HIST 302W: Tax Records and Library Guide

Skip Contact Info and Research Tips

Contact

Eric Novotny
Title: Acting Head Arts and Humanities

Arts & Humanities Library
W321 Pattee Library
Penn State University
814-865-1014
ecn1@psu.edu

Services for History Researchers

Pop. Census Records

Population Census Records in News and Microforms Library

Year(s) and Call Number

1800-1880, HA217.U5P4
1890, HA217.U5P4
1890, D326 reel 197 *
1900, HA217.U5P4 1910
1910, HA217.U5P4 1920

* Most of the 1890 Census was destroyed in a fire. For 1890 the Library has the Census of Civil War Veterans and Widows and city directories. (See also the 1890 Centre County directory in PA's Past: Digital Bookshelf.)

Individual Pop. Census

Locating an Individual in the Population Census

For the years 1800-1870 use a printed name index. These are on the Index Tables in News and Microforms in the call # range HA605.P45.

For 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920 use the Soundex system as follows:

Enter the last name into a Soundex Convertor on the Web: http://www.searchforancestors.com/soundex.html
Look up the surname in the Soundex cards. You'll find the cards at Call Number D21. Write down everything on the card - it will guide you to the appropriate reel and page in the Population Census (see above for locations of the reels).

Agriculture Census

Call # HD1775.P4. The library has the individual returns for 1850-1880 for Pennsylvania.

Manufacturers Census

Call # HD1775.P4. The library has the individual returns for 1850-1880 for Pennsylvania.

Reproductions

Hard copies can be made and paid for using the debit account on your PSU ID (16 cents/page), or with change (20 cents/page). Scanners are also available for making electronic page copies. Scanning is free in the library.

PA History Resources

America 's Historical Newspapers, 1690-1922. A collection of pre-1900 newspapers
Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania Biography
Pennsylvania Civil War Newspapers. Includes the Bellefonte Democratic Watchman, 1855-1871
Pennsylvania Newspapers (Microfilm), use NewsCAT to identify Pennsylvania newspapers in our collection.
PA County & Regional Histories (Microfilm, Call number D187). Consult the print guide on the Index Tables, (Call # Z1330.R44) for a list of titles by county
Pa's Past Digital Bookshelf . Includes the 1883 Linn "History of Centre County" and the 1890 Directory of the Population of Centre County (a partial substitute for the lost 1890 Census reels)
Statistical Data from the U.S. Censuses can be found in the Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno