Research Services
Library and Genealogical Research Services
To help researchers who are not able to use the Library in person, the Library offers two types of research by mail services. The first is a Library Genealogical Research Service for those persons needing help with locating information on a Chester County ancestor. There is also a Library Document Request Service, for those requesting a specific known file on a person or topic related to Chester County. The Chester County Archives also offers services for those looking for information found in county records.
Library Genealogical Research Services
To help researchers who cannot come to the Library, a genealogical research service is available. This service is intended to provide the researcher with basic information found in the collections of CCHS about a specific individual. We will not attempt to construct a line of descent. Please include any information that you have that may be helpful to us in identifying the person you are looking for.
For each individual to be searched, please provide the name to be searched, the approximate years the person lived in Chester County and the township in which they lived. For each request all of the following sources that apply to the specific request will be checked.
You may request a search for more than one person, but each will require pre-payment of $40.00 ($35.00 for CCHS members). To use this service, please send a check or money order made payable to CCHS for $40.00 ($35.00 for CCHS members) for each name to be searched to LIBRARY MAIL RESEARCH SERVICE at the Chester County Historical Society. The genealogical research mail service includes copies (up to 25 pages) of any records located in the search. For additional copies, you will be billed $.35 per page. Checks are cashed upon the completion of the research. Requests are usually filled within 6 to 8 weeks.
Please send to:
Library Mail Research Service
Chester County Historical Society
225 North High Street
West Chester, PA 19380-2691
Library Document Request Service
For $10.00 the Library will provide photocopies of up to 25 pages of a particular document or file. The charge for any copies after 25 pages is $.35 per page. When requesting a document or file, please provide all information you have (full names, any dates, place of residence for example) so that we are sure we retrieve the correct information. Please enclose a self addressed stamped envelope. Remember, we only have information about people who lived in Chester County and events that took place here. To use this service, please send a check or money order for $10.00 made payable to CHESTER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY for each document or file requested.
Please contact the library if you have any questions about either of these services.
Library and Genealogical Research Services
To help researchers who are not able to use the Library in person, the Library offers two types of research by mail services. The first is a Library Genealogical Research Service for those persons needing help with locating information on a Chester County ancestor. There is also a Library Document Request Service, for those requesting a specific known file on a person or topic related to Chester County. The Chester County Archives also offers services for those looking for information found in county records.
Library Genealogical Research Services
To help researchers who cannot come to the Library, a genealogical research service is available. This service is intended to provide the researcher with basic information found in the collections of CCHS about a specific individual. We will not attempt to construct a line of descent. Please include any information that you have that may be helpful to us in identifying the person you are looking for.
For each individual to be searched, please provide the name to be searched, the approximate years the person lived in Chester County and the township in which they lived. For each request all of the following sources that apply to the specific request will be checked.
- Every-name indexes to the History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, by J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, 1881 and to Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania by Gilbert Cope and Henry Graham Ashmead, 1904
- Family Surname collections
- Genealogist research collections compiled by Marwood Darlington, John V. Hollingsworth, George N. Highley, A.R. Justice and Thomas A. Urbine
- Newspaper clippings files, 1810-1975, and computer indexes to Chester County and Delaware County newspapers 1809-1870
- Card catalog of manuscripts
- Card catalog of genealogies and other publications
- Federal census indexes for Pennsylvania, 1790-1930
- Additional library resources as appropriate
You may request a search for more than one person, but each will require pre-payment of $40.00 ($35.00 for CCHS members). To use this service, please send a check or money order made payable to CCHS for $40.00 ($35.00 for CCHS members) for each name to be searched to LIBRARY MAIL RESEARCH SERVICE at the Chester County Historical Society. The genealogical research mail service includes copies (up to 25 pages) of any records located in the search. For additional copies, you will be billed $.35 per page. Checks are cashed upon the completion of the research. Requests are usually filled within 6 to 8 weeks.
Please send to:
Library Mail Research Service
Chester County Historical Society
225 North High Street
West Chester, PA 19380-2691
Library Document Request Service
For $10.00 the Library will provide photocopies of up to 25 pages of a particular document or file. The charge for any copies after 25 pages is $.35 per page. When requesting a document or file, please provide all information you have (full names, any dates, place of residence for example) so that we are sure we retrieve the correct information. Please enclose a self addressed stamped envelope. Remember, we only have information about people who lived in Chester County and events that took place here. To use this service, please send a check or money order for $10.00 made payable to CHESTER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY for each document or file requested.
Please contact the library if you have any questions about either of these services.