If you are unable to visit HSP's library, or you are seeking some expert help with your research, HSP's Research by Mail service can help! For a pre-paid fee, a skilled staff researcher at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania will work on your research topic and search through our extensive archives. HSP holds records for Pennsylvania, as well as for most of the colonies and states east of the Mississippi River. Frequently used sources include probate records, newspapers, church records, deeds, genealogical research files, and manuscript collections.

While we cannot guarantee results, we will make every effort to assist you by documenting all sources consulted during our research. Upon request, staff will also transcribe documents that might be difficult to read. Research requests take approximately 6-8 weeks to process. If you would like us to complete your request within 2 weeks, rush service is also available. A minimum of two hours is required for your initial request.

Research fees are as follows;

Member Rate = $50/hr

Non-member Rate = $70/hr

Rush Rate = $40 (additional flat fee)

Friends receive more than 25 percent off! Become a Friend of HSP today.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A RESEARCH REQUEST

Continuing an existing request? – You can purchase Additional Hours!

If you have a recent request that requires more investigation, and you would like to order additional research time, please click here. When adding hours, kindly reference your original Order Number, and the name of your researcher, as this will help ensure proper follow-up.

If you have additional questions about HSP’s Research by Mail service, please contact our research team at researchbymail@hsp.org .

Other Services:

Quick Search Service

Need a few digital images or have a quick lookup? Learn more about our quick search service for requests of 30 minutes or less.

Rights & Reproductions

Need high quality digital copies of documents or images? Click here or contact our Rights and Reproductions team at rnr@hsp.org.

Have a Question for our Librarians? Please see our FAQ page, submit a question to our library staff, or just drop by the Reference Desk.