Berks County Genealogy Records
Berks County genealogy records go back to 1752, when the county was formed from portions of Philadelphia, Chester, and Lancaster Counties. Reading serves as the county seat, and the courthouse holds probate records, land deeds, and marriage licenses. The Berks History Center, the Berks County Genealogical Society, and the Reading Public Library's Pennsylvania Room all provide additional resources for researchers tracing family history in Berks County.
Berks County Quick Facts
Berks County Genealogy Records Overview
Berks County was created on March 11, 1752, from portions of Philadelphia, Chester, and Lancaster Counties. Its records span nearly 275 years of Pennsylvania family history. The county has a strong German heritage, with many early settlers arriving from German-speaking regions of Europe in the 1700s. This heritage is reflected in church records kept in German, family bibles with German entries, and the distinct surnames found in Berks County genealogy databases. The county seat of Reading grew into a significant industrial and commercial city by the 19th century.
Core genealogy records for Berks County include wills and probate records from 1752, land deeds from 1752, marriage licenses from 1885, and birth and death records from 1893 to 1905. Online indexes are available for marriage records and wills through the county. An Archive Research Center is available at the Berks County courthouse for genealogical research. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The courthouse is at 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601. Contact the Register of Wills at (610) 478-6600.
Note: Berks County's strong German heritage means that many early church records are written in German, and researchers may need assistance reading old German script to access these sources.
Berks County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds
The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court at the Berks County Courthouse in Reading handles marriage licenses, birth and death records from 1893 to 1905, and wills and probate records dating to 1752. An Archive Research Center within this department gives genealogists a dedicated space to search records. Online indexes are available for Berks County marriage records and wills, making it possible to identify records before visiting in person. The Register of Wills office is located at 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601, and can be reached at (610) 478-6600.
The Recorder of Deeds for Berks County maintains deeds from 1752 to the present at 633 Court Street, 3rd Floor, Reading, PA 19601. Contact the Recorder at (610) 478-3380. Land records include deeds, mortgages, assignments, satisfactions, and other real estate documents. An online land records search is available through the county. Copy fees apply for document reproduction. Certified copies are available for an additional fee. These deed records are essential for tracing property ownership and family land patterns across generations in Berks County.
| Office |
Berks County Courthouse 633 Court Street Reading, PA 19601 |
|---|---|
| Phone | Register of Wills: (610) 478-6600 Recorder of Deeds: (610) 478-3380 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Berks History Center and Genealogical Society
The Berks History Center (formerly the Historical Society of Berks County) is located at 940 Centre Avenue, Reading, PA 19601. The Henry Janssen Library at the center provides genealogical research resources. The collection includes manuscripts, photographs, maps, city directories, and newspapers. More than 20,000 historic images are in the photographic collection. Research is by appointment and available Wednesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Members have free access; non-members pay $7. Research services are available for those who cannot visit in person, with fees applying. Contact the center at 610-375-4375 or library@berkshistory.org.
The Berks County Genealogical Society (BCGS) operates a library on the 4th floor of the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts at 201 Washington Street, Reading, PA 19601. Free parking is available in the secure lot behind the building. BCGS is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library and offers on-site access to Ancestry Library Edition and MyHeritage subscription databases. Resources include church records, census and cemetery records, newspapers, family histories, and military records. The library holds the Reading Eagle newspaper on microfilm from 1868 to 1972 and the Berks County Federal Census from 1790 to 1930. Library use is free for members; non-members pay $5 per day. Copies cost 25 cents each. The library is staffed by volunteers; check the BCGS website for current open hours.
Reading Public Library Pennsylvania Room
The Pennsylvania Room at the Reading Public Library is located at 100 South Fifth Street, Reading, PA 19602. This specialized collection houses local histories, family histories, church records, and cemetery records focused on Berks County and the surrounding region. The Reading Eagle newspaper is available on microfilm for genealogy searches. City directories for Reading and surrounding areas document residents across many decades. Census records are on microfilm. High school and college yearbooks can help identify individuals and verify family connections.
Staff assistance is available to help with research. Photocopies are available for a nominal fee. Contact the library at 610-655-6355 or reference@readingpubliclibrary.org. The Pennsylvania Room is one of the strongest local history collections in the region and should be a stop for anyone doing serious Berks County genealogy research. Newspapers, in particular, often contain obituaries that list surviving family members, making them valuable for bridging gaps in official records. Under 65 P.S. § 67.101, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law supports public access to government-held genealogy records, and the public library provides free access to many privately held historical collections.
Vital Records in Berks County
Berks County birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 are at the Register of Wills. For events from January 1906 forward, the Pennsylvania Department of Health maintains statewide vital records. Under 35 P.S. § 450.801, birth records are restricted for 105 years from the date of birth and death records for 50 years. Birth records through 1913 and death records through 1968 are now publicly accessible at the Pennsylvania State Archives. Requests can be placed with the Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103.
Marriage records for Berks County go back to 1885 at the Register of Wills. For marriages before that date, church registers are the primary source. The Berks History Center holds church records from Berks County congregations. Many German Reformed, Lutheran, and Mennonite congregations in Berks County kept detailed registers going back to the mid-1700s. Some have been microfilmed and indexed. The Pennsylvania Archives digitized collections through the PHMC Ancestry partnership include county marriages from 1845 to 1963, which covers much of Berks County's marriage record history. Under Act 127 of 2016, eligible adoptees in Berks County may apply for original birth certificate information through the Department of Health.
Land and Probate Records in Berks County
Berks County land records at the Recorder of Deeds go back to 1752. These records document nearly 275 years of property transfers in the county. Early deed books from the colonial period are especially valuable for researching German immigrant families who acquired land in Berks County in the mid-1700s. The Pennsylvania State Archives holds Land Warrant Registers covering Berks County territory from the 1730s, predating county formation. These warrant records are indexed by surname and available as digitized images through the State Archives land records portal.
Probate records at the Berks County Register of Wills span from 1752 to the present. Wills from the 18th and 19th centuries often name all children, including married daughters, and sometimes identify grandchildren. Estate inventories document the property and possessions of Berks County residents across the generations. Many of these probate records are available through the Ancestry.com Pennsylvania digitized collections covering Pennsylvania wills and probate records from 1683 to 1993. Under 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3, State Archives records more than 75 years old are generally open to public access.
Pennsylvania Archives and Online Resources
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds state-level records important to Berks County genealogy. The Archives maintains microfilm of county records from across Pennsylvania, including Berks County. Military records in the ARIAS database document Berks County soldiers in the Revolutionary War and Civil War. Berks County had a significant German-American population that contributed troops to both conflicts. The Civil War Veterans Card File covers soldiers from Berks County regiments. These records are free to search online through the ARIAS system.
The State Library of Pennsylvania genealogy collection includes county histories and family histories relevant to Berks County research. On-site access to Ancestry.com Library Edition, HeritageQuest, and Fold3 is available at the State Library in Harrisburg. The Pennsylvania POWER Library provides MyHeritage Library Edition to Pennsylvania residents through local libraries. Berks County residents can access these databases through the Reading Public Library or by obtaining a POWER Library e-card for remote access.
Cities in Berks County
Reading is the county seat of Berks County and the largest city in the region. Genealogy records for Reading residents are filed at the Berks County courthouse and held at local libraries and the Berks History Center.
Nearby Counties
Berks County is in southeastern Pennsylvania and borders several other counties. Families often lived in neighboring areas before settling in Berks County, so checking these county records can expand your search.