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INTRODUCTION
The Library & Archives Public Research
Area and Administrative Office is located
on the second floor of the Erie County
History Center, headquarters of ECHS.
Researchers and students of all ages
will find community history and genealogy
information from a treasure of published
and primary sources.
WHAT
IS LOCAL HISTORY?
We are interested in providing information
on the history of Erie County and
environs, documenting the history
of people, places, things, events
and activities in our county to our
research public.
WHAT
ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We collect primary and secondary sources
relating to the pre-history and history
of Erie County and its inhabitants
up to the present time, history and
biography from neighboring counties,
Western Pennsylvania and the Lake
Erie Region as they relate to Erie
County. We also collect general reference
works such as encyclopedias, dictionaries,
directories, atlases and serial publications
which help to interpret local history
in a state and national context, Erie
authors and imprints, technical and
professional publications which support
the operations of the Historical Society,
oral and video histories of recent
events and people. Images of Erie
County including photographs, negatives,
postcards, lithographs, architectural
plans and drawings and maps are sought
for the collections.
WHAT
DO WE HAVE?
The collections contain published
books, atlases, city directories,
serials, advertising art, primary
documents including maps, architectural
plans and drawings, photographs, diaries,
letters, account books, church and
cemetery readings, WPA transcripts,
manuscripts, business records and
other archival resources. Holdings
now include over 5,280 linear ft.
of manuscript and archival material,
5,275 books, 3,750 maps, architectural
plans and drawings, and 271,050+ negatives,
slides and prints.
The Library &
Archives has experienced significant
collections growth in the past three
years. The Erie Historical Museum
Archives joined the ECHS Library &
Archives as a result of the merger.
Mercyhurst College has donated 167
archival collections. A number of
city and county records groups have
been transferred to ECHS for greater
access by the community. Large collections
from other sources were also added.
Holdings
now total over 500 separate collections.
We are in the process of integrating
the collections into the system for
use by patrons.
COMING SOON:
A Guide to 150 Selected Collections
at ECHS will be available to researchers.
SEE A BROCHURE--Research!
Reference & Recreation (!) for
students of all ages!!
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WHERE IS THE
GENEALOGY MATERIAL?
The Erie Society for Genealogical Research,
(link to their website) our sister group,
has its Administrative Office next to
the Research Room. Officers from ESGR
and volunteers from ESGR help us assist
genealogy patrons as they search for
more information on their families at
the Erie County History Center. Volunteers
from ESGR are usually here on Thursday
mornings and Saturday around lunch time
to help researchers. We refer all written
genealogy requests to ESGR, for specialized
assistance.
ESGR is also active in helping genealogy
researchers at the Blasco Memorial
Library in the Heritage Room. (link
to the public library) In addition
to providing help and expert advice
to genealogy searchers, ESGR reads
cemeteries, publishes reference tools
including indexes on naturalization
records, cemetery readings, reprints
important sources like Warner &
Beers’ History of Erie County
(now out-of-print), Erie Illustrated
(1888), the 1865 Erie County Atlas
and 1876 Erie County Atlas and their
own KEYSTONE KUZZINS newsletter, a
benefit of membership in their organization.
ESGR also presents training sessions
for beginning genealogists in the
Spring and Fall at the History Center
and Blasco Memorial Library.
OUR STAFF
Our staff is committed to helping
you find what you need, in a timely
and efficient way. The best way is
an on-site visit. If you are planning
to look for information beyond the
“quick, ready reference”
level, please call us first.
Many people use our resources. An
“army of 1.75” staff members
is responsible for all the functions
of the Library & Archives. Some
research material is on other levels.
The staff pages most of the resources
for researchers. We appreciate your
co-operation. Volunteers, community
service workers, and students help
us on a varying schedule. Help us
plan for your visit.
Give yourself the gift of time. Part
of the fun of researching is the discovery.
When you work with original documents
and photographs, more time is needed
to find what you want and need. We
strive to be efficient and effective;
however, it takes time to choose resources,
locate boxes and folders, pull volumes,
select images.
Thank you!
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