2 min
Updated: Feb 8, 2021
The Pennsylvania State Archives has made thousands of family history records available online at Ancestry.com. Residents of Pennsylvania will be glad to know they have been granted free access to these files:
Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012
Pennsylvania, Births, 1852-1854
Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952
Pennsylvania, Oyer and Terminer Court Papers, 1757-1787
Pennsylvania, Spanish War Compensation, 1898-1934
Pennsylvania, Naturalization Records from Supreme and District Courts, 1794-1908
Pennsylvania, War of 1812 Pensions, 1866-1879
Pennsylvania, Land Warrants, 1733-1987
Pennsylvania, Civil War Border Claims, 1868-1879
Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1852-1854
Pennsylvania, Deaths, 1852-1854
Pennsylvania, Records of Marriages, 1885-1889
Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801
Pennsylvania, Septennial Census, 1779-1863
Pennsylvania, WPA Church Archives, 1937-1940
Pennsylvania, Veteran Compensation Application Files, WWII, 1950-1966
Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964
Pennsylvania, Civil War Muster Rolls, 1860-1869
Pennsylvania, Birth Records, 1906-1910
Pennsylvania, WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948
Pennsylvania, Prison, Reformatory, and Workhouse Records, 1829-1971
Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1845-1963
Here's how to access the collection free of charge:
First, if you have an account with Ancestry.com, log in to your account. A paid subscription to Ancestry is not required but logging in first will make the next step easier.
In another tab or window, click this link to enter Ancestry's site through the State Archives:
In the page that opens, scroll to the bottom and enter your Pennsylvania zip code. After typing in the zip code, Do NOT press Enter on your keyboard. Simply click the link: "Go to Pennsylvania State Archives records at Ancestry.com".
You will arrive at a search form, where you can enter the criteria of your search. If you aren't already logged into Ancestry.com, you will be prompted to create an account when you try to access a document. Once your logged in, you may browse or search the collection.