Ohio Archives and Libraries

These repositories preserve sources, maintain indexes, and provide services to help genealogists document their ancestors who lived in Ohio.

Wiki Articles on Major Repositories for Ohio
Allen County Public Library (Ft. Wayne, IN)· American Jewish Archives· Archdiocese of Cincinnati· Archives of Ohio United Methodists·Bowling Green State University Jerome Library· Dayton Metro Library· Erie Lackawanna Historical Society Archives· Mennonite Historical Collections· National Archives at Chicago (Chicago, IL)· National Underground Railroad Freedom Center· Newberry Library (Chicago, IL)· Ohio Department of Health· Ohio Genealogical Society· Ohio History Connection· Ohio University Alden Library· Palatines to America German Genealogy Society Resource Center· Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County· Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County· Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center· State Library of Ohio· Toledo‑Lucas County Public Library· University of Cincinnati Blegen Library· Western Reserve Historical Society· Wright State University Dunbar Library

Online Records of Ohio
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Ohio Department of Health
Offfice of Vital Statistics 225 Neilston Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 Telephone: 614-466-2531 E-mail: [mailto:VitalStat@odh.ohio.gov VitalStat@odh.ohio.gov] Internet: How to Apply
 * The Office of Vital Statistics preserves Ohio births since 1908, and deaths since 1964. They do not have marriage or divorce records.
 * Earlier 1867-1908 uncertified birth records, and 1867-1963 uncertified death records are available on plain paper from the Ohio History Connection (Ohio's archives), or at the city or county vital statistics office where the event occurred. A few counties have earlier records.


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 * Indexes. The Office of Vital Statistics maintains a limited online Death Certificate Index 1908-1963. They also have a marriage index since 1950, and divorce index since 1954. For other Ohio vital record indexes see also the Ohio Vital Records Wiki article.
 * How to obtain Birth and Death record copies. There are several ways to obtain copies of Ohio birth and death records:
 * From a local Vital Statistics Office in a city or county where the event occurred. This is often faster; fees and hours vary. Sealed adoption records are only available in Columbus.
 * Walk-in at the downtown Columbus office for same-day service before 4:30 pm (except adoptions).
 * Order online using their online order form. Please allow three weeks for processing (adoptions usually take longer).
 * By mail following all their Records Request Instructions (pdf). Please allow at least three weeks for processing.
 * For an additional fee you can order online official Ohio death records since 1964 from a private company VitalChek Ohio. They provide a faster turn-around time.
 * How to obtain Marriage license copies since the formation of the county contact the local county probate court; for divorce decrees contact the local county clerk of courts. Local fees and hours vary.

Ohio Genealogical Society
611 State Route 97 West Bellville OH 44813-8813 Telephone: (419) 886-1903 Fax: 419-886-0092 E-mail: [mailto:ogs@ogs.org ogs@ogs.org] Internet: Ohio Genealogical Society
 * They have the best collection of family folders in Ohio. They also have county record guides, biographies, genealogies and some unique indexes to various Ohio records.



Ohio History Connection
800 E. 17th Avenue Columbus, OH 43211 Telephone: 614-297-2510 Fax: 614-297-2546 E-mail: [mailto:reference@ohiohistory.org reference@ohiohistory.org] Internet: Ohio History Connection Archives/Library Internet: Ohio Memory: a collaborative project of the Ohio History Connection and the State Library of Ohio
 * The Archives Division of the State History Connection of Ohio serves as the state archives and primarily collects manuscript records of the state, including government, land, and military records. Also has biographies, genealogies, and early vital records (births 1867-1908; marriages since each county's formation; deaths 1867-1964). A few cities and counties have even earlier vital records.
 * Andrea D. Lentz, and Sara S. Fuller, eds., A Guide to Manuscripts at the Ohio Historical Society (Columbus, Ohio: Ohio Historical Society, 1972). Digital version ;.
 * Suzanne Wolfe Mettle, et al., comps. Genealogical Researcher's Manual with Special References for Using the Ohio Historical Society Library (Columbus, Ohio: Franklin County Chapter, Ohio Genealogical Society, 1981). ;.

