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.

County Histories & Biographicals

Pioneer Outline History of Northwestern Pennsylvania
(W. J. McKnight, 1905, 755 pages)
The Full title is: "A Pioneer Outline History of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Embracing the Counties of Tioga, Potter, McKean, Warren, Crawford, Venango, Forest, Clarion, Elk, Jefferson, Cameron, Butler, Lawrence, and Mercer, Also A Pioneer Sketch of the Cities of Allegheny, Beaver, Du Bois, and Towanda"  This publication is a historical account of the early beginnings of several counties in Northwestern PA.  The information is more focused on historical details than biographical, but it still contains a great deal of information useful for historical or genealogical research.

Genealogical and Personal History of Northern Pennsylvania
(John W. Jordan, 1913, 1556 pages)
This is an extensive 3 volume historical and biographical reference which covers the northern Pennsylvania counties of Bradford, Cameron, Elk, McKean, Potter and Tioga.   This provides a wealth of information on the history and growth of these counties but more importantly, a great deal of information on the people of these counties.  Hundreds of individual and family histories are sketched, making this an excellent reference for historical or biographical research.  Along with many of the sketches, there are also portraits of the sketch subjects.

Surnames Indexed:
Abbott, Acker, Akley, Adams, Adamy, Adsit, Aggers, Allen, Allis, Anderson, Andrews, Armstrong, Arnold, Arters, Arthur, Artley, Ashcraft, Auerhaim, Austin, Bache, Backus, Bacon, Bailey, Baird, Baker, Baldwin, Ball, Ballard, Ballentine, Bantie, Barber, Bard, Barker, Barnaby, Barnes, Barr, Barry, Bartlett, Barton, Bauer, Baxter, Bayer, Bayless, Bayley, Bean, Beatty, Becker, Beckwith, Beeman, Bell, Bellows, Benedict, Benjamin, Bennett, Benninghoff, Benson, Berfield, Berry, Billings, Blair, Blake, Blanchard, Bliss, Blose, Bloss, Boardman, Bodine, Boller, Borland, Bottom, Bouton, Bowen, Boylston, Bradley, Brandon, Bressler, Brock, Brooks, Broughton, Brown, Brownell, Bryner, Bulkley, Bullock, Burden, Burkholder, Burns, Bush, Butler, Butterfuss, Butts, Cady, Caldwell, Calhoun, Calkins, Cameron, Camp, Campbell, Cannon, Carman, Carnahan, Carpenter, Carrier, Carson, Carter, Cass, Cassiday, Caswell, Catlin, Chamberlain, Chance, Chandler, Channel, Chapman, Chase, Chatley, Chesney, Childs, Chrisman, Christ, Chubbuck, Church, Clark, Clarke, Claus, Clemons, Cleveland, Cliffe, Close, Coates, Cobb, Codding, Coffin, Cogswell, Colcord, Cole, Colegrove, Coles, Collins, Conable, Cone, Conneely, Cook, Cornelison, Cornelius, Corson, Corwin, Cott, Couch, Courtice, Cowan, Cox, Coyne, Crabb, Crawford, Crippen, Crissey, Crittenden, Cromwell, Cronk, Crowell, Culver, Cupp, Curran, Curry, Curtis, Cuthbert, Dana, Dardis, Darling, Dartt, Davenport, Davies, Davis, Davison, Dean, Deane, Deans, De Lano, Dempsey, Dennison, Densmore, Depuy, Devine, De Vine, De Witt, Dibble, Dickinson, Dix, Dixon, Doane, Dobie, Dodds, Dolley, Donahue, Dowry, Drake, Dugan, Dulso, dunham, durley, durrin, Duryea, Dyer, Earl, Easton, Eastman, Easton, Eaton, Eberenz, Eby, Eckels, Eckert, Edgcomb, Edson, Edwards, Egbert, Egleston, Ellinger, Elsbree, Emery, Emmert, Engler, English, Ent, Erway, Estabrook Estell, Estes, Evans, Everitt, Eyster, Fahnestock, Fannin, Fanning, Fay, Fenton, Ferris, Ferry, Field, Finch, Fischler, Fish, Fisher, Fisk, Fitzgerald, Fleming, Flower, Foote, Forbes, Ford, Foster, Fox, Frank, Frazer, Frederick, Freeman, French, Frisbie, Fulford, Fuller, Fullerton, Gainor, Gallup, Gantt, Gardner, Garlick, Garman, Garritt, Gayton, Geary, Gee, Geer, Gentry, George, Gerow, Gibson, Gifford, Gillespie, Gillett, Gillette, Gillis, Gleason, Glecker, Glenn, Glennon, Golden, Goodman, Goodsell, Goodspeed, Gordnier, Gore, Gorrie, Gorton, Gould, Gray, Greatsinger, Green, Greene, Gridley