Records can be requested from the Delaware County Archives by visiting the facility or through the US mail. The Archives will also respond to e-mail requests, but copies of documents will not be sent via e-mail. Please check the indexes below to see the records available through the Delaware County Archives.
Free Parking is available just outside Building 19, which houses the Archives.
Proceed south on I-476 to Exit 5 – Rt. 1. At end of exit bear to right. Proceed onto Rt. 1 South to Rt. 352 north. At end of ramp turn right onto Rt. 352 north. At third traffic light turn left into the Fair Acres Geriatric Complex. Stop at Guard House. Officer will direct you to Building 19, which houses the Archives.
Take I-95 to I-476 north to Exit 5. Turn left at second light at end of exit. You will now be on Rt. 1 South. Take exit for Rt. 352 north. Follow directions as shown above when on Rt. 352.
Take Rt. 1 South to Rt. 352 north. Follow directions as shown above when on Rt. 352.
Take Rt. 1 North east to Rt. 452. Turn left onto Rt. 452 to first light. Turn left onto Rt. 352. At first light turn left into Fair Acres Geriatric Complex to Guard House. Ask guard for directions to Building 19 which houses the Archives.
Archives Map of Fair Acres in Adobe PDF
Upon arrival researchers will be asked to complete a registration form. Researchers will be asked to provide a name, phone number/email and an address. Researchers will also be asked to abide by the Delaware County Archive’s rules and regulations.
Individual pages and Docket Books: $1.00 per copier page.
Please note: Docket Books usually require two copier pages for each docket book page.
There is a minimum fee of $10.00 per mail request. Copies 1-10 pages = $10.00. Fee after tenth page = $1.00 per page. Example – If document you request consists of two pages, the mail fee is $10.00. If you request a document consisting of 15 pages, the fee will be $15.00. Make all checks payable to Delaware County.
RECORDS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DELAWARE COUNTY ARCHIVES:
The Archives houses most of the records created by the administrative offices of the county from 1789 – 1950. It should be noted that the records that are held by the Recorder of Deeds are not under the jurisdiction of the Archives.
Searchable indexes are highlighted in blue below.
Please Note: Not all records have been indexed to 1950 and the website will be updated periodically with revised indexes.
Papers filed with the Register of Wills when no Will was filed. Name index for the period 1790 – 1950. For Administrations after 1950 contact: Register of Wills, Delaware County Government, 201 West Front St., Media, PA 19063. (610)-891-4400
Admissions & Discharges, Deaths in the County Home 1806-1929
Shown is the person’s name, age, residence of record, date admitted, date departed, and the disposition (if known) for those discharged, died or eloped (eloped, in this case, does not mean they ran away to be married. They ran away from the Home). For those who were indentured, the person to whom they were indentured (bound to), the occupation and place of residence are shown (if known). There are no records for the periods: 1823-1826, 1830-1833, 1835-1836, 1838, 1841-1846, 1855, and 1874-1888.
BIRTH RECORDS - Chester Birth Records 1889-1906
This register was prepared from information returned by the assessors. Information recorded was child's name, sex, race, date and place of birth, names and addresses of parents and the father's occupation. All the information contained for the birth records for Chester is shown in the online index.
Please Note: No births were submitted in 1906 for the following towns: Broomall, East Ward Clifton Heights, Colwyn, Edgmont, Marple, Newtown, Norwood, Radnor, Ridley Park, Swarthmore, Tinicum and Upland.
Please Note: City of Chester covers the period 1889-1906. There are no birth records for Upper Darby.
All Birth Records AFTER 1906 are filed with the PA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. The telephone number is (724)-656-3100 or (844)-228-3516 (toll-free). The Website is: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/certificates/Pages/Vital%20Records.aspx
CHARTERS AND CORPORATIONS - 1879-1903
CIVIL DOCKET BOOKS (CONTINUANCE & APPEARANCE) 1797-1929.
There are name indexes in each docket book.
Civil Case Files (Original Writs) 1789-1897
The Court of Common Pleas heard civil and equity cases. Two types of actions were personal and real. Most of the cases before the Court were personal actions, specifically debt and trespass. The online indexes date 1789-1889.
CRIMINAL DOCKET BOOKS – 1806-1929.
There are original papers filed in criminal proceedings. There is a name index for the period 1789-1922.
