Library

810 Main Street Museum

Following is a list of the basic materials available for genealogical and local history research in the Historical Society's Library. In addition, books, files, microfilm, photo archives, and manuscripts are available to the public. Information on the county's vital records can be found on our Availability of Vital Records for Wayne County document. A visit to the Library is a must for anyone researching Wayne County's history.

We have three microfilm readers, one microfilm reader/printer and one microfiche reader. The librarian's computer has several searchable databases. The following resources are available:

• History of Wayne, Pike and Monroe Counties, by Alfred Mathews, 1886 (indexed)
• History of Wayne County, by Phineas G. Goodrich, 1880 (indexed)
• Atlas of Wayne County, 1872, Beers & Co. (indexed)
• Map of Wayne County, 1860
• Birth and Death Records 1893-1905
• Civil War Union Veterans' and Widows' Pension Records for Northeastern PA, 1890 (indexed for Wayne County)
• Commemorative Biographical Record of Northeastern Pennsylvania (Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe Counties), J.H. Beers, 1900 (indexed)
• Family genealogies
• Federal Census Records (1780-1930) (indexed 1790-1870)
• Histories of Wayne County people, places and things; e.g., D&H Canal, Stourbridge Lion, Gravity Railroads, etc.
• History of Pennsylvania Civil War Volunteers, by Samuel Bates (indexed)
• Illustrated Wayne, 1900-1902, Benjamin F. Haines (indexed)
• Local newspapers 1830 to date (microfilm)
• Marriages 1885-1906
• Naturalization papers 1822-1906 (indexed)
• Orphan's Court docket 1803-1852 and 1855-1869
• Photo Archives (over 7,000 catalogued photos)
• Verna Hill Jacob's Scrapbooks 1939-1980
• Wayne County tombstone inscriptions, compiled by Burlin Abbey, Prof. Richard Eldred.
• Wayne County map showing cemetery locations
• Susquehanna Company Papers (Vols. I-IV)
• Diary of Philip Hone
• History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, compiled & edited by Donald Lines Jacobus
• History and Genealogy of the Families of Old New Haven, compiled & edited by Donald Lines Jacobus
• Pension Rolls of 1835
• Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, by James Savage
• New England Marriages Prior to 1700, by Clarence Almon Torrey (with both supplements)
• History of Sullivan County (NY), by James Eldredge Quinlan
• Centennial History of Susquehanna County Pennsylvania, by Rhamanthus M. Stocker
• History of Susquehanna County Pennsylvania, by Emily C. Blackman
• Nomenclature of Wayne: A History of Wayne County, PA, Compiled by Thomas J. Ham (indexed)
• Prompton Presbyterian Church Sessions Records 1842-1900 (Microfilm)
• Tax Assessments 1850-1935 by Township (Microfilm)

      (Call or email for an appointment to use the Research Library outside these hours.)

Research Library Fees:

If you come in person, there is a $5.00 admission charge for non-members, which includes both the museum and use of the library. There is no charge for WCHS members and students. Copying costs are $.25 per page for non-members and $.10 for members for photocopies and computer printouts. Copies from the microfilm reader/printer are $1.00 for the first page, $.25 for additional pages

Look-Up Fee

A $5.00 Look-Up Fee is charged for checking for information for which specific details are supplied and it can be found on a list, index, etc. in the Research Library and does not require actual research. Examples would be a request for an obituary for which the exact date of death is provided, checking an indexed census or published history. The Look Up Fee covers a maximum of five names. There is an additional charge for copies of the material specified above.

Professional Resarch

Gloria McCullough, Research Librarian, will do local research (including courthouse lookups). The fee is $40.00 for the first two hours, $20.00 per hour for additional research. You will receive a written report after the first two hours, but bear in mind that the fee covers research time but does not guarantee results. Gloria can be contacted by mail at:

Wayne County Historical Society
P.O. Box 446
Honesdale PA 18431

by telephone at (570) 253-3240 or by email at wchspa@ptd.net

All research requests should be sent to Gloria McCullough at wchspa@ptd.net

If you choose to have research done a $40.00 check should accompany your request. Your letter should include any information helpful to the researcher, including any previous research you have done.