Research at The Historical Society

RESEARCH ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE

Visitors needing research assistance should call (610) 935-7646 or visit during our open hours.

The Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area Museum is open Wednesday & Friday, 9 am – 3 pm, and the first Sunday of each month between 1 pm and 4 pm. The Historical Society, but not the Museum, is also open on First Fridays from 6 pm to 9 pm.

HSPA is handicapped accessible on Church Street.

MEMBERS receive a quarterly newsletter and may conduct free research at our library and museum and obtain a discount on purchases of old maps, photographs, books, tiles, and historical items. In addition, members may attend special members-only events such as town history walking tours, sales, and talks. Take a moment and become a member

The Society has a large collection of information about:

Research Fees

Museum Visits:  Free  

*Please note that inquiries regarding research time are subject to fees based on the amount of time required and any duplication and mailing costs.

Please click here to view the reproduction fee schedule and related terms of the use of images and documents purchased from the Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area and its related disclaimer as a pdf file effective on May 2, 2018.

Copies of newspapers on microfilm, except the Phoenixville Messenger, may be purchased from HSPA for $35.00 per reel.

Use of Library & Archives:
            Members:   free
            Non-members:   adults $5.00 / students $2.00.

Use of Microfilm Reader:
            Members:   free
            Non-members: $2.00 per half hour

Microfilm Copies:  $.50 per page

Copy Machine:
             Members:   first page free – additional pages $.25 cents per page
             Non-members:   $.25 cents per page

Research by HSPA staff:
             Members:   $15 per hour
             Non-members:   $25 per hour

Please call HSPA at 610-935-7646 for a cost estimate.   Payment is due in advance.

HSPA members receive a 10% discount on all books, old maps, old calendars, tiles, and historical artifacts sold at the museum.

phoenix

Are You Wondering...?

The Historical Society is a great place to find out about your house's history, research past residents or find out about historical events. Find your house on old maps, research an artifact you've found. We have staff to help guide the way!

Adams County Historical Society
Gettysburg, PA

American Association of Museums
In Washington, DC

American Military Edged Weaponry Museum 
In Intercourse, PA

Ancestry.com

Arlington National Cemetry

Berks County Historical Society
In Reading, PA

Berks County Public Libraries

Brandywine Battlefield

Brandywine River Museum
In Chadds Ford, PA

Brandywine Valley.Com
Events and activities in Chester County and the Brandywine Valley

Bucks County Genealogical Society

Bucks County Historical Society
In Doylestown, PA

Bucks County Public Libraries

Census Online

Chadds Ford Historical Society

Chester County 
In West Chester, PA

Chester County Historic Preservation Network

Chester County Historical Society
In West Chester, PA

Chester County Library System

City of Philadelphia

Colonial Theatre
In Phoenixville

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Conrail Historical Society
In Marysville, PA

David Library of the American Revolution
In Washington Crossing, PA

Delaware County

Delaware County History
Has links to numerous Delaware County historical societies

Delaware Historical Society
In Wilmington, DE

Detwiler Family

Downingtown Area Historical Society

Drexel University Libraries

Duffy’s Cut Project
Immaculata University web site about 57 Irish immigrant deaths in 1832 in Paoli, PA

Ellis Island Records

Free Library of Philadelphia

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Genealogical Society of PA
In Philadelphia, PA

Genealogy.com

Germantown Historical Society

Ghosts of the Gridiron, The Early Days of Pro Football in the Philadelphia Region

Goschenhoppen Historians
In Green Lane, PA

Hagley Museum and Library 
Located near Wilmington, DE., has documents from Phoenix Iron and Steel Co.

