Genealogy and Local History in Logan County, Ohio

Genealogy and Local History in Logan County, Ohio
Archives and Libraries

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Libraries

There are many libraries which have materials relating to Logan County genealogy and history. The following libraries have noteworthy collections of materials in that subject area. Their specific holdings are noted following bibliographic citations appearing on the various genealogical resource pages throughout this site.

Allen County Public Library
900 Webster Street
P.O. Box 2270
Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270

Phone: 219-421-1200 - FAX: 219-422-9688
Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM-9:00 PM, Friday-Saturday 9:00 AM-6:00 PM, Sundays 1:00 PM-6:00 PM (closed on Sundays Memorial Day through Labor Day)

The Library's Fred J. Reynolds Historical Genealogy Department contains more than 220,000 volumes and 250,000 items of microfilm and microfiche relating to genealogy and local history with a significant collection of material on the Midwest. The Department is equipped with numerous microfilm and microfiche readers and printers and has three photocopiers. The Library also has several computers with a variety of resources on compact disk. The Library maintains a web page containing general information about its programs and services as well as a web page concerning the Historical Genealogy Department. The Library has also established an online catalog.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Family History Library
35 North West Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-1003

Phone: 801-240-2331 - FAX: 801-240-5551
Hours: Mondays 7:30 AM-6 PM, Tuesday-Saturday 7:30 AM-10 PM

Commonly referred to as the LDS Family History Library, it is the largest genealogical library in the world containing more than 250,000 volumes, nearly 2 million reels of microfilm, and more than 350,000 microfiche. The Library is equipped with numerous microfilm and microfiche readers and printers as well as photocopiers. The Library also has computers with a variety of resources on compact disk. The Library does not maintain a web page, but further information is available on a number of unofficial web pages via Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet, LDS & Family History Centers. The Library's catalog is not currently accessible online.

The Library maintains a system of branch libraries referred to as family history centers (FHCs). Each LDS family history center has a copy of the Ancestral file, International genealogical index, and other comprehensive indexes useful in genealogical research. Each FHC also has a copy of the LDS Family History Library catalog on compact disk and on microfiche. The catalog can be used to identify microfilmed and microfiched materials which can be requested via interlibrary loan for use at the family history centers. To find the address of the LDS family history center near you, check one or more of the lists of LDS FHCs online via Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet, LDS & Family History Centers. Since these lists are often incomplete you might want to also check your local telephone directory under Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. LDS family history centers are staffed by volunteers and usually open a limited number of hours so it is best to call ahead to determine the hours as well as the exact location of the FHC in your area.

Logan County District Library
220 North Main Street
Bellefontaine, OH 43311-2288

Phone: 937-599-4189 - FAX: 937-599-5503
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-9:00 PM, Saturdays 9:00 AM-6:00 PM

The Library's Local History Room contains a number of atlases, cemetery records, census records, church histories, directories, family histories, local histories, military records, newspapers, obituaries, and telephone books for Logan County. The Local History Room is equipped with a microfilm reader/printer, a second microfilm reader, a microfiche reader, and a photocopier. The Library maintains a web page containing general information about its services and has also established an online catalog.

The Library also has six branches located in De Graff, East Liberty, Lakeview, Rushsylvania, West Liberty, and West Mansfield; however, these branches have few additional genealogical or local history materials. For a list of names and addresses of these branches as well as the other two public libraries in Logan County, check the Public Libraries for Logan County web page.
Logan County Genealogical Society Library
521 East Columbus Avenue
P.O. Box 36
Bellefontaine, OH 43311-0036

Phone: 937-593-7811
Hours: Wednesdays 12:30 PM-4:00 PM, Fridays 12:30 PM-4:00 PM, Sundays 2:00 PM-5:00 PM (May-Oct.); Fridays 12:30 PM-4:00 PM, Sundays 2:00 PM-5:00 PM (Nov.-Apr.)
Fee: $1.00 (for non-members per visit)

The Society's Library contains a number of atlases, cemetery records, census records, church histories, directories, family histories, local histories, military records, newspaper clippings, newspapers, obituaries, and pedigree charts for Logan County. The Library is equipped with a microfilm reader, a microfiche reader, and a photocopier. The Library also has a computer with a some resources on compact disk. The Library does not maintain a web page, and there is no online catalog available.

