Welcome to the Department of Records
The Home Rule Charter of 1951 established the Department of Records to ensure that Philadelphia's municipal records were appropriately controlled and managed. The Department sets records management standards and procedures for all City departments, boards, commissions, and agencies, and manages key records operations and services such as the City Archives, the Records Storage Center, the Recorder of Deeds, and central reprographic services.
The Department also manages public access to municipal records and establishes and collects fees to cover the cost of providing copies of records. As an agent for the Commonwealth and the City Revenue Department, the Records Department also collects realty transfer taxes and document recording fees and, as the official City tax registry, maintains the city's real property database and tax maps.
Owners of properties for which property deeds have been recorded with the Department of Records have reported receiving advertisements via the mail offering to provide, for a fee, copies of their recorded deeds. These advertisements are addressed to the property owner and cite the recording number of the deed.
Please be advised that these services are not affiliated with nor underwritten by the Philadelphia Department of Records.
The Philadelphia City Scholarship Program provides four-year assistance to undergraduate student, primarily for tuition. The program has been in existence since 1959 and has made awards to 2,500 students. The deadline for applications is March 6th, 2009.