1600, 5th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16601
Phone: (814-946-0417)
Hours: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 8:30am-9:00pm, Wednesday & Friday 8:30am-5:00pm, Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm, Sunday 1:00pm-4:00pm
Website: http://www.altoonalibrary.org
A genealogical and historical collection is maintained in the "Pennsylvania Room". A complete set of the Pennsylvania Archives is part of the collection. The library also maintains a fairly complete microfilm set of the U.S. Census in its Reference Section. Although the library does not accumulate and maintain family surname files, it has acquired a number of published family histories. Also, the library does possess many county history books along with books pertaining to immigrant and naturalization records, DAR and SAR publications, church and cemetery records and historical events of this region.
526 Main Street, Bellwood, PA 16617
Phone: (814-742-8234)
Hours: Monday-Thursday 12:00noon-8:30pm, Friday 12:00noon-4:00pm, Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm
Website: http://antistownship.org/antis/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=514423&antisNav=%7C
The Bellwood-Antis Public Library has a section devoted to local history and genealogy which consists primarily of family files donated by patrons. It also contains published and unpublished books on family histories along with local and county histories. Name indexes for local cemeteries and newspaper clippings are part of the collection. The library also maintains copies of the local newspaper, Bellwood Bulletin from the 1890s through the 1940s. The library does not own any series of the Pennsylvania Archives, nor does it maintain census records.
3500 Baker Blvd., Altoona, PA 16602-1828
Phone: (814-942-3916)
Hours: Saturday-Sunday (After Memorial Day, Tuesday-Sunday) 1:00pm-4:30pm,
Website: http://www.blairhistory.org
The Blair County Historical Society maintains the Baker Mansion, a Greek Revival structure built ca 1844 by ironmaster, Elias Baker; the Royer Mansion, built in 1815 by ironmaster Samuel Royer; along with a number of other historic sites throughout the county. In addition, a research library is located in the Baker Mansion.
The Blair County Historical Society’s library contains family files and published and unpublished family histories donated by members. Cemetery and church records for the region also make up a portion of the library’s collection. Original marriage records were donated to the Blair County Historical Society by the Blair County Commissioners along with the Deed Books and Deed Book Indexes (which the Blair County Historical Society, in turn, has provided on extended loan to the Blair County Genealogical Society). The library also maintains original and microfilmed newspapers and city directories from the Blair County region. The Blair County Historical Society maintains a large collection of books and files devoted to the history of the Civil War, including a complete set of Samuel P. Bate’s History Of Pennsylvania Volunteers 1861-1865, Volumes I, II, III, IV , published in 1869.
The Blair County Historical Society hosts a number of community events which include an annual Civil War Reenactors’ Encampment on the grounds of the Baker Mansion, the Holiday Heritage Tour at Christmas and the All-Hallows Eve Tour at Halloween. The society holds teas at the Baker Mansion and concerts on the lawn during the summer months. The society also sponsors a lecture series every year, which is conducted at the Altoona Area Public Library.
431 Scotch Valley Road, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Phone: (814-696-3492)
Hours: Monday 6:30pm-9:30pm; Wednesday 10:00am-3:30pm and 6:30pm-9:30pm; Thursday 10:00am-3:30pm; Saturday 10:00am-2:00pm; last Sunday of the month 1:00pm-3:30pm. The library is closed during the month of December.
Library Usage Fee: none
Website: http://www.bcgslibrary.org/
The Blair County Genealogical Society recently obtained the acknowledgment and recognition of the Blair County Commissioners as being the official genealogical society of Blair County. With that acknowledgment, the Blair County Genealogical Society has become the recipient of Blair County Court House records which otherwise might have been discarded by the court system.
The Blair County Genealogical Society maintains a research library at 431 Scotch Valley Road at the eastern edge of the borough of Hollidaysburg. The construction of the Blair County Genealogical Society’s new library, the Roller Hojeth Memorial Library, was funded by a bequest from Robert Roller (1924-1987). The library is one of the finest in the region of Old~Bedford in terms of facilities and resources.
Besides many published and unpublished family histories, the library maintains many file cabinets full of donated family surname files. A complete collection of the published Pennsylvania Archives was donated to the genealogical society by the Hollidaysburg Area Public Library. Other items of interest are microfilm of every U.S. Census for every county within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and many volumes of published history books for counties throughout Pensylvania. The library has become the owner of a number of genealogical research collections: the Rex Sollenberger Collection and the Archie Claar Obituaries, Spielman Obituaries, BCGS Obituaries and the Hoenstine Obituaries. The entire collection of the Hoenstine Rental Library was recently acquired by the Blair County Genealogical Society.
