• Key to Record Sources
    Published Materials Books, journals, pamphlets, and other published materials from HSP's library collection
    Names Database Primary names extracted from the HSP Encounters system
    Philadelphia Record Photograph Morgue Index to photographs found in the Philadelphia Record Photograph Morgue (PRPM)
    Digital Records Records from the HSP Digital Library
    Archival Records Extracts of EAD records from HSP's archival management system, and full-text indexing of all linked HTML and PDF finding aids
  • Advanced Searching
    Our Advanced search tool lets you easily search multiple fields at the same time and combine terms in complex ways. See the help page for more details.
  • Alphabetical Browsing
    The Alpha Browse tool provides you the option to browse traditional alphabetical headings for all authors, subjects and titles in our collection.
  • Recent Additions
    Want to see what we've added recently? Use our New Items search to see new items added in the last day, five days, or 30 days.

About Our Collections
Founded in 1824, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) is one of the nation’s most significant archives of historical documents. Our mission is to preserve and provide access to our collection of over 22 million manuscripts, published works, photographs, and graphic materials spanning centuries of American history. As an active collecting institution, our holdings support research, learning, and exploration across a diverse range of topics, with strengths in Pennsylvania history, family and community history, ethnic history, science and technology, and the arts. Through research services, educational programs, public events, exhibits, publications, and fellowships, HSP invites you to connect with the past and engage with the stories that define our shared history. At HSP, we invite you to Make History Yours through the vast collections of Philadelphia’s Library of American History.