GENEALOGY REQUEST

To place an online Genealogy Research Request, please complete the information in the form to the left.  If you are a member, please log in first so you can get member pricing.  If you wish to make a Genealogy Research Request by mail, there is a link at the bottom to download the form.

The Genealogy Request is best suited for the researcher who has already done some family research and is trying to locate more information about a specific individual. Each Genealogy Request is limited to one name of an individual. Separate Genealogy Requests must be submitted for more than one individual. Please provide as many details on the subject of your search as possible to enhance our searching capabilities. We will then attempt to locate additional information about that individual found within the items as listed on the research prospectus.

The Library & Archives has over 8,800 genealogical family files. Surnames can be spelled numerous ways, and the family collection reflects many of these variations. Each family collection is organized under the unique Center’s control spelling and may contain a family file and series of cards. The family or surname file contains various materials pertaining to that particular surname and its variations. For example, a surname file may include newspaper clippings of obituaries, weddings and engagements; short genealogies (less than 40 pages); family group sheets; pedigree charts; previous research queries; copies of original documents and photos. Materials in the family files have been collected or submitted to us over the years by volunteers and researchers. Five sets of index cards accompany each family file. These cards include abstracts from church records, cemetery tombstones, Will books and Orphans Court Dockets (1749-1850), a sampling of pre-1800 tax records, and other selected sources.

Upon receipt of the Research Request Order Form and payment, we will search the twelve major reference sources in The History Center’s genealogy collection, including the family file and accompanying index cards.

The fee for each Genealogy Request is $65 for non-members and $40 for York County History Center members. This fee is payable in advance and is nonrefundable regardless of the outcome of the search. The fee includes research time and up to 15 copies from the sources searched. Additional photocopies are $0.50 each and will be limited to 20 extra copies. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for a reply.