The Blair County Commissioners have donated the following original Blair County court dockets to the Blair County Historical Society and the Blair County Genealogical Society, all of which are being maintained at the Roller Hojeth Memorial Library:
Adsectum Partition Index 1846, A-K
Adsectum Judgement Index, starting 1930, A-K
Adsectum Judgement Index, starting 1930, L-Z
Court Docket, 1926-1928
Deed Books A-Z (except J); 1-470
General Index To Deeds, Grantors, C-D-E
Hotel License Docket, Book A, 1888-1903
Hotel License Docket, Book B, 1904-1910
Judgement Docket Index, Book G
Judgement Docket Index, starting 1900, Book H
Judgement Docket Index, Book K
Judgement Docket Index, Book X-Y-Z
Juvenile Court Records, #1 1913-1932
Juvenile Court Records, #2 1932-1945
Liquor License Docket, Book C, 1918-1923
Locality Index - City Of Altoona (Tax & Municipal Leins), Book A-H
Locality Index - City Of Altoona (Tax & Municipal Leins), Book I-S
Locality Index - City Of Altoona (Tax & Municipal Leins), Book T-Z
Mortgage Index To Chattel Mortgages, Book A-C
Mortgage Index To Chattel Mortgages, Book D-F
Mortgage Index To Chattel Mortgages, Book G-J
Mortgage Index To Chattel Mortgages, Book K-M
Mortgage Index To Chattel Mortgages, Book N-R
Mortgage Index To Chattel Mortgages, Book S-V
Mortgage Index To Chattel Mortgages, Book W-Z
Secured Party Index To Secured Transactions, Book A-Z, starting 1954
Tax Assessment Books for all townships, 1846-1974 (except a few missing)
In addition, the following are available on microfilm (and, where noted, on 35mm apperture cards):
Birth Records, Delayed, Blair County, Files #1-2763
Birth Records, Register of Births #1-3
Birth Records, Register of Births Index
Census (U.S.) 1790-1920 for all counties within Pennsylvania
Census 1880 Mortality Schedule for all counties within Pennsylvania
Census 1890 Veterans, Widows & Dependents Schedule
Death Records, Register of Deaths #1-2
Estate Records, Deed Books #A-Z, 1-317
(On 35mm apperture cards - Deed Book #A - 714)
Estate Records, Deeds, Plot Index 1846
Estate Records, Deeds, Grantee Index 1919-1941, 1942-1955
(On 35mm apperture cards - 1846-1919)
Estate Records, Deeds, Grantor Index 1942-1955
(On 35mm apperture cards - 1846-1919)
Estate Records, Inheritance Tax Docket Book #1, Book #2
(On 35mm apperture cards - Book #1 - Book #6)
Estate Records, Orphans Court Dockets 1846-1885
Estate Records, Orphans Court Estate Indexes
Estate Records, Orphans Court Proceedings Index
Marriage License Dockets 1-39, 1885-1916
Marriage License Index
Newspapers
(Altoona) Evening Mirror 1874-1878
Altoona Mirror 1888-2000
Altoona Times 1884-1919
Altoona Tribune 1858-1957
Bedford County Press (Bedford Co) 1868-1875, 1892-1896, 1971-1984
Bedford Democratic Enquirer (Bedford Co) 1827-1833
Bedford Gazette (Bedford Co) 1832-1847
Bedford Inquirer (Bedford Co) 1902-1918
Cambria Freeman (Cambria Co) 1827-1912
(Carlisle) Volunteer (Cumberland Co) 1869-1873
Cove Echo (Martinsburg) 1872-1874
Crawford Journal (Crawford Co) 1915-1917
Everett Press (Bedford Co) 1882-1901
Everett Press & Bedford County Press (Bedford Co) 1957-1983
The Morrisons Cove Herald 1885-1998
Hollidaysburg Democratic Standard (Huntingdon Co) 1889-1912
Huntingdon Gazette (Huntingdon Co) 1806-1835
Huntingdon Globe (Huntingdon Co) 1899-1912
Huntingdon Journal (Huntingdon Co) 1838-1887
Huntingdon Monitor (Huntingdon Co) 1884-1899
(Kittanning) Democrat Sentinel (Armstrong Co) 1902-1905
Mifflinburg Telegraph (Union Co) 1895-1901
Mount Union Times (Huntingdon Co) 1889-1913
New Castle Democrat (Lawrence Co) 1917-1921
The (Philadelphia) Times (Philadelphia City) 1902
State College Mirror 1968-1977
(Stroudsburg) Daily Times (Monroe Co) 1908
Sullivan Republican (Sullivan Co) 1889-1894
Tyrone Herald 1871-1934, 1950
Tyrone Star Herald 1858-1871
West Chester Everett Press (Bedford Co) 1902, 1910,1912
Bedford & Church St., Box C, Claysburg, PA 16625
Phone: (814-239-2782)
Hours: Monday & Thursday 9:00am-7:00pm, Tuesday & Wednesday 9:00am-5:00pm, Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm
Website: http://www.claysburglibrary.org/
The Claysburg Area Public Library maintains a small, but growing collection of books and files devoted to genealogical and local historical research.
