Frequently Asked Questions

NOT in the beginning and NOT with the search bar. SEE the “HOW TO PAGE” on the Archives Home Page with an example of a name search.

Some dates are missing.

The 3-digit number indicates the court year, the month of the court term or session, and the case number.

The Prothonotary is the chief clerk for the civil courts.

Go to previous pages until “Archives Listings” appears on the top ribbon. This will take you to the Records Group page where you can select from the list what Office or Department you want.

Microfilm: Only a list can be seen on this web site. Most early volumes are on microfilm and are available at the Cumberland County Historical Society or the Pennsylvania State Archives. Some County Offices have microfilm available. The Location heading will indicate where microfilm is available. 

Electronic: Information from electronically born records can only be accessed through the Office or Department referred to. 

Objects: Information about some historic county objects held by the County are available through the Archives web site.

Example: Click Commissioners (Record Group). Then Click Cuban Windows. The windows can be viewed on-line

Various institutions have Cumberland County government records in their collections. Pennsylvania State Archives has many early records when the county Commissioners reported to the Colonial Governor.

County records are organized by their function. Depending on what you are researching, think of functions such as Tax Records, Criminal Cases, Civil Cases, Estate Papers, etc. Many records, such as Wills are still with the Register of Wills Office.

The records are organized first by the Office or Departments that created them or has possession of them when transferred to the Archives. An Office or Department is called a Record Group. The records are then organized alphabetically by title. The title usually reflects the function of the records – such as Minutes. 

Yes. On Mondays (except holidays) no appointment is needed. Other days appointments are required.

For genealogical research, contact other offices first: 

• 1. Estate Records: contact the Register of Wills Office. 
• 2. Land Records: contact the Recorder of Deeds Office. 
• 3. Vital records: contact the Cumberland County Historical Society. If a lead is found for a county government record, contact us. County governments were not required to keep birth, death (except for Coroner Inquests), and marriage information until much later. Birth, Death, and Marriage information was mostly kept by churches. The Cumberland County Historical Society has extensive church and cemetery records for present municipalities in Cumberland County. 
• 4. Tax Records: The Tax Rates Books are available on the Archival website. Click Commissioners (Record Group). Then Click Tax Rate Books. Then Click “Holdings” to identify the volume covering the year(s) of interest to you. Then Click the camera image to view the volume pages. Early ones are difficult to read. Tax Rates are listed in the Books by municipality (townships and boroughs). 
• 5.Lancaster County Archives: Prior to Cumberland County’s founding in 1750, about 3,000 people lived in the territory that became Cumberland County. Prior to 1750 the land was part of Lancaster County. If you think ancestors lived in Cumberland County prior to 1750, contact the Lancaster County Archives. 

Starting in 1750 Cumberland County reached west almost to what is now Pittsburgh. The last county created from Cumberland County was Perry County in 1820. The first was Bedford County in 1771