Collections

The Collections at LancasterHistory

Scroll down to view each collection type, or click the links below to quick jump to a specific collection.

 

ARCHIVES          |          LIBRARY          |          PHOTOGRAPHS          |          OBJECTS

 


ARCHIVES

Manuscript groups in archival boxes and historic ledgers line shelves in the archives.The Archives has over 600 manuscript groups that contain the records of individuals, families, businesses, social organizations, and City and County Government of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. These records range in date from the incorporation of the county in 1729 to the present. Letters, diaries, estate papers, business records, trade cards, Civil War muster rolls, love letters, and court records combine to tell the stories of families and communities in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

LancasterHistory is also a repository for Lancaster County Historic Government records.

  • SEARCH THE MANUSCRIPT GROUP FINDING AIDS

CONTACT STAFF

Need additional assistance? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to LancasterHistory’s Research Center staff at archives@lancasterhistory.org.

 


LIBRARY

Sanborn Maps show the streets of the city as well as the building materials of insured buildings.

CONTACT STAFF

Need additional assistance? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to LancasterHistory’s Research Center staff at research@lancasterhistory.org. Patrons can also view a selection of research guides to assist with their research progress.

 


PHOTOGRAPHS

Photograph of men in period costume acting out a scene from a play.The photographic collections of LancasterHistory contain more than 90,000 historic images around the County. Included are early tintypes, daguerreotypes, stereographs, cartes de visite, and cabinet cards taken by Lancaster County, PA, nineteenth century photographers.

CONTACT STAFF

Need additional assistance? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to LancasterHistory Research Center staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.

 


OBJECTS

Harriet Lane Johnston's House of Worth gown.Since 1886, LancasterHistory has been collecting objects for research and exhibition. Today there are thousands of items that pertain to the history of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the life of President James Buchanan, First Lady Harriet Lane Johnston, Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, Lydia Hamilton Smith and so many more.

CONTACT STAFF

Need additional assistance? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr. Jim McMahon, Curator & Director of Collections, at james.mcmahon@lancasterhistory.org or (717) 392-4633, ext. 112.