Department of Records

The Department of Records manages City records and provides access to the public. As part of this work, the department:

• Records real estate documents in Philadelphia.
• Provides records management for City agencies.
• Provides printing and photography services for City agencies.
• Manages the City Archives.

The department provides public access to many of these records, including:

• Financial disclosure forms.
• Public safety reports.
• Land records.
• City regulation public notices.

Connect

Posts

The Tales of a Summer Intern

Looking back at past request for records from City Archives

Celebrating Archives Month 2023

Events

There are no upcoming events.

Programs

Tangled Title Program

Offering assistance to eligible low-income people whose name is not on the deed of the home they are living in.

Resources

PhillyHistory.org PhillyHistory.org provides a vast photographic collection from the Philadelphia City Archives. You can search more than 30,000 photographs by location and buy prints.

Financial disclosure statements Search annual financial disclosure statements filed since 2015. The site has statements from City elected officials, senior administration officials, and members of some boards and commissions.

Tangled title information sheet Information about avoiding a tangled title. Funeral service providers must give this to the survivor of the deceased.

Leadership

Jim Leonard is a lifelong resident of Philadelphia, who has spent almost his entire career in public service on behalf of the City of Philadelphia.

He has served as the Commissioner of the City of Philadelphia Department of Records since April 2016, when he was appointed by Mayor Jim Kenney. As Commissioner, Jim serves as the Recorder of Deeds for Philadelphia, manages the City’s records management program for all departments, administers the Department’s public access to records program, including the City’s historical archives, and oversees the City’s printing and binding center and official City photographer.

Prior to being appointed Commissioner of Records, Jim practiced law in Pennsylvania for approximately 17 years, with a focus on real estate transactional law, municipal pension matters, and the PA Right-to-Know Law. He spent almost his entire legal career at the City of Philadelphia Law Department.

Mr. Leonard received his law degree in 1999 from Villanova University School of Law. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Villanova University in 1996.

Tracey T. Williams is the Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Records. With over 20 years working in public service for the City of Philadelphia, serving in the Department of Records, Department of Human Services, Health Department, and the School District of Philadelphia, she is passionate about ensuring that children and adults have access to high-quality health care, education and socio-economic services that educate, empower, develop and strengthen communities.

Ms. Williams was born and raised in Philadelphia, as well as educated in the School District of Philadelphia. Ms. Williams attended Shawmont Elementary School and the Philadelphia High School for Girls. After graduating high school, Ms. Williams attended Temple University where she earned a Bachelors Science Degree and majored in Political Science. Ms. Williams continued her studies at Philadelphia University and earned a graduate degree, Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance.

Staff