Philadelphia Genealogy Records
Philadelphia genealogy records span more than three centuries of births, deaths, marriages, and land transfers. As Pennsylvania's largest city and a consolidated city-county since 1854, Philadelphia holds one of the most complete local record collections in the state. Researchers can find vital records at the Philadelphia City Archives, land documents at the Department of Records, and statewide resources through the Pennsylvania State Archives. Whether you are tracing a family line back to the colonial era or searching for a recent ancestor, Philadelphia offers deep and well-organized genealogy collections.
Philadelphia Genealogy Quick Facts
Where to Find Philadelphia Genealogy Records
The primary repository for Philadelphia genealogy records is the Philadelphia City Archives, located at 548 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123. The archives is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This office holds birth and death records from July 1860 to June 1915, marriage records from July 1860 to December 1885, and cemetery returns going back to 1803. Deeds on file at the City Archives run from 1683 to 1955, and mortgage records cover 1748 to 1963.
The Philadelphia Department of Records manages these collections and offers several ways to request copies. You can visit in person, complete a mail-in application, or use the Historical Land and Vital Records Search subscription database for digital images. Payment methods include cash, money order, and major credit and debit cards, though a 3.5% convenience fee applies to card transactions. Personal checks are not accepted. The Recorder of Deeds handles land records from 1952 to the present.
For records created after 1906, the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records maintains a walk-in office at 110 North 8th Street, Suite 108 in Philadelphia. Phone: (215) 560-3054. Birth and death certificates from 1906 forward are available through this office under 35 P.S. §450.801, the law governing access to vital records in Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia Vital Records for Genealogy
Birth, death, and marriage records form the foundation of most genealogy research in Philadelphia. The City Archives holds birth and death records from July 1860 to June 1915. Cemetery returns, which often predate formal civil registration, cover the period from 1803 to June 1860 and are organized by cemetery name. These records provide names, dates, and often additional detail that helps trace family lines through the 19th century.
Marriage records at the City Archives run from July 1860 to December 1885. After December 31, 1885, marriage records moved to the Register of Wills. FamilySearch has indexed many marriage records from 1885 to 1951, making online searching more efficient. The Philadelphia marriage records page provides current request instructions. Certified copies cost $25, and exemplified copies for international use cost $50.
Statewide vital registration began in January 1906 under what is now codified in Pennsylvania law. Birth records 105 years and older are public records. Death records become public after 50 years. Marriage records are public, though Social Security numbers are restricted. Adoptions filed in Orphans' Court are also available through the Department of Records.
Note: The fee to search three months of birth or death records at the City Archives is $10. A full-year search costs $40, and naturalization records from 1793 to 1930 run $10 per name searched.
Historical Resources in Philadelphia
The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania maintains a strong Philadelphia County page with links to collections, guides, and research tools. Their resources include indexes to Philadelphia-area church records, naturalization files, and local histories. The society supports researchers at all experience levels and serves as a hub for Pennsylvania family history work.
The National Archives in Philadelphia holds federal records for the mid-Atlantic region, including census records, naturalization papers filed in federal courts, and military pension files. This location serves researchers tracing ancestors who interacted with the federal government while living in Pennsylvania. Census records from 1790 through 1940 are among the most heavily used collections here.
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania offers research guides at hsp.libguides.com. Their collections span colonial-era manuscripts, immigrant records, and family papers donated by Philadelphia households over the past two centuries. The State Library of Pennsylvania also maintains a large genealogy collection with federal census microfilm, city directories, church and cemetery records, and subscriptions to Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest, and Fold3.
The Philadelphia City Archives also holds naturalization records from 1793 to 1930, an especially important set for researchers whose ancestors immigrated during that period and were naturalized in Philadelphia courts.
Land and Property Records in Philadelphia
Philadelphia land records are among the oldest in Pennsylvania. Deeds at the City Archives date from 1683, just one year after William Penn received his charter, and run through 1955. Mortgages in that collection span 1748 to 1963. The search fee for deeds and mortgages is $20 per hour with a $20 minimum, and copies cost $2 per page.
Philadelphia deeds from 1683 to 1974 are searchable in the Historical Land and Vital Records subscription database. The Recorder of Deeds holds records from 1952 forward. Since Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county, land records for all properties within the city limits go through the same office. Researchers can request document copies in person at the City Archives or by mail. Staff charges $35 per hour for general archive searches with a one-hour minimum.
Note: The PA State Archives in Harrisburg holds additional land warrant records going back to 1682 under the original Land Office established by William Penn, which can supplement Philadelphia-area property research for early colonial owners.
Searching Philadelphia Records Online
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has partnered with Ancestry.com to digitize family history records held at the Pennsylvania State Archives. Pennsylvania residents receive free access to these digitized records through the Ancestry.com Pennsylvania portal. Digital copies of birth certificates from 1906 to 1917 and death certificates from 1906 to 1972 are available on Ancestry.com as part of this partnership.
The Philadelphia City Archives offers the Historical Land and Vital Records Search database with digital images of birth, death, marriage, and naturalization records. This subscription service allows remote searching and image viewing without a trip to the archives. Philadelphia deeds from 1683 to 1974 are also searchable within this same database.
The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. §§ 67.101 establishes public access rights to government records in Pennsylvania. This includes genealogically relevant documents such as older birth and death certificates, land deeds, and court records. Researchers can submit formal Right-to-Know requests when standard request procedures do not meet their needs.
The Pennsylvania State Archives database ARIAS provides online access to about 1.5 million military records. These include Revolutionary War abstract cards, Civil War Veterans' Card files, and World War I service medal applications. Philadelphia families with military ancestors can search these collections at no charge.
The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania maintains a curated guide to Philadelphia County genealogy records, linking to archives, indexes, and research tools for the region.
Philadelphia County Genealogy Records
Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county, and all genealogy records for the city are also the county records. The Department of Records, City Archives, and Register of Wills all serve both the city and county. For a full overview of Philadelphia County genealogy resources, including wills, probate records, and older land transfers, visit the Philadelphia County genealogy records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Researchers tracing families across southeastern and central Pennsylvania can explore genealogy resources in nearby cities.