Research & Fees
What We Provide
The Lutheran Archives Center offers a variety of research services and hold records for churches, organizations, and individuals affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and their predecessors located in southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Metropolitan New York, Upstate New York, and all of New England. We do not contain all Lutheran church records. For records of central Pennsylvania, please contact the ELCA Region 8 Archives. For records of western Pennsylvania, please contact the Tri-Synod Archives.
On-Site Research
We are open to visitors by advanced appointment only. Hours of research are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please contact archivist@lacphila.org to schedule an appointment.
The daily research fee is $20 per day due at the time of appointment. We accept checks addressed to "Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia", cash, or PayPal.
Research Services
If you are not able to visit us in person our Archives staff can perform research on your behalf. The research service fee starts at $35 per hour, with searches generally limited to three hours. Advanced payment is required. Fees are non-refundable.
We accept checks addressed to "Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia", cash, or PayPal.
Genealogical Research
We provide genealogical research services which can include locating a baptism, marriage, or burial record and/or information about an ancestor such as date of birth, location of birth, parents' names, and sponsors' names. The minimum fee is $35 per hour which includes a high-resolution scanned copy of the record from the church book. We accept checks addressed to "Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia", cash, or PayPal.
Research Limitations
We cannot provide copies of certificates as it was not common practice for Lutheran congregations to maintain copies.
All research must be done manually by looking through the church registers. Helpful information to make this a quicker process is the church name & city, individual's name, and years you are looking for.
Reproduction & Photography Fees
Photocopies / PDF scans
Scanning or photocopying of any documents is to be performed by Archives staff only. Charges begin at $7, per day, and $.25 per page.
Digitized Images
$10/image for personal use only (not to be published or shared)
$50/image for non-profit/educational use: use in publications, exhibitions, etc.
$100/image for commercial use. Contact archivist for more information.
Publication
All researchers must secure written permission from the Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia to publish, reprint, or reproduce materials. The researcher assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for infringement of U.S. Copyright Code. One gratis copy of the publication containing the image(s) should be presented to the Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia as soon as the work has been published.
How to Submit a Research Inquiry
Please submit your request through our Research Request form and include a general summary of what you are researching. If submitting a baptism, marriage, or burial record request, please include the name of the individual(s), name of church & county/city, and date or approximate years the event may have taken place.