, Griffin, Griffis, Griffith, Grow, Guile, Gulnac, Gunn, Habgood, Hackett, Haffey, Hagar, Haggerty, Hale, Hallock, Hamblin, Hamilton, Hamlin, Hammond, hamcok, Hanley, Harrington, Harris, Harrison, Hart, Hastings, Hatfield, Haven, Hawkins, Hayden, Hayes, Hazen, Hazlett, Heasley, Heess, Helmes, Lemsman, Hennage, Henning, Heysham, Heywood, Higgins, Hill, Hilton, Hinds, Hoag, Hoard, Hofer, Hogan, Hogarth, Holbrook, Holcomb, Holly, Holmes, Hosterman, Hotchkiss, Houghton, Houseknecht, Hovey, Howd, Howe, Howells, Hubbard, Hulme, Humez, Hunt, Huntington, Hurd, Hurler, Hurley, Hussey, Husted, Hyde, Inman, Innes, Inscho, Irvine, Irwin, Jackson, Jacob, James, Jaynes, Jefferis, Jennings, Jewett, Johnson, Johnston, Jones, Joseph, June, Kahsnitz, Kaminsky, Kane, Karr, kay, Keck, Keeler, Keeny, Kehrer, Kellogg, Kemp, Kenyon, Kervin, Kibbe, Kiess, Kilbourne, Kimball, Kime, Kincaid, Kimmel, King, Kingley, Kirby, Klapp, Klock, Knapp, Kneeland, Knight, Kock, Korns, Kreiner, Krusen, La Bar, Lain, Landruss, Landon, Lane, Landworthy, Larrabee, Lawrence, Laye, Laymon, Learn, Learned, Leasure, Leavitt, Lechler, Lecky, Lehman, Lent, Leonard, Lesser, Lewis, Leyman, Lillibridge, Lilly, Lindhome, Lindsey, Lindsley, Little, Llewelyn, Logaugh, Lockhart, Loeb, Logan, Logue, Loney, Long, Longwell, Loomis, Lugg, Lunden, Luther, Lynch, Lyon, Mackie, Malin, Mallory, Maltby, Mangold, Markham, Marks, Marsh, Marshall, Martin, Mascho, Mathers, Maxwell, Mayo, MacEwen, McAleer, McAllister, McCandless, McCarthy, McClure, McCoy, McCraney, McCrea, McCulloch, McDowell, McFall, McFarlin, McGloin, McIlvaine, McIntosh, McIntyre, McKee, McKinney, McLaren, McLaughlin, McQuiston, McVay, Meade, Meagher, Meek, Melvin, Merritt, Messenger, Metcalf, Meyer, Miles, Millard, Miller, Mills, Minor, Mitchell, Mohney, Monroe, Moody, Moore, Morgan, Morian, Morley, Morris, Morrison, Moscrip, Mosher, Mourey, Mulhaupt, Mullin, Murphy, Naegley, Neal, Nelson, Newcomer, Newell, Newton, Nichols, Noble, Nobles, Northrop, Oakes, O'Brien, Olds, Olmstead, Orr, Osler, Osterhout, Ostrander, Oviatt, Owen, Owens, Owlett, Packard, Packer, Page, Painter, Palmer, Parker, Parkhurst, Parks, Parsons, Paterson, Patterson, Pattison, Paul, Peake, Pealer, Peeling, Perkings, Persing, Phillips, Phippen, Pitts, Place, Plank, Poley, Pool, Potter, Powell, Pratt, Presho, Preston, Pringle, Pritchard, Probyn, Prosser, Prouty, Prutsman, Putnam, Quimby, Radcliffe, Raesly, Rahm, Randall, Rasey, Rathbun, Rausher, Raymer, Raymond, Reck, Record, Redfield, Reed, Rees, Rendall, Rettenbury, Rice, Richmond, Rieppel, Rietter, Ripley, Ritter, Robarts, Roberts, Robinson, Robison, Roff, Rogers, Rohe, Rose, Ross, Roy, Rumsey, Rusling, Russell, Rust, Ryan, Ryon, Salberg, Salisbury, Sanborn, Sanders, Sartwell, Schermerborn, Schirk, Schram, Scott, Scranton, Seamans, Seaward, Secor, Seely, Seldon, Sellard, Seltz, Semmler, Shanley, Sharp, Shattuck, Shaut, Shaw, Shell, Shepard, Sheppard, Sherman, Shoemaker, Shriever, Shumway, Siemens, Signor, Skelton, Sloan, Smiley, Smith, Sommers, Soules, Southworth, Specht, Spencer, Squires, Staats, Stanley, Stanton, Staples, Starr, Steele, Sterling, Stevens, Stewart, Stickman, Stiles, Stoddard, Stokes, Stone, Stover, Streby, Stull, Sullivan, Sutton, Swan, Swanson, Sweazy, Sweeney, Swimley, Swisher, Taylor, Teall, Terwilliger, Thayer, Thomas, Thompson, Thornton, Tice, Tipple, Tobin, Tomlinson, Tracy, Truman, Tubbs, Tucker, Turner, Tuttle, Upton, Van Aken, Vandergrift, Van Dusen, Van Dyke, Van Gasbeck, Van Horn, Van Loon, Van Slyke, Vantine, Vedder, Vera, Viner, Waggoner, Wagner, Waid, Waite, Wakefield, Wakley, Waldron, Walker, Walter, Walters, Ward, Warner, Washburn, Watkins, Watrous, Weaver, Webb, Webster, Weeks, Wells, Westbrook, Wetherbee, Wharton, Wheelock, White, Wilbur, Wilcox, Wilkinson, Williams, Willis, Wilson, Windsor, Winlack, Witherspoon, Wolford, Wood, Woodley, Woods, Woodward, Wright, Wynn, Yonkin, Young, Zillafro

