Pennsylvania State Archives Collection

Images of cash books, daybooks, ledgers, journals, receipt book, vouchers, payroll requisitions, and related types of records kept by the Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia. Information provided varies with type of record but generally documents revenue received and expenditures made by the Wardens in the course of carrying out their duties. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection.

Images of lists of attorneys granted permission to practice in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In order to practice at this level, attorneys were required to have a sponsor. Information given includes names of attorney and sponsor, and date of admission. From 1903 on, either the county of residence or the place of admission of the attorney are also noted. At the end of the first volume (1742-1902) is a "List of attorneys of the Supreme Court of the Province of Pennsylvania admitted at various times previous to the Revolution," which is noted as having been copied from "Sheriff's Deed Book B," and which shows the names of the attorneys, and their dates of admission. For related records, see link below. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection.

Images of a record of appellate cases in the Supreme Court, Western District. Cases deal with issues under the Court's mandatory and discretionary jurisdiction. Cases falling within the Court's mandatory jurisdiction dealt with capital punishment, questions of constitutionality, finance and revenue, elections, and others. Cases falling within the Court's discretionary jurisdiction included cases where two intermediate courts had opposing decisions or cases that posed open questions of law, among others. Entries for each case list: the plaintiff (appellant) and defendant (appellee); the names of the attorneys appearing for the parties; the county and the lower courts from which the appellate cases arose; a chronological listing of the documents filed and proceedings held in the case; and the Court's subsequent decision or orders. Justices delivering the opinions are often noted, and from 1795 to 1836, the name of the prothonotary recording the case is entered. During the period 1894-1919, many of the dockets contain statistical summaries concerning the number and types of cases processed, and from 1930 to 1965, penciled notations are found that refer to the published cases and opinions of the Supreme Court in the Pennsylvania State Reports. A reference number that indicates when the case was recorded as having been argued in the Court Minute Books appears from 1935 onwards. Docket sheets dating after 2000 were printed from an electronic database and may contain a report date postdating the docket date. Dockets postdating 2000 may also be found online through the Administrative Offices of the Pennsylvania Courts' website. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection.

Images of applications to the Department of Banking for licenses to lend money in the Commonwealth. These consist of date of filing, name of corporation, place of business, date and place of incorporation, names of Directors, amount of capital invested, proof of foreign ownership, and any previous convictions. Each application is signed, sworn, and notarized. Disclaimer: Not all records in this series are digitized. Holdings in this collection dated May 14, 1933 or earlier are open for researcher access. Records after that date are restricted. Please contact the Pennsylvania State Archives for additional information.

Images of gubernatorial appointments and commissions. Information usually provided is name of appointee, name of Governor or Commission making the appointment, the title of the position to which applicant was appointed, the date of appointment, term of the appointment, Gubernatorial certificate signed by the Governor and Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Senate confirmation letter. Correspondence was generally sent on behalf of applicants and may sometimes provide more detailed information about an applicant. The microfilm covers the period through 1808. For names of applicants who applied for positions during the period 1775-1790 see "Guide to the Microfilm of the Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments, 1775-1790," by Roland M. Baumann. Related records are in the following series of Records Group 27, Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments: Appointment Book, 1777-1790 series 27.19; Appointments File, Military, 1775-1790 series 27.20; and Appointments File, Political, 1775-1790 series 27.21. Also see, MG-001, Appointments and Commissions Collection. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection.

Images of certification books required to be kept of foremen under statutes designed to protect the health and safety of persons employed in and about bituminous coal mines. From 1903 to 1923 data is presented in certificate form and includes the name, mine district, place of birth, and age of the foreman; a description of the length and nature of his service (experience); the date and number of the certificate; and the name of the Chief of the Department of Mines. After 1923, the information is recorded in register format with internal indexes, and includes the mine district number; the name, residence, place of birth, and age of the applicant; the length and nature of the person's service; the date and number of the certificate; and the report number and date. The last volume also contains Bituminous Mine Certification Records for Second Grade Forman, 1903-1963 {series #45.8} for the years 1962-1963. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection.

Images of dockets containing oaths, sworn before the Prothonotary of the Supreme Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, affirming an alien's intention to become a naturalized citizen, and renouncing all allegiance to any foreign government. Data provided by the Declarations of Intention in the bulk of the series, September 24, 1832-September 24, 1906, includes name, native country, age, former monarch and signature of the alien; date of appearance; whether the alien resided in the county or city of Philadelphia; and the signature of the Prothonotary of the Supreme Court. The entries appear as standardized printed forms, with blanks into which the information was handwritten. The first volume, July 18, 1819-August 11, 1832, differs from the others, both in types of entries as well as types of information presented. It is only here that separate oaths of Allegiance appear, mixed in amongst the Declarations. In this volume, a Declaration of Intention consisted of swearing one's intent to merely settle and reside in Pennsylvania while still owing allegiance to one's former monarch. It was the separate Oath of Allegiance that actually renounced all foreign allegiances and conveyed the intent to seek United States citizenship. Sometimes both a Declaration and an Oath appear, one after the other, for the same person. In other instances, only one or the other appears. In these latter cases, it would seem that the aliens either filed the missing statement with a different court, or perhaps never followed through with the whole procedure. Data provided by the Declarations of Intention in volume 1 includes name of alien, country of birth, age, monarch to which his allegiance was owed, date of immigration, at which port arrived, city or county of residence, intended place of settlement, and signature of the Prothonotary. Names and birthplaces of immigrating family members may also be shown. Data provided by the Oaths of Allegiance about persons declaring their intention to seek citizenship includes only name, native county and signature of alien; name and country of former monarch now being renounced; and names of the Superior Court or Nisi Prius Justice and Prothonotary before whom the person appeared.

Images of a record of equity in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Docket entries were generally begun one or two terms before the case was actually brought before the court. Entries provide such information as names of defendant, plaintiff, attorneys and witnesses involved and a listing of dates and types of documents filed or rules and judgments rendered. Some of these cases are indexed in RG/033/A/42- Ejectment Index, 1857-1874.

Images of a partial, external index to the 11 volume series RG/033/A/35- Declaration of Intention Dockets, 1819-1870, 1873-1875, 1881-1906. Volumes 2-10, and part of 11/12 of that series are indexed by this book (volume 1 has an internal index of its own, while the entries in volume 11/12 after December 2, 1901 appear to be unindexed). Information provided for each name includes volume and page number references to where the individual's Declaration can be found.

Images of twelve volumes of indices containing the following information for each judgment: case title, court term when judgment was rendered, page number, and sometimes additional information on the settlement.