This is a collection of various historical and genealogical reference works on Pennsylvania. These references cover 1000's of individuals, and are an excellent way to start or continue research focused on PA.

This material was scanned from original publications and will be provided as text searchable PDFs (unless noted in description). These files can be read using many PDF reader programs (Windows / Mac / Linux), however Adobe Reader or Acrobat are recommended.

The Register of Pennsylvania [Sketch on Franklin County]
(Samuel Hazard Editor, 1829, Vol. 3, no. 15, 3 pages)
This is an excerpt of Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania, a periodical relating all manner of historical and other useful information on Pennsylvania. This is pages 233-235 and features an early historical sketch on Franklin County, PA.

The History and Topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams,
Perry, Somerset, Cambria, and Indiana Counties (I. Daniel Rupp, 1848, 711 pages)
This publication begins with an early history of the state. It discusses the German and Scotch-Irish immigrants who settled in these counties, and the follows with a discussion of the troubles the early settlers had with the Indians. After the general history of the area, it changes focus to Franklin County, covered on pages 439 - 478. These pages discuss the formation and growth of the county, a description of its geography, agriculture, industry, and a brief history of its major towns. At the end is a very useful Every-Name Index that was added to the original publication.

Centennial Biography Men of Mark of Cumberland Valley, Pa., 1776-1876
(Alfred Nevin, 1876, 478 pages)
From the Preface:
"No district of our broad, beautiful, and blessed country has furninshed more representative men - men distinguished for their ability, integrity and influence - than Cumberland Valley."
This publication was one of the first to attempt to chronicle the lives of the prominent individuals of the Cumberland Valley. The first 50 pages contain a brief history of the valley, followed by 400 pages containing biographies of leading men and families.

Surnames Indexed:
Agnew, Allen, Allison, Armstrong, Audenreid, Boggs, Brownson, Buchanan, Cathcart, Craighead, Crain, Crawford, Chambers, Creigh, Culbertson, Davidson, Denny, Duffield, Duncan, Dunlop, Elliott, Findlay, Finley, Fisher, Foster, Fullerton, Gibson, Graham, Grier, Gustine, Hamilton, Harbaugh, Herron, Johnston, Junkin, Kaufman, Kennedy, King, Knox, Krebs, Laird, Lane, Linn, McCarrell, McClelland, McClure, McConaughy, McCoskry, McCulloh, McCullough, McElroy, McGill, McGinley, McKibbin, McKinley, McKnight, McLanahan, McPherson, Moodey, Moore, Nevin, Nisbet, Penrose, Pomeroy, Rankin, Rauch, Reed, Richards, Ritner, Sanderson, Schneck, Scott, Senseny, Stewart, Sharp, Smith, Snodgrass, Snowden, Speer, Steel, Stevens, Thompson, Thomson, Watts, Weir, Wilkins, Williams, Wilson, Williamson, Wing, Whitehill, Woods, Young

Historical Sketch of Franklin County, Pennsylvania [3rd Edition]
(I. H. M'Cauley & D. F. Pursel, 1878, 421 pages)
This is an expanded 3rd edition of the original publication, having the addition of over 100 illustrations of homes and buildings of the county. This publication contains a historical sketch of the county's formation and growth. In addition to the historical accounts, there is a great deal of other useful information contained, including numerous early tax lists, war rosters, lists of county officials, etc. There are also numerous descriptions of Franklin County's businesses and residences which contain biographical information about their owners. This is a wonderful reference on Franklin County, PA which is often overlooked due to the larger historical / biographical volumes covering the same area.

History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania (Warner, Beers & Co., 1887, 919 pages)
This is the first major historical / biographical work for Franklin County, Pa. Part 1 covers the early history of Pennsylvania. Part 2 covers the settlement and civil development of Franklin county, including early settlers, wars, professions, government, etc. Part 3 contains biographical sketches from all parts of the county, as well as numerous portraits. The biographies are organized by township and borough. This publication has no index, but each of the biographies are bookmarked for quick searching.

