The Pennsylvania State Archives collects, preserves and makes available for study the permanently-valuable public records of the Commonwealth, with particular attention given to the records of state government. The State Archives also collects papers of private citizens and organizations relevant to Pennsylvania history.

Phone: (717) 783-3281
Mail: 350 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120
E-mail: ra-statearchives@pa.gov

Directions to the corner of Third and Forster Streets, Harrisburg, PA. 

 

VITAL RECORDS Pennsylvania's 1906-1907 BIRTH CERTIFICATES and 1906-1962 DEATH CERTIFICATES are now open to the public. Access Vital Records ** Click here to see the list of records currently out for scanning **

Use the Resources of the State Archives:

• Advanced Help for Searching Archives Finding Aids
• Collections
• Research Topics
• Genealogy
• Land Records
• ARIAS Military Records
• Digital Documents
• Copy and Search Fees
• Related Research Sites
• Frequently Asked Questions

Learn About State Archives Programs:

• State Government Records Management
  • Disaster Planning for State Government Agencies
• Local Government & Judicial System Services
  • Grants
  • Retention & Disposition Schedule
  • Disaster Planning for Local Governments
• Records Management Seminar (annual Fall event)
• "Access Archives": The Newsletter of the Pennsylvania State Archives
• Internship Program
• Scholars-in-Residence Program
• State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB)
• History Day

History and Mission of the Pennsylvania State Archives:

• Brief History of the Archives
• A Treasure Trove of Historical Records: The Pennsylvania State Archives, an article by Sharon Hernes Silverman published in Pennsylvania Heritage magazine. Click here for part one (PDF, 91KB); click here for part two (PDF, 120 KB). (The article requires the Adobe Acrobat reader to be viewed or printed. The software is available free of charge from Adobe. If you are using a screen reader, Adobe also offers a free online document conversion service at http://access.adobe.com.)
• Documenting Pennsylvania's Past: The First Century of the Pennsylvania State Archives, a book edited by Willis L. Shirk, Jr., is available for purchase online.
• Find out what African American records, manuscripts, photographs, and microfilm holdings are here at the State Archives in Ruth Hodge's 598-page comprehensive and invaluable Guide to African American Resources.

If you need further assistance, you may contact an archivist at ra-statearchives@pa.gov