Genealogy Information

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James V. Brown Library is a major source for Lycoming County genealogical information.

Newspapers – All major local newspapers from 1807 to the present are available on microfilm.

Premium Online Resource   Heritage Quest Online:
(Heritage Quest Guides )  Product Overview | Genealogy 101 | Search Guide
 
Heritage Quest provides over 20,000 family and local history books, the complete U.S. Federal Census 1790-1930, PERSI (the Periodical Source Index), which is a subject index to over 6,500 genealogy and local history periodicals and Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files. Freedman's Bank records and the U.S. Serial Set.

Subject Guides Available
Genealogy and Family History   |  Discover your Roots  |  Birth Certificates, Death Certificates and Obituaries

An index by surname, covering 1807-1904,provides access to articles on marriages, obituaries, funerals, political activities, court cases, land sale notices, and news items. Each reference in the index includes the name of the newspaper, date, and the page on which the article can be found.

To access the index online:
1. Click on the Catalog link at the top of this page.
2. Click on the drop-down menu in the library selection box and select Newspaper Index.
3. Type in your search term, and click on Search.
(Click here for a full step-by-step graphic explanation.)

The result list will include the source name and title; click on the Full Details for the date and page number.
Only items of current local news interest (no obituaries) are now added to the index. Copies are $1.00 per page at the library, and $1.50 per page by mail.

Requesting articles:  Information - Please Read the Following

There is a flat research fee of $7.50 for research requests by mail. There is an additional charge of $1.50 per page for microfilm copies, and $.50 per page for photocopies.
The research fee must be pre-paid. You can use PayPal & Pay Now or mail payment to:
James V. Brown Library
Attn: Beth Schetroma
19 East Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA 17701

Checks should be payable to the James V. Brown Library.
 
We will include a bill with the mailing for any additional copies.

Include as much information as possible. If the name does not appear in our newspaper index, we can only search up to a month’s worth of newspapers for an item.

Please limit your request to five (5) articles at a time. This helps us to keep our turnaround time at a minimum. Local history research usually takes 2-3 weeks.
 
Form Object

We can usually make microfilm copies at the library while you wait, depending on staffing levels. In some cases, we may ask if we can mail or otherwise deliver the copies to you.

Census – Federal census for all of Pennsylvania from 1790-1860 with indexes are available. Lycoming and other local counties an assorted others are available after 1860. This census information is available online through  Heritage Quest. (See the description above).

Local history – The Pennsylvania Collection in our reference area contains volumes on local, county, and state history. The materials are available during regular library hours.

The collection includes the Williamsport City Directories from 1867 to the present, as well as yearbooks for area high schools.

Other resources
The Lycoming County Court House has birth records from 1893-1905 and death records from 1883-1898 in the Register/Recorder’s office. Marriage licenses from 1885 to the present, wills from the mid-19th Century to the present, and deeds from 1795 to the present are also available from the Register/Recorder’s office. Naturalization papers from 1804 to 1956 and divorce papers are located in the Prothonotary’s Office.

Lycoming County Court House
48 West Third Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
570.327.2200

Birth and death certificates after 1905 can be obtained from the Division of Vital Statistics. More information about obtaining those records, including who is eligible and the forms for requesting certificates, can be found at this site.

The Lycoming County Genealogical Society prints a monthly newsletter that contains local genealogical data (Bible records, etc.) and queries, which is free to members. Meetings are held the fourth Saturday of each month (except during the summer) at the Lycoming County Historical Society Museum.

Lycoming County Genealogical Society
PO Box 3625
Williamsport, PA 17701
LycomingLineage@gmail.com

The Regional History Room and Genealogical Library is located within the Lycoming County Historical Society Museum. It is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons by appointment only. Other hours can be arranged. Members are admitted for free; non-members for $5.

The collection contains family files, tax records, city directories, county histories, genealogies, maps, etc.

Lycoming County Historical Society Museum
858 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
570.326.3326

Lycoming County Genealogy Project
Part of the USGenWeb project, this nonprofit research site includes cemetery records, John F. Meginness's 1892 History of Lycoming County, and other helpful links.




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James V. Brown Library
19 East Fourth Street, Williamsport, PA 17701
570-326-0536