Records & Archives

/archives Website

	Records Storage Manual (PDF)
	Download Forms
	Back to Records Management

{ }	Show Images



	Home

{Log in}

Receive notification of changes to our site.
Sign up

{We}

Records and Archives Mission Statement

The County of Lancaster Records & Archives is committed to the preservation and accessibility of all public archival documents produced in the various County Department Offices.

Records and Archives Services

The Lancaster County Records & Archives is the repository for the permanently valuable County records of the County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and its political subdivisions. Numerous County archives records are stored at Lancaster County’s Historical Society. A complete listing of these records can be found by searching “government records” on their online library catalog. The archives does not collect private manuscripts, church records, newspapers or photographs. For these types of material, we refer you to the following institutions: the Lancaster County Library, and LancasterHistory.org. As general reference questions can involve considerable research time, please allow five days for a response.

WHAT KINDS OF RECORDS ARE KEPT IN THE COUNTY ARCHIVES?

Inactive records of the Lancaster County Clerk of Courts, Prothonotary, Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills are permanently maintained. Each of these agencies represents the originating office for a variety of historical records which can be searched via the online archives inventory below. Birth and death certificates from 1906 to the present are a state record and kept at the Pennsylvania Department of Vital Records at New Castle, PA. The principal record series of the archives are listed below but researchers should consult the inventory below for a more comprehensive listing of potential historical sources.

Archives Inventory (13MB PDF)

Please note: Sheriff Deed Books (1825-1903) are now available on microfilm. This project is supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.

Land Records

Deeds were recorded beginning on May 10, 1729 (the date of the County’s formation). Digital images of all historical deeds are available through the Recorder of Deeds website: www.lancasterdeeds.com. Early land warrants, surveys, and patents are kept at the PA State Archives.
Mortgages are recorded in deed books until 1812, when a separate series of mortgage books begins.

Marriage Records

1885-1998 (marriage license applications and may include consents and duplicate returns)
An online index of marriages (beginning 1948) is available through the Register of Wills website.

Birth Records

Birth Registrations: (1852-1855, 1894-1907) Lancaster City & County of Lancaster
Birth Registrations: (1881-1906) Lancaster City only
Delayed Birth Certificates: For individuals born (c. 1870-1906)
Contact the Pennsylvania Department of Vital Records for all births beginning in 1906

Death Records

Wills were recorded beginning in 1730
Intestate Records (1753-1970) also known as Bond Books or Letters of Administration
Death Registers (1894-1907); Death Affidavits (1872-1978)
Estate Files (beginning 1902) also contains wills, inventory, and account documents; An online estate index (beginning 1933 is available through the Register of Wills website
Inventory Indices (1729-1926) and Account Indices (1729-1934) for estates are available at the archives. The archives also maintains estate Inventories (1861-1962) and Accounts (1850-1962). Original Account records (1776-1901) and Inventory records (1729-1913) are kept at Lancaster County’s Historical Society.
Veteran Burial Records (1885-1988) may also provide death related information
Contact the Pennsylvania Department of Vital Records for all deaths beginning 1906

Directions to the County of Lancaster Old Courthouse.

WHAT IS THE POLICY FOR ACKNOWLEDGING REFERENCE/RESEARCH INQUIRIES AND REQUESTS?

Because of the many reference/research inquiries and requests that are received, ONLY one (1) letter at a time from an individual correspondent is accepted for processing.

WHAT FEES, IF ANY, ARE CHARGED? Effective January 1, 2009

Basic duplicating fees: $0.25 per page
Postage fees may not exceed the actual cost of mailing.
Fees for specialized documents (including, but not limited to, blue prints, color copies, non-standard sized documents) may not exceed the actual cost.

Dory Crater, Director of Records Management

(717) 299-8319

fax: (717) 735-9606

County of Lancaster

Records and Archives Services

50 N. Duke St

Lancaster, Pa. 17608-3480

archives@co.lancaster.pa.us

Hours of Operation: M - F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.