Biographical Sketches of Elk County People Combined
With Who's Who In Elk County (Brehm and Mohr, 1932, 180 pages)
This book features a number of biographical sketches of prominent and influenctial citizens of Elk County, Pennsylvania. Several of the sketches are also accompanies by portaits of the subject.

Sketch Surnames:
Baird, Barbour, Bayer, Bixler, Bloch, Bonnert, Brehm, Brown, Cartwright, Cashman, Cheatle, Deeter, DeHaas, Dippold, Ewing, Flynn, Garner, Givin, Greybeill, Green, Gregory, Greiner, Hall, Harrigan, Harvey, Hauber, Hyde, Jackson, Kaul, Koch, Leary, Ledden, Lenze, Lynch, Mader, Markert, McBride, McGeehim, Meisel, Murphy, O'Brien, Ovell, Pistner, Pontzer, Reed, Rickard, Robison, Rockwell, Roloff, Rupprecht, Salter, Schaut, Schreiber, Smith, Speer, Straessley, Straub, Sturenberg, Sweeney, Thomas, Thompson, Timm, Trambley, Valentine, Werner, Wiesner, Winslow, Wittman, Yetzer

Town, Township & Regional Histories

Ridgway Advocate - Illustrated Industrial Edition (Ridgway Advocate, 1896, 60 pages)
This booklet was published as a highlight of the businesses and industries of Ridgway, Elk County, Pennsylvania.  It begins with a brief description of the city and its prospects, and interspersed among the business sketches there are other brief articles highlighting various notable aspects of the city.  The remainder of the publication presents brief sketches of dozens of Ridgway's individual businesses and business people.  Along with the sketches there are 25 historic photographs of Ridgway's buildings and 45 portraits of prominent citizens.

