Cuyahoga County OHGenWeb

Repositories & Societies

Cuyahoga County has a wealth of resources for research and museums on a variety of topics, ethnicities, and localities. So many more of interest are in neighboring counties, but could not be included here. We recommend you check with the facilities before visiting to verify hours, etc.

Inventory of the county archives of Ohio, no. 18, Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) 1937 on FamilySearch. This WPA project is very informative on what records were available in the past. It also has historical introductions to records, courts, and government entities and employees.

Left photo, Robert Rhodes House, 2905 Franklin, Cleveland, previous home of Cuyahoga County Archives. Photo by Laura Hine. Right photo, Euclid History Museum, 21129 North St., Euclid, by Cynthia Turk.

Major Research Repositories

Cuyahoga County Archives
3951 Perkisn Ave.
Cleveland OH 44114
216-443-7250; Fax +1 (216) 443-3636
E-Mail: archive@cuyahogacounty.us
Web: https://www.cuyahogacounty.us/publicworks/archives-hub
Comments: Research library has mostly county records, but some city as well. Items of interest include births and deaths 1840s to 1908, marriages from 1810, commissioner's records, coroner records to 1900, city direcories, naturalizations, voter lists and registrations, court records, maps and atlases, tax records, and voter records. Here are some more specific listings.
- Board of County Commissioners Journals 1810-1985
- List of Electors 1893-1982, Board of Elections
- Coroner's case files, 1835-1900 (not inclusive)
- Township and ward maps, 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1890
- Atlases: Cuyahoga County, 1852, 1874, 1892, and 1903; Also City of Cleveland, 1883 and 1898
- County Building Commission Journals, including Cuyahoga County Court House, Soldiers and Sailors Monument, and certain other county buildings and bridges
- Probate Court estate case files, 1813-1913, indexes, 1813-1941
- Registration and Charters of Religions and Other Societies, 1845-1924
- Tax Duplicates, 1819-1986 (not inclusive)
- Marriage records, 1810-1941, originals; and index, 1810 to the present, available on microfilm
- Divorce case files, 1876-1882, Court of Common Pleas; also Ohio Supreme Court records, 1811-1858, and Court of Common Pleas Special Docket, files 1876-1922
- Naturalization records, 1818-1971, Court of Common Pleas; also Probate Court naturalization records, 1859-1901
- Birth records, 1849-1908
- Death records, 1840-1908
- Abstract of Votes, 1893-1974, Board of Elections
- Civil War Bounty Record, 1862
- Road Records, 1802-1898
- County Surveyor's Records, 1823-1893
- Cleveland City Directories, 1837-1939 (not inclusive)
- Necrology File, 1850-1950, 1951-1975
- Board of Elections Register of Naturalized Voters, 1836-1972
Western Reserve Historical Society Research Library
10825 East Blvd
Cleveland OH 44106
216-721-5722
Web: www.wrhs.org
Comments: A private library with extensive holdings for eastern US but stronger on Western Reserve and Cuyahoga County records, books, and manuscripts; 15,000 genealogies, a million photos and prints,many military records, vital records for local area as well as some large New England collections; full collections of census microfilm and several local newspapers on film. Library has been an Ohio Local Records Repository, so has many original records from the Westrrn Reserve. See web site for hours, fees, parking fees, copy costs, specific holdings, catalog and database offerings. Museums including Crawford Auto and Aviation attached.
Cleveland Public Library
325 Superior Ave (NE corner of E 3rd & Superior)
Cleveland OH 44114-1271
216-623-2904 Newspaper (email: NEWS2@library.cpl.org)
216-623-2910 Microforms (e-mail: microform.center@cpl.org)
216-623-2864 History & Geography
216-623-2800 General Information
E-mail info@cpl.org
Web: www.cpl.org
Comments: See this great pamphlet, "Genealogy Resources at the Cleveland Public Library" to see what they have: CPL is not considered a genealogy library and lacks family histories, but it more than makes up for it in each of its departments. The history, map and photo departments on the fourth floor are NOT to be missed!
Cuyahoga County Public Library Genealogy Branch at Fairview Library
21255 Lorain Ave
Fairview Park OH 44070
440-333-4700
Web: https://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/Research/Genealogy.aspx
Comments: This is the library within the Cuyahoga County Public Library System that specializes in genealogy and history. They have City directories 1831-1930, Cleveland Necrology File (index of death notices and obituaries appearing in greater Cleveland newspapers), Cuyahoga County Marriage License Index, and MANY books on local history, histories of the States and Counties in the Western Reserve, and much, much more.
Cleveland State University Michael Schwartz Library
Rhodes Tower
2121 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2214
(216) 687-2479
Web: http://library.csuohio.edu/
Comments: Library has Special Collections Department which has the Cleveland Press morgue - photos and clippings from the now defunct paper. A law library can be helpful. University libraries have OhioLink, a large collection of databases. It supports Cleveland Memory Project of Cleveland State University (http://www.clevelandmemory.org/) A great website for old photos of anything Cuyahoga County, as well as home to many digitized books and more!
Ohio History Connection, previously Ohio Historical Society
Archives & Library
800 E. 17th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43211
(614) 297-2300
Web: www.ohiohistory.org
Comments: Library is the State Archives and houses a huge collection of records of Ohio. It includes records of orphanages, military units, penitentiary records, psychiatric hospital records (restricted access), government records and so much more.

