The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been the home of many remarkable people. A diverse group of leaders, heroes, artists, scientists and innovators have contributed to Pennsylvania and to the world. This list includes those born in Pennsylvania, as well as, those who made a noteworthy contribution to society while living in Pennsylvania. The list numbers over 800 Pennsylvanians. The links are to other web sites where you can learn something about each individual.

It honors the courageous sacrifices of over 290 brave Pennsylvanians in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Many Pennsylvania public school students research famous Pennsylvanians. I challenge them to research someone who contributed to their locality or lived in their county. Publish the information in a class website to help others learn more about that special person from your local area. Local and county historical societies can be very helpful in locating facts, figures and even photos.

Helpful hint.
Use the browser Find command to scan the text for a person or town, rather than read the whole page.

To do this:
Go Edit ... Find. Enter a name or county - click Find.The first occurrence of the text will be highlighted.

Edit ... Find again will take you to the next occurrence of the word.

T

Tamanend site 1 leader

Henry Ossawa Tanner artist site 1

Ida Tarbell author / editor

Christine M. Tartaglione politician

SSgt. Peter Taub, KIA Afghanistan

George Taylor signer DOI site 1 site 2

Paul Taylor dancer choreographer site 1, site

Teedyuscung native leader

Raymond Joseph Teller, magician

Louise McPhetridge Thaden aviator

Jonathan Taylor Thomas actor

Sgt 1st Class Sean Thomas KIA Iraq

Charles Thomson, Secretary of Continental Congress site 1

Charles Thompson manufacturer

Pfc. Nils G. Thompson, KIA Iraq site 1, site 2

Jim Thorpe, Wa-Tho-Huk, athlete

Dick Thornburgh politician

Chief Thundercloud scout/ model for 5 cent & $5 coins

Army Staff Sgt. Richard J. Tieman KIA Afghanistan

William Tatem (Big Bill) Tilden, Jr. athlete

Marie Brose Tepe, union soldier Civil War

Janet A. Tippett newspaper editor

Steve Tobin sculpture artist site 1 , site 2

Tocaniadorogon leader site 1 site 2 site 3

Capt. Jeffrey P. Toczylowski KIA Iraq

Cpl John H. Todd KIA Iraq site 1

Sgt. Nicholas A. Tomko KIA Iraq site 1 site 2

Cpl Eric Torbert, Jr. , KIA Afghanistan

William B.T. Trego artist site 1

Staff Sgt. Steven R. Tudor KIA Iraq site 1

Edward Trumbull - muralist

C. DeLores Tucker, Civil Rights Activist site 1

Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Tully KIA Iraq site 1

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County

Perkasie, Bucks

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Hatch Hollow, Erie

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Montgomery

Northampton

Edgewood, Allegheny

Wyoming Valley

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Bethlehem, Northampton and Lehigh

