Summit County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society P O Box 2232 Akron OH 44309-2232 e-mail: summitogs@yahoo.com

    The Barberton Public Library has a Local History Room on the ground floor which is staffed by a local history librarian and local history assistant.  The library has an extensive collecion of Barberton history and genealogical resources, but the collection also emphasizes all of Summit County and focuses also on genealogical collections related to Stark, Medina, Portage and Wayne counties.  The library's main web site is at http://www.barberton.lib.oh.us/ or you can go directly to the Local History web page. The Local History Room is open during all regular library hours.
Monday through Thursday ~ 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday ~ 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tel: (330)745-1194
FAX: (330) 745-8261

   Please note that the Archives and the American History Research Center are located in the basement of the old Polsky building. See the section on American History Research Centers.

Bierce Library Telephones:
     Information                (330) 972-7234
     Library Hours            (330) 972-7237
     Reference                  (330) 972-7236
     Dial-in for Card Catalog  (330)  972-6800

    Bierce Library at the University of Akron has many genealogical source and guide materials located in various sections of the library.  There is a Library Pathfinder leaflet on Genealogical Research available at the library.You also may search the dial-in computer for the subjects genealogy, Ohio--genealogy, genealogical literature, United State--genealogy and registers of births.

A sampling of the library holdings include:

PERIODICALS:

MANUALS:

INDEXES

SOURCE MATERIALS:

GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS

    The Kent State University Library houses more than 1.8 million volumes on 13 floors with 165,528 square feet of space. The building, which opened in September 1970, also has 8,200 current serials subscriptions, including government documents.
    A library guide on genealogy can be obtained in the reference department.
    A good way to begin your genealogy search, is to use KentLINK, which lists the books and magazines owned by Kent State University.  Topics that might be of interest to genealogists may be used as subject
headings.  Examples:

Afro-American-genealogy
Obituaries-indexes
[State}-emigration and immigration
United States-Genealogy
Cemeteries-[state]
Registers of births
[state]-genealogy
United States-Local History Wills-[state]
Genealogy
Ships-passenger lists

For Kent Campus Library hours, call 672-2425.

    KentLINK is the online catalog.  It is used to find bibliographic, location and call number information for materials held by Kent State University Libraries and Media Services on the Kent and regional campuses.

    Presentations about using KentLINK are offered by the Reference Department and at the regional campus libraries.  Call 672-3045 for information about Kent campus presentations. Ask for assistance with KentLINK at a reference/information desk.

    Dial access to KentLINK is available at 672-9250 through modems that handle speeds up to 14,400 bps.  Set up your communications software s follows:
   Data bits:  8
   Parity:  none
   Stop bits:  1
   Terminal emulation:  VT100

   After your modem connects, hit the return key once and a menu should appear.  Select KentLINK/OhioLINK for a limited menu of services. Full access to KentLINK and OhioLINK is available to KSU students, faculty, and staff through University computers such as Phoenix. University Information Systems staff can answer questions about dialing in (672-2516).

Other electronic access to information is available through the CD-ROM databases and Research Databases through OhioLink.

Copy machines, microform copiers and public lockers are available.

Kent Main Library Departmental Numbers:

Acquisitions & Serials.....672-3024 Administrative Offices.....672-2962
Archives...................672-2270
Audio Visual Services......672-3456 Catalog Dept...............672-3022
Circulation................672-7905 Government Documents.......672-2159
Instructional Computing....672-3456 Interlibrary Loan..........672-2670
Macintosh Lab..............672-3456 Periodical Information.....672-2177
Reference Center...........672-3150 Reference Dept.............672-3045
Reserves...................672-7905 Special Collections........672-2270

    There is only one Family History Library.  It is located in Salt Lake City at 35 N. West Temple Street directly west of the historic Mormon Temple Square.  The beginnings of the Family History Library started in 1894 when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) formed the Genealogical Society of Utah to gather records from all over the world which help people trace their ancestry.
    Although the Family History Library and its associated Family History Centers are services of the LDS Church, the general public is welcome.  Resources include books, microfilm, and databases containing materials from censuses, vital records, church records, and family records.
    There is no charge for using the library and there is even a limited amount of free parking for a three-hour period a block north of the library.

