Collections & Databases

This collection of Bibles in the YCHC archives includes images of the title page and pages that contain family data: birth and baptismal records, marriages and deaths.

The York City Streets and Alleys illustrate the city beginning in the 1870s. Varying in size and condition these photographs highlight individual buildings as well as city events.

This online library of York County Postcards captures a specific moment in time of York County’s communities.

This collection focuses on over 270 York County mills researched and photographed by Grant Voaden, an engineer with S. Morgan Smith. Voaden’s research files including data on the type of mill, date of construction, and owner are available in the archives.

Scott W. Knaub took photographs in the 1940s of schoolhouses while he served as Assistant Superintendent of York County Schools from 1938-1950. This collection helps to document the history of one-room schools, many of which are no longer standing.

Charles E. Ness owned Ness Oil Company and delivered fuel to service stations. Along the way he photographed them, mostly in the 1950s. This 1,000 plus collection of images document early gas stations across York County.

J.A. Dempwolf established a successful architectural practice in 1874 in York. He was later joined by his brother Reinhardt Dempwolf in 1884 and later J.A.’s son Frederick. The firm designed residential, commercial and public buildings, most of them in southern Pennsylvania and northern Maryland, although they did many projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. They had a great influence on York’s architecture from the 1880s through the 1930s.

Collections related to African Americans are found throughout the Library & Archives, including in family, military, community, and business collections. Collections will be added to this guide as they are uncovered and when new material related to the African American community is donated.

The York County History Center has a large collection of almanacs printed locally and outside the area, and in both English and German. Many of the almanacs reflect Pennsylvania German culture and folkways.

The Jeremiah Sullivan Black Collection consists of books and pamphlets that were part of Black’s personal library and are primarily about law and politics. Black was elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and later served as U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of State for President James Buchanan. He was also the first owner of the house known as the Brockie Mansion.

Totaling Totally over 13,000 feet, this film collection focuses on events and gatherings in York County ranging from 1923 to 1960. The majority of this collection was filmed and shown by a York County couple, Charles Noss and his wife Carrye. In addition, there are seven reels that document York City in 1941 and promotional films from Thompson Business College from 1940.

A native of Hanover, Josiah William Gitt was the owner and editor of The Gazette and Daily newspaper from 1915 to 1970. Under Gitt, The Gazette and Daily gained a national reputation for its independent news orientation and editorial positions. The J.W. Gitt Collection contains material from Gitt’s personal papers, as well as research material.

Charles A. Williams was an associate of A.P. Dise of Glen Rock, Pa., and later he became an associate of G.A. and F.M. Wagman Company of Dallastown, Pa., building reinforced steel concrete bridges. He designed numerous bridges for York County, the state, and the Pennsylvania Railroad, as well as many commercial, public and residential buildings.