Hughesville, Lycoming

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Corry, Erie

Confluence, Somerset

Carlisle, Cumberland

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Dingmans Ferry, Pike

Waynesboro, Franklin

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pittsburgh

Sunbury, Northumberland

Quakertown, Bucks

Central PA

Upper Moreland

Bridgeport

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Lancaster

Yardley, Bucks

Dunmore, Lackawanna

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Falls Creek, Jefferson

U

Nicholas J. Uliano teacher

1st Lt. Colby J. Umbrell KIA Iraq

Lance Cpl. Robert D. Ulmer, died in Iraq

John Constantine Unitas athlete

John Updike author site 1 site 2, site 3

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County

Phoenixville, Chester

Doylestown, Bucks

Landisville, Lancaster

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Shillington, Berks

V

Moses Van Campen soldier/surveyor site 1

Staff Sgt. Kenneth VanGiesen, KIA Afghanistan

USMC L Cpl. Brandon J. Van Parys KIA Iraq

Harry Schultz Vandiver mathematician

Sgt Thomas E. Vandling Jr. KIA Iraq

Robert L. Vann editor/publisher site 1

Spc. Anthony Vargas, KIA Afghanistan

John Vartan, Harrisburg Developer

LCpl Dennis Veater KIA Iraq

Charlie Ventura musician

Joe Venuti jazz violinist site 1

Sgt. David M. Veverka, KIA Iraq site 1

Gov Tom Vilsack, politician

SSgt Kimberly F. Voelz KIA Iraq site 1, site 2, site 3

William H. Vonada Carnegie Hero

John Vonneda

George Vujnovich hero World War II Operation Halyard

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County

Columbia

Kane, McKean County

New Tripoli, Lehigh

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Reading, Berks

Harrisburg, Dauphin

Jessup, Lackawanna

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Jamestown, Mercer

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Carlisle, Cumberland

Sunbury, Northumberland

Sugar Valley, Clinton

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

W

Mary "Jennie" Wade heroine site 1

Honus Wagner athlete

Luther H. Wagner, Carnegie Hero

Spc.1st Class Brett Walden Killed Iraq site 1, site 2

Cpl. Jonathan M. Walls, KIA Afghanistan

Loretta Perfectus Walsh, First female to enlist in USN

Pvt. Joshua Waltenbaugh KIA Iraq

John Wanamaker entrepreneur

Hugh J. Ward invented Bingo

Wallis Warfield, Duchess of Windsor

Andy Warhol artist

Fred Waring singer/chorus leader site 1, site 2

Gen.. Anthony Wanye Revoluntioanry War site 1

Laura Wheeler Waring artist, portraitist , and art educator site 1

Grover Washington, Jr. musician site 1 site 2

Ned Washington lyricist site 1

Ethel Waters performer site 1

Terri Watson volunteer

Anthony Wayne soldier site 1 site 2

Marcia Dale Weary Artistic Director site 1

Caroline J. Weber, Carnegie Hero

Elliot Weiler broadcast journalist site 1

Stanley Weintraub author, English professor, book critic site 1

Cornelia Weirick teacher,artist,banker site 1

Harry Weis businessman

Sigmund Weis businessman

Barbara Weisberger dancer/artistic director

Conrad Weiser peace seeker site 1, site 2

Spc Douglas J Weismantle KIA Iraq site 1

Johnny Weissmuller Olympian/actor site 1

Sgt. Lonny D. Wells KIA Iraq site 1

Halfred W. Wertz Conservationist of the Year, educator site 1

Alfred P. West businessman site 1

Benjamin West artist site 1

Capt. Jason M. West, KIA Iraq site1

George Westinghouse entrepreneur/inventor site 1

Thomas Wharton politician

Mary Jo White lawyer/politician

John Edgar Wideman writer

H. W. Skid Wieder river ecoactivist site 1

Spc. Lee Wiegand KIA Iraq

SSgt. David A. Wieger, KIA Iraq

Kate Douglas Wiggin author/activist

R. Benjamin Wiley community activist

Capt. Bryan D. Willard KIA Iraq

Cpl. Anthony L. Williams, KIA Afghanistan

Daniel Hale Williams physician

R Seth Williams, District Attorney

Pvt. Wesley J. Williams Died non-combat related injury Baghdad, Iraq

August Wilson playwright site 1, site 2

James Wilson lawyer/signed DOI site 1, site 2

William B Wilson First U.S. Secretary of Labor site 1

Jeannette M. Wing computer scientist CMU

James E. Winner Jr. inventor

Helen D. Wise teacher/activist/politician

Owen Wister author site 1

Raymond B. Winter forester site 1

David L.Woten Jr., 2007 PA teacher of year

Naomi Wood collector

John Woodruff Olympian

Lynette Wray teacher

Mj Gen. Jessica L. Wright Adjutant General of PA National Guard site 2

Major Richard Robert Wright Sr. buinessman Freedom Day activist

Jonathan Jasper Wright lawyer site 1 site 2

Sgt. Christopher M. Wrinkle, Killed in Afghanistan

Andrew Wyeth site 1 artist

N.C. Wyeth painter

Raymond Wywadis, Jr., Carnegie Hero

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County

Gettysburg, Adams

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Milton, Northumberland

Dover Township

West Lawn, Berks

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Shay, Kittanning Township, Armstrong

