Land Records and Vitals Search Help
Welcome to
the Philadelphia Department of Records Historic Land and Vital Records
site. In
this site searchers will find a broad range of records from
Searching for
records in this system
is much like searching for records on microfilm, except with the speed
and
convenience of electronic viewing. In each case, to locate a specific
historic
record the searcher must start with basic information about a desired
record,
such as names and dates. The system will bring up sets of records
corresponding
to the reels of microfilm that likely contain the desired record, with
the
images listed as they are contained on the original reel of microfilm.
The
searcher will then need to browse the images to locate the exact record
of
interest.
Following
are some search tips:
LAND
RECORDS SEARCH RECOMMENDATIONS:
Following are
procedures for using the
Non-specific
search:
The searcher may browse through the records by
entering an arbitrary reel number or date range in the search
fields.
This approach is useful if no specific document is sought, but
instead the
goal is, for example, to survey and find illustrative examples
of deeds
from various time periods.
Specific
search:
(1)
To locate a specific historic deed, the searcher should begin with the
name of
either the Grantor (the individual who officially transferred the
property) or
Grantee (the individual to whom the property was officially
transferred) of the
property of interest and the approximate year in which the transaction
took
place.
(2)
Open the Historical Index (accessed via the link on this page or from
the
Records Department's main page) and search for the name in the
Grantor or
Grantee index, as appropriate. Scroll down the pages of the index,
using the
magnifying feature to assist in reading the entries.
(3)
Once the line entry for the transaction is located, note the book and
page,
along with the date of the transaction.
(4)
Switch to the Historic Land Records system. The book, page and date
information can then be entered in the search fields
in appropriate
search fields. The search should return a group of image sets
corresponding to the microfilm reels which contain the desired results.
Bear in
mind that book and page numbers repeated over the years, so searching
based on
book and page alone will likely return numerous result sets.
(5)The
searcher will then need to browse through the set of images, as with a
reel of
microfilm, to find the correct deed.
VITAL
RECORDS SEARCH RECOMMENDATIONS:
Following are
procedures for using the
Specific
search:
(1)
To locate a specific historic vital record from the available date
ranges (see
descriptions below), the searcher should begin with the initials of the
individual of interest and the approximate year in which the record
would have
been recorded.
(2)
Enter the information in the appropriate search fields. The search
should
return a group of image sets corresponding to the microfilm
reels which
contain the desired results.
(3)The
searcher will then need to browse through the set of images, as with a
reel of
microfilm, to find the correct record.
Descriptions of
Vital Records
collections in the system:
Death records, July 1, 1860-June 30, 1915, consist of the index to
death
records, the death register and death certificates. For the period
1860-1903, the
death index is a volume for each year, arranged by initial letter of
the
surname, with an entry's name and the page number or certificate number
under
which the entry may be found in the register. The index volumes for
1904 and
1905 and the card index, 1906-1905, which are arranged alphabetically,
list the
deceased's name, age, race, date and cause of death, residence, and
place of
burial and the number of the death certificate. The death
register,1860-1903,
lists dates of death and registration; decedent's name, age, sex, race,
marital
status, occupation, parents (only if a minor), place of birth (city and
state
only), address at which death occurred), cause of death, attending
physician
and date and place of burial. Death certificates, 1860-1915,
filed with
the Board of Health or Department or Bureau of Health,
include the same
information as the death register but for the period after 1904 often
add
parents' birthplaces, length of residence at address where death
occurred,
duration of illness, physician's address and period of attendance, and
undertaker's name and address.
Marriage records, July 1, 1860-December 31, 1885. These include the
marriage
index, marriage register and marriage returns. The marriage index for
each year
is arranged by initial letter of an entry's surname and lists the
entry's name
and the page of the register where the entry may be found. The marriage
register lists the dates of marriage and registration, names, ages,
race, places
of birth and residence of both parties (city, state or country only);
occupation of male, type of ceremony employed and name and address of
person
performing ceremony. Marriage returns, handwritten by the person, ages,
places
of birth and residence (city, state or country only); male's
occupation, and race
of couple.
Naturalization records, 1794-1904 and 1914-1930, are those of the City
and County
Courts of Philadelphia. These include records of the Court of Common
Pleas, the
Court of Quarter Sessions, the County District Court, the Mayor's or
City Court,
the Court of Criminal, the Court of General Sessions and the Recorder's
Court
for the Districts of the Northern Liberties, Spring Garden and
Kensington. The
naturalization records consist of declarations of intention to become a
citizen
and petitions of naturalization. Information in the record varies
slightly from
court to court and period to period. All declarations include the
declarent's
name, country of origin and/or sovereign, and date of declaration.
Added
variously are declarent's age, date of birth and place of birth, place
of
embarkation, date and port of entry, length of residence in
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