Genealogy Research Guide
Library Hours and Location
Note the Library hours. Some library services and departments are open at
varying times. Out of town visitors may wish to phone (Microforms 740-593-2659; Archives
740-593-2710) for more information or to make sure a given resource is on hand.
The main Library, Alden Library, is
located on the central College Green
area (old campus). The University has a small Visitor's Parking Lot on University Terrace
with a one-hour limit. The City of Athens has a public parking garage located about two blocks
north of the Library at the corner of College and Washington.
Lending Materials
Interlibrary loan of a few reels of microfilm newspapers or census is possible, as well as books
in the general stacks. However local records materials, whether original volumes or microform,
and indexes and reference materials are not available for loan. Users are strongly urged to visit in
person.
Notice: Removal of Local Government Records
The Mahn Center, working with the
State Archives (Ohio Historical Society), is in the process of
divesting its
Local Government Records holdings. The Mahn Center is in the ongoing process of returning records to the Ohio
Historical Society in Columbus. Please contact the Mahn Center or consult this list of those local government records which we still DO have before
traveling to use these records, as records may be transferred without
notice. Thank you.
October 24, 2007
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A sampling of resources in Archives and Special Collections are as follows:
- Athens County Obituaries: -- compiled by Athens resident Mildred Bleigh, these 12 volumes index the obituaries published in the Athens Messenger from 1909 through 1998.
- The Department of Archives and Special Collections also maintains an "Ohioana"
collection. It maintains a collection of published county and town histories and plat books from
southeastern Ohio. County atlases and some state and local maps of various dates are also
available.
- Southeastern Ohio family histories are located in the department of Archives and Special
Collections. The department invites the submission of additional histories.
- The department also houses files of the First Families of Athens County, a program of the
Athens County Chapter, OGS for people whose ancestors first settled here before 1830. (Copies
are also in the Microform Collection.)
- Archives also collects city directories and telephone directories from across Southeastern
Ohio.
- The OVAL Local History and Genealogy Resources Guide
to Southeastern Ohio, 2 vols. (1994), is also available in Archives.
- Some handbooks compilations, indexes, and reference tools include:
- Guide to Genealogical Records, National Archives
- Index to Revolutionary War Pension Applications
- DAR Patriot Index
- Athens County marriages, 1805-1913
- Meigs County Marriage Index, 1819-1862
- Muskingum County marriage records, 1803-1848
- Morgan County marriages, 1819-1867
- Washington county marriages, 1789-1840
- Early Ohio Tax Records, Abstract of Probate Records. Washington County, Ohio
- Athens County obituaries, various decades
- Newsletters from many historical and genealogical societies in the area.
- Evolution of Ohio County Boundaries (also CD-ROM, 1st floor)
- Ohio Cemeteries
- Ohio Wills and Estates to 1850
- Federal Land Series, 4 vols.
- Inventory of the County Archives of Ohio volumes.
- Peters Papers (described below)
- Ohio Rosters of Soldiers (described below)
- Census information
- One of the main genealogical resources in this collection are census
schedules on microform and related printed materials. Here is a list of Census
Schedules and Indexes.
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-
Local Records
- Another resource is the microfilm copies of local records, which are described in the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections.
-
- Newspapers on Microfilm
- Alden Library also holds a rich and growing collection of southeastern Ohio newspaper titles on microfilm.
-
- Peters Papers
- William E. Peters, 1857-1952, was a surveyor, lawyer, engineer, and local historian who
compiled a comprehensive collection of Athens County gravestone records and other historical
data of local interest. The materials are often helpful to those searching for individuals buried in
Athens County. The main body of the Peters Papers is in
twenty-six volumes which are indexed. The original collection is housed in the Department of
Archives and Special Collections while a microfilm copy of the papers and the index may be
found in the Microforms/Non-Print Department. Another series, Peters'
Genealogy, is available in Archives and SpecialCollections.
-
- Draper Manuscripts
- Alden Library has a microfilm copy of the rich sources collected by Lyman Copeland Draper
(1815-1891) along with a published index. The Draper Manuscript
Collection is a rich collection of memoirs of early military personnel
others from the Ohio Valley and the Old Northwest Territory. There are several indexes and
subsets, check ALICE (the Library on-line catalog) and inquire at desk.
For other specific resources in Microform Collection; such as registers of African-Americans
in area counties, consult ALICE, the Library's online catalog.
The Government Documents Department maintians a Guide to Genealogical Records in the Government Documents Department. Please consult this guide for more information on United States Military Records; Land-Entry Records; Claims records; Census Schedules; Ohio Documents, and other materials of interests to genealogists.
The Rosters of Soldiers are one type of useful resource in this collection.
Ohio Soldiers
- Official Roster: Soldiers of the American Revolution Buried in Ohio (Please inquire, - also Archives and Special Collections, 5th floor)
- Roster of Ohio Soldiers in the War of 1812 (Call Number: OA 1.19:R68/1812 - also in Archives and Special Collections, 5th floor).
- Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the
Rebellion, 12 Volumes. (Call number:) OA 1.19:R68/1861 (also in Archives and Special
Collections, 5th floor). Note: the index is on microfilm, 1st floor, with the Call number: MICRO E 525.3 O38 1886x INDEX.
- Other Rosters:
- The Civil War CD-ROM: the war of the rebellion: a
compilation...) (CD-ROM at the Documents Department Desk; E464.C5 1996x)
- Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army 1789-1914.(Note: the Library has part of this series, Microform area, 1st floor; Vols 69 - 83 (1869-1884), ask at Desk, Adjutant-General's office material in U.S. National Archives, microfilm series M-233.
- Spanish-American War
Other resources include:
- 1790 Federal "Heads of Families" Population Census C 3.11:... (Rhode Island, South
Carolina, Vermont and Virginia are at the Microforms Collection on the first floor of Alden Library)
- A potentially useful tool in Government Documents is the Bureau of Land Management's
database of over 5 million land patents dating back to the 1700's
(CD-ROM) (I 53.57:).
- Genealogies Cataloged by the Library of Congress ... (LC 30.27:G 28:) includes a list of
established 'forms' of family names; a list of genealogies converted to microform.
The "Home Pages" of the Library of Congress
and of the U. S. National Archives (or the U. S.
National Archives' Genealogy Page) are rich
resources.
- For additional web-based resources, see below
-
The Athens County Historical
Society and Museum
- This organization and its companion Athens County Genealogical Chapter,
Ohio Genealogical Society, have the definitive collection of locally produced guides and
indexes. The Museum/Chapter is located at 65 North Court Street, Athens, OH 45701-2506
(Phone 740-592-2280; hours 1:00 - 4:00 weekdays or by appointment). It has produced and/or
offers for sale over 200 locally-produced publications -- Birth Records extracts; Cemetery
Records; Census and Census Indexes; Death Records; Family Histories; Local Histories and
Atlases; Marriage Records; Church Records; 'First Families' materials; etc.
For more information please consult the above Web sites or contact the Athens County
Genealogical Chapter for a list.
The Athens County Genealogical Chapter also maintains a nice list
of local/regional links and genealogy search starting points.
Other area resources Include:
- Local History Resources at the Nelsonville Library
- Includes holdings information for: Birth Records,Marriage Records, Death Records, Obituaries, Census Records, Yearbooks, Class Pictures, CD-ROMs, Family Histories, Newspapers, and Cemeteries.
- African Americans in Southeastern Ohio
- An impressive website maintained by the Underground Railroad Research Center of Southeastern Ohio (URRCSO).
There are now many thousands of Internet sites devoted to genealogy in some manner. Here is a handful of places to begin your search.
Starting Points
- Cyndi's List
- An enormous list of links organized in more than 150 categories. Well worth exploring in areas relevant to your research.
- Genealogy at About.com
- "This site aims to provide information and inspiration for genealogists at all levels. No matter how much genealogy research you have done, I bet there is some type of research that you have yet to try." -- Kimberly Powell, creator of the site.
- Genealogy Sleuth: United States
- Directory with links to genealogical records, censuses, and genealogical organizations, vital and military records, obituary and biographical services, and currency and date converters. Also includes other resources. Part of a site operated by a commercial research service.
- Ohio Resources (part of Genealogy Resources on the Internet)
- Convenient listing of links statewide and county-by-county.
- National Archives and Records Service Genealogy Page
- A guide to research facilities, a description of various kinds of information available at the National Archives, and other basic information.
"Mega" Sites
These sites typically contain vast amounts of information: databases, forums, how-to information, etc. Some are commercial in nature--though they tend to have some "free" information, too--and others are non-profit cooperative ventures.
- Ancestry
- A mixture of free and subscription services. Includes a fee-based database of page images of the U.S. Census.
- Ellis Island
- Database of more than 22 millions passengers and ships' crews that came through Ellis Island the the Port of New York between 1892 and 1924.
- FamilySearch
- Major search tool from the Church of Latter Day Saints. Their search engine will search Ancestral Files, the International Genealogical Index (IGI), Pedigree Resource Files, and Web Sites. Also includes a directory of Family History Centers and other useful information. (If you are looking for German ancestors and know their place of residence, the German Batchnumber Index to the IGI is tremendously helpful; it shows and links to records according to location.)
- HeritageQuest Online
- Provides images of the United States Census schedules from 1790 to 1930, and online editions of more than 25,000 family and local histories. Access limited to Ohio University only.
- Rootsweb
- Huge site; claims to be the Internet's oldest oldest and largest. Hosts thousands of Web sites and mailing lists on counties and surnames. Links to many searchable databases. Provides an excellent service, WorldConnect, for hosting your Gedcom files and turning them into searchable databases.
- U. S. Genweb Project
- "The USGenWeb Project consists of a group of volunteers working together to provide Internet websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States. The Project is non-commercial and fully committed to free access for everyone. Organization is by county and state, and this website provides you with links to all the state websites which, in turn, provide gateways to the counties." For broader perspective, you can also look into WorldGenWeb.
Vital Records
- Marriage Records Search
- State-by-state guides on how to locate marriage records. Please note, though, that some of the ultimate sources are available by subscription only.
- Ohio Death Certificate Index
- Covering individuals who died between 1913 and 1944, this database"...indexes Death Certificates of persons that died in Ohio in the above years, useful for determining date of death and certificate number. Using the index information, a researcher can later obtain a copy of the certificate itself, which holds further information."
- Social Security Death Index (from Rootsweb)
- Contains the records of deceased persons who possessed Social Security numbers and whose death had been reported to the Social Security Administration.
- Vital Records
- Information on where and how to obtain information on births, deaths, marriages, etc. for all states in the U.S. Also includes links for some foreign countries.
Sharing Information: Mailing Lists, Forums, Newsgroups, and Webrings
One of the best ways to learn about your family's background is to connect with other people working on the same lines. The sites below will get you started in this direction.
- Genforum
- Over 5,000 separate forums dedicated to specific surnames, states, countries, and general topics.
- Mailing Lists (Listservs) at Rootsweb
- Home to more than 20,000 mailing lists, organized by surname, location, and other genealogical topics. Includes information on subscribing (and unsubscribing), as well as searchable and browseable archives.
- Genealogy Newsgroup Search at Google
- Searchable archive of postings to Usenet newsgroups. Advanced Search for better results.
- Webring Directory of Genealogy Sites
- A Yahoo directory of Webrings, groups of interconnected websites with a common interest in genealogy.
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