Genealogy and Local History

Genealogy and Local History Resources
The Ashland County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) maintains a Genealogy and Local History Room located on the first floor of the Ashland Public Library. This room is operated jointly by the chapter and the APL Reference Department. This room contains the Chapter's First Families files, its obituary files and 5 -generation charts and county census records from 1850 - 1880 and 1900-1930. Additional resources available include Ashland County newspapers on microfilm from 1852 to the present and some materials pertaining to other Ohio counties and other states. Most materials in this collection are not catalogued in the Ashland Public Library system.

APL Reference Staff can help with general orientation, microfilm reader/printer machines and finding cataloged materials, but cannot provide in-depth research assistance. Chapter volunteers are available to assist patrons on a monthly schedule

7 - 9 pm every 1st Tuesday
1 - 3 pm every 2nd and 4th Tuesday
5 - 6 pm every 3rd Tuesday
10 am to Noon every 3rd Saturday

Photocopies cost 15 cents a page, while prints from microfilm cost 20 cents a page.

APL Reference Staff can fulfill requests for copies of obituaries from the Ashland Times-Gazette. Requests are limited to three per patron and must include exact dates of death (month/day/year). Mailed requests may be sent to the Reference Department at Ashland Public Library, 224 Claremont Avenue, Ashland, Ohio 44805. Please be sure to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for reply. Fax requests can be sent to the APL Reference Department at 419-281-8552; fax requests will receive a faxed reply.

Patrons with more than 3 obituary requests or seeking more extensive research must contact the Ashland Chapter OGS, P.O. Box 681, Ashland, Ohio 44805. They will perform research requests on a limited basis for a nominal fee. Patrons are also invited to attend the monthly meetings of the Ashland Chapter, OGS.

Ashland County Chapter of the OGS
The Ashland County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) takes an active part in collecting and housing Ashland County primary and secondary source records and makes them available to genealogists, historians and any interested persons. The Ashland County Chapter was formed in 1970 to create and build interest in preserving and collecting all genealogical and historical records relating to the early settlers of Ashland County and vicinity.

The member achieve this goal by publishing articles and books; securing donated or purchased manuscripts, letters, pictures, Bible records, obituaries and news items portraying Ashland County pioneers, maintaining a library genealogical reference collection; and educating the public through meeting lectures, seminars, and individual fellowship.

The Chapter meets at 6:30 pm on the third Tuesday of every month but December in the large meeting room on the lower level of the library. The January and February meetings are informal workshops geared toward the beginner, with no official business conducted. The November meeting is the Annual Meeting and First Families Banquet. All meetings are open to the general public free of charge. Fees for the banquet or any special seminars are announced in the chapter newsletter.

The Ashland County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society can be reached via mail at Ashland Chapter OGS, P.O. Box 681, Ashland, Ohio 44805.