Jewish Genealogical Society
of Greater Philadelphia (JGSGP)

Jewish Genealogical Resources in the Philadelphia Area

Table of Contents

Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania

1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215-732-6200
E-mail: library@hsp.org
Internet: http://www.balchinstitute.org
Wheelchair accessible
Library Hours:
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays: 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Wednesdays: 2:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
The Library is closed Sundays, Mondays, and major holidays.
Admission:
Daily admission for non-members: $6.00.
Daily admission for students: $3.00 (with current student identification card)
"The Balch Library, now being incorporated into the library of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, houses the largest multiethnic collection in the country, supports student study, advanced research, and genealogical investigation. Balch holdings contain material on more than 80 ethnic and racial groups, primary sources on more than 30 groups, including resources virtually undocumented elsewhere, and a body of research materials on multiculturalism, immigration, and diversity in the United States. The library contains approximately 60,000 volumes, 6,000 serial titles, 5,000 linear feet of manuscript collections, 6,000 reels of microfilm, 12,000 photographs, and other resources."

See also the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center.
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Bucks County Historical Society

Spruance Library
Mercer Museum - third level
84 South Pine Street
Doylestown, PA 18901-4999
Phone: (215)345-0210
FAX: (215)230-0823
Internet: http://www.mercermuseum.org/
Hours:
Tuesday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission:
$5 for adults
$4.50 for senior citizens

Has material of genealogical interest related to Bucks County.
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The Center for Judaic Studies: Ancient and Modern

University of Pennsylvania
420 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: (215)238-1290 ext. 203
Hours: by appointment only with photo ID

     The Center, part of the University of Pennsylvania, is one of the world's major centers for the study of Jewish civilization. Its library has over 150,000 titles on Judaica, a collection of manuscripts, rare early prints, and genizah fragments. A sophisticated computer system offers instant access to the latest scholarly tools of contemporary Judaic research.
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Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Family History Centers

Philadelphia, PA 19120
5236 Rising Sun Ave.
Phone: (215)329-3692
Hours:
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Broomall, PA 19008
721 Paxon Hollow Road
Phone: (610)356-8507
Microfilms of interest to Jewish Genealogists
Other microfilms
Hours:
Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Wednesday, Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Doylestown, PA 18901
Ferry and Chapman Roads
Phone: (215)348-0645
Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Pottstown, PA
93 Maugers Mill Road
Phone: (610)327-3166
Hours:
Tuesday, 10a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 7:30 to p p.m.
Wilmington, DE 19807
143 Dickinson Lane
Phone:(302654-1911
Hours:
Tuesday, 10 a,m. to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cherry Hill, NJ
260 E Evesham Road
Phone: (856) 795-8841
Hours: T, Th 6:30 -10:00 pm; W, Sat 9:30 am-2:30 pm.

Family History Centers are branches of the Family History Library of the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City which has the largest genealogical collection in the world. Most of its microfilm and microfiche collection can be accessed through its centers. Everyone is welcome to to come to the centers to use the Family History Center resources.
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Civil War Library and Museum

1805 Pine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215)735-8196
Internet: www.netreach.net/~cwlm Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Admission: $5, with discounts for various groups

More than 15,000 volumes and manuscripts on the Civil War. Of genealogical interest is its information on Pennsylvania officers and soldiers.
Call for more information on genealogy or an appointment.
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College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Library and Historical Department
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215)563-3737 ext. 297
Fax: (215)569-0356
E-mail: cppref@collphyphil.org
Internet: http://http://www.collphyphil.org/
Hours: Tuesday` 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on legal holidays

Has medical directories, biographies, obituaries, photographs, and more.
Call for an appointment to use library.
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Free Library of Philadelphia

1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215)686-5322
Internet: http://www.library.phila.gov for the home page.
http://draweb.library.phila.gov/ for access to the main catalog.
Hours:
Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For genealogists
Social Science and History Department (on the second floor)
The main point of contact for genealogy at the Free Library.
Phone: (215)686-5392 (Walter Stock)
E-mail: stockw@excen.library.phila.gov
Internet: http://www.library.phila.gov/ssh/genealogy/guidelist.htm for genealogy
Also of interest
Database and Newspaper Center
Business, Science, and Industry Department
Education, Philosophy, and Religion Department
Government Publications Department
Map Department
Print and Picture Collection
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Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania

215 S. Broad St., 7th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107-5325
Phone: (215)545-0391
Internet: http://www.libertynet.org/gspa
Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Saturdays by appointment only (call 215-545-0391 by Thursday)
Admission: $5.00 for library use