Family History Centers and Affiliate Libraries in the Surrounding Area

FamilySearch and its Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City have local Family History Centers (FHC) in many areas around the world. Some digital collections have restrictions and have a key above the camera when it is seen from the FS Catalog. All of these records can be accessed at the FHL. Many of them are available at the FHCs. And most of those are also available at the newer FamilySearch Library Affiliates. Family History centers have helpful volunteers, many subscription databases, and some of the microfilm from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. See FS Help for Map, Hours, and Directions (off-site)

Kirtland Ohio Family History Center
8751 Kirtland Road
KIRTLAND Ohio 44094-9247
440-256-8808
Wiki
Medina Ohio Family History Center
4411 Windfall Road
MEDINA Ohio 44256-6491
330-725-1721
Wiki
Solon Ohio Family History Center
5825 Liberty Road
SOLON Ohio 44139-2536
440-498-0599
Wiki
Westlake Ohio Family History Center
25000 Westwood Road
WESTLAKE Ohio 44145-4853
440-777-1518
Wiki

Affiliate Libraries

Avon Lake Public Library
32649 Electric Blvd. Avon Lake, OH 44012 440.933.8128
Brunswick Library
3649 Center Road
BRUNSWICK Ohio
330-273-4150
Buckeye Library
6625 Wolff Road
MEDINA Ohio
330-725-4415
Cleveland Public Library
325 Superior Ave
CLEVELAND Ohio 44114
216-623-2865
Geauga County Public Library
12701 Ravenood Drive
CHARDON Ohio
440-286-6811
Highland Library
4160 Ridge Road
MEDINA Ohio
330-278-4271
Medina County District Library
210 S Broadway
MEDINA Ohio 44256
330-725-0588
Lorain Public Library System-Main Branch
351 W. Sixth Street
Lorain OH 44052
440-244-1192
- Lorain, Avon Branch
  37485 Harvest Drive, Avon, OH 44011
  440-934-4743
- Columbia Branch
  13824 W. River Road North
  Columbia Station, OH 44028
  440-236-8751
- Domonkas Branch
  4125 E. Lake Road
  Sheffield Lake, OH 44054
  440-949-7410
- North Ridgeville Branch
  35700 Bainbridge Road
  North Ridgeville, OH 44039
  440-327-8326
- South Lorain Branch
  2121 Homewood Drive
  Lorain, OH 44055
  440-277-5672
Morley Library
184 Phelps St.
PAINESVILLE Ohio 44077
440-352-3383
Oberlin Public Library
65 South Main Street
OBERLIN Ohio 44074
440-775-4790
Western Reserve Historical Society
10825 East Blvd
CLEVELAND Ohio 44106
1 216-721-5722 238

