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.

Looking Eighty Years Backward and A History of

Roaring Spring, PA (D. M. Bare, 1920, 247 pages)

The first part of this publication is a personal recollection by the author of Blair County as he grew up there.  The second part (which is the majority of the publication) is a history of Roaring Spring and its vicinity.  The account relates the beginnings of the town and its growth through the years.  It also gives attention to the town's businesses, churches, schools and other institutions.  There is also some biographical matter on some of the town's prominent persons: Dr. Charles Fox, Dr. W. L. Grounds, Dr. W. Herbert Robinson, Dr. W. L. Hair, and Dr. A. L. Garver.

Martinsburg Centennial Souvenir 1832-1932

(Centennial Souvenir Booklet Committee, 1932, 90 pages)

According to the title page, this publication is "A pictorial and descriptive booklet containing the history of Martinsburg and the Borough Council, schools and churches, and a list of patrons with their biographies, civic organizations and buisness cards and many other things of interest in the life of a growing community."  it includes numerous historical photographs, and a number of biographies of area residents.

Biographical Sketches:

Benson, Blake, Bloom Bobb, Bolger, Bonebreak, Breidenthal, Bridenbaugh, Brumbaugh, Burket, Camerer, Campbell, Earlenbaugh, Geist, Gorsuch, Grafius, Hagey, Hershberger, Hess, Kagarise, Keagy, Klepser, Lykens, Lysinger, Miller, Nicodemus, Over, Rice, Royer, Sanders, Sipes, Skyles, Shoemaker, Shoenberger, Snowberger, Stoner, Woodcock 

Historical Sketches of Morrisons Cove (C. W. Karns, 1933, 300 pages)

This is an extensive history of the Morrisons Cove area of Blair County, including the areas of Loysburg, New Enterprise, Rockford, Salemville, Waterside and Woodbury.  It covers the settlement and growth of the region and its towns through a series of articles.  Along with the information are numerous historical photographs of the area and its residents and biographical sketches of prominent citizens and families.

Surnames Included:

Aaron, Armstrong, Baker, Bare, Bayer, Beach, Bechtel, Beech, Beegle, Benner, Berkheimer, Biddle, Blough, Bonner, Brallier, Brown, Brumbaugh, Burger, Burley, Butts, Campbell, Carpenter, Clapper, Clouse, Deeter, Detwiler, Dittmar, Doyle, Ebersole, Ferry, Fetter, Fisher, Fluck, Furry, Fyock, Geible, Gephart, Good, Green, Guyer, Haderman, Hall, Henry, Hetrick, Holsinger, Hoover, Hull, Imler, Karns, Kegarise, Ketring, King, Kochenderfer, Koontz, Latshaw, Lingenfelter, Linton, Little, Long, Lower, Maddock, Markey, Martin, Meloy, Mentzer, Metzger, Miller, Noble, Ober, Over, Patton, Pennell, Pressel, Price, Replogle, Rice, Ripley, Sell, Settlemeyer, Smith, Snider, Snowberger, Snyder, Sponsler, Stiffler, Stonebrook, Stottler, Stuckey, Teeter, Trent, Van Horn, Walters, Werking, Wilharm, Wilkinson, Woodcock, Yoder

Hollidaysburg Centennial 1836-1936 Official Program

History Pageant (Program Committee, 1936, 76 pages)

This publication is a program of the Centennial Celebration of Hollidaysburg, Blair County, PA as well as a brief history of the town.  Along with a program of the celebration events, it includes a time-line of events in the history of the town, a description of many of its organizations, churches, etc, and many ads for local businesses.

Historical Summary of Southern Morrisons Cove Towns

(David M. Adams, 1948, 44 pages)

This publication provides historical timeline information on a number of Morrison Cove area towns, including Baker's Summit, Curryville, Dumb Hundred, East Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Garbertown, Henrietta, Leathercraker, Loysburg, McKee, Middletown, Millerstown, New Enterprise, Ore Hill, Potetown, Rebecca, Rodman, Scratchtown, Waterside and Woodbury.  It includes a number of historical photographs from the area as well.

History of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania

(Floyd G. Hoenstine, 1953, 66 pages)

This is a brief history of this church.  It also includes sketches of its past pastors, as well as photographs of a number of church classes.

Some Historic Homes of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania

(Floyd G. Hoenstine, 1955, 48 pages)

This publication commemmorates a walking tour of historic Hollidaysburg, Blair County, PA in 1955.  It provides a view of early Hollidaysburg along with the examination of several historic buildings of the town.