The Society collects genealogical materials from Pennsylvania and its border states including microfilmed church and cemetery records, some of which are not readily available elsewhere. It has a useful web site.
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Germantown Historical Society

5501 Germantown Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Phone: (215)844-0514
FAX: (215)844-2831
E-mail: ghs@libertynet.org
Internet: http://www.libertynet.org/ghs/library.html
Admission:
Library: $7.50, $5.00 for students
Museum: $4 for adults, $2 for children
Hours:
Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Holdings are specific to the history of Germantown and its people. Genealogists find it useful.
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Gratz College Tuttleman Library

7605 Old York Road
Melrose Park, PA 19027
Phone: (215)635-7300 ext. 159
FAX: (215)635-7320
Internet: http://www.gratzcollege.edu/
E-mail: ewise@gratz.edu
Hours:
During the academic year, September-June
    Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
    Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Summer Hours, June - September
    Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

     The Tuttleman Library has about 100,000 items: books, microforms, music, and video, devoted to Judaic and Hebrew studies. This includes a Holocaust archive and many books of genealogical interest including Yizkor books.

     The JGSGP library collection now occupies a dedicated area in the Tuttleman Library on the second floor of the Newman Building at Gratz College. We suggest that you review the latest edition of the JewishGen Family Finder and the JGSGP Register of Roots. Donations of books are gratefully accepted. Please contact the JGSGP office for all contributions.
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Historical Society of Delaware

505 Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302)655-7161
FAX: (302)655-7844
E-mail: hsd@dca.net
Internet: http://www.hsd.org/
Hours: Monday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Has a research library devoted to the history of Delaware and its people. The genealogical holdings are among the best in the state.
See also Jewish Historical Society of Delaware.
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Historical Society of Pennsylvania

1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107-5699
Phone: (215)732-6200
E-mail: library@hsp.org
Internet: http://www.hsp.org/ (excellent source of further information)
FAX: (215)732-2680 for research by mail
Wheelchair accessible
Hours:
Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Admission:
$6.00 for library use
$3 for students with ID
Photo ID required for everyone

Has a vast collection of genealogical information and records from the U.S., the British Isles, and continental Europe. Many thousands of genealogies in manuscript form and on microfilm. A set of the Philadelphia City Directories. Immigration cards describing information about immigrants arriving at the Port of Philadelphia and, more uniquely, a description of their physical appearance. Burial records on microfilm for many Jewish cemeteries in the greater Philadelphia area.
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Jewish Historical Society of Delaware

505 Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302)655-0365
E-mail: jhsdel@yahoo.com
Internet: http://www.hsd.org/jhsd.htm
Hours: Monday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
President: Stanley Budner
Archivist: Gail Pietrzyk
It is best to make an appointment with the archivist before coming to the library.

Holdings are in the same building as the Historical Society of Delaware. They include archives of synagogues, various Jewish social service agencies, and other documents of Jewish interest.
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National Archives and Records Administration - Mid-Atlantic Region

9th and Chestnut Streets - entrance on Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215)606-0100
Internet: http://www.nara.gov, the national homepage
             http://www.archives.gov/midatlantic/public/family-history.html, the Mid-Atlantic Branch
Wheelchair accessible
Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Second Saturday of each month, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holdings: Return to Table of Contents

Pennsylvania State

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Philadelphia, County and City

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Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center

125 N. 8th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: (215)925-8090 ext. 229
FAX: (215)925-4413
E-mail: ddavis@jewisharchives.net
Internet: www.jewisharchives.net
Hours: The collections of the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center are available by appointment only. If you wish to use any of their collections please call 215-925-8090 ext. 229 to set up an appointment. They will make every effort to accommodate your request.

Its holdings include:

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Reconstructionist Rabbinical College Library

1299 Church Road
Wyncote, PA 19095
Phone: (215)576-0800 (ext. 22 or 34)
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Or candle lighting time if earlier)

A research library serving the needs of its graduate students and faculty. It is open to the public; no appointment needed. It has no holdings specific to genealogy; but has an excellent collection on Judaica, Jewish history, philosophy and culture, maps, gazeteers, etc.
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Urban Archives (Paley Library of Temple University)

1210 W. Berks St.
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Phone: (215)204-5750
Fax: (215)204-3681
Internet: http://www.library.temple.edu/urbana/
E-mail: urban@www.library.temple.edu
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Call for an appointment to use the library.
Holdings: Return to Table of Contents
Comments and corrections to Chad Gottschlich at chadfg@verizon.net
Revised September 4, 2005