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City is open:
        Monday..................7:30 AM -  6:00 PM
        Tuesday-Saturday........7:30 AM - 10:00 PM
The Family History Library is closed on Sundays and on the following holidays:  New Years, Independence Day, Utah's Pioneer Day (July 24), Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas, and New Year's Eve.

    In 1964, the LDS Church started forming branches of the Family History Library.  These branches are called Family History Centers.  Presently there are approximately 2000 Family History Centers in over 58
countries.  These Family History Centers are usually located in local LDS Church meetinghouses and staffed by volunteers, but not all LDS Church meetinghouses have a Family History Center.  Each Family History Center varies in size.  The largest one, Utah Valley Family History Center located on Brigham Young University Campus, has a large collection of microfilms and books, as well as several computers.  A small Family History Center might be located in a small room with just a few sources on hand and only one computer.  Many Family History Centers fit in size somewhere in the middle.
     The closest Family History Center is at 106 E. Howe Road, Tallmadge, OH, near the Summit County fairgrounds and across from Weaver School.  The center's hours are: Mondays and Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays 6:30 p.m. to 9:30  p.m., and Staruday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The center is closed holidays.  Tel: 330-630-3365

What sources are available at the FHL or an FHC that could help me?

    The Family History Library and the Family History Centers have sources from all over the world available for use in the forms of books, microfilms, microfiche, and computer databases.

    The Family History Library has a large collection of microfilms containing vital records, church records, military records, cemetery records, county histories, family histories, etc.  The LDS Church started microfilming records in 1938 and is still continuing the project of microfilming the records of the world with about 200 microfilm camera operators filming the records.  The collection contains over 2 million reels of microfilm.

    Family History Centers do not have all of the films, but usually have some of them on hand.  Films that they do not have can usually be loaned to the Family History Center.

    Part of this microfilm collection is the U.S. Federal Census from 1790 - 1920, as well as censuses from some of the states and other countries.

    Periodical Sources Index (PERSI) is available on microfiche at the Family History Library and the Family History Centers.  PERSI is an index nearly all English-language and French-Canadian genealogical periodical (over 2000 periodicals).  It is indexed by surnames, localities, and research methods.  PERSI is published by the Fort Wayne/Allen County (Indiana) Public Library. Bound volumes also are available at the Akron-Summit County Public Library.

    The Family Search web site at http://www.familysearch.org is the quickest way to find information on the following resources:

    The International Genealogical Index (IGI) is an index of millions of names submitted by members of the LDS Church or by the LDS Church extraction program from original records.  It is available on microfiche at the Akron-Summit County Public Library and through the FamilySearch program at the Family History Library and the Family History Centers.   The IGI also is available at Akron-Summit County Public Library.

    The Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) is an index to all of the books and films in the collection of the Family History Library.  The FHLC can be used on microfiche and through the FamilySearch program at the Family History Library and the Family History Centers.

    Ancestral File is a genealogical pedigree database available through FamilySearch that helps patrons in locating genealogical information and in coordinating research effort with others.  Anyone can submit their family records to be included in this database.

    The U.S. Social Security Death Index (SSDI) is an index of people who died mainly between 1962 and 1993 (some back to 1937) whose death was reported to the Social Security Administration.  This is available through FamilySearch too. The SS Death Index index is available at the Akron-Summit County Public Library.

    The 1880 U.S. Census and Canada Census are not just  indexes,  but  searchable databases.

      The Family History Library has a great collection of books, but these books cannot be loaned to a Family History Center.  Some books have been microfilmed though, which allows patrons to obtain the microfilm version on loan at a Family History Center.  Some Family History Centers also have their own collections of books.

    The Family History Library puts out Research Outlines for each state in the U.S., as well as Research Outlines for several countries.  The Research Outline lists sources specific for the region.

How do I locate the nearest Family History Center?

    The quickest way again is at the Family Search web site at   http://www.familysearch.org/

    The closest center to Akron is the Family History Center at 106 E. Howe Rd, in Tallmadge, near the Summit County fairgrounds and across from Weaver School.

    There are several other ways to locate the nearest Family History Center. Check Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints in the yellow pages of the phonebook. A directory of Family History Centers of the U.S. is also available through the shareware program of IGI255 ver 4.4.

    By calling the Salt Lake Distribution Center at the toll-free number of 1-800-537-5950 within the U.S. and Canada or calling (801)-240-1174 outside of the U.S. and Canada, a list of Family History Centers for a specific area anywhere in the world can me sent through the mail.

A letter can also be mailed to the Salt Lake Distribution Center asking for a FHC Address List for a certain area at:
        Salt Lake Distribution Center
        1999 West 1700 South
        Salt Lake City, UT  84104-4233
        USA

    FHC Address Lists are available for: California (U.S.), Mountain States (U.S.), Nevada and Utah (U.S.), North Central States (U.S.), Northeastern States (U.S.), Northwestern States and Hawaii (U.S.), Southern States (U.S.), Southwestern States (U.S.), Africa/Asia, Australia/New Zealand, British Isles, Canada, and Continental Europe.

Hours: The Library is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5  p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Extended hours are available Wednesday evenings until 9 p.m.

Admission: Admission is $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, and  $5.00 for students. Members of the WRHS and children 5 years and younger are admitted free. The admission fee includes entry to the History Museum, Library and Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum.

Parking: The fee to park in the museum lot is $1.00 per 1/2 hour to a maximum of $8.00.
 

    Western Reserve Historical  Society was one of the first institutions in America to collect genealogical materials and is,  today, one of the largest family history research centers in the country. Although the focus of the collections is on source materials for the region east of the Mississippi River, major sources for
other states are collected, especially through donation.
    The library  is located in Cleveland's University Circle, 5 miles east of downtown. Take I-90 to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. exit. Follow MLK for approximately two  miles until you reach E. 105th St. In front of you is a traffic circle - enter at the bottom of the circle,  and exit at the top. Now you are on East Blvd. Follow East Blvd. for one block, and we are on the  left side.

 For more information call (216) 721-5722.

     The Library collection is very strong in materials related to the Western Reserve area of Ohio and the New England states which provided so many settlers to the Western Reserve.  There is a substantial manuscript collection at the library as well.  The microfilm collection of census materials is almost complete for the entire United States.  See the web site for more information.

     The Western Reserve Historical Society Library has been designated  an American History Research Center by the Ohio Historical Society.  The State of Ohio is divided into regional depositories for various county governments to use as depositories for their original records.   The Western Reserve Historical Society Library is the depository for the following counties: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, and Trumbull Counties.

The library has an excellent collection which includes nearly all of the early courthouse records.

VITAL RECORDS: Stark County birth and death records from 1867-1908.  Marriage records begin in 1809 and are indexed from 1809-1972. Library has full records only up to 1916.

PROBATE RECORDS: Index to administrtions from 1810-1914 and a will index from 1810-1986. Original estate packets up to 1920 are in archives.

GUARDIANSHIPS: Records from 1809-1923 not indexed.

NATURALIZATIONS: Final naturalization records from 1809-1903 and some applications.

LAND RECORDS: Grantor-grantee indexes from 1809-1916 are difficult to read. Deeds from 1809-1894.

COMMON PLEAS COURT JOURNALS: These contain chancery records, partitions, indictments, bankruptcies, ministers" and tavern licenses, bastardy cases, lawsuits and so forth. Journals
begin in 1818. The library has them through 1852, but the index does not begin until 1825.

TAX RECORDS: Land tax records from the years 1806, 1810, 1812, 1813 and 1816-1838.

MILITARY RECORDS: The library has county veterans' grave registration cards.

NEWSPAPERS: There are indexes for the Canton Repository from 1815-1860 for obituary and marriage notices and obituaries from 1975 to the present. There are some German papers not indexed.

CITY DIRECTORIES: The library has city directories for Canton for 1859 and 1880 to the present, for Massillon for 1859, 1915, 1927, 1942 and 1964 to the present; and Alliance for most years between 1916-1974.

