Resources
As Philadelphia’s first neighborhood, Queen Village has a rich cultural and historical tapestry. These resources help paint a picture of our neighborhood that spans from the earliest settlements to the vibrant community we know today.
Books
- "History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Volume 3" by John Thomas Scharf, Thompson Westcott
This volume contains information on the history of the city.
- "Philadelphia: a 300 Year History" by Russell Frank Weigley, Edwin Wolf
This volume covers Philadelphia’s history from 1681 to roughly 1982.
Research Tools
- Philadelphia Deed Book Indices
This index is a listing of all of the historic deeds in Philadelphia’s records, dating back to the 1600s.
- Philadelphia Historical Land Records and Vitals
This database contains land deeds in Philadelphia, dating back as early as the 1600s and through the mid-1970s.
- Tracing Philadelphia Property Ownership Using Online Records
A 27 page document instructing how to trace Philadelphia property ownership using on-line deed records.
Guides
- Easement Program Brochure
Do you own an historic property that is listed on the National or Philadelphia Registers and wish to protect it in perpetuity? Read the Preservation Alliance Easement Program Brochure for more information on this preservation tool and tax benefit.
- Handbook for Community Organizations
A collection of historic preservation resources that serves as the Preservation Alliance’s Preservation 101 handbook; from “Why Preserve?” to “Financial Subsidies, Incentives and Grants for Historic Preservation.”
- How to Navigate the Historical Review Process in Philadelphia; a guide for property owners
A comprehensive guide by Preservation Alliance for historic property owners that helps applicants understand the Historical Commission review process; from permit application to final approval.
- How to Nominate an Individual Building, Structure, Site or Object to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places
This handbook by Preservation Alliance provides a step-by-step guide on how to nominate an individual historic resource to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, the greatest protection for an historic building in Philadelphia.
- Philadelphia and Regional Restoration Directory
This directory by Preservation Alliance is intended for use by those seeking restoration and historic preservation services and suppliers in the Philadelphia region.
- Sense of Place: Design Guidelines for New Construction in Historic Districts
With the help of local architects, planners and preservationists, the Preservation Alliance gathered multiple case studies of new construction in historic districts, creating “Sense of Place” which evaluates and analyzes this new infill and provides recom
- Society Hill Historic District – A Guide for Property Owners
This book is published by the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and is a concise guide to maintaining and preserving your historic building.
- The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation
The Secretary of Interior set guidelines for long-term preservation of a historic property through the preservation of historic materials and features.
