Ohio Archives and Libraries

United States Ohio  Archives and Libraries

Archives and libraries often have maps, gazetteers, and other place-finding aids. They frequently have collections of previous research, such as family and local histories and biographies. Many have record-finding aids, such as guides to their own collections or inventories of records housed elsewhere in the state.

Archives
The following organizations have major collections or services for genealogical researchers:

National Archives Great Lakes Region (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/great-lakes/

National Archives—Central Plains Region (Kansas City) 400 West Pershing Road Kansas City, MO 64108 Telephone: 816-268-8000 Internet: http://www.archives.gov/central-plains/

Special Collections and Archives

 * American Jewish Archives The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives 3101 Clifton Ave. | Cincinnati, OH 45220 Telephone 513.221.1875 | Fax 513.221.7812


 * Archdiocese of Cincinnati Archdiocese of Cincinnati Archive 212 East Eighth Street | Cincinnati, OH 45202 Telephone: (513) 621-2086


 * Archives of Ohio United Methodists Archives Ohio Wesleyan University Beeghly Library 43 Rowland Ave. | Delaware, OH 43015 Telephone: 740-368-3285


 * Erie Lackawanna Historical SocietyErie Lackawanna Historical Society History about the Delaware, Lackawanna &amp; Western Railroad, Erie Railroad, Erie Lackawanna Railway and related lines.


 * National Underground Railroad Freedom Center OhioLINK History &amp; Archives Collections

College and University Libraries - Archives

 * Antioch University Olive Kettering Library 795 Livermore Street | Yellow Springs, OH 45387 Telephone: (937) 769 1000 Internet: Antiochiana Department of Archives and Special Collections, the historical homepage of Antioch


 * Ashland University Ashland University Library 401 College Ave | Ashland, OH 44805 Telephone(419) 289-4142 Internet: Ashland University Databases


 * Bluffton University Mussellman Library 280 W College Ave | Bluffton, OH 45817 Telephone (419) 358-3251 Internet: Bluffton University Archives and Special Collections Mennonite Historical Collections


 * Bowling Green State University Jerome Libary Bowling Green, OH 43403 Telephone 419-372-2361; (toll free at 866-LIB-BGSU). Internet: Center for Archival Collections Historical Collections of the Great Lakes


 * Case Western Reserve University Kelvin Smith Library 11055 Euclid Avenue | Cleveland, OH 44106-7151 Telephone: 216-368-3506 Internet: Special Collections University Archives


 * Cedarville University Centennial Library 1251 N Main St | Cedarville, OH 45314 Telephone: (937) 766-4758 Internet: Special Collections University Archives


 * Central State University Central State University P.O. Box 1004 | 1400 Brush Row Rd. | Wilberforce, OH 45384 Telephone: 800-388-2781 • (937) 376-6011


 * Denison University William Howard Doane Library 400 West Loop | Granville, OH 43023 Telephone: 740.587.6235 Fax: 740.587.6285 Internet: Denison University Archives Special Collections


 * John Carroll University Grasselli Library &amp; Breen Learning Center 20700 North Park Blvd | University Heights OH 44118 Telephone: 216.397.4233 Internet: Special Collections University Archives


 * Kent State University Kent State Libraries and Media Services Kent State University | Kent, OH 44242 Telephone: 330-672-3000 Internet: Archives and Special Collections


 * Miami University Miami University Libraries 501 East High Street | Oxford, OH 45056 | Telephone: 513.529.1809 Internet: Miami University Archives Walter Havighurst Special Collections


 * Oberline College Oberlin College Library 148 West College Street | Oberlin, OH 44074-1545 Telephone: 440-775-8285 | fax 440-775-6586 Internet: Oberlin College Archives


 * Ohio University Archives and Special Collections Alden Library Athens, OH 45701-2978 Telephone: (740) 593-2710, Fax: (740) 593-2708 Internet: Archives and Special Collections


 * Ohio University Chillicothe Ohio University Chillicothe Library 101 University Drive | Chillicothe, OH 45601 Telephone: 740-774-7200


