Research Services

Library and Genealogical Research Services 

To help researchers who can't come and 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. The service is intended to provide the researcher with basic information found in the collections of Chester County Historical Society about a specific individual. It will not attempt to construct a line of descent. Please include facts that may be helpful in identifying the person. 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.

1. Index to Chester County men in the American Revolution and Index to those who took the Oath of Allegiance.
2. Printed index of Chester County soldiers and sailors in the American Civil War
3. Every-Name index to the book History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, by J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, 1881
4. Clippings files (by name) 1810-1975, and computer indexes to Chester County and Delaware County newspapers 1809-1870
5. Card catalog of books and manuscripts in the Library
6. Index to photographs 1842-present
7. United States Pennsylvania census indexes 1790-1870

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 a photocopy 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. 

Photo Collection Search and Photocopy Services

For $10.00, CCHS will search our photograph collection and provide up to 25 photocopies. All indexes and in-house databases will be searched and photographs matching your request will be photocopied and mailed to your address. CCHS does not email images.

Please send to:

Photo Archives
Chester County Historical Society
225 North High Street
West Chester, PA 19380-2691