Pennsylvania State Archives Collection

Images of reports, sketches, correspondence, and other files relative to fatalities at mining facilities in both the anthracite and bituminous coal regions, excluding the years 1936-1937, 1964-1968 for anthracite and 1950-1951 for bituminous. The reports are very detailed, presenting a wide-variety of information concerning all aspects of fatal incidents that occurred both inside and outside of particular Pennsylvania collieries. A report from the Department of Mines is nearly always present, many times accompanied by an additional one from the Department of Labor and Industry's Bureau of Workmen's Compensation. The template of the main Department of Mines synopsis, and the information given, changed slightly over time. There were also different forms for different types of accidents, such as a specific form for deaths resulting from a fall of rock, one for "general" inside or outside fatalities, etc. These reports dovetail with the accident registers for both the anthracite and bituminous districts in Record Group 45, which have been converted into databases and are available online. These databases should be the first resource used by researchers when looking for information relative to a miner who suffered a fatal mining-related accident. If the name of a fatally injured miner is found on the database, this series of accident reports can be consulted for detailed information on both the miner and the accident.

Images of reports of inquisitions conducted by a County Coroner and a twelve man panel who had viewed a body attesting to the cause of death. These inquests determined the need for criminal prosecutions, and were used as the basis for conviction at the grand jury inquest if needed. Information provided includes name of decedent; date and cause of death; date of inquest; and county in which it took place. Causes of death listed include criminal acts (assault, murder); medical problems (poison, drinking water, apoplexy, flu, burns, fits, palsey, opium overdoses, and suffocation); and accidents (drowning, being hit by falling trees and logs, sleepwalking out a window, falling from buildings, horses, ladders, and chairs, or into wells, and being run over by wagons or horses, or both). Other causes listed are suicide, natural causes, and "upon the visitation of God." Places where inquests were conducted include Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Delaware, Northampton, and Northumberland Counties, and Philadelphia. Other documents sometimes included with the inquisitions are Sheriff's Inquests and Grand Jury Inquests for Oyer and Terminer in Bucks County, death verifications, and witness depositions. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research.

Images of a register of the names of passengers and servants arrived at the Port of Philadelphia that was returned to Health Officer Captain Nathaniel Falconer by the commanders of the vessels. Information provided is date of entry, name of vessel, name of commander, and name of each passenger and servant. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research.

Images of investigations into health hazards and pollution complaints at various industrial plants throughout the state are included in this series. Records span numerous years for some facilities, such as a thirty-year run of data for the Lebanon Steel Foundry. Information includes: data on medical problems for individuals caused by hazardous working conditions (with names of the individuals given in a few instances), specifics on the types on machinery utilized at specific plants, employment statistics, survey records, inspection results and related laboratory reports, as well as descriptions of miscellaneous industrial processes.