75th Anniversary History Roaring Spring Pennsylvania 1887-1962

(Roaring Spring Historical Committee, 1962, 171 pages)

This is a history of Roaring Spring, Blair County, PA written for its 75th Anniversary in 1962.  It first presents a history of the area, foundation of the town and its development, including some discussion of early residents.  Following this is a more recent account of the town and its institutions including its schools, churches, civic organizations, clubs, fire companies, fraternal organizations, etc.  Also, a number of Roaring Springs businesses and residents are sketched, and these are listed below.  Along with this historical information, many photographs are included of the town, its buildings and residents.  Several sketches of Roaring Springs businesses and organizations include a group photograph of those working there.  And following the business and resident sketches, there are portraits of Roaring Spring's children from Preschool through High School.

Business Sketches:

Albright's Studio of Photography, D. M. Bare Paper Mill, Roaring Spring Blank Book Company, The Harris Boyer Company, Nick Arico Shoe Repari, The News Printing Company, Roaring Spring Insurance Agency, Charles Dick Service Station, New Enterprise Stone and Lime Company Inc., Detwiler Industries, The Eldon Inn, G & M Franklin Store, Hite's Drug Store, Hite's Furniture Store, Eckard's Greenhouse, Alfred L. Heuston, Honsaker Brother's Meat Market, Klotz Brothers, Klevans Stores, Kephart's Hardware, Walter O. Kramp, L & L Motors, Max H. Long, Long's Home Furnishings, H. M. Mock Barber Shop, Olin H. Mauk, Mauk's Cleaners, P. S. McGee Dairy, Pennsylvania Electric Company, Merrill W. Raugh, First National Bank, Altoona Central Bank and Trust Company, Roaring Spring Department Store, Carl Sell Pontiac, McIntyre's Jewelry Store, Shaw Hardware, Shriver's Greenhouse and Floral Shop, Elmer F. Smith, Kenneth Stover Insurance Agency, Chester A. Riley, Galen Snyder, Carl's Modern Interior, United Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, Radio Station WKMC, Radio Station WVAM, Sell Motors, John L. Thompson Funeral Home, William's Pharmacy, Miller's Esso Statino, Tastee Freez, Western Auto Associate Store, Young's Vitamin & Mineral Co.,

Biographical Sketches:

Ake, Albright, Beers, Baker, Bare, Bassler, Beegle, Berkhimer, Bergstresser, Brua, Brumbaugh, Burket, Butler, Carper, Clapper, Closson, Clemens, Detwiler, England, Espy, Forse, Garber, Garver, Gorsuch, Grounds, Hair, Heaton, Hetrick, Hite, Hoover, Horner, Hufford, Johnson, Kauffman, Lamber, Lang, Lingenfelter, Longenecker, Lower, Malone, Martin, Miller, Moore, Morgart, Myers, Nason, Nicewonger, Over, Porter, Pote, Price, Replogle, Sell, Sheriff, Smith, Snider, Spearin, Stephenson, Stover, Swope, Thompson, Vanderhei, Wike, Williams, Zook

Freedom Township 125th Annivesary Photo Album 1838-1963

(Anonymous, 1963, 60 pages)

This is a photo souvenir of the 125th Anniversary of Freedom Township, Blair County, PA published in 1963.  It features pictures from the anniversary celebrations as well as photos and brief descriptions of some of the citizens of the area.

Martinsburg Area 1976 (Martinsburg Bicentennial Committee, 1976, 352 pages)

This is an extensive modern history of Martinsburg, Blair County, PA, published for the nation's Bicentennial in 1976. It also includes coverage of nearby areas of Curryville, Fredericksburg and Henrietta.  The early history of the are is given surface coverage as most of the publication focuses on the most recent decades up to the time of publication.  Many of the towns businesses and organizations are sketched as are many of its families.

Surnames Sketched:

Ake, Ashhurst, Baker, Barr, Beach, Beegle, Bice, Blattenberger, Bolger, Bonebreak, Bowers, Brown, Brumbaugh, Buchart, Burget, Burket, Bush, Carper, Clapper, Clouse, Creps, Crumrine, Daughenbaugh, Dean, Detwiler, Dilling, Drake, Eastep, Ebersole, Fleegle, Furry, Garner, Geist, Gill, Greenleaf, Hartman, Henry, Hershberger, Higgins, Hinish, Hinton, Hite, Holsinger, Hoover, Howells, Jeffries, Johnson, Kagarise, Kensinger, Kerr, Kreider, Latshaw, Leidy, Longenecker, Lykens, Martz, McKerihan, Mentzer, Metz, Metzler, Miller, Moose, Myers, Oesterle, Park, Rearick, Ritchey, Shaffer, Shoeman, Showalter, Skyles, Smith, Steele, Stern, Stoner, Stonerook, Straesser, Teeter, Thompson, Turner, Waite, Wareham, Widmann, Wierman, Wineland, Yingling