Philadelphia - Historical Society of Pennsylvania Library

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania houses an extensive collection of documents relating to the state's history, including 15 million books, maps, prints, drawings, photos and genealogical records.

The Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies opened in 1976. Brothers Thomas Willing Balch and Edwin Swift Balch, stipulated in their wills in 1922 that an ``auxiliary museum" be established, and that ``such things as pictures, sculptures, etchings, Sand ethnographic specimens, especially American," be acquired through donation or purchase.

Since Philadelphia had an excellent public library system it was eventually decided that the Balch funds should be used to create a specialized library and museum that was devoted to the history of immigration and ethnic life in America.

In 2002 the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies merged with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania creating one of the largest research libraries in the entire United States.