There are original papers filed in criminal proceedings. There is a name index for the period 1789-1922. For cases after 1950, contact the Office of Judicial Support, Delaware County government, 201 West Front St., Media, PA 19063. (610)-891-4370.
There are original papers filed in criminal proceedings. For case files after 1929, contact Office of Judicial Support, Delaware County Government, 201 west Front St. Media, PA 19063 (610)-891-4370.
This register was prepared from information returned by the assessors. Information recorded was name of deceased, race, sex, age, marital status, place of birth, occupation, date of death, place of death, duration of last illness, place and date of interment. If the deceased was a minor, their parents' names are listed.
Please Note: Death records that occurred in the City of Chester are not shown. They are missing. Their whereabouts is unknown.
Please Note: The are no exact dates of death for Glenolden in 1905. Deaths for 1906 were not submitted by Birmington, East Ward of Clifton Heights, Colwyn, Edgmont, 2nd Ward of Marcus Hook, Marple, Newtown, Norwood, Radnor, Ridley Park, Swarthmore, and Tinicum.
Everything after 1906 is with the PA Department of Health, Division. Of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. The telephone number is (724)-656-3100 or (844)-228-3516 (toll-free). Forms can be obtained through their website: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/certificates/Pages/Vital%20Records.aspx.
DELAWARE COUNTY ASSESSMENTS - 1791-1850
DELAWARE COUNTY ASSESSMENTS - 1841-1889
DELAWARE COUNTY ASSESSMENTS - 1890-1903
DELAWARE COUNTY DIVORCES 1883- 1940 - Name index 1883-1933
DELAWARE COUNTY VETERANS - 1860-1935
EQUITY CASE FILES – 1856-1897. Original papers filed in equity cases. Name index.
VETERAN'S GRAVE REGISTRATION - 1775 to 2010
The source of the information is primarily the Veterans Administration. For the Civil War, the Bates Register. All information that is available to the Archives is provided herein. Queries can be by last name or cemetery.
INMATES IN DELAWARE COUNTY PRISONS - 1873-1917
INSOLVENT DEBTORS - 1748-1843
Petitions by individuals to be declared an insolvent debtor by the Court so that he/she could be released from prison.
LIQUOR LICENSES - 1860 - 1923
Petitions to the Court of Quarter Sessions requesting a license was filed by the proprietor of an establishment in order to obtain a license and contains the name of petitioner, date of petition, township or borough of petitioner and establishment and whether or not the petition was granted. Licenses would have to be applied for each year.
MARRIAGE RECORDS - 1885 – 1950
Both marriage licenses and applications. For marriage licenses after 1950 contact the Register of Wills. Go to the county's website: https://delcopa.gov/row/.
MEDICAL & DENTAL REGISTER FOR DELAWARE COUNTY - 1881-1929
NARRATIVES
1789-1847, 1853-1857
A narrative is the first of the formal statement of facts and circumstances of the plaintiff’s cause of action. The narrative outlines the reasons why the plaintiff brings suit. They are also known as declarations. Most of the actions called for the payment of debt, the ejectment of parties from land if the debt is not paid, trespass, or payment of money for libel of a party. There are no narratives for the period 1854-1856.
NATURALIZATION RECORDS – 1795-1990.
Name Index documents include Declarations of Intention and Petition for Naturalization
ORPHANS' COURT DOCKET BOOKS - Docket books from 1790-1882.
ORPHANS' COURT ESTATE CASE FILES – 1789-1950.
Original papers filed with the court. For cases after 1950, contact the Register of Wills, Delaware County Government, 201 West Front St. Media, PA 19063. (610)-891-4400. There is an online index for the period 1789-1950
A recognizance is issued by a Justice of the Peace to an individual charged with a crime that he/she will pay a certain amount of money to the Court to make sure that he/she will appear in Court. It should be noted that many of these charges were withdrawn before they went to trial. One should check the Criminal Case Index to see if their name appears. The Archives has no recognizances after 1863.
Name index for the period 1789-1944. For wills after 1950, contact the Register of Wills, Delaware County Government, 201 West Front Street Media, PA 19063, (610)-891-4400.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The Delaware County Archives is dedicated to preserving all the records of the County of Delaware. In order to continue to keep these records safe and preserve them for the future, the following rules and regulations need to be followed when using the Archives.