Sketches:
Elk Tannig Company, Ridgway Press Brick Company, The Ridgway Manufacturing Company, G. G. Messenger & Son, W. H. Osterhout, The Merris Beef Company, Hyde, Murphy & Company, Ridgway Wagon Works, Avery's Cigar Factory, Judge Mayer, Ridgway Steam Laundry, J. F. English, The Standard Axe and Tool Works, W. H. Hyde & Co., Ridgway Excelsior Works, H. B. Moyer, W. L. Sykes, John Fannin, J. W. Sweeney, Deiches, Goldberg & Co., B. T. Chapin, A. H. Buckland, Robert E. McFarland, Hon. Harry Alvan Hall, Byron F. Ely, C. H. M'Cauley, Esq., Jerome Powell, The "Democrat" and "Star", Chas. Holes, J. M. Schram, The New Hyde, C. J. Swift, The Ridgway Building and Loan Association, Eberhart & Miller, John Larson Company, R. Bonini & Brother, J. H. McEwen Manufacturing Company, W. W. Barbour, Hon. W. H. Hyde, Dr. J. S. McCreight, The People's Building and Loan Association, W. L. Williams, M.D., Dr. J. D. Fullerton, Caufman & Silman, Park & Earl, Hugh McGeehin, The Terry Engraving Company, Teh Illustrated Industrial Advocate, R. P. Molten & Co., The Ullmann & Philpott Manufacturing Company, Cleveland Paper Company, Noah Brunner, Dr. A. B. Bevier, Charles M. Grenols, Jacob Butterfuss, Elliott & Kline, H. McDonald, Eagle Valley Store, S. E. Bowen, G. G. Messinger & Son, W. M. Sweet, The Ross House, The Elk County National Bank, Seitz Brothers, Morris & McCrea, The Archimedean Lever, Delos Dolliver, The People's Market Co., Colonel Fred. Schoening, J. S. Maginnis

1824-1924 Centennial Souvenir Program - 100th Anniversary, Ridgway, Pennsylvnaia
(Anonymous, 1924, 64 pages)
This is a souvenir program of the Centennial Celebration for Ridgway, Elk County, PA in 1924. It provides a list of all those in the celebration committees as well as a program of events for the celebration. In addition to the celebration information, a number of businesses and organizations are given brief sketches.

Businesses sketched:
Elk County National Bank, Harry A. Mader, Bonini Tobacco Company, Gardner Sand Company, Alfred's Ice Cream, The HUB Store, Hall, Kaul & Hyde Company, The Ross Drug Store, Ridgway National Bank, Kessler Garage, Ridgway Pure Ice Company, John Lund, The Candy Kitchen, McGeehin's Progressive Store, Parshall and Atwell, Ridgway News Stand, Albert Cliffe, Kinkead's Bakery, C. L. Park & Co., The Coulter Studio, Dean & Son Company, Charles, O. Salberg, W. L. Bayer, J. D. Lauder, Guth Brothers, Hotel Hyde, The Larson Shoe Company, The Bogert House, Ridgway Manufacturing Company, Salberg Hotel, Thompson Brothers, Bruce G. Kime, Russell Car and Snow Plow Company, Ridgway Dynamo and Engine Company, Holmes Silk Mill Company, Hyde-Murphy Company, Ridgway Steam Laundry

Ridgway 1824-1974 (Ridgway Sesquicentennial Inc., 1974, 354 pages)
This is a history of Ridgway produced for the 150th anniversary of its foundation.  It covers the early history of the area and its settlers.  It also provides and extensive coverages of the development of the town, covering its industrial, commercial, military, religious, educational, ethnic history and many other things.  Along with the historical content, there are many photographs of people and places of the town through the years.

Church, Family, Education, Military and Miscellaneous Histories

Welcome Souvenir [WWI] - Ridgway, PA, June 19, 1919 (Anonymous, 1919, 74 pages)
This publication was produced as a "souvenir and historical record of the activities of the various organizations of Rdgway during" World War I. It includes a roster of Company H, 16th Infantry, and a list of other soldiers from Elk County who served in WWI. There are also many photographs soldiers of the county, and ads from local businesses supporting the booklet's publication.

Welcome Home and Centennial - 1842-1946 - St. Marys, Pennsylvania (Anonymous, 1946, 55 pages)
This is a souvenir of the Centennial Celebration of St. Marys, Elk County, PA. It provides a program of the events of the celebration, a brief historical sketch of the town and surrounding area, and a series of historic photographs of scenes around town. It also contains an Honor Roll listing the soldiers from the area who served in World War II as well as brief sketches and portraits of those who lost their lives in the course of the war. There is also an additional section listing the local soldiers who served in WWI and the Spanish-American War. There are also numerous ads for local businesses of the era.

Maps, Atlases & Images

Maps & Atlases (*** Not text searchable ***)
1855 Map of Elk County Pennsylvania (Version 1, H. A. Pattison, W. H. Rease, Color)
1856 Map of Elk County Pennsylvania (Version 2, H. A. Pattison, W. H. Rease, Color)
1878 Map of District No. 4 (J. L. Brown, Color)

Birds-Eye Town Views (*** Not text searchable ***)
Johnsonburg, Elk County, Pennsylvania (1895, T. M. Fowler & James B. Moyer)
Ridgway, Elk County, Pennsylvania (1895, T. M. Fowler & James B. Moyer)
St. Mary's, Elk County, Pennsylvania (1895, T. M. Fowler & James B. Moyer)

Directories

Altoona, Clearfield, Huntingdon, Lewistown, Mehaffey, Ridgway, Philipsburg and
Nearby Places Telephone Directory - June 1912 (Bell Telephone Co. of PA, 1912, 92 pages)
This is a telephone directory covering parts of Blair, Centre, Clearfield, Elk, Huntingdon, Juniata, and Mifflin Counties, Pennsylvania for the year 1912.  The directory lists 1,000's of residents and businesses, and provides the resident's name, street address and telephone number arranged alphabetically by town.

Towns Included:
Academia, Aitch, Akers Mill, Alexandria, Alfarata, Allensville, Allegheny Furnace, Allen Mills, Altoona, Ansonville, Arcadia, Arch Springs, Ardenheim, Ashville, Atkinson Mills, Aughwich, Baileyville, Bald Eagle Valley, Barbee, Barville, Bear Run, Belleville, Bells Landing, Bellwood, Beryl, Birmingham, Black Log, Blain City, Blair Four, Blairs Mills, Blueball, Blue Knob, Boardman, Bridgeport, Brisbin, Broad Top City, Brookside, Buck Horn, Burnham, Burnside, Byrnedale, Calvin, Canoe Creek, Cardiff, Cassville, Capfish, Centre, Centre Line, Centre Union, Centreville, Cherrytown, Chester Hill, Chestnut Grove, Chest Springs, Claysburg, Clearfield, Clover Creek, Coalmont, Coalport, Colpax, Collinsville, Cooks, Cora, Cornsprobsts Mills, Cottage, Coupon, Cove, Cove Forge, Cross Roads, Cuba Mills, Curry Run, Curwensville, Cypher, Dean, Delaney, Donation, Dougherty Mines, Dudley, Duncansville, Dungarven, Dysart, East Altoona, East Broad Top, East Freedom, East Juniata, East Salem, Eldorado, Elstie, Entriken, Everett, Fair City, Fairview, Fallen Timber, Faunce, Ferguson Valley, Findleyville, Flinton, Franklin Forge, Franklinville, Frankstown, Frankstown Mills, Frugality, Fuller Run, Fouss' Mills, Ganister Post Office, Gatesburg, Gaysport, Gazzam, Geeseytown, Gibboney's Mills, Ginter, Glen Campbell, Glen Hazel, Glen Richey, Glen White, Grafton, Grampian, Grandview, Granville, Grass Flat, Graysville, Grazierville, Greenwood, Greenwood Furnace, Guinn, Hares Valley, Hartslog Valley, Hawk Run, Hawns Bridge, Highland Fling, Hill Valley, Hollidaysburg, Homer's Gap, Honey Creek, Honey Grove, Hopewell, Houtzdale, Hummel, Huntingdon, Huntingdon Furnace, Hydes, Instanter, Irvona, Jacobs, James Creek, Johnsonburg, Juniata, Juniata Gap, Kermoor, Kersey, Kishacoquillas, Kittanning Point, Kladder Station, Knightsville, Krebs Siding, Kylertown, La Jose, Lake Altoona, Lakemont, Lakemont Terrace, Langdondale, Latta Grove, Leamersville, Leland, Lewistown, Lewistown Junction, Llyswen, Locust Run, Lodema, Logan Springs, Longfellow, Maddensville, Madeline, Madera, Mahaffey, Manor Hill, Maple Grove, Mapleton, Marklesburg, Martinsburg, Mattawanna, McAlevy's Fort, McConnellstown, McConnellstown Station, McCoysville, McCullochs Mills, McGarvey's Station, McGees Mils, McKee, McVeytown, Menno, Mexico, Mifflin, Mifflintown, Mill Creek, Milroy, Minersville, Mitchells, Mooresville, Moran, Morgan Run, Morrisdale, Morrisdale Mines, Mt. Dallas, Mt. Etna, Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Union, Munson, Naginey, Nealmont, Nealton, Neff's Mills, Newburg, New Millport, Newry, Newton Hamilton, New Washington, Nook Norris, North Point, Northwood, Oakview, Olanta, Orbisonia, Ore Hill, Osceola Mills, Oshanter, Paradise Furnace, Pemberton, Pennsylvania Furnace, Petersburg, Philipsburg, Pine Croft, Pogue, Point View, Port Matilda, Port Royal, Porters Mills, Porters Township, Ramey, Raystown Dam, Reeds Gap, Reese, Reedsville, Reighard Manor, Retort, Riddlesburg, Ridgway, Riverview, Roaring Springs, Robertsdale, Rock Hill Furnace, Rolfe, Rural Home, Russellvile, Ryde, Saltilo, Sandy Ridge, Sandy Run Junction, Sarah P.O., Saulsburg, Saxton, Selea, Seven Stars, Shawsville, Shirleysburg, Shroder, Siglerville, Sington, Sinking Valley, Six-Mile Run, Smiths Valley, Smoke Run, South Altoona, South Lakemont, South Philipsburg, Springfield Branch, Spring Meadows, Spring Rocks, Spruce Creek, Spruce Mill, St. Augustine, St. Marys, Steiners, Stippler Station, Stormstown, Stover Station, Straight, Stronach, Stulls Mill, Sugar Grove, Sun Brook, Sunset Park, Sylvan Hills, Thompsontown, Three Springs, Tipton, Todd, Trough Creek, Trough Creek Church, Tyrone, Tyrone Forges, Union Church, Union Furnace, Van Dyke, Van Ormer, Verne, Vineyard, Wallaceton, Walnut, Warm Springs, Warrior's Mark, Warrior Ridge, Water Street, Wertz Station, West Decatur, Westley Chapel, West Moshannon, Westover, White Bridge, Wilcox, Wildwood, Williamsburg, Williams Grove, Willow Brook, Winburne, Woodland, Yeagertown

