified business directory of the Reading area. Then comes the regular directory, listing residents and businesses alphabetically and providing the name of the primary resident, occupation, mate's name and street address.

Boyd's Reading City Directory 1929 (W. H. Boyd Co. Inc., 1929, 1030 pages)
This is a resident and business directory of Reading and vicinity, Berks County, PA for the year 1929. According to the title page this directory also contains information on Hyde Park, Laureldale, Mt. Penn, Pennside, Springmont, West Lawn, West Reading, and Wyomissing. The directory information is present in several ways; first is the regular directory, listing residents and businesses alphabetically and providing the name of the primary resident, occupation, mate's name and street address. Following this is a street by street directory listing residents and businesses by numerical street address. Next is a classified business directory listing area business by trade.