LANCASTER, PA — On Saturday, May 10 and 17, LancasterHistory will offer two classes geared to help researchers dig more deeply into archival records. "Unraveling The Red Tape: Researching Historic Government Records" is a two-part workshop series built to help researchers discover new avenues for uncovering information after hitting a research roadblock, going beyond the typical birth, death, and cemetery records.

On May 10, the Part 1 class will focus on the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court Records. Attendees will learn about the probate system and highlight the information found in various types of estate papers, such as Auditor's Reports, Miscellaneous Orphans' Court papers, and Vendue lists.

The Part 2 class on May 17 will focus on Civil and Criminal Court Records. These records include documents produced by the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of Quarter Sessions, as well as other county offices. Additional records will include Mechanics' Liens, Bridge Papers, and Tavern Petitions.

Historic government records are often undiscovered avenues to learn more about one's ancestors or property. Finding out more about a person's estate or experiences with local law enforcement are two of the many ways one can help dig up new information through historic government records and fully flesh out the lives of people from hundreds of years ago.

"LancasterHistory is proud to host the historic government records for Lancaster City and Lancaster County and make them accessible to the public," said Heather Tennies, Director of Archives & Manuscript Collections.

The classes will be led by Tennies and Marianne Heckles, Archives Assistant at LancasterHistory, who bring decades of experience to the table for attendees. Plus, small class size will give attendees one-on-one attention from the presenters. The classes are recommended for those with some level of previous research experience. Attendees are recommended to take both classes, but each class may be taken individually.

How to Register

"Unraveling The Red Tape: Researching Historic Government Records" Part 1
Focus: Register of Wills and Orphans' Court Records
Saturday, May 10 from 10am - 12pm at LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Avenue

"Unraveling The Red Tape: Researching Historic Government Records" Part 2
Focus: Civil and Criminal Court Records
Saturday, May 17 from 1 - 3pm at LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Avenue

Tickets for each class are $20 for LancasterHistory Members and $25 for Non-Members. Advance registration is encouraged as the class has limited capacity. To register, please click here to purchase tickets online or call (717) 392-4633 to purchase over the phone.

About LancasterHistory
LancasterHistory is a community-based, not-for-profit organization established to educate the public on the history of Lancaster County and its place in the history of Pennsylvania and the United States, to advance the missions of regional historical organizations, and to promote the acquisition, preservation, and interpretation of resources representing the history of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania within the broader context of state and national history, including the homes of 15th US President James Buchanan and Congressman Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith.