Ohio Historical Society Library to be Open during OGS Conference

The 2011 Ohio Genealogical Society Conference in downtown Columbus March 31-April 1 presents an ideal opportunity for genealogists to visit the nearby Ohio Historical Center. The center is not only the headquarters of the Ohio Historical Society and home to its flagship museum, it features an outstanding Ohio history research library and the State Archives of Ohio.

The conference will be held March 31 to April 2, 2011, at The Hyatt on Capitol Square, in Columbus under the theme “Genealogy through the Centuries.”

OHS is about 10 minutes drive time from the conference hotel to 1982 Velma Ave. Located on the society’s third floor, the OHS Archives/Library collects, preserves, and makes available to the public written and graphic information about Ohio’s history and is the designated repository for state government records of enduring historic value. Family history research is one of the most popular activities in the Archives/Library.

“The conference coincides with our expanded operating hours,” says Liz Plummer, who manages the Archives/Library. “Attendees should take advantage of this opportunity to do their research in person with our collections. Many of these primary resources are only available in our reading room.”

OHS collections document the history of Ohio from the earliest known people through historic Indians and early explorers, the settlement and government of the Northwest Territory and the state of Ohio from its founding in 1803 to the present. Collections include: State Archives; newspapers from 1793 to the present; manuscripts; books and pamphlets; and audio-visual materials, such as photographs, broadsides, films, slides and recordings. “Genealogists will find a wealth of materials for their research at the OHS Archives/Library,” Plummer points out. “Of particular interest would be our extensive military records, especially from the Civil War and both world wars, as well as our original land records, atlases and maps.”

Much of Ohio's official past can be found in the State Archives. Included in its holdings are territorial and state executive, legislative and judicial records; county probate, land and court records; and publications, reports and audio-visual materials of state, county and municipal governments.

There are several collections that have particular interest to family history researchers:

• Ohio newspaper microfilm holdings have 52,000 rolls.
• Ohio Adjutant General’s Collection features correspondence from the 1860s to 1890s, militia records, military rosters and Ohio National Guard records from the 1830s to 1980s.
• Ohio Department of Health death records from 1909 to 1954.
• Prison records for the Ohio Penitentiary, London Prison Farm, Mansfield Reformatory, Boys Industrial School in Lancaster and the Girls Industrial School in Delaware.
• Local Government Records Collection: probate court records for births (1867-1908), deaths (1867-1908), marriages from date of county creation and naturalizations; common pleas court records consisting of proceedings, administrative dockets, naturalizations and civil dockets; county recorder office records for deeds and military discharges; and county auditor records for taxes and county home admissions. Check the online catalog for availability of records for the county in question.

The complete conference program and registration form is downloadable from the OGS website at www.ogs.org. For questions about the program, contact Conference Chairperson Diane Gagel by telephone at (419) 878-0697 or by email at Conference 2011.

Ohio Genealogical Society is the nation’s largest state genealogical society with over 5500 members and chapters in all 88 counties. It recently opened a new library and headquarters in Bellville, Ohio. For information about the OGS Library, contact
Tom Neel
Ohio Genealogical Society
611 State Route 97 West
Bellville OH 44813-8813
Tel: (419) 886-1903 or email Tom Neel.