Tips for searching for Philadelphia church documentation

To find information about a Philadelphia church in PHS library and archival holdings, check out the following resources:

Basic Calvin searches:

Search for the church name as author or keyword
If you're searching for a common church name, such as First Presbyterian Church, add the place name to narrow your results

Advanced Calvin searches:

Click the Advanced search link
Search for the church name as author or keyword AND photographs as keyword
Try this advanced search again with other keywords, such as histories, scrapooks, property records, architectural records, slides
If you're not finding enough, broaden your scope by searching for Philadelpia as title or author AND one of the keywords mentioned in the previous bullet

Once you have a list of search results:

Click the title of the item (bold blue text)
Review the description to see if it looks useful for your research
Note that many church catalog records in Calvin include a brief history of the church
Check the catalog record's Description field, which might give you information about whether the item is illustrated
Keep an eye out for links in the catalog record to digitized content or more details descriptions
If you find anything you'd like to see, make a note of the title, the call number, and the box or volume numbers for the items; you're welcome to see then when you come in

Museum database

You can do a keyword search using the church name or the name of an object (for example search for "First Presbyterian Church Philadelphia" or "lamps")
In the results list, click the accession number of the item (bold red text) to see a more detailed description
Not all of our museum holdings are listed in this database; some are described in Calvin or in the Archives database; and some are only described in paper files here at PHS

Congregational vertical files index

Search this index to see if we have a file for your church
Each church's file is unique; you may find histories, clippings, programs, church bulletins, or photographs
Note that the contents of these files are not available online, but you're welcome to see them when you come in

Archives database

This database describes processed and unprocessed records of congregations, individuals, church offices, and other organizations
You can search using the church name as keyword, or you can do an advanced search and put in more detailed search criteria (note that if you switch between the Simple and Advanced search tabs, the program won't erase your last entry)
Click the accession number of the item (bold red text)
Review the description to see if it looks useful for your research
If you find anything you'd like to see, make a note of the title, the accession number and call number, and the box or volume numbers for the items; you're welcome to see them when you come in

Hall's Index of American Presbyterian Congregations

Search this index to learn more about your church's history
Note that this index is not comprehensive, but it is a good starting point for untangling the sometimes quite complicated histories of old churches!
More information about a church's history can be found using the collections at PHS, including published church histories and reference resources
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) maintains a directory of active churches; if you think your church might still be open, enter the zip code in the "Find a Congregation" tool about halfway down the page

Kenneth A. Hammonds. Historical Directory of Presbyterian Churches and Presbyteries of Greater Philadelphia. (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Historical Society, 1993)
This book is not available in digital form, but you are welcome to use it when you come in
William P. White. The Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia : A Camera and Pen Sketch of Each Presbyterian church and Institution in the City. (Philadelphia: Allen, Lane & Scott Publishers, 1895)
PHS has a copy of this book in the reading room. You can also see it online on the Internet Archive
Map, City of Philadelphia City Plans Div., Bureau of Surveys & Design (Philadelphia: The City, 1954)
Annotated to show locations of Presbyterian Churches in Philadelpia, and accompanied by list of church names, locations and dates
Call number: REFFOLIO G 3824 .P5 E423, P7; request with call slip

Statistics of the Churches of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Published annually along with the Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. These are available in the reading room. You can also find digitized versions of minutes from 1789 to 1922 on Wikipedia.

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