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Blue Ridge Summit, Franklin

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Tyrone, Blair

Easttown Township, Chester

West Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Scranton, Lackawanna

Chester, Chester

Philadelphia & Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Chester

Carlisle, Cumberland

Shamokin

Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne

State College, Centre & Philadelphia

Northumberland, Northumberland

Sunbury, Northumberland

Sunbury, Northumberland

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Tulpehocken Valley, Womelsdorf, Berks

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Windber, Somerset

Vandergrift, Westmoreland

Duncansville, Blair, Delaware, Chester, & Cumberland

Oaks, Montgomery

Swathmore, Delaware

McKees Rocks, Allegheny

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Chester

Butler, Clarion, Erie, Forest, Venango, Warren

Homewood, Allegheny

Union

Hallstead, Susquehanna

North Huntingdon, Westmoreland

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Erie, Erie

Hummelstown

Oxford, Chester

Hollidaysburg, Blair

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Arnot, Tioga

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Transfer, Mercer

State College, Centre

Germantown, Philadelphia

Mifflinburg, Union

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Connellsville, Fayette

Fairless Hills, Bucks

Monessen, Westmoreland

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Springville, Susquehanna

Stewartstown, York

Chadds Ford, Chester

Chadds Ford, Chester

Mount Carmel, Northumberland

X-Y

Melissa Taylor Yee rider

Pfc. James M. Yohn, KIA Iraq

Anna Irwin Young, mathematician

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County

Bethlehem, Northampton and Lehigh

Highspire, Dauphin

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Z

Howard Zahniser conservationist site 1

Gerald L. Zahorchak, PA Sec of Education

Zambelli Family fireworks makers

Spc. Nicholas J. Zangara KIA Iraq site 1 site 2

Airman Daniel Zerbe KIA Afghanistan

Pfc. Kenneth E. Zeigler KIA Iraq site 1

Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Actor

LeRoy Zimmerman, PA attorney general

Pvt Travis C. Zimmerman KIA Iraq site 1

Tukufu Zuberi History detective site 1 site 2

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County

Franklin, Forest

Johnstown, Cambria

New Castle, Lawrence

Darby Township, Delaware

Red Lion,York

Mechanicsburg and Dillsburg

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Dauphin County

New Berlinville, Berks

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Research Resources:

PA Historic Markers

Locate dead PA politicians - The Political Graveyard site

PA History site - Explore PAHistory.com

PA Medal of Honor Recipients

PA County Histories and Biographies

PA Counties at Sate Archives

Spanish American War Veterans buried in Pennsylvania

Atwater Kent Museum

Biographical Dictionary of Pennsylvania Legislators

Biographical Directory of US Congress

Biographies of signers of the Declaration of Independence

Centre County Historical Society

Center County History resources for kids

County Historical Society Directory

"The History of Columbia and Mountour Counties" Battle, 1887

Delaware County Historical Society

Enoch Brown Park

Environmental Leaders

Historic Germantown People

Who's Who in Pennsylvania Project

The Book of Prominent Pennsylvanians - online

The Pennsylvania Veterans Museum opened 11/11/05 with a grand-opening ribbon cutting celebration in honor of Veterans Day. Located in the historic Armory in Media, Pa., this museum has state-wide significance and appeal as a tribute to those Keystone veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country.

Pennsylvania ranks fifth in the nation based on the more than 1.2 million veterans living in the state. Approximately 1.3 million Pennsylvanians were dispatched to WW II; 400,000 were sent to Vietnam; and more than 35,000 have served in the Desert Wars.

Top of page

Lancaster County History Museum

Northumberland County Historical Society

Biography Maker

Bucks County Artists Database

Historical Society of Philadelphia

History Matters: US Survey Course on the Web

Pennsylvania Web site

The Pennsylvania Coalition for Representative Democracy (PennCORD)

PA Projects

PA-Roots obituary site

Snyder County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Project

Governors of Pennsylvania

Baseball players born in PA

Johnstown and Cambria County

Pennsylvania pages for kids

Distinguished Men and Women of Penn

Pittsburghers of the Century

The Pennsylvania State Navy

Pittsburgh History at WQED

Our House: A Visitor's Guide to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

We Remember Them