WPGS Library - Research Requests
The Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society is an all volunteer organization,
but we do try our best to answer research questions as promptly as we can. WPGS
will research for anyone - not only members - but members do receive
preferential treatment. Turn around time for most library research requests is
2-4 weeks.
Research Request Fees
While we would love to help everyone, our members are all volunteers and research
requests do take a lot of time, plus the expense of copying and mailing. For
this reason, we have established the following fee schedule (we think you'll
find it reasonable) for genealogical research requests:
- WPA Home Survey - $5.00 for 3 addresses
The WPA Home Survey
Project, compiled in 1936 and 1937 by the Works Project Administration provides
invaluable information on Allegheny County properties in existence at that time.
WPA home survey records include a physical description of the property, as well
as a sketch of the property's outlines (top view and side view) made by a
draftsman. See Allegheny County WPA Home Survey for
more information on what to expect, including images of a sample record and
available municipalities and wards.
- Index Search - $5.00
We will check the indices of up to 5 volumes that
you select from our online catalog.
Please list authors and titles, and indicate the surname or place name you wish
us to search for. The fee includes a photocopy of the title page and the index
pages on which the surname or place name is found. WPGS
members may request 2 free index searches per year. If you would like us to
send copies of the pages cited in the index, we will do so at an additional cost
of $0.50 per page. We will copy up to 10 pages per volume per request.
- Naturalization Records - $5.00
We will provide copies from
"List of Immigrants..." as indexed by
Ancestry.com. Please provide the immigrant's name and the source volume
and reference as given by Ancestry.com. The information found in these seven
volumes was abstracted from the original naturalization petitions by members of
WPGS as the society's first project after its formation in the 1970s. All
information on each document was transcribed, but the type and quantity of
information varies greatly from one entry to the next. Please refer to
Ancestry.com's database description for details on what you should expect.
For photocopies of the original documents, please include a total of $10 per
name.
- First Families of Western Pennsylvania - $5.00
We will send you a
photocopy of all genealogical information from the First Family application for
any named ancestor submitted by a member. An index to First Family
ancestors is searchable online in our Members Only area, one of the
benefits of membership in WPGS.
- File Search - $15.00
We will search for up to 1 hour, for an
individual in our Family Files, Church History Files, Cemetery History Files and
Member Ancestor Chart Files for a fee of $15.00. You will be advised as to the
number of pages found. All photocopies are $0.50 per page.
- Library Research Service - $15.00 per hour
We will search all relevant
holdings in our collection for a specific individual, surname or family for an
hourly fee of $15. Up to 5 photocopies may be included in that charge.
Additional copies will require an additional copy fee. We will copy up to 10
pages per volume per request. We will also provide recommendations of additional
sources for further research. Answers are in writing with copies filed in our
office. Please allow a turn-around time of 2-4 weeks.
Other Questions That We AnswerOur Library Research
services only cover items in the WPGS library collection. If you feel your
research needs more time or information than is available in our collection,
however, we will gladly send you a list of professional researchers in
the area and/or the address of the facility holding the information. We are also
happy to provide recommendations of additional sources for information on
your ancestors, including Internet sites, upon request.
Submit Your Research Request
Please mail your research request, including payment, WPGS membership number (as
appropriate) and SASE to the following address:
Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society
c/o PA Department, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-4080
Please be as specific as possible with your request(s). Be sure to include at
least the individual's full name, the approximate dates and the place.
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