Special Library Research Services

In addition to the museum’s regular photography and research services, the Mercer Museum Library provides a number of special research services.

Research By Mail

If you are unable to visit the research library at the Mercer Museum, or need some expert assistance with your research, our Research by Mail service can help!

Fee: $75.00 for first two hours of research; $40 for each subsequent hour

Email or phone requests: mmlib@mercermuseum.org or 215-345-0210, ext. 126

The Mercer Museum Library provides a research by mail service for a fee of $75.00 for the first two hours of research. There is a minimum of two hours for your initial request. Any additional time beyond the initial two hours is $40.00 per hour.

Once we have received payment for the desired number of research hours, one of our research assistants will consult the primary sources held in our collections. These sources include deeds, wills, birth or death certificates, marriage certificates, newspapers, church records, genealogical research files, published volumes, photographs, and manuscript collections. We are also the depository for Bucks County government records dating from 1683 to 1910.

Once the researcher has completed the number of hours requested you will receive a list of all sources checked, as well as up to 15 photocopies of relevant material for personal use. If you would like a high-resolution digital scan of any collection materials please contact the Assistant Collections Manager & Digital Services at efalcon@mercermuseum.org or call 215-345-0210, ext. 117.

If you are interested in our Research by Mail service, please email us your research request at mmlib@mercermuseum.org or give us a call at 215-345-0210, ext. 126. Please be aware we do not do conduct chain of title research as part of our Research By Mail service, but are happy to assist you in person at the library. Once we receive your request we will reach out within a week to discuss the number of research hours requested and to process payment. You can pay either by check or with a credit card over the phone. Once your request and payment have been processed, please allow up to 4 weeks to receive your research results, list of sources, and photocopies.

You may also request research assistance by regular mail. Please forward a check for $75.00 made out to the Bucks County Historical Society, along with a letter specifically stating your request to the following address:

Research Services
Mercer Museum Library
84 South Pine Street
Doylestown, PA 18901

Obituary Retrieval

Fee: $10.00 retrieval fee per obituary

The Library has indexed the following newspapers for obituaries: The Advance, the Bristol Pilot, the Courier Times, the Doylestown Patriot, New Hope Gazette, the News Herald, the Quakertown Free Press, the Intelligencer, and the Yardley News. Copies of obituaries can be provided directly from either the newspaper or a microfilm copy. The fee for obituary retrievals is a flat fee of $10.00 per obituary.

If you are interested in this service, you can make your request either through regular mail, email, or over the phone. You may email us your research request at mmlib@mercermuseum.org or give us a call at 215-345-0210, ext. 126.

Please provide name of decedent, date of death, and/or date of obituary. Once we have received the $10.00 retrieval fee we will either send you a digital or hardcopy version of the obituary. You can pay either by check, or with a credit card over the phone.

If paying by check, please make it out to the Bucks County Historical Society, along with a letter specifically stating your request to the following address:

Research Services
Mercer Museum Library
84 South Pine Street
Doylestown, PA 18901

Document Retrieval

Fee: $15.00 per citation, $0.50 for each additional page beyond 20 pages

Library staff will provide copies of county records, such as wills and deeds, as well as other collection items. The Library retains the right to refuse requests based on current copyright laws.

Please provide full citation, including page number(s) or file numbers, title, author, etc. If you are unable to provide us with the exact location of the document you would like retrieved, please see our Research by Mail service.

Ready Reference

If you have a reference question that can be answered in less than 10 minutes please call our reference desk 215-345-0210, ext. 141 or email mmlib@mercermuseum.org.

For more information about research services, call at 215-345-0210, ext. 126, or email mmlib@mercermuseum.org.

ROLLO'S FACTS

Henry Mercer was 51 when he began building the first of his three concrete structures, his home Fonthill, 1908-1910.
Rollo's Fact 1

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• On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, Fonthill Castle will have a delayed opening. The first tour will begin at 11:45am.

• Fonthill Castle will be closed to the public on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Full schedule information can be found here.
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