There is nothing more helpful that a handy reference book with information specific to the area you are researching. I've listed below those that I know about.
(find in a library) will give you a link to help you find the book in the library closest to you. Most will show libraries near Ann Arbor... to change the location, type in your zip code and you can find libraries near you.
All of the three books listed below have a small section covering each state that includes maps, historical information, vital records coverage and a bibliography of resources for that state.
- Handybook for Genealogists ( 11th edition) (find in a library) (note: some libraries may have earleir editions; those are perfectly usable)
- Ancestry's Redbook (you'll want the 3rd edition) (find in a library)
- The Family Tree Resource Book for Genealogical Research (find in a library)
Here are some books specific to Ohio research:
Bell. Ohio Guide to Genealogical Sources. 1988; reprinted 1993-- don't mistake the reprint for a new edition! (find in a library)
Schweitzer. Ohio Genealogical Research. 1994. (find in a library)
Sperry. Genealogical Research in Ohio, 2nd. ed. 2003 (reprinted 2006-- don't mistake the reprint for a new edition!) (find in a library)
Vigil. Finding Your Family History in Northeast Ohio. 2003 (find in a library)
Periodicals
Audiotapes
Lectures given at Genealogy conferences with the word OHIO in the title.
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First, bookmark or print out these FHL documents:
Use the catalog at the FHL to find out what has been filmed covering the state Ohio ; Click View Related Places in the upper right to find sources that have been filmed for the county you are researching and once there click View Related Places in the upper right to find sources that have been filmed for the township or city. You will want to check for resources in all three jurisdictions, although most people check the county holdings first, township next and state last.
Bookmark or print out this map of Ohio Counties.
View the 1895 Ohio Atlas online, which offers a state map or maps of individual counties.
Next, see what is available for your counties of interest at at the
- Ohio Gen Web (use the county selection list to find what's available for each of the counties).
- ALHN Ohio page (several counties don't yet have pages)
- AHGP has two Ohio pages.. Ohio1 and Ohio2 -- neither one has links to a substantial number of counties, but it's worth checking.
Visit the websites of these libraries. archives and societies.
The State Library of Ohio in Columbus Ohio recently transferred their genealogy collection to the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
Also in Columbus is the Ohio Historical Society which houses a library/archives (the archives is officially designated as the offical Ohio State Archives). It is an excellent library, but I was shocked to see that it is only open limited hours.
Ohio breaks its regional archives down into regions. This listing of the 8 Ohio Network of American History Research Centers gives addresses and links, as well as a network map that you can use to determine which counties are served by each of the archives.
Ohio is served by the National Archives Great Lakes Region, which is housed in Chicago, Illinois.
If you have a number of Ohio ancestors, you may want to join the Ohio Genealogical Society. And be sure to visit the websites of the Ohio county societies. (See also the Ohio Genealogy Society Directory)
Find an Ohio Library -- always check the web pages of libraries in the towns you are researching.
Cemetery Records
Find online cemetery transcriptions at Interment.net: Ohio
Ohio Tombstone Transcription Project
Census:
The 1880 census can be searched for free at FamilySearch.org. (choose US 1880 from the drop down). Find other online cesus records and more census information at censusfinder.com's Ohio links or Censuslinks Ohio page.
County Histories:
Kansas State Historical Society owns the full set of Ohio County Histories and Atlases on Microfilm and will loan rolls on interlibrary loan.
To help find an obituary, consult the Ohio Obituary Index (scroll down to see participating counties and towns or cities)
Land records
Learn about Ohio land records.
Naturalization Records
Many of the naturalization records from the various counties are now held at the Ohio Historical Society or one of the 8 archival repositories.
Newspapers
Many newspapers are held by the Ohio Historical Society; check their online database of newspapers to see if the one you want is available. They will loan newspapers that have MICROFILM ROLL NUMBERS. Any newspapers that are
labelled with an "N" number and volume designation have not been microfilmed, and are not available for loan. If the one you want has been filmed, as your local library to get it for you on interlibrary loan.
Vital RecordsTo get information about vital records, check the Ohio Department of Health Vital Records (official page) or the Vitalrec Ohio Page
The Ohio Historical Society offers an online index to death records 1913-1944 . If you get a "hit" you can order the certificate from the OHS. You can get some pre 1913 death records from the OHS (but they aren't indexed online).
You can also request some birth records and marriage records from the OHS, but there is no online index.
Check the Joe Beine's listing of Online Ohio Death Records and Indexes and his Ohio Vital Records Indexes; if something is available for the area you are researching, you may get lucky.
Other
Finally, check to see if you hav any Ohio Black Sheep Ancestors
Help! Queries and Lookups
Ask for help from volunteers at Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness-- Ohio
See if an Ohio lookup volunteer has access to a resource that will help you.
Read or place a query at Ancestry/Rootsweb Ohio county message boards or Genealogy.com's Ohio Genealogy Forum (the forum doesn't break down into counties).
More Links
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