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Genealogical Resources
Chester City Directories
Chester High School Yearbooks
Obituaries
Local organizations
Computer databases
Chester City Directories
Crozer Library has several late nineteenth and early twentieth century Chester City directories that the public may use in the library. The directories are housed in the Reference section.
Unless otherwise noted, the directories are ordered only by resident last name. Typically, the directories provided listings by the male head of household or a female widow. Wives are usually listed in parentheses after husbands. Residences are listed, as well as the male's occupation. Period advertisements are included in each directory in special insert sections as well as on the individual pages.
The library has the following directory volumes:
- 1889-1890
- 1895-1896
- 1897-1898
- 1901
- 1904
- 1906-1907
- 1908-1909
- 1910-1911
- 1912
- 1914-1915
- 1917-1918
- 1920
- 1923-1924
- 1926-1927
- 1928-1929
- 1930-1931
- Contains a Street and Avenue Guide
- 1941
- also contains listings by street and has a Street and Avenue Guide (searchable by last name or street address)
- 1956
- contains listings by street address (Street and Avenue Guide) as well as a Numerical Telephone Directory matching resident to telephone number (searchable by last name, street address, or telephone number)
- 1959
- contains listings by street address (Street and Avenue Guide) as well as a Numerical Telephone Directory matching resident to telephone number (searchable by last name, street address, or telephone number)
The Delaware County Historical Society Library has Chester City Directories spanning 1879-1931, 1941, 1956, and 1959.
Chester High School Yearbooks
Crozer Library has the following high school yearbooks in its Reference department:
- 1929
- 1957
- 1961
- 1962
- 1963
- 1965
- 1972
- 1973
- 1974
- 1986
- 1991
The J. Lewis Crozer Library also has a copy of the Frederick Douglass Jr. High School 2009 Reunion book.
The Delaware County Historical Society Library also collects Chester High School yearbooks and has a more extensive collection.
Obituaries
Obituaries listed in the Chester Times, now known as the Delaware County Daily Times:
Obituaries are indexed at the newspaper's on-site library from 2001 to the present. They can be reached at 610-622-8800. Earlier obituaries are unindexed (not able to be searched by name). Thus, it is helpful to have a general date of death in mind to restrict your search.
Local libraries having microfilm collections of the Daily Times:
- Delaware County Historical Society (1876-1974 on microfilm, unindexed)
- Widener University Archives (approximately 1974-present)
- Ridley Township Public Library (1984-present)
Obituaries listed in the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Obituaries listed from September 8, 2001 to the present are listed in the ObitFinder at Legacy.com. You can find read the entire obituary only for a limited time, but after that time the names and dates are still listed as well as the first few words of the obituary to help you pinpoint the date.
The Free Library of Philadelphia has the complete run of the Philadelphia Inquirer on microfilm. Obituaries are not indexed.
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Newspapers Department, 215-686-5431
As of December 2006, copies were 25 cents per page for 8-1/2"x11" (standard size) paper and 50 cents per page for 11"x17" (legal size).
Local Organizations
Delaware County Archives- Location:
340 North Middletown Road
Lima, PA 19063
Mailing Address:
201 West Front Street
Media, PA 19063
Phone: 610-891-5620
Fax: 610-891-6577
Hours: Wednesdays & Thursdays from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
At the Archives:
- Administrations 1790-1900
- Birth Records (excluding births in the City of Chester)
- Civil Docket Books (Continuance & Appearance) 1797-1929
- Civil Case Files (Original Writs) 1797-1929
- Criminal Docket Books 1806-1929
- Death Records 1893-1906
- Equity Case Files 1856-1897
- Licenses for Peddlers 1935-1970
- Marriage Records 1885-1929
- Naturalization Records 1795-1926
- Orphans' Court Docket Books 1790-1925
- Orphans' Court Estate Case Files 1790-1925
- Physicians' Registrations 1881-1900
- Wills 1789-1900
- 408 Avenue of the States
Chester, PA 19013
Phone: 610-872-0502
Fax: 610-872-0503
Hours: Tuesday 1pm to 8pm ; Wednesday 9am to 4pm ; Saturday 9am to 2pm
The holdings of the DCHS library can be viewed at the library's website.
Computer Databases
The following databases are accessible from the Delaware County Library System database page.
Ancestry Library
Ancestry Library is available on any Internet computer inside any Delaware County library.
For genealogical research, with digitized images of the U.S. Federal Census from 1790 forward, the American Genealogical Biographical Index, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, and more.
HeritageQuest
This database is accessible from any computer with an Internet connection. You only need the number printed below the barcode on your Delaware County library card. Of course, you can also use this database inside any library.
HeritageQuest contains census images from 1790-1930 indexed by name. You can also search books of family and local histories. Periodicals may also be searched for people and places mentioned. How-to genealogy articles are available. Revolutionary War Era Pension & Bounty-Land Warrant Application files are searchable as well as the Freedman's Bank records (1865-1874) for African Americans.