Surnames:
Adams, Agnew, Albert, Alexander, Amberson, Anderson, Andrews, Archibald, Atherton, Aughinbaugh, Baer, Bair, Balsley, Bard, Barkdoll, Battin, Beam, Beck, Bell, Benchhoff, Benchoff, Benedict, Berger, Bergstresser, Berlin, Besore, Bietsch, Bishop, Bixler, Black, Blair, Boggs, Bollinger, Bonbrake, Bonebrake, Bowers, Bowman, Boyd, Bradley, Brake, Brailler, Brechbill, Breckenridge, Brenisholts, Brenneman, Bricker, Brindle, Brinley, Brotherton, Brown, Brumbaugh, Bryson, Buhrman, Burk, Burkholder, Burns, Bush, Byers, Campbell, Carl, Carson, Chambers, Christ, Chritzman, Clark, Clayton, Clippinger, Clugston, Colestock, Cook, Coons, Coover, Cort, Cover, Craig, Cramer, Crawford, Cremer, Cromer, Crowell, Culbertson, Davidson, Davison, Deatrick, Defenderfer, Deitrich, Denton, Detrich, Detrick, Devor, Dice, Dixon, Doebler, Downin, Doyle, Dougherty, Duke, Duncan, Eachus, Ebbert, Eberly, Ebersole, Eby, Eckert, Eckhardt, Edgar, Elden, Elder, Elliott, Erwin, Evans, Etter, Eyster, Ferguson, Fickes, Finney, Fleming, Flickinger, Fohl, Foltz, Forbes, Foreman, Foutz, Frantz, Frey, Frick, Fritz, Frymire, Funk, Fuss, Garver, Geiser, Gelwicks, George, Geyer, Gillan, Gilland, Gilmore, Gingrich, Glasser, Goerner, Graves, Greenewalt, Grier, Good, Gordon, Grove, Hade, Hagerman, Hamilton, Hammett, Hammond, Harbaugh, Harchelroad, Harmony, Harnish, Harris, Hartman, Hartmann, Hartzell, Hashinger, Hassler, Haulman, Hawbecker, Hawk, Hazlett, Heefner, Heintzelman, Henkell, Henninger, Herman, Hess, Hill, Hoeflich, Holby, Holland, Hollenshead, Holliday, Hoke, Hoover, Houser, Huber, Hull, Hunsecker, Hunter, Hutton, Immell, Ives, Johns, Johnston, Jones, Kaelin, Kauffman, Kaufman, Keagy, Keefer, Kell, Kennedy, Kerlin, Keyser, Kimmell, Kimple, King, Kirkpatrick, Kisecker, Klinefelter, Klock, Knappenberger, Knepper, Knisley, Koser, Kreps, Krider, Kriner, Kuhn, Kunkle, Kyner, Lackens, Lamaster, Landis, Lane, Lantz, Lear, Leberknight, Ledy, Lehman, Lehmann, Leisher, Lemaster, Lesher, Lidy, Lightfoot, Linn, Lippy, Little, Logue, Lookabaugh, Lowry, Lugwig, Lull, Lurgan, Maclay, Magee, Main, Martin, McAfee, McAllens, McCleary, McCormick, McCurdy, McColloch, McCulloh, McDonald, McDowell, McGinley, McGovran, McGowan, McGrath, McKinstry, McKnight, McLanahan, McLaughlin, Merklein, Metcalfe, Meyers, Michaels, Mickley, Middour, Miles, Miller, Minick, Minnich, Mish, Monath, Montgomery, Motter, Mower, Nevin, Nicklas, Nicodemus, Nimmon, Noble, Nowell, Oberholser, Oller, Omwake, Orr, Over, Palmer, Parret, Patton, Peiffer, Pensinger, Pfoutz, Phiel, Philips, Phillippy, Piper, Platt, Plough, Poffenberger, Pomeroy, Powders, Price, Radebaugh, Ramsey, Rankin, Rebuck, Reed, Rehauser, Reid, Reisher, Renfrew, Rhoads, Rhodes, Rice, Riley, Rinehart, Robertson, Rohrer, Rosenberger, Rosenberry, Rosman, Roth, Rouzer, Rowe, Ruby, Ruthrauff, Ryder, Schaff, Scheible, Schleichter, Schlichter, Senseny, Sentman, Shaffer, Shank, Sharpe, Shearer, Sherk, Shields, Shiffert, Shillito, Shirey, Shively, Shoap, Shockey, Shoemaker, Shope, Shover, Shreiner, Shull, Sierer, Skiles, Skinner, Small, Smiley, Smith, Snider, Snively, Snoke, Snyder, Solenberger, Speck, Speer, Spoonour, Stach, Stake, Stark, Steck, Stenger, Stephey, Stewart, Stickell, Stine, Stoey, Stoner, Stouffer, Strickler, Strock, Suesserott, Swanger, Taylor, Teach, Thompson, Tritle, Trogler, Uglow, Unger, Walker, Wallace, Washabaugh, Weagly, Weaver, Weidler, Weitzel, Welsh, Welty, Wentling, Wentz, Wertz, White, Wiener, Wiestling, Wilhelm, Wineman, Winger, Wingert, Wise, Witherrow, Witherspoon, Wolfe, Wolfersberger, Wolff, Wolfkill, Woods, Yoh, Yost, Youst, Zacharais, Ziegler, Zimmerman, Zook, Zug

Biographical Annals of Franklin County, Pennsylvania
(Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, 761 pages)
This is the second major biographical work for Franklin County, Pa. It contains biographical and genealogical information on hundreds of families from Franklin and surrounding counties.

Surnames Indexed:
Agnew, Alexander, Amberson, Anthony, Armstrong, Aughinbaugh, Ballance, Bard, Barnhart, Barnett, Baughey, Beaver, Beck, Benchoff, Blair, Bloser, Bollinger, Bonbrake, Booth, Bowers, Bowman, Brandt, Brechbill, Breckenridge, Brereton, Brewer, Britton, Brosius, Brownson, Brubaker, Burger, Burk, Burkholder, Burns, Bush, Campbell, Cantner, Carbaugh, Carl, Chambers, Chritzman, Clarke, Clary, Clayton, Clevenger, Coffman, Coover, Corbett, Craig, Crawford, Crebs, Criswell, Croft, Culbertson, Cunningham, Curriden, Cushwa, Davis, Davison, Detrich, Devilbiss, Devor, Dickson, Diehl, Dixon, Downin, Duffield, Dull, Duncan, Dunn, Eberly, Eby, Eckel, Elder, Emmert, Enniss, Ernst, Etter, Fallon, Faust, Fletcher, Flickinger, Foltz, Fosnot, Franklin, Frantz, Frick, Fritz, Frommeyer, Funk, Gehr, Geiser, Gelwicks, Gelwix, George, Gerbig, Gillan, Gilmore, Glass, Good, Gordon, Greenawalt, Grosh, Grove, Hafer, Harbaugh, Harrison, Hartman, Hartz, Hartzell, Hassler, Haverstick, Hawbecker, Hawk, Hayes, Heck, Heckman, Hege, Heisey, Henneberger, Hess, Heyser, Hiester, Highland, Hoch, Hoeflich, Hoerner, Hoke, Hollinger, Hoover, Horst, Hosfeld, Hostetter, Huber, Hutton, Irvine, Ives, Jacobs, John, Johns, Johnston, Jones, Karper, Kauffman, Keefer, Kempter, Kennedy, Kieffer, King, Kinneard, Kirkpatrick, Knepper, Kyner, Landis, Lantz, Lauton, Lawrence, Ledy, Lehman, Leidig, Lemaster, Lesher, Lesley, Lindsay, Linn, Lloyd, Long, Ludwig, McCleary, McCormick, McCurdy, McDowell, McElroy, McIlvaine, McLanahan, McLaughlin, McNulty, Maclay, Mahon, Main, Martin, Mentzer, Meyers, Michael, Middlekauff, Middour, Middower, Miley, Miller, Minehart, Minick, Minnich, Minter, Montgomery, Morgal, Morganthall, Myers, Neil, Nelson, Nicodemus, Nimmon, Noble, Noel, Oller, Omwake, Orr, Palmer, Park, Parret, Patton, Peckman, Pensinger, Phillippy, Plasterer, Platt, Pomeroy, Potter, Price, Quickel, Rahauser, Ramsey, Rankin, Reaser, Reed, Renfrew, Rhine, Rhoads, Rice, Rinehart, Rippey, Robinson, Rogers, Rose, Ross, Rouston, Rowe, Rummel, Runk, Russell, Sarbaugh, Schaeffer, Schaff, Schnebly, Seibert, Seilhamer, Shank, Sharpe, Shearer, Sheely, Shields, Shirey, Shively, Shoemaker, Shontz, Shull, Sibbett, Siebert, Skelly, Skinner, Sleichter, Slick, Slyder, Small, Smith, Snider, Snively, Snyder, Solenberger, Sollenberger, Spangler, Sprenkle, Stewart, Stoner, Strealy, Strickler, Strite, Strock, Suesserott, Summer, Susong, Sweney, Swentzel, Thrush, Vanderau, Waddell, Wagner, Walker, Walter, Warehime, Washinger, Watsn, Watts, Weagly, Weisz, Welty, Wenger, Whistler, White, Wilhelm, Wilson, Wineman, Winger, Wingert, Witherspoon, Witmer, Wolf, Wolfersberger, Wolff, Wood, Wyand, Yaukey, Young, Zacharias, Zarger, Ziegler, Zollinger, Zullinger

