Ohio Genealogical Society

United States Ohio  Archives and Libraries  Societies  Ohio Genealogical Society

Purpose of the Society
Mission of the Ohio Genealogical Society

The Ohio Genealogical Society is the largest state genealogical society in the United States. Its mission is to meet the educational needs of its members and the general public through the acquisition, preservation, and dissemination of genealogical and historical information.

OGS is a non-profit organization, incorporated under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) whose purposes are:


 * Fostering an interest in all of the peoples who contributed in any way to the establishment and perpetuation of the state of Ohio.
 * Searching for the reasons and forces behind the migration of early settlers into this state.
 * Preserving and safeguarding manuscripts, books, and memorabilia relating to the early settlers of Ohio.
 * Securing and holding copyrights, master copies and plates of books, periodicals, tracts, and pamphlets of genealogical and historical interest to the people of Ohio.
 * Publishing, printing, buying, selling and circulating literature regarding the purposes, records, acquisitions and discoveries of the Society.
 * Aiding others in the publication and dissemination of materials pertaining to Ohio, including biography and family and local history.
 * Receiving and holding gifts and bequests from any source for the benefit of the Society, disposing of such gifts and bequests not needed and using funds derived therefrom solely for the purposes of the Society.
 * Doing all things incidental to the perpetuation of the purposes of the Society, and exercising the powers legally and properly requisite thereto.

Membership Benefits
Single Membership - $35.00 Joint Membership - $40.00 OGS Membership - Click here to join.

The Ohio Genealogical Society gives its members valuable benefits including:


 * Award-winning Ohio Genealogy News
 * Ohio Genealogical Society Quarterly
 * Members-only section of the OGS website
 * Use of the OGS Library at no charge
 * OGS Lending Library
 * Discounts on OGS Publications and Conferences
 * OGS Lineage Societies
 * Knowledgeable staff and volunteers

Your membership in The Ohio Genealogical Society will help you further your research goals and will also help OGS in its important work of collecting and preserving Ohio's family history and heritage.

Library Resources
The OGS Library is an indispensable resource for Ohio genealogy.


 * Over 40,000 books alphabetically by state/county/subject
 * Ohio published histories and genealogical references
 * Large family history section
 * 250,000 ancestor cards alphabetical by surname
 * 4,000 Family Bible records, indexed
 * Century Families of Ohio files
 * First Families of Ohio files, with over 10,000 pre-1821 Ohio settlers
 * Settlers and Builders of Ohio files
 * Society of Civil War Families of Ohio files
 * Various Ohio county court records on microfilm
 * Ancestor Charts filed by member surname
 * Eight cabinets of family files
 * Complete set of Ohio Genealogical Society Quarterly (formerly The Report ), OGS Genealogy News, Ohio Records and Pioneer Families, Ohio Civil War Genealogy Journal, Gateway to the West and other periodicals
 * Ohio Cadastral Map Collection (Land owners)
 * Ohio census 1820-1940 and indexes
 * Newsletters from 100 OGS Chapters
 * Original 1880 Census volumes
 * 1000 CD ROM titles, computer stations, Internet access
 * County and City Directories for Ohio
 * Yearbooks
 * Over 300 manuscript collections
 * FamilySearch: International Genealogical Index, and Ancestral File for the World

Internet sites and databases:


 * Samuel D. Isaly Library hours, admission, contact, resources, and policies.
 * OGS Library Catalog by "Anywhere," Author, Subject, Title.
 * OGS Library Manuscripts

Indexes for (add County/town/state name here)



(Name of index (if online add link to name of index) - How to access: (if not online, order info. If it is online, remove "How to access.") If there are too many to list, you can link to your society's webpage. See the Society Page Form for examples.)

Publications In the Society's Holdings

Books



(general description or list of titles; if there are too many to list, you can link to your society's webpage)

Periodicals



(general description of list of titles; if there are too many to list, you can link to your society's webpage)

Family Files



(general description or list of surnames - this can include any paper files you want to list)

Misc



(general descriptions)

Publications for Sale

(link to website selling publications)

Look-up Services

(Instructions and fees)



(List of local repositories willing to visit)

How to Do Research in (add name of town/county here)



(list of classes whether online or onsite)

Local Repositories Society Members Visit



(list of repositories your members visit to do genealogy)

OGS Member Databases:
Heritage Pursuit (includes multiple county histories from 88 Ohio counties - searchable)

Hundreds of Ohio County databases

Statewide Databases such as:


 * OGS Bible Records Index * Ohio Cemetery Locations * African-Americans Migrating to Ohio, 1861-1863 * 11th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Reunion, 1883 * Roster of the 60th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 1906 * Ohio State Medical Society, 1899 * Virginia Military District School Land Sales, 1814-1815 * Ohio Birth Index, 1940-1998 * Ohio Marriage Index, 1789-1830 * Ohio Marriage Index, 1970-1990 * Ohio Divorce Index, 1962-1996 * 1812 Ohio Tax List Index, A-Gibbs * World War I 83rd Division Personal Information Cards Index * Ohio Mayflower Society Index

Newsletter/Periodical:

Free Look-ups:


 * (List of look-ups)

Field Trips:

(Include any other additional benefits of membership in your society):

Society Happenings
OGS Events Calendar by Date

Meetings
(details of meetings: how often, where, when, what is the purpose of the meeting, i.e., genealogical instruction, planning projects, etc.)

Workshops
(details: topics, when, where, cost, etc.)

Board Meetings
(details of board meetings: how often, where, when, who is invited)

Indexing

 * (List each project)

Other Projects

 * (List each project)

Past Projects
The Ohio Genealogical Society has a free database with genealogical data. it is located under the Database Tab on their homepage. If you are researching a lot in Ohio, it may be worth joining, which will give you access to much more material.