Research Guides: Journalism: Find Public Records

Vital Records

Pennsylvania State Archives
Original birth certificates for 1906 and death certificates for 1906-1961 are available at the State Archives. Copies may be requested by mail. To find earlier records, consult county records or nongovernmental sources such as church registers, gravestone inscriptions, and newspapers because prior to 1906, Pennsylvania births and deaths were recorded only sporadically by the counties and some cities, such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania Department of Health
The Department of Health's Division of Vital Records maintains birth and death events that occur in Pennsylvania from 1906 to the present. Marriage and divorce certificates filed in Pennsylvania are not available from the Division of Vital Records. These certificates are usually obtained from the courthouse in the county where the marriage license was issued or divorce decree was granted.
Philadelphia City Archives
Contains birth records from about 1860 to 1915.
Contains death records from about 1803 to 1915.

Property Records

Pennsylvania State Archives
Contains historical land records.
Philadelphia City Archives
Contains deed records from 1683 to 1952.
Philadelphia Department of Records
Contains deed records from 1951 to the present.
Philadelphia Office of Property Assessment
The Office of Property Assessment is the City agency whose staff is charged with establishing real property values which serve as the basis for real estate taxes levied by the City of Philadelphia.
Official Federal Land Records Site
The Bureau of Land Management provides information about public land transfers. The database covers federal land title records for eastern Public Land States issued between 1820 and 1908 as well as land titles issued between 1908 and the mid-1960's.

Court & Criminal Records

Agencies for access to court and criminal records vary widely by jurisdiction. Start with the district or municipality from which you believe the case originated.

Court Records Free Reference and Directory
A directory of courts across the U.S.
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
Attorney General opinions also available.
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
Search for persons incarcerated, parole dates, etc.
National Sex Offender Registry

Accessing Public Records

Public records may or may not be online. It often depends upon the state or country resources from which the records originated. You may need to contact or visit the physical location, such as a county court house, in order to actually see the records. Check online first, but be prepared to call or travel to the location if necessary.

Public Records & Libraries

Libraries typically do not have any more access to public records than you do; however, libraries do subscribe to specialized databases that help with some kinds of proprietary information, such as corporate and industry profiles.

Good Sources for Locating Public Records

Large public libraries (often have local historical and genealogical sources)
Historical societies
Archives
County courthouses
City Hall of any municipality
State agencies, such as Dept of Health, Dept of Motor Vehicles, etc.

Confidential or Private Records

Public access to records such as employee records, student transcripts, patient health records, etc. may be restricted by the agency holding them; an FOIA request may be requred. You can usually see your own records by request with proof of identification.

-- Content adapted from Diana Nichols, Librarian at Ohio University

Voting Records

Philadelphia City Commissioners
Contains data on citywide election results, as well as results by ward and division.
Pennsylvania Department of State
The Department of State's Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation oversees the Commonwealth’s electoral process as well as Campaign Finance, Voter Registration, Office of Notary Public, Commissions and Legislation. Includes past and present voter registration statistics.