Eldred - Mount Jewett - Port Alleghany - Smethport and Nearby Communities
Telephone Directory - December 1956 (Bell Telephone Co. of PA, 1956, 164 pages)
This is a telephone directory covering parts of Elk and McKean Counties, Pennsylvania and a small portion of New York for the year 1956.  The directory lists 1,000's of residents and businesses, and provides the resident's name, street address and telephone number arranged alphabetically by town.  This directory also includes the "yellow pages" section covering the businesses of the same area.  A small portion of directory information is missing from the Bradford section covering some names beginning with "A"

Pennsylvania Towns:
Aiken, Backus, Betula, Bingham, Bolivar Run, Bradford, Bullis Mills, Clermont, Colegrove, Coleville, Coryville, Crosby, Custer City, Cyclone, Dahoga, Dallas City Davis City Degolia, Derrick City, Duke Center, Durant City, Eldred, Farmers Valley, Foster Brook, Fullerton, Gifford, Gilmore, Guffey, Halsey, Harrisburg Run, Haymaker, Hazelhurst, Indian Creek, James City, Kane, Kansholm, Keating Summit, Keshequa, Lafayette, Lantz Corners, Larabee, Lewis Run, Liberty, Marvindale, McKinley, McKinley Station, Minard Run, Mount Alton, Mount Jewett, Nansen, Norwich, Ormsby, Port Allegany, Portage Creek, Red Rock, Rew, Rixford, Sawyer City, Sergeant, Smethport, Tuna, Turtlepoint, West Branch, West Kane, Westline, Wetmore, Wrights, Wrights Corners

New York Towns:
Limestone