Scranton Pennsylvania Birth Records
Scranton birth records are held across several repositories depending on the time period and type of document you need. As the largest city in northeastern Pennsylvania and the seat of Lackawanna County, Scranton has a long history of civil registration. Researchers searching for Scranton birth records will find pre-state records through the Lackawanna County Register of Wills and the Lackawanna County Historical Society, while births from 1906 onward are available through the Pennsylvania Department of Health. This guide covers all major sources, what each holds, and how to search them effectively.
Scranton Quick Facts
Where to Find Scranton Birth Records
The Lackawanna County Register of Wills is the primary county-level repository for Scranton birth records. The office is located at 123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 302, Scranton, PA 18503. You can reach the office by phone at 570-963-6687. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. County-era birth records run from 1893 to 1906. Marriage records are indexed from 1885 to the present, with a searchable online index available at the Lackawanna County marriage search portal. The Register of Wills website at lackawannacounty.org/row provides additional guidance on available records and request procedures.
For births from 1906 onward, Scranton residents can access state-issued certificates through the Pennsylvania Department of Health. A local PA Vital Records office is conveniently located in Scranton at the Scranton State Office Building, Room 112, 100 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503. This office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and same-day service is available for in-person requests. Certified copies cost $20 each through the state system.
| Office | Lackawanna County Register of Wills |
|---|---|
| Address | 123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 302 Scranton, PA 18503 |
| Phone | 570-963-6687 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Birth Records | 1893-1906 (County Archives) |
| State Records Office | 100 Lackawanna Avenue, Room 112, Scranton, PA 18503 |
Note: The Scranton State Office Building vital records office offers same-day service for in-person requests, which is not available at all PA Vital Records locations.
Searching Scranton Birth Records Online and In Person
Scranton birth records from the 1906-to-present era are accessible through several channels. Online requests go through VitalChek, the state's authorized portal, for $20 plus a $10 processing fee. Mail requests can be sent to the Division of Vital Records, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. For researchers who prefer to search indexes before ordering a full certificate, the Pennsylvania Birth Indices cover 1906 through 1920 and are free to search online. These indexes confirm a birth occurred and provide the certificate number needed for ordering.
Pre-1906 Scranton birth records require a different approach. The county-era records from 1893 to 1906 are held at the Lackawanna County Archives through the Register of Wills. Additionally, the county archives hold birth and death records specifically spanning 1893 to 1906. Researchers should contact the Register of Wills directly to inquire about access procedures and any applicable copy fees. The Lackawanna County Historical Society is a key supplementary resource for earlier material, including an index covering births from 1872 to 1905.
For genealogical searches covering multiple periods, the Pennsylvania State Archives hold microfilm copies of Lackawanna County vital records and can be searched as part of a broader research effort. FamilySearch also indexes Pennsylvania birth records at no cost through their Pennsylvania collections.
Lackawanna County Historical Society Records
The Lackawanna County Historical Society is an essential source for Scranton birth records that fall outside the standard civil registration periods. The Society is located at 232 Monroe Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510 and can be reached at 570-344-3844. Their website is lackawannahistory.org. Research use of the Society's collections costs $15 per hour for non-members, so planning your visit in advance and preparing a focused list of names and dates will make your session more productive.
The Historical Society's birth-related holdings are particularly strong for two distinct periods. For the earliest era, the Society maintains birth record indexes covering 1872 to 1905. These indexes can help researchers bridge the gap between informal records and the formal county-era registers that begin in 1893. For the mid-twentieth century, the Society holds birth records spanning 1940 to 1980. This mid-century collection is notable because it extends well into the period of state registration and can provide an alternative source when state records are restricted or unavailable.
Church registers held at the Historical Society and in Scranton-area parishes frequently complement civil records. Many Scranton families, particularly those of Irish, German, Italian, and Eastern European descent, maintained strong parish ties. Baptismal records from these communities often predate civil registration and include the same core identifying details.
The Historical Society's collections also include family histories, city directories, and newspaper archives that can help establish birth information when no formal certificate exists. City directories from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries can narrow down addresses and household compositions, which is valuable context when searching Scranton birth records across multiple generations.
Historical Birth Records in Scranton
The Lackawanna County Register of Wills maintains the official online portal for county records. The image below is sourced from their website, which serves as the access point for Scranton birth records from the county era.