Harriet Tubman Museum 
In Cape May, NJ

Haverford College Libraries 
In Haverford, PA

Historic Waynesborough
In Paoli, PA

Hexamer General Surveys, 1866-1896 
Geo History of Greater Philadelphia

Hope Lodge
In Fort Washington, PA

Hopewell Furnace National Park
In Elverson, PA

Independence National Park

King of Prussia Historical Society

Lancaster County Historical Society
In Lancaster, PA

Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society
In Lancaster, PA

Lehigh University Library
In Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum
In Allentown, PA

Lenni Lenape Historical Society
In Allentown, PA

Library of Congress

Library of Congress – Local History & Genealogy Reference Services

Lower Merion Historical Society

Majolica International Society
In New York, NY

Maryland Historical Society
In Baltimore, MD

Massachusetts Historical Society
In Boston, MA

Mennonite Heritage Center
In Harleysville, PA

Mercer Museum
In Doylestown, PA

Mid-Atlantic Air Museum 
Located in Reading, PA

Mill at Anselma
It is in Chester Springs, PA

Montgomery County

Montgomery County Historical Society
In Norristown, PA

Montgomery County Parks

Moravian Historical Society
In Nazareth, PA

National Archives
In College Park, MD

National Archives
U. S. Constitution

National Civil War Museum 
Located in Harrisburg, PA

National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum 
Located in Coatsville, PA, and has information & photos of Lukens Steel

National Museum of American History
In Washington, DC

National Railway Historical Society 
In Philadelphia

National Trust for Historic Preservation
In Washington, DC

New Jersey Division of Archives & Records Management

New Jersey Historical Society
In Newark, NJ

 New York Historical Society
In New York City

 Northeast Document Conservation Center
In Andover, MA.  They specialize in the preservation & conservation of paper-based documents.

Paoli Battlefield

PA Federation of Museums
In Harrisburg, PA

Pennhurst Memorial & Preservation

Pennsbury Manor 
William Penn’s colonial home in Morrisville, PA

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

Pennsylvania Historical Society 
Located at 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia

Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society

Penn State University Libraries

Phoenixville Area Chamber of Commerce

Phoenixville Borough

Phoenixville Community Health Foundation

Phoenixville High Class of 1957

Phoenixville Public Library

Phoenixville Senior Center

Philly Graves (Find a Grave)

Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia

Princeton University Library

President James Buchanan’s Wheatland
President James Buchanan’s estate, Wheatland, located in Lancaster, PA

Radnor Historical Society

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania 
Located in Strasburg, PA

Schuylkill Canal Association
Mont Clare, PA

Schuylkill River Heritage Center

Schuylkill River National & State Heritage Area

Schuylkill Township

Schuylkill Valley Model Railroad Club
400 Main Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460

Skippack Historical Society

Social Security Administration

Social Security Death Index from Ancestry, Inc.

Smithsonian Museums

Speakers House, Home of Frederick Muhlenberg
In Collegeville, PA

Spring-Ford Area Historical Society
In Royersford, PA

Springfield Township Historical Society

Temple University Libraries

This Day in Smithsonian History

The Phoenix

Trappe, Collegeville & Perkiomen Valley Historical Society

Underground Railroad in Kennett
In Kennett Square, PA

U.S. Census Bureau

  1. S. History.org
    Hosted by the Independence Hall Association in Philadelphia

University of Pennsylvania Libraries

U.S. Government

U.S. National Archives

University of Valley Forge

Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau

Valley Forge Historical Society

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Vietnam War Casualties

Virginia Historical Society
In Richmond, VA

West Chester University Library

West Nantmeal Historical Commission

White House

Women at the Valley Forge Encampment

Yellow Springs Historical Society

phoenixville historical society

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Making a Donation to the Historical Society

Please consider making a tax-free donation to the Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area. We are a PA non-profit corporation with an IRS status of 501(c)(3). We appreciate your support!

JOIN

Become a member and receive our newsletter as well as exclusive members only tours, sales and events.

Phoenixville
Finds

Do you have a great story about Phoenixville’s history, the history of your old house, or a unique treasure from the past? Submit it here and we may feature you on our site.

Contact HSPA With Your Phoenixville Story