I would appreciate some advice re: conducting on-site research in Lancaster City. I have exhausted internet resources and will make the trip in late May. Records of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church are of interest to me. I'm trying to determine the parents of my G-grandfather Isaac C. Baker born in Leacock or Lampeter Twp. in 1828 I know that he was married in Holy Trinity in 1850 to Elizabeth Graelich/Groelich, by Rev. J. Baker. I'm hoping Isaac's parents' names are recorded in church records. Are there other resources I might try at the public library in Lancaster? Are Courthouse records easily accessed? Can anyone recommend a day of the week that is best for genealogy visits? Are overnight accommodations in reasonable proximity to the Courthouse, library, etc.? Thanks for sharing your firsthand experience with me. Penny

I've used both the Lancaster Historical Society and the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society. I've found them both useful. I am going to highlight a few things that have struck me as particularly useful at each library, but they both have a lot more than I mention here. Lancaster Historical Society has microfilms of some of the older county archive holdings. The really old records have been transcribed into a typed format, but the newer stuff is microfilms of the original records.They have a large collection of cemetery listings in bound books. Not all the cemeteries in the county are listed, and these seem to have been done by several of their librarians over time. Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society has large collections of cemetery listings. These seem to have been done by a variety of contributors. Some cemeteries in their collections have multiple listings by different folks, which can be useful to see what different people thought a given inscription said. Another thing special to Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society is their collections of obituaries. An index to this source is on their website, so you can figure out ahead of time if there is anything in the collection for you. I've found the staff at both libraries very helpful and friendly. And since both libraries have their catalogs online, you should be able to start planning your research before you walk in the door. Triste --- If you can't get rid of them ugly old skeletons in the closet, at least teach 'em how to dance funny. Billy C. Wirtz --- On Tue, 3/22/11, Penny Fuller <wvmagpie@yahoo.com> wrote: > From: Penny Fuller <wvmagpie@yahoo.com> > Subject: [PALANCAS] Research in Lancaster, PA > To: palancas@rootsweb.com > Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 6:07 PM > I would appreciate some advice re: > conducting on-site research in Lancaster > City.  I have exhausted internet resources and will > make the trip in late May.  > Records of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church are of interest > to me.  I'm trying > to determine the parents of my G-grandfather Isaac C. Baker > born in Leacock or > Lampeter Twp. in 1828  I know that he was married in > Holy Trinity in 1850 to > Elizabeth Graelich/Groelich, by Rev. J. Baker.  I'm > hoping Isaac's parents' > names are recorded in church records.  Are there other > resources I might try at > the public library in Lancaster?  Are Courthouse > records easily accessed?  Can > anyone recommend a day of the week that is best for > genealogy visits?  Are > overnight accommodations in reasonable proximity to the > Courthouse, library, > etc.?  Thanks for sharing your firsthand experience > with me.  > > > Penny