William B. Alexander V Research Center

DISCOVER YOUR ROOTS HERE IN CLEARFIELD COUNTY

The Clearfield County Historical Society’s Alexander Genealogy Research Center is the county’s central destination for anyone exploring local history or tracing family roots. Housed in a dedicated research facility and supported by experienced volunteers, the center preserves one of the most comprehensive collections of historical materials in the region. Its holdings include family genealogies, cemetery and church records, census data, historic newspapers, rare books, maps, photographs, land deeds, military records, and personal documents that together illuminate more than two centuries of life in Clearfield County.

Researchers can delve into the stories of early settlers, follow the growth of towns and industries, or uncover long‑lost branches of their own family trees. Volunteers assist visitors in navigating the archives, offering guidance on how to interpret old records, locate ancestors, or piece together the social and economic history surrounding a family’s past. The center also serves as a repository for donated materials, ensuring that local families’ documents, photographs, and heirlooms are preserved for future generations.

Beyond genealogy, the center functions as a broader historical archive, supporting authors, students, educators, and community members who seek accurate information about Clearfield County’s development—from its frontier origins and lumbering boom to its coal mining era and modern communities. By maintaining and organizing these resources, the Alexander Genealogy Research Center plays a vital role in safeguarding the county’s collective memory and making it accessible to anyone with an interest in the region’s heritage.

Located at 511 Van Valzah Avenue, Clearfield, PA 16830

In-House Resources

Census records on microfilm

Clearfield County – 1810 through 1930 (excluding 1890)
Blair County – 1870
Cambria County – 1820, 1830, 1870
Centre County – 1820, 1850, 1860
Clarion County – 1880*, 1910*, 1920*
Clinton County – 1850, 1900*, 1910
Indiana County – 1850, 1900*
Jefferson County – 1830, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1900
Juniata County – 1900*
McKean County – 1830
Potter County – 1830
Somerset County – 1830
Warren County – 1840
Pennsylvania Tax List -1798 including Huntingdon County
Special Edition Census of Civil War Veterans & Widows still living – 1890

Clearfield County – 1810 through 1930 (excluding 1890)
Blair County – 1870
Cambria County – 1820, 1830, 1870
Centre County – 1820, 1850, 1860
Clarion County – 1880*, 1910*, 1920*
Clinton County – 1850, 1900*, 1910
Indiana County – 1850, 1900*
Jefferson County – 1830, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1900
Juniata County – 1900*
McKean County – 1830
Potter County – 1830
Somerset County – 1830
Warren County – 1840
Pennsylvania Tax List -1798 including Huntingdon County
Special Edition Census of Civil War Veterans & Widows still living – 1890

* Denotes a partial county listing

Newspapers on microfilm

Clearfield Republican (1854–1944)
Raftsman’s Journal (1854–1934)
The Progress, Clearfield (1913–2016)
Public Spirit — weekly & daily (1890–1919)
Pioneer / Democratic Banner (1835–1854)
Philipsburg Journal (1868–1893)
The Daily Journal, Philipsburg (1888–1977)
Clearfield Democrat & Citizen (1878–1885)
Houtzdale Observer (1895–1899)
Houtzdale Citizen & Standard (1924–1966)
Curwensville Herald (1932–1944)
Osceola Leader (1889–1960, various)

Clearfield Republican (1854–1944)
Raftsman’s Journal (1854–1934)
The Progress, Clearfield (1913–2016)
Public Spirit — weekly & daily (1890–1919)
Pioneer / Democratic Banner (1835–1854)
Philipsburg Journal (1868–1893)
The Daily Journal, Philipsburg (1888–1977)
Clearfield Democrat & Citizen (1878–1885)
Houtzdale Observer (1895–1899)
Houtzdale Citizen & Standard (1924–1966)
Curwensville Herald (1932–1944)
Osceola Leader (1889–1960, various)

Reference library

Numerous volumes of obituaries
Numerous volumes of cemeteries
Nearly 500 surname files
Over 200 family histories
Early marriages and deaths (from 1835)
Naturalization records
City directories
Phone books
Atlas of Clearfield, Centre & Jefferson Counties
High school yearbooks from the early 1900s
Complete set of Pennsylvania Archives
Bates’ History of Pennsylvania Volunteers
12 volumes of Engle’s Notes and Queries
20 volumes of Pearce and Related Families
Centre County marriages (1800–1885)
Centre County deaths (1889–1920)
Logging, rafting, railroad, and mining histories

Numerous volumes of obituaries
Numerous volumes of cemeteries
Nearly 500 surname files
Over 200 family histories
Early marriages and deaths (from 1835)
Naturalization records
City directories
Phone books
Atlas of Clearfield, Centre & Jefferson Counties
High school yearbooks from the early 1900s
Complete set of Pennsylvania Archives
Bates’ History of Pennsylvania Volunteers
12 volumes of Engle’s Notes and Queries
20 volumes of Pearce and Related Families
Centre County marriages (1800–1885)
Centre County deaths (1889–1920)
Logging, rafting, railroad, and mining histories

Copy policy: All researchers pay copy costs — 25¢ per page. Copyrighted material may not be reproduced.

Explore our other locations