History of the Cumberland Valley Pennsylvania
(Harriet Wylie Stewart, 1918, 160 pages)
This publication was written as a brief history of the Cumberland Valley to be used in schools. It's chapters are: 1) Topography and Early Settlers, 2) Indian History, 3) Roads, Turnpikes and Forts, 4) Early Industries, 5) The Revolutionary Period, 6) Early Towns, 7) Early Schools, 8) Civil War Period, 9) Noted Biographies, and 10) Progress Since Civil War.

Biographies:
Patrick (Captain) Jack, Captain Samuel Brady, Mollie Pitcher, Col. Henry Bouquet, Robert Hunter, James Wilson, Captain Cook, Jane & Elizabeth Irvin, James Buchanan, King Shingas, Captain Jacobs, Jack Armstrong, John Armstrong, Thaddeus Stevens, Joseph Ritner, and William Findlay.

A History of the Cumberland Valley in Pennsylvania
(Dr. George P. Donehoo, 1930, 1079 pages)
This publication is a more recent historical and biographical work covering the counties of Franklin and Cumberland, PA, originally published in two volumes. Volume One covers the history of the Cumberland Valley. It includes a list of the Blunston Licenses, legal warrants of the earliest settlers to the area. It also relates the troubles that these early settlers had with the Indians, and the final growth and development of the area. Volume Two contains numerous biographies of prominent individuals and families who helped the Valley grow and prosper. This publication was publised without and index, however each biography is bookmarked for easy searching.