Ohio Genealogical Society Library
713 South Main Street
Mansfield, OH 44907-1644

Phone: 419-756-7294 - FAX: 419-756-8681
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Fee: $3.00 (for non-members per day)

The Society's Library contains more than 15,000 volumes and more than 1,500 reels of microfilm with an emphasis on Ohio genealogy. The Library also has a computer with a variety of resources on compact disk. The Society maintains a web page containing general information about its activities as well as information about its Library. There is no online catalog available.

Ohio Historical Society
Archives/Library
1982 Velma Avenue
Columbus, OH 43211-2497

Phone: 614-297-2510 - FAX: 614-297-2546
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM

The Society's Archives/Library contains more than 130,000 volumes and several thousand reels of microfilm including all Ohio censuses and the largest collection of Ohio newspapers. The Archives/Library is equipped with numerous microfilm and microfiche readers and printers. Photocopying performed by library staff is also available. The Archives/Library also has a computer with a variety of resources on compact disk. The Society maintains a web page containing general information about its activities as well as a web page concerning the programs and services of the Archives/Library. The Archives/Library contributes its current cataloging to a shared online catalog hosted by Ohio State University. Some of the Library's holdings are also represented in the OhioLINK central catalog identified as a unit of Ohio State University Library.

State Library of Ohio
274 East First Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201

Phone: 614-644-7061 - FAX: 614-466-3584
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Fridays 9:00 AM-5:00 PM

The Library maintains a web page containing general information about its services. The Library has also established an online catalog and its holdings are also represented in the OhioLINK central catalog.

State Library of Ohio
Genealogy Department

Phone: 614-644-6966
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Fridays 9:00 AM-5:00 PM

The Genealogy Department contains more than 15,000 volumes and 5,000 microform records with an emphasis on materials for Ohio, the colonial states, and the Midwest. The Department is equipped with a number of microfilm and microfiche readers and printers and photocopiers. The Department also has several computers with a variety of resources on compact disk. The Genealogy Department also maintains a web page containing general information about its services and holdings.

Wright State University Libraries
Paul Laurence Dunbar Library
3640 Colonel Glenn Highway
Dayton, OH 45435

Phone: 937-775-4125
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-11:00 PM, Saturdays 8:00 AM-11:00 PM, Sundays 11:00 AM-11:00 PM (Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM only during the summer and vacation periods)

The Library has established a web page containing general information about its services and has also established an online catalog. The Library's holdings are also represented in the OhioLINK central catalog.

Wright State University Libraries
Special Collections and Archives
Paul Laurence Dunbar Library

Phone: 937-775-2092
Hours: Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM, Wednesday 8:30 AM-9:00 PM, Sundays 1:00 PM-5:00 PM

Wright State University, in cooperation with the Ohio Historical Society, is the official repository and archives for local government records for an eleven-county area in central southwestern Ohio. The counties include Auglaize County, Champaign County, Clark County, Darke County, Greene County, Logan County, Mercer County, Miami County, Montgomery County, Preble County, and Shelby County. These local government records are housed in the Special Collections and Archives Department in the Dunbar Library. The Special Collections and Archives Department has also established a web page containing general information about its services and holdings and has prepared a list of Logan County government records which it holds. The Department also has a number of Logan County newspapers on microfilm.

Look-ups: Wright State University Libraries staff (see the Wright State University Libraries Special Archives research robot web page for details)

Networks

There are, of course, many other libraries other than the select group listed above that may have materials relating to Logan County genealogy and history. For public libraries within Ohio, the Ohio Public Library Information Network maintains a web page with information on public libraries in the state including addresses and links to library catalogs. The State Library of Ohio also maintains a web page with information on all types of libraries in Ohio.

The Ohio Library and Information Network (OhioLINK) is a cooperative venture of 43 (mostly academic) libraries in Ohio. The OhioLINK central catalog is a combined online union catalog of the holdings of these libraries containing records for 5.8 million items. Among the participating libraries that have materials on Logan County genealogy and history are the Ohio Historical Society Archives/Library (indirectly as a unit of Ohio State University), the State Library of Ohio, and Wright State University Libraries. The holdings of these libraries are not necessarily represented in their entirety, but the central catalog is useful since it allows you to simultaneously search the holdings of all participating institutions.