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.

History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, Pennsylvania

(J. Simpson Africa, 1883, 998 pages)

This is an early historical and biographical work on Huntingdon and Blair Counties, PA.  It is divided into two sections each dealing with one of the counties.  Each section begins with a general history of the county, followed by sections dealing with their respective townships and boroughs.  The borough and township sections contain a brief history of each individual area as well, and then provide biographical sketches of the prominent and influential residents of those same areas.  Along with the historical and biographical information provides there is also a great deal of reference material including early tax lists, military rosters, maps, etc.  Also there are also over 100 portraits and other illustrations included in the publication.

Huntingdon County Surnames Indexed:

Adams, Africa, Allison, Anderson, Anshutz, Armitage, Armstrong, Ashman, Bailey, Beaver, Beers, Bell, Benedict, Black, Blair, Blanchard, Brewster, Brown, Brumbaugh, Burnside, Butz, Cadwallader, Caldwell, Campbell, Canan, Clarkson, Clugage, Cooper, Corbin, Cornyn, Crawford, Cremer, Cresswell, Croghan, Cryder, Dean, Devor, Dewees, Dorland, Dorris, Dudley, Eaton, Eby, Elliott, Entrekin, Faust, Fisher, Fithian, Fleming, Foust, Galbraith, Geissinger, Glasgow, Glock, Gwin, Hare, Harris, Hart, Heeter, Heffner, Hefright, Henderson, Henry, Hewitt, Houtz, Huston, Huyett, Hyskell, Isett, Jackson, Ker, Laporte, Leas, Long, Loudenslagle, Lovell, Lowry, Lytle, Madden, Massey, Mattern, McAlevy, McAteer, McCune, McMullen, McMurtrie, McNeil, McNite, McVitty, McWilliams, Mears, Miles, Miller, Morris, Mosser, Musser, Myton, Neff, Orbison, Orlady, Patton, Penn, Peters, Petrikin, Potter, Powel, Quinter, Reed, Rex, Riddle, Robley, Sampson, Scott, Shaffner, Sheaver, Shock, Simpson, Smith, Speer, Stair, Steel, Stevens, Stewart, Swane, Sweet, Swoope, Taylor, Thompson, Tipton, Tyhurst, Waite, Walker, Wallace, Watson, Weaver, Weiser, Weston, Wharton, White, Whitehead, Williamson, Wilson, Woods, Woodward, Wright, Zeigler

Blair County Surnames Indexed:

Adams, Ake, Albright, Alleman, Amey, Anderson, Appleby, Arnold, Armstrong, Banks, Bare, Bard, Barrick, Beach, Bell, Bennett, Beyer, Black, Blair, Bloom, Bobb, Bonebreak, Bower, Brehman, Bridenbaugh, Brombach, Brumbaugh, Buck, Bulick, Burket, Burkhart, Burley, Butler, Calderwood, Calvin, Cassidy, Cavins, Christy, Clark, Coleman, Confer, Crawford, Curry, Dean, Dibert, Dively, Dorris, Dysart, Elway, Ettinger, Evans, Ewing, Fay, Feay, Fetter, Fettinger, Figart, Findley, Finley, Fleck, Fulton, Funk, Gamble, Gardner, Geesey, Gemmill, Gibboney, Graham, Green, Grier, Grove, Gwinn, Haberacker, Halfpenny, Hall, Hartman, Hartzell, Hays, Hawksworth, Heess, Herr, Hewitt, Hileman, Hofius, Holliday, Hoover, Houser, Humes, Ickes, Irwin, Isenburg, Isett, Jacobs, Johnston, Jones, Junkin, Keatley, Keely, Kennedy, Kephart, Kerr, Kessler, Kinkead, Kyle, Landis, Larcomb, Levingood, Lindsey, Lingenfelter, Livingston, Lloyd, Logan, Louden, Lowrey, Lyon, Mann, Martin, Matthias, Mauk, McAllister, McCartney, McClellan, McClelland, McConnell, McCormick, McCoy, McFarlane, McIntosh, McKinney, McLain, McLanahan, McMullen, McVey, Miller, Moore, Morrow, Murphy, Murray, Neff, Newton, Pheasant, Phillips, Piper, Pruner, Rea, Reamey, Roberts, Robison, Roedell, Rohrer, Roller, Ross, Royer, Russell, Schriver, Shanefelt, Shaw, Shock, Shoenberger, Shultz, Simonton, Smith, Spang, Stayer, Stewart, Swoope, Tuigg, Tussey, Ullery, Walker, Walter, Way, Wayne, Weaver, Wengert, Westley, Wheatley, White, Wigton, Williams, Wilson, Wright, Yerger, Zeth

Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair County,

Pennsylvania (Samuel T. Wiley & W. Scott Garner, 1892, 599 pages)

This publication is a historical and biographical record of Blair County, Pennsylvania.  The first 147 pages contain a history of the county, its townships and villages. The remainder of the publication features biographies of some of the leading individuals and families of the county.  This is an excellent resource to conduct historical or genealogical research focusing on Blair County, PA

Surnames Indexed:

Acker, Ake, Alexander, Allen, Ambrose, Amies, Arney, Arthur, Aukerman, Aultz, Baker, Bare, Barron, Bartley, Bassler, Bell, Berlin, Besant, Beyer, Biehl, Blackburn, Blair, Blose, Bobb, Books, Bowles, Boyles, Bramell, Brandt, Brennecke, Brenaman, Bridenbaugh, Brombach, Brotherlin, Buchanan, Bunker, Burchfield, Burke, Burley, Burket, Burkholder, Bush, Bushman, Calderwood, Calvin, Canan, Casanave, Cass, Cherry, Clapper, Clark, Clingerman, Coffey, Coffman, Cole, Coleman, Collin, Condron, Confer, Cowen, Craine, Crawford, Criswell, Crowley, Crum, Crumbaker, Crosthwaite, Cryder, Cunningham, Curry, Davis, Davison, Dean, Delaney, Dern, Diehl, Donelly, Dunmire, Earlenbaugh, Eberman, Eichholtz, Elway, Elliott, Ellsworth, Enzbrenner, Ermine, Evans, Ewing, Fair, Fay, Ferguson, Fisher, Fleck, Flanigan, Flick, Flynn, Forgeus, Forney, Fouse, Fox, Fraser, Funk, Gardner, Geesey, Gheer, Gilson, Gillam, Glunt, Gray, Graffius, Green, Greene, Greevy, Guyer, Gwin, Haines, Halfpenny, Halton, Hamilton, Hamlin, Hamor, Hammond, Hare, Harnish, Hart, Hartman, Hawksworth, Hearn, Heess, Heims, Heinsling, Henshey, Hewit, Hewitt, Hicks, Hileman, Hiller, Hoelle, Hogue, Holliday, Homer, Hooper, Hoover, Hostler, Hoyer, Huff, Hughes, Humes, Hunter, Hutchison, Ike, Isenberg, Isett, Irwin, Jackson, Jenks, Jones, Keefer, Keith, Kellerman, Kelly, Kendig, Kinkead, Kimberling, Kipple, Klemmert, Kline, Kloss, Kyle, Lamade, Landis, La Porte, Laughman, Law, Layman, Leader, Leatherman, Lehrsch, Leighty, Leisenring, Lehman, Leet, Lemon, Levengood, Leibegott, Linton, Long, Lots, Loudon, Love, Lowrie, Lytle, Mackey, Marshall, Mathers, McAllister, McCahan, McCamant, McCarthy, McCauley, McClain, McClellan, McCoy, McCullough, McDermitt, McDowell, McFarlin, McFarland, McFeeley, McIntosh, McKee, McMaster, Meadville, Mechen, Metzker, Miller, Mitchel, Moffitt, Mohr, Molloy, Montgomery, Moore, Morrison, Morrow, Murray, Neason, Neff, Nowell, Oatman, O'Connor, O'Neil, O'Reilly, Osborne, Osman, Over, Parker, Patterson, Pennock, Plummer, Price, Porter, Powell, Pruner, Raugh, Ray, Ramey, Reamey, Reem, Reed, Reifsnyder, Rhine, Rhodes, Rittman, Roberdean, Robinson, Robison, Roelofs, Rohrer, Roller, Ross, Sausser, Schmucker, Sell, Shaw, Shellenberger, Shelley, Shimer, Shollar, Sholly, Shuff, Sink, Slep, Smith, Sneeringer, Snively, Snyder, Spang, Sparr, Spanogle, Spendley, Sprankle, Stahl, Stephens, Stevens, Stern, Stewart, Stich, Stone, Study, Stultz, Symington, Taylor, Thompson, Tierney, Trout, Van Brunt, Vogt, Waite, Walter, Waring, Watts, Weaver, Webber, Weiser, Wentzel, Westley, Wheatley, Whitbred, White, Wigton, Wilson, Wilmore, Winn, Winter, Wolf, Wood, Woodcock, Woodle, Wray, Yerger, Yingling, Yon, Zeigler