 * Ohio University Wesleyan OH University Wesleyan Libraries 61 S. Sandusky St. | Delaware, OH, 43015 Telephone: (740) 368-2000


 * Otterbein College Courtright Memorial Library 138 West Main Street | Westerville, OH 43081 Telephone: (614) 823-1215


 * The Ohio State University University Libraries Archives and Special Collections Columbus, OH


 * University of Akron University of Akron Libraries 302 Buchtel Common | Akron, OH 44325 Telephone: 330-972-7111


 * University of Cincinnati Archives Department Blegen Library PO Box 201113 | Cincinnati, OH 45221-0113 Telephone: 513-556-1959, Fax: 513-556-2113 Internet: University of Cincinnati Archives Department


 * University of Dayton Archives and Special Collections Roesch Library Archives and Special Collections 300 College Park | Dayton, OH 45469-1501 Telephone: Phone: 937-229-1000 Internet: Marian Library


 * University of Toledo The University of Toledo Libraries 2801 W. Bancroft | Toledo, OH 43606-3390 Telephone: 800-586-533


 * Wilberforce University Wilberforce University Library 1055 North Bickett Rd. | Wilberforce, OH 45384-1001 Telephone:(937) 376-2911


 * Wright State University Special Collections and Archives Paul Laurence Dunbar Library Dayton, OH 45435-0001 Telephone: 937-775-2092, Fax: 937-775-4109 Internet: Wright State University Special Collections and Archives

Libraries

 * Cleveland Public Library 325 Superior Ave. NE, Cleveland, OH 44114-1271 Phone: (216) 623-2800 Internet: Cleveland Public Library


 * Columbus Metropolitan Library Genealogy, History &amp; Travel 96 S. Grant Ave., Columbus, OH 43215-4163 Phone: (614)645-2275 Internet: Columbus Metropolitan Library


 * Genealogy Library at Garst Museum 205 N. Broadway Greenville, OH 45331 Phone: (937)548-5250 Internet: Genealogy Library at Garst Museum


 * Mahoning Valley Historical Society's Archival Library  648 Wick Avenue Youngstown, OH 44502-1289 Telephone (330) 743-2589 Fax (330) 743-721 Internet: Mahoning Valley Historical Society's Archives


 * State Library of Ohio Special Collections and Genealogy Resources 275 East 1st Ave. Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43201-3692 Telephone: 800–686–1532 or 614- 644–7051, Fax: 614-728-2789 Internet: State Library of 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. Internet: Digital &amp; Special Collections Internet: Sources for Genealogists Guide to collection

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


 * Irish American Archives


 * Ohio Genealogical Society 611 State Route 97 W, Bellville, OH 44813 Phone: (419) 886-1903 Internet: Ohio Genealogical Society


 * Ohio Historical Society Ohio Historical Center 1982 Velma Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211-2497 Telephone: 614-297-2510, Fax: 614-297-2546 Internet: Ohio Historical Society Guides to collection

The Archives Division of the State Historical Society of Ohio primarily collects manuscript records of the state, including government, land, and military records


 * Western Reserve Historical Society 10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106-1788 Telephone: 216-721-5722. Fax: 216-721-0645 Internet: Western Reserve Historical Society A guide to the holdings

For Further Reading
Family History Library


 * To find other archives and libraries with collections of Ohio records, look in the directories and information listed in the "United States Archives and Libraries" and Ohio Societies.


 * Inventories of archive and library collections are found in the Locality Search of the FamilySearch Catalog.

In the early 1940s the Historical Records Survey produced inventories of county courthouses and archives. These describe the existing records and record-keeping systems. The Family History Library has copies of these inventories for about 30 of the 88 counties in Ohio. These are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:


 * OHIO - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES
 * OHIO, [COUNTY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES

Guides and Directories

You may also learn about research sources in:


 * Guide to Manuscript Collections and Institutional Records in Ohio,
 * Guide to Ohio County and Municipal Records for Urban Research.
 * Directory of Museums, Historical Societies, and Associated Organizations in Ohio