State Library of Ohio
274 East First Avenue Columbus, OH 43201 Telephone: 614-644-7061 Fax: 614-644-7004 E-mail: [mailto:refhelp@library.ohio.gov refhelp@library.ohio.gov] Internet: State Library of Ohio Internet: Ohio Memory: a collaborative project of the Ohio History Connection and the State Library of Ohio
 * This collection contains good records of Ohio, and of states like Pennsylvania, New York, and the states of New England which all contributed early immigrants to Ohio.
 * The State Library of Ohio's genealogy collection is now housed at the Columbus Metropolitan Library. SLO still has the State of Ohio Government Documents Collection which may have genealogical content.
 * Petta Khouw, and Ohio State Library, County by County in Ohio Genealogy (Columbus, Ohio: The State Library, 1978). Digital version. ;

OH Network of Amer Hist Res Centers
Ohio Network of American History Research Centers These regional history centers collect Ohio records such as newspapers, printed materials, and local government records:
 * Ohio History Connection see above
 * University of Akron Libraries
 * University of Cincinnati Libraries see below
 * Western Reserve Historical Society see below
 * Wright State University Library see below
 * Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor


 * An inventory of each center's holdings is: Ohio Historical Society, Abstract of Ohio County Inventory, 1803-1977. Columbus, OH: OHS, 1977..



Bowling Green State Univ Jerome Libr
Bowling Green State University Jerome Library Center for Archival Collections Bowling Green, OH 43403-0001 Telephone: 419-372-2411 E-mail: [mailto:archive@bgsu.edu archive@bgsu.edu] Internet: Center for Archival Collections Internet: Historical Collections of the Great Lakes
 * Has manuscripts, the Historical Collection of the Great Lakes, Rare Books and Special Collections, and local records of nineteen counties in northwest Ohio.

Dayton Metro Library
Main Branch 215 E. Third Street Dayton, OH 45402 Telephone: 937-463-BOOK E-mail: E-mail reference question form Internet: Dayton Metro Library
 * The Dayton Room  has one of Ohio's best genealogical collections including books, periodicals, indexes, genealogies, and biographies.

Erie Lackawanna Hist Soc Archives
Erie Lackawanna Historical Society Archives Cleveland State University 1860 East 22nd St, Rhodes Tower, RM 321A Cleveland Ohio 44115-2214 Telephone: 216-687-2449, or 216-687-2520 E-mail: [mailto:l.duchez@csuohio.eduCleveland l.duchez@csuohio.eduCleveland] Internet: Erie Lackawanna Historical Society
 * History of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, Erie Railroad, Erie Lackawanna Railway and related lines. No employee records.

Ohio University Alden Library
Ohio University, Archives and Special Collections Athens, OH 45701-2978 Telephone: 740-593-2699 Fax: 740-593-2708 Internet: Archives and Special Collections Internet: Alden Library
 * Their excellent manuscript collection includes church records, and business records. They also have county histories, biographies, and newspapers. It is like a second state archives.

Pub Libr of Cincinnati Hamilton Co
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County 800 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH, 45202 Telephone: 513-369-6900 E-mail: Ask a reference question form Internet: Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
 * A top genealogy and local history collection of early Ohio sources. This includes the Inland Rivers Library  of the Ohio River and its tributaries (riverboat traffic between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Louisville, Kentucky) in Special Collections.

Pub Libr of Youngstown Mahoning Co
Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County 305 Wick Ave. Youngstown, OH 44503 Telephone: 330-744-8636 Reference Fax: 330-744-3355 E-mail: E-mail reference question form Internet: Genealogy and Local History
 * They have a good solid genealogy collection with oral histories, state and county histories, biographies, and genealogies. Youngstown was a portal for immigrants from Pennsylvania and New England entering Ohio.

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Spiegel Grove Fremont, OH 43420-2796 Telephone: 800-998-7737, ext. 231 Fax: 419-332-4952 E-mail: [mailto:bhill@rbhayes.org bhill@rbhayes.org] Internet: Hayes Research Library Internet: Ohio Obituary Index of over 3 million obituaries, death, and marriage notices, and other Ohio sources from the 1810s to the present.
 * President Hayes' personal collection is strong on Ohio history, as well as Sandusky River and Great Lakes history, U.S. history and Black studies. The Hayes family history including many manuscripts are kept here.