Surnames:
Agnew, Albert, Alleman, Allen, Allison, Amberson, Ames, Angle, Appenzeller, Arbegast, Asper, Baer, Bair, Bambrick, Barnett, Basehore, Bashore, Baumgarder, Beard, Beaver, Bedfor, Beistle, Benedict, Berger, Berry, Besore, Biddle, Bingham, Bishop, Bitner, Blair, Book, Bosler, Bowers, Bowman, Bradley, Brandt, Branthaver, Brechbill, Brenize, Brennaman, Brereton, Brewer, Bridgers, Brown, Buchanan, Burgner, Burk, Bryon, Cantner, Carl, Carothers, Chalfant, Chritzman, Clark, Clayton, Corbett, Cornman, Cowell, Craig, Craighead, Crider, Criswell, Croft, Cromleigh, Culbertson, Cump, Curran, Currens, Daub, Daugherty, Davison, Derbyshire, Detrich, Dickey, Diehl, Dietz, Diffenderfer, Donaldson, Dotter, Dougherty, Douglas, Drumm, Duffield, Earley, Eby, Edwards, Elden, Ellliott, Embick, Enniss, Ervin, Eschenmann, Eshelman, Etter, Eyler, Failor, Fallon, Faust, Fegley, Fendrick, Ferguson, Filler, Finafrock, Fishel, Fisher, Fitz, Fleming, Fletcher, Foltz, Forthman, Frantz, Frick, Funk, Galbraith, Gardner, Garland, Garrett, Gearhart, Gehring, Geiser, Gelbach, Gelwix, Gilbert, Gillan, Glass, Good, Goodyear, Gordon, Graham, Gray, Greenawalt, Gring, Grissinger, Groome, Grove, Gury, Hafer, Hammond, Happle, Hartman, Hartzell, Hassler, Hauck, Hays, Heefner, Hege, Heiges, Henninger, Henry, Hepfer, Hershey, Hershner, Hess, High, Hinkel, Hoch, Hockman, Hoffmaster, Hoke, Hollar, Hoover, Hoy, Huber, Hunt, Hutton, Irvine, Jackson, Jacobs, Johnston, Kauffman, Keefer, Kegerris, Keller, Kelley, Kennedy, Ker, Kercheval, King, Kinter, Kirkpatrick, Kitzmiller, Knode, Koller, Koons, Kruger, Kugler, Kuhn, Kulp, Lackey, Lamb, Landis, Latshaw, Leech, Lehman, Lehner, Lesher, Lindsay, Lloyd, Long, Lowman, Ludwig, Lyon, Maclay, Magill, Markel, Martin, Masland, May, McAllen, McClure, McCrea, McCullough, McDowell, McFarland, McKeehan, McKenzie, McKown, McLaughlin, Mehaffey, Mentzer, Metz, Meyers, Mickey, Miller, Minehart, Minnich, Moomy, Moore, Morrison, Mower, Mowrey, Moyer, Mumma, Myers, Nailor, Naugle, Neely, Neff, Nickel, Nicklas, Nicodemus, Nixon, Noel, Noftsker, Ogle, Oller, Omwake, O'Neal, Orris, Ott, Palmer, Parsell, Peffer, Peters, Phillips, Plank, Pomeroy, Poole, Potter, Preston, Prince, Ramsay, Rankin, Reddig, Reed, Reese, Reitzel, Remsberg, Renfrew, Ressler, Reynolds, Rider, Rife, Rinehart, Ritchey, Robertson, Rohrer, Rose, Rotz, Rowe, Rowland, Rudy, Rupley, Ryer, Schaff, Schaal, Schultz, Searight, Seaton, Seidle, Sellers, Senseny, Shank, Sharpe, Shearer, Shelley, Shortess, Shepler, Shoemaker, Shyrock, Shull, Slaughenhaup, Smathers, Smith, Snelbaker, Snively, Sollenberger, Spahr, Spangler, Speer, Spessard, Sponseller, Staley, Steck, Steiger, Steiner, Stephens, Stewart, Stoner, Stouffer, Stover, Strickler, Strite, Strock, Stuart, Stull, Sutliff, Swan, Swartz, Swartzwelder, Sweger, Swope, Teel, Thompson, Thrush, Todd, Trainer, Trimble, Underwood, Unger, Vanderau, Walter, Warner, Welty, Wheeler, Whetstone, White, Whitmore, Wilson, Wineman, Wingert, Wishard, Witherspoon, Wolff, Wolf, Wolfinger, Wood, Wright, Wylie, Zarger, Ziegler, Zimmerman, Zook

Historical Papers - Franklin County and the Cumberland Valley,
Pennsylvania (Jacob H. Stoner, 1947, 546 pages)
This publication is a collection of historical accounts from all over Franklin County, compiled by the wife of the author after his death. The information consists of the experiences and personal research of the author, which he recorded to keep such memories alive. Many of these accounts were read before the Kittochtinny Historical Society, but the author's wife felt that they should be published under one volume as a reference for others.

Chaper Titles:
Mason and DIxon Line
On the Way to Monterey
Four Superlative Roads
A Forgotten Franklin County Family
Up and Down Antietam Creek
General Early's Invasion
Washington and Franklin County
Old Mill Stones
Presidential Blood in the Cumberland Valley
Retreat of Confederate Army Through Waynesboro and Washington Township
Pennsylvania's Last Slave Sale
George Frick and the Romance of Waynesboro Industries
Up and Down the Falling Spring
Tramps along the Falling Spring in the 1870's
Mont Alto Furnace Days