Scranton Death Records and Vital Statistics

Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna County and one of Pennsylvania's most historically significant cities. Built on the anthracite coal industry, the city began keeping its own death records in 1878, fifteen years before Lackawanna County started formal registration. Those early Scranton death records are held at the Scranton Public Library rather than a government office, which surprises many researchers. Understanding this three-part system, including the library, the county, and the state, is the foundation of effective Scranton death records research.

Scranton Death Records at Scranton Public Library

The Scranton Public Library holds city death records from 1878 through 1905. City birth records from the same period are also in the library's collection. These records exist because the City of Scranton maintained its own registration system from 1878 onward, well before Lackawanna County established its formal death registration in 1893. The library is not a government records office, but it is the official custodian of these historical city-level vital records.

Scranton became the county seat when Lackawanna County was formed from Luzerne County in 1878. That timing is significant. The year the county was created is also the year Scranton city death records begin. The city's record-keeping predates the county's by a full 15 years. Researchers looking for Scranton deaths from 1878 to 1892 have only one option: the Scranton Public Library.

Researchers who need access to the library's vital records collection should contact the library directly to confirm procedures, fees, and research appointment options. The Lackawanna County Library System, available at lclshome.org, provides genealogy resources and can direct researchers to the right collection for their needs.

Note: Scranton city death records from 1878 to 1905 are held at the Scranton Public Library, not at the Lackawanna County government office; contact the library's local history department for research assistance.

Lackawanna County Register of Wills Death Records

The Lackawanna County Register of Wills holds county death records from 1893 through 1905. These records cover deaths that occurred anywhere in Lackawanna County except within Scranton city limits during those years, since the city maintained its own registration system. The Register of Wills is located at 507 Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18503. The phone number is (570) 963-6702.

For the period from 1893 to 1905, both the Scranton Public Library and the Lackawanna County Register of Wills operated simultaneously. Scranton city deaths went into the library's collection. Deaths elsewhere in the county went to the Register of Wills. This parallel system means researchers must be precise about where in Lackawanna County a death occurred during those overlapping years. An address in a township or borough outside Scranton will point you to the county office. A Scranton city address points to the library.

Scranton Death Records After 1905

From 1906 forward, all Scranton death certificates are held by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. You can request certified copies online through the MyCertificates portal, by mail to PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103, or by phone at (724) 656-3100. VitalChek also processes orders. Certified copies cost $20 each.

Under 35 P.S. §450.801, Pennsylvania restricts certified death certificate access to qualifying parties including family members and legal representatives. Genealogical access to older records is available under separate provisions that allow researchers to obtain records for individuals who have been deceased for a qualifying period.

The PA State Archives death indices cover Lackawanna County and Scranton from 1906 onward. These free online indices allow you to search by name and death year to identify certificate numbers before placing an order with the state.

Note: For Scranton deaths during 1893 to 1905, always verify whether the address was within Scranton city limits or in another part of Lackawanna County, since the correct repository differs by location.

Lackawanna Historical Society and Genealogy

The Lackawanna County Historical Society offers genealogy research resources for Scranton and the surrounding county. The society holds materials related to the anthracite coal era that dominated the city's history from the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s. Coal mining brought waves of immigrants to Scranton from Wales, Ireland, Poland, Lithuania, and other countries. Researchers with ancestors in the mining industry may find death records connected to mining accidents, occupational disease records, and union records that supplement formal vital statistics.

The Lackawanna County Government maintains offices at 123 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503. County government services for vital records, estates, and other legal matters are accessible through the county courthouse complex. The county government website lists current office hours and contact information for all county departments.

FamilySearch has digitized Pennsylvania vital records collections that include Lackawanna County materials. Their online database is a free resource worth searching before committing to paid requests, especially for pre-1920 Scranton death records.

The image below is from the Lackawanna Historical Society, which holds genealogical resources for Scranton and Lackawanna County death records research.

The Lackawanna County Historical Society provides research assistance for Scranton death records, genealogy queries, and historical documentation connected to the city's coal mining era.

Finding Scranton Death Records: A Practical Guide

The three-part structure of Scranton death records can be summarized simply. Before 1893, use the Scranton Public Library. Between 1893 and 1905, use the library for Scranton city addresses and the Lackawanna County Register of Wills for all other Lackawanna County addresses. After 1905, use the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records.

Anthracite coal records add a fourth dimension. Mining accident reports, coroner inquests, and company records from the coal era may contain death-related documentation that does not appear in the standard civil registration system. The Lackawanna Historical Society and the University of Scranton's library both hold materials from this period.

The image below is from the Scranton city government website, providing context on city administration and resources for residents.

The City of Scranton at scrantonpa.gov does not maintain a vital records office for historical death certificates; city-level records from 1878 to 1905 are held at the Scranton Public Library.

The image below is from the Lackawanna County Government website, which provides information about county offices including the Register of Wills that holds non-city Lackawanna County death records from 1893 to 1905.

Lackawanna County Government offices in Scranton hold the county-level death registrations from 1893 to 1905 for all areas of the county outside the city's own registration system.

Note: The Scranton Public Library's collection of city death records from 1878 is one of the earliest city-level vital records collections in northeastern Pennsylvania and predates Lackawanna County's own registration by 15 years.

Scranton Lackawanna County Death Records

Lackawanna County is the county-level resource for Scranton death records research beyond what the public library holds. The Register of Wills maintains county registrations from 1893 to 1905, and county government offices provide access to official records for all Lackawanna County municipalities.

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