Toledo‑Lucas County Public Library
Main Library 325 Michigan Street Toledo, Ohio 43604 Telephone: genealogy 419-259-5233, or general 419-259-5200 Email: Contact us e-mail form Internet: Local History and Genealogy
 * This is the place to come if you are looking for early Ohio settlers who entered Ohio via the Great Lakes and Toledo. They have Great Lakes traffic records.

University of Cincinnati Blegen Library
Archives and Rare Books Library P.O. Box 210113 2602 McMicken Circle Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0113 Telephone: 513-556-1959 Fax: 513-556-2113 E-mail: [mailto:archives@ucmail.uc.edu archives@ucmail.uc.edu ] Internet: University of Cincinnati Archives Department
 * Cincinnati births and deaths 1865-1912, morgue records 1887-1930, German-Americana, urban studies, and the Ohio Network Collection.

Western Reserve Historical Society
10825 East Boulevard Cleveland, OH 44106-1788 Telephone: 216-721-5722 x1509 Fax: 216-721-0645 E-mail: [mailto:reference@wrhs.org reference@wrhs.org] Internet: Family History and Genealogical Research
 * The Western Reserve was a large part of Ohio at first intended for settlement by Connecticut Revolutionary War refugees. The Research Library at the Western Reserve Historical Society History Center  is the premier repository for Cleveland, Ohio and the Connecticut Western Reserve  history material. This important collection includes original land records, as well as many genealogies, biographies, histories, and Bibles from New York, Pennsylvania, and New England. Includes over 20 million manuscripts for genealogical research and northeast Ohio history. They have the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of Shaker materials. Other important collections include the American Civil War, and the automotive industry.
 * Kermit J. Pike, A Guide to the Manuscripts and Archives of the Western Reserve Historical Society (Cleveland, Ohio: Western Reserve Historical Society, 1972). ;.
 * Western Reserve Historical Society. History Library. Card Catalog to the Manuscripts Collection in the Library of the Western Reserve Historical Society (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974). ;.

Wright State University Dunbar Library
Special Collections and Archives 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy Dayton, OH 45435-0001 Telephone: 937-775-2092 Fax: 937-775-4109 E-mail: [mailto:archives@www.libraries.wright.edu archives@www.libraries.wright.edu] Internet: Genealogy
 * Books, maps, census records, and other research materials for the eleven counties including churches, labor unions, businesses, social and welfare agencies, women's organizations, papers of private individuals and public officials, photos, published and unpublished family histories.

American Jewish Archives
101 Clifton Ave Cincinnati, OH 45220 Telephone: 513-2211875 Fax 513-221-7812 E-mail: [mailto:http://www.americanjewisharchives.org/collections/ask/ Ask an Archivist] form Internet: Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives
 * 1,000 family genealogy files. Jewish communities and immigration records during the Colonial Period, early Jewish communities in the Caribbean Islands, along with congregational records from early Jewish settlement to modern times.

Archdiocese of Cincinnati
212 East Eighth Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Telephone: 513-621-2086 E-mail: Contact us Internet: Archdiocese of Cincinnati Archive
 * On-site research by appointment only. Accepts genealogical requests by mail or their online form. Fee required. The Archives has microfiche copies of baptism, marriage, and death registers of every open and closed parish in the Archdiocese, but not for parishes outside the current Archdiocese boundaries. Records after 1930 are restricted. Telephone and e-mail requests are not accepted. [[Image:Beeghly Library.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Methodist Archives at Ohio Wesleyan University Beeghly Library in Delaware, Ohio]]

Archives of Ohio United Methodists
Ohio Wesleyan University Beeghly Library 43 Rowland Ave Delaware, OH 43015 Telephone: 740-368-3285 E-mail: [mailto:aoum@owu.edu aoum@owu.edu] Internet: Archives of Ohio United Methodism
 * History of United Methodism in general and in Ohio, manuscripts and conference proceedings, Methodist publications, local church history files, records of closed and abandoned churches, Dead Ministers file, newspapers, journals, periodicals, personal papers and diaries. The Archives offers research services into church history, clergy members, and genealogy.

Irish American Archives Society
Collection at the Western Reserve Historical Society above. Internet: Irish American Archives Society.

