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Fees

General Information

  • Send your order to:

    Pennsylvania State Archives
    Attn: Reference
    350 North Street
    Harrisburg, PA 17120-0090

  • Make payment by check or money order payable to: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
  • Add shipping and handling (see below) to all orders except copies of Birth and Death Certificates.
  • The Archives may refuse to make copies of records that may be harmed in the process.
  • Fees may be discounted for State Agencies, reproductions that will be used in a classroom, History Day student projects, and similar uses.
  • Reproductions of electronic files may be subject to use fees. Consult our Use of Reproductions Permission Form via (PDF) or (Direct Submit) .
  • Research and copy orders are handled in the order in which they are received. Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing. All fees are nonrefundable.

 

Reference By Mail

Research Fees

  • $15.00 per name or item for indexed records (if you are a Pennsylvania Resident)
  • $25.00 per name or item for indexed records (if you are not a Pennsylvania Resident)

Research Procedures

  • Archives staff will search for one name or item in one series of original records. Genealogical requests should be submitted using the Mail Reference Order Form (PDF).
  • Research fees include up to 10 pages of copying. Additional copies will be provided at the rates listed below.
  • Archives staff does not search microfilm copies of county records or of other materials that are not housed in the Archives.
  • The Archives cannot search unindexed or unarranged records. If you cannot visit to review such records in person, you may utilize a researcher for hire. A list of available researchers is available on the Genealogy and Local History page of the State Library of Pennsylvania website. These researchers do not work for the Archives and their presence on the list should not be construed as an endorsement of them.

 

Copy Fees

Paper Copies

  • 8.5" x 11" or 8.5" x 14" = $0.50 per page
  • 11" x 17" = $1.00 per page

Birth and Death Certificates

  • $5.00 per record (uncertified only)
  • Use Vital Records Request Form via (PDF) or (Direct Submit)

Land Records (warrants, surveys and patents)

  • $3.00 per record (uncertified)
  • $18.00 per record (certified)
  • Use Land Records Order Form via (PDF) or (Direct Submit) 

Digital Scanning

  • Color scans up to 23" x 33"
    • $10.00 setup fee per order
    • $5.00 per scan
  • Oversized color scans (larger than 23" x 33")
    • $20.00 setup fee per order
    • $10.00 per linear foot
  • Scanning fee includes CD, DVD, e-mail transmission or delivery on FTP site
  • $10.00 for files provided on USB drive

Existing Digital Files

  • $10.00 search fee per order
  • $5.00 per file
  • Fee includes CD, DVD, e-mail transmission or delivery on FTP site
  • $10.00 for files provided on USB drive

Audiovisual Materials

  • In-House Conversion Rates
    • $50.00 setup fee per order
    • $25.00 per half hour for conversion from audio or video original to digital
    • Fee includes CD, DVD, e-mail transmission or delivery via Microsoft OneDrive download
    • $10.00 for files provided on USB drive
    • $50.00 plus vendor's charge for special needs

  • Outsourced Vendor Conversion Rates
    • $50.00 setup fee plus any vendor charges for conversion
    • The State Archives cannot currently convert reel-to-reel motion picture films, Umatic videotapes, or other selected media depending on physical condition, to a digital format; vendor rates will apply to media that cannot be digitized at the Archives

Microfilm Duplicates

  • Scanned copy of microfilm roll (any kind, any size) - $50.00 per roll


Certificate of Authenticity

  • $15.00 per record for certificate of authenticity with raised, gold seal


Use Fees

  • Use fees are assessed per image or for first 3 minutes of audiovisual material
  • Under 5,000 circulation/print run:
    • $40.00 commercial use
    • $20.00 nonprofit use
  • Circulation/print run of 5,000 or over:
    • $100.00 commercial use
    • $50.00 nonprofit use
  • Broadcast use, commercials, motion pictures, radio/television productions:
    • $200.00 commercial use
    • $100.00 nonprofit use
  • Use the Use of Reproductions Permission Form via (PDF) or (Direct Submit)


Shipping and Handling

For orders totaling:

  • $20.00 or less = FREE
  • $20.01-$100.00 = $5.00
  • Over $100.00 = $25.00