Crawford County, Pennsylvania

Research Facilities

Meadville Public Library, 848 North Main Street, Meadville, PA 16335

Generally
Location: north side of Diamond Park, across from the former high school
(corner of North Main and Walnut Streets)
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., EXCEPT 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Memorial Day to Labor Day
Parking: on North Main St., in front of the library (free; one hour limit on west side);
on Walnut St. (free; two hour limit);
around Diamond Park (25 cents/hour; free on Saturdays)
Note: Use side (north) entrance for elevator access.
Historical Society library
Web site
Located on the south part of the second floor of the Meadville Public Library
Is open to the public, free of charge, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons from 1 until 5, and on Saturday mornings from 9 to 12 (whenever the Public Library is open).
Robert Ilisevich, former librarian, has retired, and Rose Deka, his successor, has resigned; the new librarian is Laura ____________. Sally Harrison is the Office Manager.
The Historial Society room also houses the collection of the Crawford County Genealogical Society.
Copies of most of the standard published sources on local and family history are available in open stacks; family genealogies must be requested from staff. A surname index to these fills two drawers of the card catalogue.
Photocopies must be made by staff, and cost 25 cents/page (letter size).
The most notable feature of the Historical Society's collection is an extensive card catalogue indexing notices of marriages, deaths, and births in Meadville and (for certain years) Linesville and Conneautville newspapers. Most of the indexed papers have been microfilmed and are available in the Fiction Room of the Meadville Public Library. (The Titusville Herald is available on microfilm from 1865 to about 1890, but has not been indexed.)
Fiction Room
Contains the entire microfilm collections of both the Historical and Genealogical Societies
Films must be requested from the Fiction Room desk.
There is only one reader(/printer), so usage is limited to one half hour if anyone is waiting for the machine.
Films are available at any time that the Public Library is open (see above).
Photocopies cost 25 cents per page (coin operated; change is available at the desk).

[the following is under construction]

Crawford County Courthouse, Meadville: Location: on Diamond Park (between North and South Main Streets); Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed holidays; Parking: around Diamond Park (25 cents/hour; a few free one-hour spots); alleys on both sides the Courthouse; Note: Handicapped access is available on the north side, beside the former jail.; For holdings, see Courthouse; Office of the Register and Recorder is located in the southwest corner of the first floor.; Office of the Clerk of Courts is to located on the first floor, to the right of the main entrance.; Prothonotary's Office is located in the southeast corner of the first floor.; Law Library is on the second floor, over the main entrance.; Veterans' Affairs Office is located in the northwest corner of the ground floor.; photocopy requests
Meadville City Hall: Location: Water Street, Meadville; Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30; Parking: adjacent (free)
Pelletier Library, Allegheny College, Meadville: Note: Although Pelletier Library is a federal depository, and has certain census compilations, it does not have any census schedules.; Card catalog, called ":ALLECAT"
Family History Center, Meadville branch: Location: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon), Park Avenue Extension, Meadville (across from Hailwood Golf Course); use rear entrance - genealogy room is the first door on the left.; Hours: Tuesday 9 a.m. to noon and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to noon; Parking: adjacent (free); Admission fee: none (open to the public)
Benson Memorial Library, Titusville [i.e., Titusville public library]: Location: 213 North Franklin Street, Titusville PA 16354; Telephone: (814) 827-2913.; Hours:; Note: has Titusville newspapers on microfilm; (The Meadville Public Library also has the Titusville Herald from 1865 to the 1890s)