516 Walnut Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Phone: (814-696-0313)
Historic Hollidaysburg Inc., is primarily activites oriented. It does not maintain a research library, but rather sponsors community events and projects related to promoting the historic heritage of the Blair County’s county seat. The group was instrumental in obtaining the historic district status for the downtown portion of the borough of Hollidaysburg. It is currently involved with the Canal Basin Park project.
405 Clark Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Phone: (814-695-5961)
Hours: Monday-Thursday 10:00am-8:00pm, Friday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm. Closed Sunday
Website: http://www.hollidaysburglibrary.org/
Although the Hollidaysburg Area Public Library does not have a genealogical section per se, nor does it maintain microfilm files, it does maintain a collection of books devoted to history.
Lower Brush Mountain Road, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Phone: (814-696-0341)
Hours: Monday 9:00am-1:00pm, Wednesday 9:00am-4:00pm and 6:00pm-8:00pm, Saturday 9:00am-1:00pm
The LDS Family Research Center of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) provides a very valuable service to the Blair County region. The Research Center maintains a collection of published family histories, but more importantly, it provides access to the extensive collection of files on computer disc, microfilm and microfiche which are maintained by the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah. For a modest rental fee you can borrow any of the records available for a period of a month.
201 South Walnut Street, Martinsburg, PA 16662
Phone: (814-793-3335)
Hours: Monday-Thursday 1:00p -8:00pm, Friday-Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm
The library possesses a genealogical and historical collection which includes the Liebegott Collection of genealogical notes on families from the "Cove". It also contains a variety of published county histories and family histories. Cemetery records for the Morrisons Cove region are collected by the library. The library maintains microfilm copies of the U.S. Census returns for Blair and Bedford Counties for most of the years available, along with some returns for Huntingdon County.
966 Johnstown Road, East Freedom, PA 16637
Hours: The Old~Greenfield Township Historical Society is no longer active. It exists only in the form of a website of information. The Old~Greenfield Township Historical Society's meeting room/library that was located in the Roaring Spring Community Library is still available for research. The O~GTHS library is open and available for use during the Roaring Spring Community Library's normal hours of operation.
Library usage fee: none
Website: http://www.motherbedford.com/ogths.htm
The Old~Greenfield Township Historical Society maintained subject files for a wide range of items donated to the society pertaining to the region encompassed by Old~Greenfield (Freedom, Greenfield and Juniata Townships in Blair County and Kimmel and Pavia Townships in Bedford County). Surname files donated by members of the society were available also. The society owned a set of newspaper obituary records donated to it by the Blair County Genealogical Society. The society possessed microfilm copies of the U.S. Census for Bedford and Blair Counties for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880, the 1890 Veterans and Widows Schedule, and the U.S. Census for Blair County for the years 1900, 1910 and 1920.
500 Main St., Roaring Spring, PA 16673
Phone: (814-224-4814)
Website: http://www.roaringspring.net/index.php/historical-society/
The Roaring Spring Historical Society is primarily interested in preserving the history of the borough of Roaring Spring. It maintains a research library of collected books and family files in the restored Roaring Spring Railroad Station.
320 East Main Street, Roaring Spring, PA 16673
Phone: (814-224-2994)
Hours: Monday,Wednesday, Thursday 3:00pm-8:00pm (7:00pm summers), Tuesday, Friday, Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm
Website: http://www.roaringspringlibrary.org/
The library maintains its own collection of genealogical and historical books primarily devoted to the history of the Morrisons Cove and surrounding areas. The genealogical collection of the library includes nearly all of the publications of the Blair County Genealogical Society. The library also provides it patrons with access to computers on which the Family Tree genealogical software is loaded, along with cd-roms containing genealogical data. The Old-Greenfield Historical Society maintains its genealogical and historical collection on the site.
P.O. Box 1850, Tyrone Shopping Center, Tyrone, PA 16686
Phone: (814-684-5141)
Hours: Wednesday 1:00pm-4:00pm
Website: http://www.tyronehistory.org/
The Tyrone Area Historical Society is primarily interested in the history of the region of the borough of Tyrone and Snyder Township and collects genealogical items that pertain primarily to that area. The Society maintains a collection of books devoted to the area, including cemetery lists, along with some Blair County and Huntingdon County history books.
In addition to the research library, the Tyrone Area Historical Society collects and displays artifacts related to Tyrone’s history.
Williamsburg High School, Williamsburg, PA 16693
Phone: (814-832-2125)
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:00pm
The Williamsburg Heritage and Historical Society maintains family files along with published and unpublished family histories which are donated to the society. It also maintains files of newspaper clippings relating to the history of Williamsburg and Woodbury Township. The society is museum oriented in that it collects artifacts, including local business ledgers, and displays them at the society’s room in the Williamsburg High School.
