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.

Town, Township & Regional Histories

Souvenir History of Slippery Rock, PA
(Slippery Rock Centennial Committee, 1925, 117 pages)
This booklet was published as a souvenir history commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the founding of Slippery Rock, Butler Co., PA. It contains a written history of the area and town, as well as numerous photographs. This is a very nice resource for research in this area.

Harmony 1805-1955 (Arthur I. Stewart & Loran W. Veith, 1955, 48 pages)
This is a brief sesquicentennial history of the town of Harmony, Butler County, PA covering the years 1805-1955. It covers the early history of the area including information about its settlers and those influential in the growth of the town. There are a number of historical photographs included in the booklet as well, showing places of importance in town as well as some of its residents.

Church Histories

Historical Sermon of U.P. Congregation of Harmony,
Butler County, PA (Samuel Kerr, 1876, 15 pages)

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, central 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.

Butler County
-- From Petrolia: -- Ireland & Hughes, E. P. Chesebro, J. A. Foote, G. M. Jameson, J. A. Ervin, John H. Chatham, C. L. Espy, Central Hotel, R. P. Doyle, George Kilchenstein, Frank Quinn, Commercial Hotel, John Burns

Industrial and Commercial Resources of [Western] Pennsylvania
(Historical Publishing Company, 1887, 144 pages)
This publication is a history and description of the business operations from dozens of towns throughout 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.

Butler County
-- From Butler: -- J. G. & W. Campbell, S. G. Purvis & Co., D. A. Heck, Alfred M. Rieber, H. C. Heineman & Son, Chas. Duffy, G. C. Roessing & Son, Lowry House, G. Wilson Miller & Bro., J. E. Forsythe, John Berg & Co., Harvey Colbert, L. S. McJunkin, Bellis & Graham, The Torpedo Company, Jackson & Mitchell, William Aland, The Imperial Tea Co., Dr. S. A. Johnston, John T. Kelly, D. H. Wuller, J. R. Grieb, J. L. Wuller, A. & H. Reiber, J. F. T. Stehle, Union Woollen Mill, Little Cash Grocery, M. L. Morrison, M. Bahny, F. P. Baldauf, L. C. Wick & Bro., J. C. Redick, D. T. Pape, Butler Iron Works, Wm. Kesselman, Joseph Rockenstein, A. J. Frank & Co., Renno Bros., Geo. Ketterer, Miller Bros., Fred. Bayley's New Photograph Gallery, B. C. Huselton, E. H. Anderson, J. F. Balph, J. J. Rheinlander, Misses Rockenstein, J. Oesterling, H. M. Clark, W. P. Jack & Co., M. C. Rockenstein, J. & B. Kemper, Hotel Vogeley, H. J. Klinger & Co.

The McCandless Families of Center and Franklin Townships Butler County,
Pennsylvania (Olive Jane McCandless Morgan, 1929, 96 pages)
This is a history and genealogy of the McCandless family of Butler County, PA, as well as some related families: Albert, Bailey, Baker, Barkley, Bortmas, Burnett, Carothers, Christy, Corbin, Coulter, Cranmer, Cratty, Dean, DeLong, Diehl, Dixon, Drake, Eakin, Ferree, Findley, Fish, Fleeger, Fornof, Gardner, Glenn, Gould, Hockenberry, Hoover, Humes, Irwin, Jackson, Kihm, Lakeman, Lutz, Lyon, Marburger, Mayhall, McBride, McClosky, McDowell, McIlhaney, McJunkin, McKay, Milheim, Miller, Morgan, Peck, Pomroy, Raisley, Ralston, Ramsey, Rider, Robb, Russell, Say, Shaffer, Shannon, Shanor, Snyder, Stapleton, Stoops, Stright, Tebay, Thomas, Thompson, Varnum, Vincent, Wigton, Williams, Wise

Early Bounty Hunters of Butler County, Pennsylvania
(David K. Webb, 1934, 28 pages)
This brief publication is an early resource for Butler County, PA, consisting of records of those who collected bounties on various animals. The dates range from 1803 to 1843.

Flood Tides Along the Allegheny (Francis R. Harbison, 1941, 204 pages)
This publication is a history and description of early Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio.

Chapters:
A Prelude
A Mountain Crossing
The Scotch-Irish
To the Banks of the Allegheny
Holding the Frontier Along the Allegheny
The Depreciation Lands
Life in a Cabin on Bull Creek
Mt. Joy on The Buffaloe
The Beginning of Butler County
Childhood on the Buffaloe
James Harbison
The Coming of the Germans and the Irish
Early Schools
Religion Among the Settlers
Pioneer Parishes and Pastors
The Closing of an Era
Pennsylvania German Pioneers
The Third Generation
The Post-Rebellion Decade
Aladdin Finds the Magic in the Lamp
Grandfather's Barn
Life on the Sarver Homestead
Great-Uncle Henry Sarver
The Opening of the Twentieth Century
The Fifth Generation in the Valley.

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.

Maps, Atlases & Images

Maps & Atlases (*** Not text searchable ***)
1858 Map of Butler County Pennsylvania (David Scott, Color)

Birds-eye Town Views (*** Not text searchable ***)
Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania (1896, by T. M. Fowler & James B. Moyer)
Evans City, Butler County, Pennsylvania (1900, by T. M. Fowler & James B. Moyer)
Harmony, Butler County, Pennsylvania (1901, by T. M. Fowler & James B. Moyer)
Zelinople, Butler County, Pennsylvania (1901, by T. M. Fowler & James B. Moyer)