Mennonite Historical Collections
Bluffton University Mussellman Library 280 W College Ave Bluffton, OH 45817 Telephone: 419-358-3251 E-mail: [mailto:phillipsc@bluffton.edu phillipsc@bluffton.edu] Internet: Mennonite Historical Collections
 * Their collections include 3,000 volumes of family histories. They also have periodicals about Mennonite and related groups, resources for genealogy research, secondary sources on Mennonite history and life, and historic materials from the village of Bluffton and of surrounding communities.

Nat'l Underground Railroad Freedom Cntr
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center 50 East Freedom Way Cincinnati OH 45202-3913 Telephone: 513-333-7654 E-mail: [mailto:OH_freedomcenter@familyhistorymail.org OH_freedomcenter@familyhistorymail.org]. Internet: Genealogy at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
 * The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is more a museum (few original manuscripts) than an archives. However, it has a family history center, where patrons can view limited-access FamilySearch and Ancestry databases.

Palatines to America German Gen Center
Palatines to America German Genealogy Society Resource Center PO Box 141260 Columbus, Ohio 43214 Telephone: 614-267-4700 E-mail: Contact us e-mail form Internet: Palatines to America German Genealogy Society
 * They have an extensive collection of German immigrant ancestor files. Their book collection is at the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

Shakers
See the Western Reserve Historical Society above.

Allen County Public Library
900 Library Plaza Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802 Telephone: 260-421-1225 E-mail: [mailto:genealogy@acpl.info genealogy@acpl.info] Internet: Genealogy Center ACPL
 * This is the second-largest genealogy collection in the United States and the largest genealogy collection in a public library. Its holdings include more than 350,000 printed volumes and 513,000 items on microfilm and microfiche. It has a premier genealogical periodical collection, local histories, genealogies, databases, military, censuses, directories, passenger lists, ethnic sources, and Canadians. They have a great Ohio collection.



National Archives at Chicago
7358 S. Pulaski Rd. Chicago, IL 60629-5898 Phone: (773)948-9001 Fax: (773)948-9050 E-mail: [mailto:chicago.archives@nara.gov chicago.archives@nara.gov] Internet: http://www.archives.gov/chicago/
 * Includes federal censuses 1790–1930; selected military service indexes, pension indexes, passenger lists, and naturalizations. Free computers for Ancestry, Heritage Quest, or Fold3. Federal agency, civil, and criminal court records of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.



Newberry Library
60 West Waltron Street Chicago, IL 60610 Telephone: 312-255-3512 Email: [mailto:genealogy@newberry.org reference@newberry.org.]
 * A large Chicago repository with genealogies, local histories, censuses, military, land, indexes, vital records, court, and tax records many from Ohio, the Mississippi Valley, eastern seaboard, Canada, and the British Isles.

Family History Centers
Some of the above collections are partially duplicated at the Family History Library and its branch Family History Centers around the world. Most centers can help you by: There are several centers located in Ohio, for example:
 * Giving you limited, personal, one-on-one research suggestions (but they do not do research for you)[[Image:Lima_Ohio_FHC.png|thumb|right|280px| Lima Ohio Family History Center ]]
 * Providing access to genealogical records through the premium online Internet FHC Portal for free.
 * Offering free how-to classes (varies by location)
 * Fostering contact between genealogical enthusiasts
 * Lima Ohio Family History Center 1195 Brower Rd Lima OH 45801-2303 USA Telephone: 1-419-227-2537
 * Each center is staffed by volunteers and has varying hours and services. Telephone in advance to verify their hours.

To locate one of these 4,500 centers in your own neighborhood, see Find a Family History Center.

Guides

 * David R. Larson, ed., Guide to Manuscript Collections and Institutional Records in Ohio, ((S.l.) : Society of Ohio Archivists, 1974). ;.
 * Paul D. Yon, Guide to Ohio County and Municipal Records for Urban Research. (Columbus, Ohio : Ohio Historical Society, 1973). ;.
 * Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums, Directory of Museums, Historical Societies, and Associated Organizations in Ohio (Granville, Ohio : Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums, 1981). ;.

Almost every county in Ohio has a branch of the Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) that actively collects, preserves, and publishes local records. There are many other societies in Ohio proactive in promoting research.

To find other repositories of Ohio records, see also:


 * United States Archives and Libraries
 * Ohio Societies.