The library also has a large census collection, atlases, cemetery records, newspapers and city directories.

The library will answer queries at no fee except for copy and postage costs.  Contact the library for guidelines.

Lauren K. Landis is the Genealogy Division Manager.

    E-mail address is OGS@ogs.org

    The research library is open to the public and contains over 15,000 books, including family histories, county histories, atlases, resource records, research aids, over 1500 rolls of microfilm, including all Ohio censuses, and the complete I.G.I.  The fee for non-member library use is $3 per day.  Library hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The library is closed for holidays and The Ohio Genealogical Society's annual conference.  Donations of books and family papers for the library collection are greatly appreciated.
Monetary gifts may be placed in the Library Fund for the purchase of books and microfilm, in the Building Fund for expansion purposes, in the Endowment Fund for the general benefit of the Society, or in computer fund.  Call (419) 756-7294 for more information during regular business hours.

OGS Projects

 Bible Records
     Please send photocopies of the title and family pages of any Bible for insertion in this indexed collection.  The Society will photocopy Bibles brought in person at no charge, for addition to our collection.

 Church Records Survey
     The Society is surveying all church records in Ohio to aid in locating extant materials for genealogical research.

 Collections
     Original publications and manuscripts are sought from members, and the Society encourages the copying, abstracting, and publishing of sourcerecords.  These items are available in the library and are often reproduced in the quarterly publications.

  Ohio Cemeteries
     The Society has attempted to identify all Ohio cemeteries, encourages chapters to publish transcriptions, and offers advice on cemetery law and preservation methods.

   Membership in the Ohio Genealogical Society,  is $27 per year and includes full access to databases on the OGS web site, free access to the OGS Library, the monthly Newsletter, the quarterly Report, and reduced rates on conferences and tours.

UNIVERSITY OF AKRON, Bierce Library, Akron, OH 44325-1702; Tel. 216-972-7670
(The archives are located in the basement of the old Polsky Building.)

Ashland
Coshocton
Holmes
Portage
Richland
Stark
Summit
Tuscarawas
Wayne

BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY, Bowling Green, OH 43403-0175; Tel. 419-372-2411
Allen
Crawford
Defiance
Erie
Fulton
Hancock
Hardin
Henry
Huron
Lucas
Ottawa
Paulding
Putnam
Sandusky
Seneca
Van Wert
Williams
Wood
Wyandot

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI, Blegen Library, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0113; Tel. 513-556-1959
Adams
Brown
Butler
Clermont
Clinton
Hamilton
Highland
Warren

OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 1985 Velma Ave., Columbus, OH 43211-2497; Tel. 614-297-2510
Delaware
Fairfield
Fayette
Franklin
Knox
Licking
Madison
Marion
Morrow
Pickaway
Union

OHIO UNIVERSITY, Vernon R. Alden Library, Park Place, Athens OH 45701-2978; Tel. 614-593-2712
Athens
Belmont
Gallia
Guernsey
Hocking
Jackson
Lawrence
Meigs
Monroe
Morgan
Muskingum
Noble
Perry
Pike
Ross
Scioto
Vinton
Washington

WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106-1788; Tel. 216-721-5722
Ashtabula
Cuyahoga
Geauga
Lake
Lorain
Medina

WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY, Col. Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435-0001; Tel. 513-873-2092
Auglaize
Champaign
Clark
Darke
Greene
Logan
Mercer
Miami
Montgomery
Preble
Shelby

YOUNGSTOWN HISTORICAL CENTER OF INDUSTRY AND LABOR,
P.O. Box 533, 151 W. Wood St., Youngstown, OH 44501; Tel. 216-743-5934
Carroll
Columbiana
Harrison
Jefferson
Mahoning
Trumbull

Fort Wayne-Allen County Public Library: 900 Webster St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Tel. 219-424-7241 Hours: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday 1 to 6 p.m. Labor Day through Memorial Day. Perhaps the best genealogical library in the U.S. except for the Family History Center Library at Salt Lake City. Dial Access: 219-424-1330

Bowling Green State University, William T. Jerome Libraries, Bowling Green, OH 43403-0170 Tel. 419-372-2856. Dial Access: 372-6407. The library is one of the American History Research Centers for Ohio. Research queries answered for a fee.

