Genealogy Resources

Census Records

• Federal Census Returns for the 11-counties in the Special Collections and Archives service area for 1820-1880 and 1900-1930 on microfilm or CD.
• Indexes to Federal Census Records for Ohio from 1820-1880 and 1900-1920.

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Quadrennial Enumerations

• Quadrennial Enumerations consist of a census of males over twenty-one years of age residing in a county.  They show address, race, occupation, and whether a freeholder of land.
• Enumerations were used to determine voting districts, and were taken every four years from 1803 to 1911.
• Prior to 1863 enumerations recorded only white males.
• Where a span of dates is indicated, the records exist for every fourth year.
• Not all townships are represented for every county listed.
• Enumerations held by Special Collections and Archives:
  • Auglaize County, 1851-1907
  • Darke County, 1887
  • Mercer County, 1837-1907
  • Miami County, 1827, 1835
  • Shelby County, 1819-1875

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Birth Records

• Before 1867
  • Ohio did not make it a law to keep birth records until 1867.
    
    
• 1867 through December 19, 1908
  • Ohio made it a law to record births in 1867. County probate courts kept birth records between 1867 and December 19, 1908. There is no statewide index to birth records from 1867 through December 19, 1908. Births were recorded in a log book. Birth certificates were not created until 1908.
  • Special Collections and Archives has the birth records for the following counties:
    • Auglaize County (microfilm)
    • Clark County (microfilm)
    • Darke County (microfilm)
    • Mercer County (publication of Mercer County Chapter of Ohio Genealogical Society)
    • Montgomery County (microfilm)
    • Shelby County (Publication of Shelby County Chapter of Ohio Genealogical Society)
    • For the remaining counties in the Special Collections and Archives service area, please contact the county’s probate court.
      
      
• December 20, 1908 to the present
  • The state of Ohio began issuing certificates for births on December 20, 1908. The Ohio Department of Health holds birth certificates for the state of Ohio from December 20, 1908 to the present. Researchers should contact the Ohio Department of Health.

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Death Records

• Before 1867
  • Ohio did not make it a law to keep death records until 1867
    
    
• 1867 through December 19, 1908
  • Ohio made it a law to record deaths in 1867. County probate courts kept death records between 1867 and December 19, 1908.
  • There is no statewide index to death records from 1867 through December 19, 1908.
  • Special Collections and Archives has death records for the following counties:
    • Auglaize County (microfilm)
    • Clark County (microfilm)
    • Darke County (microfilm)
    • Montgomery County (microfilm)
    • Shelby County (Publication of Shelby County Chapter of Ohio Genealogical Society)
    • For the remaining counties in the Wright State University area, contact the county’s probate court.
      

• December 20, 1908 through December 31,1953
  • The state of Ohio began issuing certificates for deaths on December 20, 1908. The Ohio Historical Society holds death certificates for the entire state of Ohio from December 20, 1908 through December 31, 1953. The Ohio Historical Society has an online Ohio Death Certificate Index for 1913-1937.
    
    
• January 1, 1954 to the present
  • Death certificates from 1954 to the present are held by the Ohio Department of Health. Please contact the Ohio Department of Health.

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Marriage Records

• Before September 7, 1949
  • Ohio county probate courts have kept marriage records from the date of the county’s formation.
  • There is no statewide index to marriage records before September 7, 1949.
  • Special Collections and Archives has the following marriage records:
    • Auglaize County: 1848-1921
      • Marriage Consent Records: 1906-1926
    • Champaign County: 1805-1864
    • Clark County: 1818-1946
    • Darke County: 1817-1911
    • Green County: 1803-1870
    • Mercer County: 1824-1984
      • Marriage Consent Records: 1829-1928
    • Montgomery County: 1803-1915
  • If Special Collections and Archives does not hold a county’s marriage record, please contact the county’s probate court.
    
    
• After September 7, 1949
  • To obtain a copy of a marriage record after September 7, 1949, contact the probate court of where the marriage occurred.
  • The Ohio Department of Health maintains a statewide index to marriage records for all Ohio counties from September 7, 1949 to the present. Please contact the Ohio Department of Health.

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Naturalization Records

• Naturalization Records relate to citizenship. They represent a change in allegiance from the country of previous residence to the United States Government. For the most part, Naturalization Records held by Special Collections and Archives consist of petitions to naturalize, Declarations of Intention, and final Record of Naturalization.
• Naturalization Records in Ohio are found in the Clerk of Court or Probate Court records in the county where the Naturalization request was filed. Special Collections and Archives has the Naturalization Records and indexes for all the counties in its eleven-county area.
• After 1906, Naturalization Records became federal-level records and are held at the regional Federal District Courts of Ohio.

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Children's Home Records

• Counties with Children's Home records are: Champaign, Clark, Darke, Logan, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Shelby.
• Special Collections & Archives does not hold any adoption records. For those records after 1964, Ohio Statute provides that the record of adoption proceedings may be inspected only upon the personal direction of the probate judge. Further, such records are not available at any time for inspection by the general public.

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Land Deeds

• Land deeds are held by the Recorder of Deeds in each county and can be located by contacting the County Courthouse.

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Local Government Records

Browse a list of our Local Government Records holdings by county. These records include vital records (birth, death, marriage, naturalizations, and children's home records) for an 11 county area in Central Southwestern Ohio.

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Family Histories

Search the Library Catalog for a family name. Not all of our family histories are cataloged, however, a list of family histories and diaries is available online.

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Church Records

The archives holds several collections of church records in the Dayton area.

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Funeral Home Records

• MS-75, Riesinger Funeral Home
• MS-277, Boyer Funeral Home (finding aid available in the reading room)
• On Microfilm:
  • MFM-51, Hodapp Funeral Home, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • MFM-84, Hawthorne Funeral Home, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • MFM-99, Neidhard-Minges Funeral Home, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • MFM-101, Seward Funeral Home, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • MFM-102, Unknown Funeral Home, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • MFM-103, Gerhardt Funeral Home, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • MFM-106, Vitt Stermer Funeral Home, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • MFM-110, Rebold Funeral Home, Cincinnati, Ohio

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Cemetery Inscriptions

Many county genealogical and local history organizations have inventoried local cemeteries. Check the library catalog to determine if an inventory exists. The Tombstone Transcription Project is an online resource that may be helpful as well.

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Military Records

• For all servicemen who enlisted from Ohio since World War I and all National Guardsmen (since 1903) are located in the Veterans’ Affairs Division, Office of the Adjutant General. Ohio did not grant state pensions. For U.S. Regular Army officers, 1789-1917, and enlisted men, 1789-1912, the records are kept by the National Archives and Records Administration . Later records are kept by the National Personnel Record Center.
  
  
• Special Collections & Archives has several books containing lists of Ohio soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War, and Spanish-American War. Check the library catalog for these sources.

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Passenger Lists

• The National Archives and Records Administration holds original passenger lists.
  
  
• Special Collections & Archives has a limited number of books containing some passenger list information. Check the library catalog for a listing of books.

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Pension Records

• Records from the Revolutionary War to 1916, regardless of state of service, are kept by the National Archives and Records Administration. After 1916, they are kept by the National Personnel Record Center.

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Newspapers

Newspapers are a useful and convenient source of primary source material. The Dunbar Library has a large number of newspaper holdings on microfilm located in Current Periodicals on the second floor. Major newspaper titles are listed in the catalog. View a PDF list of Ohio Historical Newspapers arranged alphabetically by Region or by Title.

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