Marie, I would recommend going to either the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society or the Lancaster County Historical Society to start with. Both can be found on line for additional information. http://www.lmhs.org/ http://www.lancasterhistory.org/ The LCHS will even allow limited searching of their database from your computer at home if you want to look up some materials to start with. Both have family files, census records, early tax records, cemetery records, maps. and church records for the county, as well extensive published genealogies. There have been several indexed books published recently with church records that should be available at both libraries. I prefer the LMHS since they have partially open stacks, in other words you can look at the books on their shelves without have to have someone else bring them to you. They are also very helpful and the staff may have some suggestions for you. Don't neglect looking through their card files. After going to either of the historical societies, I would then go to the courthouse. The archives are in the lower level at the front of the old section of the courthouse. The staff there is helpful explaining the indexing system for deeds and for wills and Orphans Court records. Some of the originals for the earliest Orphans Court records are at the LMHS. The death register is also found in the archives at the courthouse. Marriage records after 1885? are in the new part of the courthouse on the second floor. www.co.lancaster.pa.us/ If you wish to look for obituaries and have a date of death, the Lancaster Library) has old Lancaster newspapers on film in the basement. They also have a special Lancaster Collection near the reference desk which may contain some books which you are looking for. www.lancaster.lib.pa.us There are also several smaller historical societies that serve a particular area of the county. If you have time, you could also visit the State Library in the Forum Building in Harrisburg and the State Archives. The State Library has an excellent collection of old newspapers for the state as well as a room devoted to genealogy for the whole state. The Archives are extensive, but may contain information not found anywhere else. www.pde.state.pa.us/ www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/overview.htm Hope this helps, Maria