Family History
The National Archives at Philadelphia offers many records useful anyone researching their family history. Below is an overview of some of our most popular genealogy holdings, many of which have been digitized. Feel free to contact our reference staff for more information about our records, of if you have any questions.
- Naturalization Records
- Ship's Passenger Lists
- Census Records
- Military Service Records (not held in Philadelphia)
Selected finding aids, including our Guide to Archival Holdings at the National Archives at Philadelphia, are available on our website. For any questions about our holdings please contact our staff. More information about researching family history can be found through NARA's Genealogy page.
Naturalization Records
The National Archives at Philadelphia holds naturalization records for the Federal courts in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. You can find some of our digitized naturalization holdings on our Digitized Genealogical Records page.
How to Order
You can order these records through NARA's online ordering system or by contacting our staff at philadelphia.archives@nara.gov.
If you email our staff, please include the following information with your request:
- Name of the naturalized citizen
- Court or city where the naturalization occurred
- Approximate date of the naturalization or immigration
- Country or place of birth
- Date of birth
- Name of spouse (if applicable)
- Name of children (if applicable)
Declaration of Intention for Theresia Josephine Vennemann
April 28, 1932, NAID: 56918397
Ship's Passenger Lists
See list of microfilmed passenger arrival records from Baltimore and Philadelphia that have been digitized by partners on our Digitized Genealogical Records page. You can learn more by visiting Microfilm Publications and Original Records Digitized by Our Digitization Partners.
How to Order
Our staff does not search these records on behalf of patrons. You can submit your order through NARA's online ordering system or by mailing a completed NATF-081 form per those instructions.
Photograph of Immigrants on a Ferry Boat Near Ellis Island
NAID: 594479
Census Records
Federal Population Census Schedules
Federal population censuses for all states from 1790 to 1940 can be viewed in NARA's online catalog, as well as through our digitization partners Ancestry.com, Familysearch.org, and Fold3.com. The 1950 census can be viewed through the 1950 Census Website.
Census Records after 1950
Census Records after 1950 are not available through the National Archives. However, you may be able to access certain records for specific legal reasons through the U.S. Census Bureau.
How to Order
Our staff does not search these records on behalf of patrons. You can submit your order through NARA's online ordering system or by mailing a completed NATF-082 form per those instructions.
1940 Census Population Schedules - Pennsylvania - Centre County - ED 14-6
1940, NAID: 137652733
Feel free to contact our reference staff for more information about our records, of if you have any questions.