Local Historical Societies and Museums

Baseball Heritage Museum
530 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
216-406-5729
Comments: Covers many leagues, historical, major and minor. Photos, letters, programs of team members.
Bay Village Historical Society Rose Hill Museum & Reuben Osborn Learning Center
22715 Lake Rd.
Bay Village, OH 44140
440-871-7338
Comments: Historic archive, historic pictorial displays, Victorian living room, 1818 homestead and farm.
Bedford Historical Society
30 Southpark Street
Bedford, OH 44146-0282
440-232-0796
Comments: Exhibits, Centennial collection
Berea Historical Society
Mahler Museum & History Center
118 E. Bridge St.
P.O. Box 173
Berea, OH 44017
Brooklyn Historical Society Museum
4442 Ridge Road
P.O. Box 44422
Brooklyn, OH 44144-0422
216-749-2804
Comments: Museum of furniture, artifacts, school history of old Brooklyn Township
Old Brooklyn Historical Society (great website about Old Brooklyn including many links and presentations - a must see)
Chagrin Falls Historical Society
21 Walnut Street
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
440-247-4695
Comments: Local museum including large photo collection of early settlers, houses, factories, businesses, events, etc.
Cleveland Heights Historical Society
P.O. Box 18337
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
E-mail: heightshistory@gmail.com Comments: Virtual postcard collection and tour of homes of the city on the web site.
Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Museum
Galleria at Erieview
1301 E. Ninth Strett
Cleveland OH 44114
Comments: Collection of costumes, folk art, etc showing history of Hungarian-Americans in Cleveland. Extensive library with archival section.
Cleveland Masonic Library and Museum
3615 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-431-6173 or for appt, 216-486-1298
Comments: Preserving history of the fraternity. Displays. Researchers welcome to study the exhibits and personal stories of members through the ages.
Cleveland Police Museum
First Floor Justice Center
1300 Ontario Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
216-623-5055
Comments: Preserving the history of the Cleveland Police Department, displays, etc.
Cuyahoga Heights Historical Committee
Historic Willow House
4646 E. 71 Street
Cuyahoga Hts, OH
Dittrick Medical History Center
11000 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-1714
216-368-3648
E-mail: jks4@po.cwru.edu
Comments: History of medicine in the Western Reserve. Exhibits of surgical instruments, contraception, microscopy, medical specialties. Library.
Donauschwaben's (Danube Swabians) German-American Cultural Center
7370 Columbia Road
Olmsted Township, OH 44138
440-235-2646 Comments: Displays of costumes, relics, tools, books, prints and photos.
Euclid History Museum
21129 North Street
Euclid, OH 44123
216-289-8577
Comments: Museum of artifacts of Euclid history, library, extensive photo collection, early township minutes, and collection of original records.
Gates Mills Historical Society
Southwick House 7580 Old Mill Road
Gates Mills, OH 44040
440-423-3242
Comments: 3 story museum of furniture, historical documents and photographs
Greater Cleveland Slo Pitch Softball Museum and Hall of Fame
585 E. 222 Street
Euclid, OH 44123
216-481-4820
Comments: Men's and Women's softball greats.
Lakewood Historical Society
Oldest Stone House Museum (1838)
14710 Lake Road
Lakewood, OH 44107
216-221-7343
Comments: Museum of Lakewood 1838-70; extensive collection of doucments, photos
Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage
2929 Richmond Road
Beachwood, OH 44122
216-593-0575
Mayfield Township Historical Society
Bennett VanCuren Historical Home
606 S.O.M. Center Road
Mayfield Village, OH 44143
440-461-0055
Comments: 1847 style museum, 1890 school, log cabin and early 1900s printshop. Reference and genealogical library in the home.
Moreland Hills Historical Society