Cleveland Public Library, 325 Superior Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114- 1271 Tel. 215-623-2800 Dial Access: 216-623-0623. You need a library card. The library is especially good for British genealogy. It also has a necrology on microfilm of death notices from the mid-1850s.

Cleveland State University, University Library, 1860 E. 22nd St., Cleveland, OH 44115. Tel. 216-687-2486

Cincinnati Historical Society, Eden Park, Cincinnati, OH 45202- 1598 Tel. 513-241-4622 James Albert Green Collection

Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Library Square, 800 Vine St., 45202-2071 Tel. 513-369-6000. This award-winning library houses 190,000 maps, the third largest of any U.S. library, Cincinnati newspapers from the 1820s plus a local newspaper index of obituaries since 1930, city directories from 1819 to present, all available census records, the 1880 Soundex and selected Miracode for 1900 and 1910, Draper manuscripts, Library of Congress land ownership maps, the University Microfilms microfiche genealogy and local history collection and much more.

Green County District Library, P.O. Box 520, 76 E. Market St., Xenia, OH 45358. Tel. 513-376-4952. The Greene County Room of the library houses one of the largest genealogical and historical collections in southwestern Ohio. The resources for Greene County research include manuscripts, photographs, court records, books, special indexes, oral histories. Resources for Ohio research includs printed materials for all Ohio counties, which include histories, cemetery records, and local genealogical and historical newsletters. Census records are complete for Ohio through 1890, with some counties through 1910. Concise, specific research queries are answered.

Mansfield-Richland County Public Library, 434 W. Third St., Mansfield, OH 44902-1295 Tel. 419-524-1041.

Ohio Historical Society (Archives), 1985 Velma Ave., Columbus, OH 43211 Tel. 614-297-2510 The library is one of the American History Centers. The library has 130,000 books and is the repository of many state records including the Ohio Health Department death records. There are many county histories, newspapers and records and an Ohio surname file.

Ohio State University Library, 1858 Neil Ave. Mall, Columbus, OH 43210-1286 Tel. 614-292-6151 Dial Access: Available from Columbus Freenet or to faculty and students.

Ohio Northern Hetrick Memorial Library, Ada, OH 45810 Tel. 419- 634-5246

Ohio University, Vernon R. Alden Library, Park Place, Athens, OH 45701-2978 Tel. 614-593-2710 Dial Access: 593-9124. The library is one of the American History Research Centers for Ohio. Limited help offered on queries by correspondence.

Twinsburg Public Library, The TPL is a new member of the Ohio Genealogical Society. David Brown, Deputy Director, 1005 Ravenna Rd., Twinsburg, OH 44087 Voice: (330) 425-4268 x 125 Fax: (330) 425-3622.

University of Toledo, William S. Carlson Library, 2801 W. Bancroft St., Toledo, OH 43606 Tel. 419-537-4488 Dial Access: 419-537-2511.

Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, 325 Michigan St., Toledo, OH 43624-1614 Tel. 419-259-5200. Special collections including an obituary index for the Toledo Blade from 1835 to present and city directories from 1858 to present plus many other collections. Queries by correspondence provided for a fee.

Western Reserve Historical Society Library, 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106 Tel. 216-721-5722 Competing with Fort Wayne for second best genealogical library in nation. 200,000 volumes, 4 million manuscripts and much microfilm. They have all census records of every state. See separate entry for this library.

Wright State University, Col. Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435 513-873-2380 Dial Access: Fee charged. Archives focuses on early American aviation history since the library carries the name of Wilbur and Orrville Wright. The library is one of the American History Research Centers for Ohio. Genealogical queries by correspondence provided on a limited basis.

Youngstown: Reuben McMillen Free Library, 305 Wick Ave., Youngstown, OH 44503-1079 Tel. 216-744-8636 Baldwin genealogical collections.

Youngstown State University, 410 Wick Ave., Youngstown, OH 216- 742-3676 Dial Access: 216-742-3486.