Lackawanna County was formed in 1878 from Luzerne County, making it one of Pennsylvania's younger counties. Scranton grew rapidly during the late nineteenth century as a center of coal mining and railroad activity. This industrial boom brought waves of immigration, and birth records from the 1880s through the early 1900s reflect the city's diverse population. Many entries include parents born in Ireland, Germany, Poland, Italy, and other European nations. These details make Scranton birth records particularly valuable for researchers tracing immigrant family lines.
The county-era registers from 1893 to 1906 capture births across all Scranton neighborhoods and surrounding townships. Entries typically include the child's full name, date of birth, ward or township of birth, the name of the attending physician or midwife, and both parents' names. Father's occupations appear in most entries, reflecting the mining and railroad workforce that defined Scranton in this period. Mother's maiden names are recorded consistently, which is a significant advantage for genealogical research.
The Lackawanna County Historical Society's Scranton collection supplements official records with community-level documentation. Their resources include the birth record indexes noted above as well as a broader archive of family papers and church records.
The Historical Society archive shown above represents the depth of documentation available for Scranton's historical period. Researchers working on late-nineteenth or early-twentieth century Scranton families will often find that the Historical Society's holdings provide context that official county registers alone cannot supply.
What Scranton Birth Records Contain
The content of a Scranton birth record depends heavily on its era and type. County registers from 1893 to 1906 follow a standardized format that includes the child's full name, exact date of birth, ward or address of birth, father's full name and occupation, mother's full name with maiden name, and the name of the attending physician or midwife. Some registers also note whether the birth was a single birth or multiple and the number of previous children in the household.
State birth certificates issued from January 1906 onward are more detailed and consistent. These certificates include the specific address or hospital of birth, parental ages, birthplaces of both parents, and a unique certificate number for official verification. Modern certificates bear the Pennsylvania state seal and are accepted for all legal purposes including passport applications, Social Security enrollment, and other identity documentation. Certified copies cost $20 through the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Historical Society records from 1872 to 1905 and 1940 to 1980 vary in format. Index entries typically provide enough information to identify the correct individual and point toward the original source. Birth records from church registers and family papers may include additional detail such as godparents' names, which is genealogically useful for identifying extended family networks in Scranton's immigrant communities.
Note: Pennsylvania birth records less than 105 years old are restricted under state law. Records 105 or more years old are generally available to the public for genealogical research under 35 P.S. § 450.801.
Getting Certified Copies of Scranton Birth Certificates
Certified copies of Scranton birth records from 1906 onward are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. You can order in person at the local Scranton State Office Building, Room 112, 100 Lackawanna Avenue, where same-day service is available. Online requests go through VitalChek at $20 plus a $10 online processing fee. Mail requests go to the Division of Vital Records, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103, with a $20 fee per copy. Processing times vary by method, with in-person requests being the fastest option in Scranton.
Requesters must demonstrate eligibility for restricted records. Records less than 105 years old may be requested by the person named on the certificate, their parents, legal guardians, spouse, children, or a legal representative with documented authority. You will need to submit a valid government-issued photo ID and, for records of deceased individuals, documentation of your relationship to that person.
For pre-1906 Scranton birth records, contact the Lackawanna County Register of Wills at 570-963-6687. Copies of county-era birth records are available to qualifying researchers. The Lackawanna County Historical Society can also provide research assistance for birth-related documents in their collections, subject to the $15-per-hour research fee for non-members.
Online Resources for Scranton Birth Records
Several digital platforms provide access to Scranton-area birth records or supporting indexes. The free Pennsylvania Birth Indices cover statewide births from 1906 to 1920. FamilySearch Pennsylvania offers free access to transcribed birth records and indexes for multiple eras. PA-Roots is a volunteer database of transcribed Pennsylvania vital records that includes some Lackawanna County material. For subscription research, Ancestry.com's Pennsylvania collections include digitized early state certificates and county-era records. The Pennsylvania State Archives online finding aids describe what microfilm and original records survive for Lackawanna County across all periods.
The Lackawanna County Historical Society's website at lackawannahistory.org provides information about their holdings and research services. Contacting the Society before your visit will help ensure the records you need are available and accessible. For marriage records research alongside birth records, the Lackawanna County online index at lackawannacounty.org/row/search/ covers 1885 to the present and is free to use.
Lackawanna County Birth Records
Scranton is the seat of Lackawanna County. All Scranton birth records from the pre-state era are held at the county level. For a full overview of Lackawanna County birth records, including records for communities beyond the city limits, visit the county records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Birth records for nearby Pennsylvania cities are maintained through their respective county offices. Select a city below to find records in that area.