I'm just getting caught up on emails. Thought i'd throw my 2 cents in here.    I used to love going to the archives at Lancaster courthouse. Spent hundreds of hours doing research there. To look at the actual registers, turn the pages, even held a 300 year old will in my own hands. Needed a dose of allergy meds before and after from the dust! Last visit last summer, they were scanning everything onto microfilm to go over Lancaster Co. Historical Society (LCHS). They had 3 microfilm readers there at the archives, but none were working. While I absolutely understand they are doing this to preserve everything, it is a change for me. So you would be best to go over to LCHS and skip the courthouse archives. If you do go to the Courthouse, it is best to park in the parking garage on the first block of King St./S. Duke St.    While you're at LCHS, definitely check out the Family Files. These hold information other people doing research have contributed. Be sure to make photocopies for yourself, don't take the originals in the file. I've found photocopies of marriage records, newspaper articles, photos, as well as research. I've also left copies of my own research in these files with my name and email on the back. Al so at the desk inside, there is an index card file of other people researching surnames from the area with contact information. Leave plenty of time, no matter how many hours there, it is never enough!      Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society (LMHS) has a huge index card file of family information that members have contributed. Some have references, some don't. They have Family FIles, also.   Both have great resources, reference material, and helpful staff. LCHS has evening hours Tues. and Thurs.; LMHS does not.   Your best bet at lodging is east of Lancaster along near Rt 30 in the vicinity of LMHS. Beware though, tourist season is starting! Tina Tina

The archives department is no longer in the Courthouse. It's in the admin building @ 150 n queen st. The Prince St parking garage is right next door. Their list of holdings are on the County website. Sent from my iPhone On Mar 31, 2011, at 6:46 PM, millergen@comcast.net wrote: > > > I'm just getting caught up on emails. Thought i'd throw my 2 cents in here. > > I used to love going to the archives at Lancaster courthouse. Spent hundreds of hours doing research there. To look at the actual registers, turn the pages, even held a 300 year old will in my own hands. Needed a dose of allergy meds before and after from the dust! Last visit last summer, they were scanning everything onto microfilm to go over Lancaster Co. Historical Society (LCHS). They had 3 microfilm readers there at the archives, but none were working. While I absolutely understand they are doing this to preserve everything, it is a change for me. So you would be best to go over to LCHS and skip the courthouse archives. If you do go to the Courthouse, it is best to park in the parking garage on the first block of King St./S. Duke St. > > While you're at LCHS, definitely check out the Family Files. These hold information other people doing research have contributed. Be sure to make photocopies for yourself, don't take the originals in the file. I've found photocopies of marriage records, newspaper articles, photos, as well as research. I've also left copies of my own research in these files with my name and email on the back. Al so at the desk inside, there is an index card file of other people researching surnames from the area with contact information. Leave plenty of time, no matter how many hours there, it is never enough! > Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society (LMHS) has a huge index card file of family information that members have contributed. Some have references, some don't. They have Family FIles, also. > > Both have great resources, reference material, and helpful staff. LCHS has evening hours Tues. and Thurs.; LMHS does not. > > Your best bet at lodging is east of Lancaster along near Rt 30 in the vicinity of LMHS. Beware though, tourist season is starting! > > > Tina > > > Tina > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PALANCAS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message