Researching Institutionalized Family Members at the State Archives

Learn about research opportunities in an underutilized genealogical resource.

Since the early 19th century, Pennsylvania has operated nearly 50 different state institutions for people with intellectual and mental disabilities. Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians lived in these institutions. Today, the Pennsylvania State Archives holds the historical records created by these institutions, which are invaluable resources for researchers and genealogists. Join archivist Tyler Stump to explore this important part of Pennsylvania’s history and to learn more about what kinds of information can be found in the archives’ collections.

This program is possible through the generous support of the William M. Lowenstein Genealogical Research Endowment Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation.

“Researching Institutionalized Family Members at the Pennsylvania State Archives” is a collaboration between the Jewish Genealogy Society of Pittsburgh and the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center. Please register online. The program is free for JGS-Pittsburgh members and $5 for the general public. To become a member of the JGS-Pittsburgh and receive a free membership code for this program, please visit its website.

This program will be recorded and made available to current JGS-Pittsburgh members.

Tyler Stump has been an archivist at the Pennsylvania State Archives since 2016. He helps collect records and preserve records from state-run institutions such as asylums, prisons, and hospitals as well as many other government offices around the state. Tyler is degrees in history and library science from the University of Maryland. Though he grew up in Baltimore, Tyler has deep family roots in Pennsylvania, mostly around York County, that go back to the 18th century. He currently lives in Camp Hill, PA, with his wife Andra who is also an archivist.