4350 S.O.M. Center Road
Moreland Hills, OH 44022
440-248-1188
Comments: President J. A. Garfield birthplace
North Olmsted Historical Society
Frostville Museum
P.O. Box 38144
Olmsted Falls, OH 44138
440-779-0280
Comments: Seven building historic museum. Earliest dates to early 1800s.
Parma Area Historical Society
Stearns Homestead and he Gibbs House Museum
6975 Ridge Road
Parma, OH 44129
440-845-9770
Comments: Furnishings, displays, etc.
Polish American Heritage Center
6501 Lansing Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44105
216-883-2828
Comments: Museum of Polish, Polish-American culture; Library of books, and historical materials.
Shaker Historical Society and Museum
16740 South Park Blvd.
Shaker Heights, OH 44120-1641
216-921-1201
Museum about the Shaker sect in Shaker Hts., Warrensville area. Highlights the Rapid, Van Swearingen brothers and Terminal Tower. Elizabeth Nord Library has major collection of books and materials of the Shakers, early Warrensville Township, and Shaker Heights.
Slovenian Museum and Archives
6407 St. Clair ave.
Cleveland, OH 44103-1633
216-361-5600
Comments: Shares Slovenian culture, history and the immigrant experience. Library archives.
Slavic Village Historical Society
8404 Webb Terrace
Cleveland, OH 44105
216-429-1192
Comments: Slavic Village's "home for history," relates to immigration, industry, settlement, etc.
Soldiers and Sailors Monument
3 Public Square
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
216-621-3710
Comments: huge monument with 9.000 veteran memorials and others involved with the Civil War.
Solon Historical Society
33975 Bainbridge Road
Solon, OH 44139
216-621-3710
Comments: on a site where President Garfield preached.
South Euclid-Lyndhurst Historical Society
4645 Mayfield Road
South Euclid, OH 44121
440-449-1997
Comments: Local museum in gardner's house of W.E. Telling Mansion, where the library is located.
Strongsville Historical Society
13305 Pearl Road
Strongsville, OH 44136
440-572-0057
Comment: 8 building exhibit 1816-1917
Ukranian Museum-Archives
1202 Kenilworth Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44113
216-781-4329
Comments: Documents history and culture of Ukrainians, including Easter eggs, folk art, embroidery. Library of books, photographs, periodicals, etc.
Westlake Historical Society
Clague House
1171 Clague Road
Westlake, OH 44145
440-808-1961
Comments: Victorian style museum strong on Isle of Man, one of the largest library collections for Isle of Man in US.

Genealogical Societies

Most of the Genealogical Societies in Cuyahoga County belong to the Cleveland District Round Table. Their web site has information for each of them down the left panel. Meeting place and times are included there as well as a link to their web sites. The site has current and upcoming meetings of many of the groups posted.

African American Genealogical Society
Brooklyn Genealogy Club
Cleveland Bratislava Sister Cities, Inc.
CIAO - Cleveland Italian Ancestors Organization
Computer Assisted Genealogy Group-Cleveland
Croatian Heritage Museum and Library
Cuyahoga County Lineage Groups - the repository for the lineage applications and documents is currently (2015) is at Ohio Genealogical Society in Bellville. hey can be researched there.
Cuyahoga Valley Genealogical Society
Cuyahoga West Chapter of the OGS
East Cuyahoga County Genealogical Society
Greater Cleveland Chapter of the OGS
Great Lakes Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists
Hungarian Genealogy Society--not currently meeting
Jewish Genealogy Society of Cleveland
NorthEast Ohio Computer-Aided Genealogical Society
Polish Genealogical Society of Greater Cleveland
Slovak Institute
Slovenian Genealogy Society International
Western Reserve Historical Society Genealogical Committee

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This page was created 28 November 2013 last updated on 20 June 2022.