Semi-Centennial History of Blair County 1896

(Charles B. Clark, 1896, 151 pages)

According to the title page, this is: "A History of Blair County, Pennsylvania.  From its earliest settlement, and more particularly from its organization in 1846 to June 1896.  Fifty Years.  Containing, also, a map of the city of Altoona, the metropolis of the county, and a description of all the other boroughs and smaller towns, giving population and present condition.  Also, a general resume of the various business enterprises, and a directory of the places of interest and natural curiosities which strangers should see."  Along with the historical information, there are a number of photographs of places around Blair County.

Program - Blair County Semi-Centennial Anniversary 1846-1896

(Anonymous, 1896, 6 pages)

This is a program and description of the events for the 50th Anniversary celebrations of Blair County, PA held in 1896.

Twentieth Century History of Altoona and Blair County

Pennsylvania (Jesse C. Sell, 1911, 1024 pages)

This is a historical and biographical account of Altoona and Blair County, PA.  The first section contains the historical information, covering the settlement and formation of the county, and its political, military, professional, and industrial history.  This sections also contains a part devoted to the city of Altoona, giving a similar description of its history and development.  Following the historical information are biographies of hundreds of Blair County's citizens, along with many portraits.  These men and women were important in various ways to the growth of the county and their respective areas.

Surnames Indexed:

Acker, Ackers, Acklin, Africa, Ake, Alexander, Allen, Allender, Amies, Anderson, Applebaugh, Bachert, Baish, Baker, Baldrige, Bankert, Banks, Bare, Barr, Beam, Beaston, Beck, Beckcman, Beegle, Bell, Bender, Beyer, Biddle, Black, Blair, Blodget, Blose, Bobb, Bock Bohn, Bolger, Bonebreak, Book, Books, Bottenfield, Bouslough, Bowers, Bowles, Bowser, Boyer, Boyce, Boyles, Bradley, Brotherline, Brown, Brua, Brubaker, Brumbaugh, Buck, Burget, Burket, Burns, Bush, Calderwood, Calvin, Camerer, Canan, Carn, Carper, Cass, Casanave, Chamberlin, Charles, Cherry, Clapper, Clark, Clemson, Clouse, Cochran, Colelesser, Cole, Coleman, Coltabaugh, Colvin, Condron, Confer, Conrad, Corl, Cornelius, Cowen, Cox, Craine, Crawford, Creighton, Crider, Crissman, Culp, Davenport, Davis, Dean, Delaney, Delozier, Dern, Detrick, Detwiler, Dick, Dickson, Diehl, Dilling, Dively, Dixon, Douglass, Downing, Downs, Doyle, Dudley, Durborow, Dysart, Eckendlaub, Elder, Eldon, Ellsworth, Emfield, Engstrom, Farmers & Merchants National Bank of Tyrone, Farrand, Fay, Feather, Fickes, Fider, Figart, Findley, First National Bank of Bellwood, The,  First National Bank of Tyrone, The, Fisher, Fleck, Flenner, Flick, Fluke, Fogel, Ford, Forsht, Fox, Franciscus, Fraser, Freeman, Fuoss, Furry, Gailey, Galland, Garber, Gardner, Garman, Garner, Garver, Garvey, Geesey, Gheer, Gibbs, Giles, Gill, Gingerich, Gleichert, Glenn, Glessner, Good, Graffius, Grau, Grazier, Greene, Greevy, Gromiller, Gurd, Haagen, Haberacker, Haffly, Hagerty, Hagey, Hahn, Hair, Hall, Haller, halton, Hamilton, Hammond, Hamor, Hancuff, Hare, Harnish, Harpster, Hart, Hartman, Hazenstab, Hegerty, Heinsling, Henderson, Henry, Herbert, Hershberger, Hess, Hetrick, Heverly, Hicks, Hileman, Hiller, Hillis, Hirt, Hoover, Howard, Hoyer, Hughes, Humes, Hurd, Ickes, Igo, Irvin, Irvine, Irwin, Isenberg, Jacobs, Johnston, Jones, Kagarise, Dauffman Daufman, Kazmaier, Keagy, Keasey, Keith, Keller, Kelly, Kenote, Kensinger, Ketring, Kinch, King, Kirsch, Klepser, Kloss, Krider, Kuhn, Kunsman, Kurtz, Kyper, Lamade, Landis, Layman, Leverfinger, Leisenrighn Levengood, Lingafelt, Lingenfelter, Lininger, Lloyd, Long, Loose, Lorenze, Lotz, Loudon, Lowrie, Lowther, Lukenbach, Lupfer, Lytle, McBurney, McCarthy, McCauley, McClain, McConahy, McCullaugh, McDowell, McFarland, McGarah, McGarvey, McGough, McIntire, McKee, McKillip, McKnight, McLanahan, Mackey, Madden, Magehan, Manley, Manlove, Marks, Markley, Martin, Martz, Mathes, Matthews, Means, Mek, Meek, mentzer, Metz, Metzger, Miller, Milliken, Mock, Molloy, Moore, Morgan, Morris, Morrison, Morrow, Moyer, Mummert, Murray, Musser, Myers, Nason, Neff, Nelson, Neuwahl, Norris, North, Nowell, Ober, Oburn, O'Neill, Orr, Osborne, Over, Owens, Parker, Parks, Parsons, Patterson, Patton, Peck Piper, Plack, Plummer, Potts, Pownall, Preston, Ramey, Ray, Reed, Reilly, Reiser, Replogle, Rhodes, Riebenack, Riggle, Riechey, Roberts, Robeson, Robison, Rodkey, Rodrigue, Root, Ross, Roudabush, Royer, Russell, Sauer, Sausser, Scheeline, Scott, Seedenburg, Sell, Sellers, Shade, Sharbaugh, Shaw, Sherman, Shimer, Shirey, shoemaker, Shoenberger, Shoenfelt, Shollar, Showalter, Shriver, Shultz, Sigrist, Simon, Sipes, Slippey, Small, Smeltzer, Smith, Snively, Snoberger, Snyder, Sorrick, Spang, Sparr, Spealman, Sprankle, Stayer, Stern, Stevens, Stewart, Stiffler, Stine, Stom, Stone, Stoner, Straesser, Strehle, Stulz, Stultz, Suckling, Swanger, Tate, Taylor, Teeter, Thomas, Thompson, Tipton, Tobin, Treese, Trout, Troutwine, Tussey, Van Allman, Vogt, Walker, Walter, Walters, Walton, Waple, Ward, Wareham, Warfel, Waring Weaver, Wber, Weest Bros., Weest, Weir, Wertman, Wertz, Wertzberger, White, Whittaker, Wike, Wiley, Williamson, Wilson, Wilt, Wineland, Winter, Wisler, Witherow, Witter, Wolf, Wood, Woodcock, Wray, Wyerman, Yeater, Yeckley, Yingling, Young, Zook

Blair County Centennial Celebration 1846-1946

Souvenir Program (Anonymous, 1946, 86 pages)

This booklet was published as a souvenir of the 100th Anniversary celebration of the formation of Blair County, PA from Huntingdon County in 1846.  It provides a program of the events of the celebration as well as lists of those men and women involved in putting it on.  It also contains some basic historical information on the county, a list of the patrons and patronesses and numerous ads for local businesses.