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New resource for 2024! Chillicothe Gazette digital archives now available with your library card!

Genealogy & Research

Our Genealogy Room on the second floor of the Main Library is rich in local history and resources. Our collections include:

Local Genealogy

  • Ross County Marriages (1798-1950)
  • Ross County Divorces (1805-1967)
  • Ross County Census (1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1920)
  • Ross County Cemeteries
  • Ross County Births (1867-1908)
  • Ross County Death Index (through 2005)
  • Ross County Wills (1797-1845)
  • Ross County Families & Family Bible records
  • Chillicothe City Directories (Begins 1860 through 2016 – not all years available)
  • Ross County History Items

Regular Shelves

  • Family Histories – Shelved by FAMILY NAME at GEN 929.2, under side windows on taller shelving
  • Military Records (World War I, Pension Rolls, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, American Civil War) – Dewey order – Center shelving near window seat (inner side)
  • Ross County High School Yearbooks (not all schools or years) – Center shelving on end near magazines (inner side)
  • Biographies, Genealogy Fiction, Oversize Genealogy, Oversize Reference – Center shelving near window seat (outer side)

Microfilm Collection

  • Freeman’s Journal and Chillicothe Advertiser (July 11-Sept 26, 1800)
  • Scioto Gazette (beginning in 1800)
  • Chillicothe Gazette (through 2023; 2024 and onward are available online with your library card through the Ohio Historical Newspaper Collection)
  • Chillicothe Advertiser
  • Chillicothe Leader
  • Independent Republican (Dec 1809-Sept 1811)
  • Freedonian (Sept 1811-Apr 1814)
  • Clarksburg Star (Apr 1926-Apr 1965)
  

Research Databases

We provide free access to several genealogy databases to aid in your research. Please note that some of these databases can only be accessed while at one of our libraries. You will need your library card number and PIN to log in. Please click on any resource below for more information.

African American Heritage
African American HeritageProQuest African American Heritage is a groundbreaking resource devoted exclusively to African American family history research. The collection was created in partnership with leading African American genealogists and recognized leaders in genealogical information to develop a comprehensive mix of resources, records, and tools specifically pertaining to African Americans.
African American Heritage
Ancestry Online
Ancestry OnlineDiscover your family history and start your family tree. Try free and access billions of genealogy records including Census, SSDI & Military records.
Ancestry Online
NEW! Chillicothe Gazette and Ohio Newspaper Archive
Chillicothe Gazette and Ohio Newspaper ArchiveNEW FOR 2024! Your local history and genealogy research just got a lot easier! Introducing ProQuest's Ohio Historical Newspapers Collection. Every issue of each title includes the complete paper, cover-to-cover, with full-page and article images in an easily downloadable, searchable PDF format.

Includes archives of the Chillicothe Gazette (1892-Recent); the Cincinnati Post (1881-2007); the Coshocton Tribune (1909-Recent); the Dayton Daily News (1898-Recent); the Hamilton Journal-News (1891-Recent); the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette (1915-Recent); the Mansfield News Journal (1891-Recent); the Marion Star (1877-Recent); the Newark Advocate (1882-Recent); the Port Clinton News Herald (1967-Recent); the Springfield News-Sun (1900-Recent); and the Zanesville Times Recorder (1885-Recent).
Chillicothe Gazette and Ohio Newspaper Archive
Fold3 Military Records
Fold3 Military RecordsFold3 features premier collections of original military records. These records include the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served in the military. Many of the records come from the U.S. National archives, The National Archives of the U.K. and other international records.
Fold3 Military Records
HeritageQuest
HeritageQuestHeritageQuest Online provides genealogical and historical sources for more than 60 countries, with coverage dating back as early as the 1700s.
HeritageQuest
Newspaper Archive
Newspaper ArchiveExplore your family history and discover key historical events with NewspaperArchive.com, one of the world’s largest online newspaper archives.
Newspaper Archive
Ohio History Central
Ohio History CentralOhio History Central is an evolving, dynamic online encyclopedia that includes information about Ohio’s natural history, prehistory, and history. Ohio History Central is perfect for anyone wanting to learn more about Ohio! Ohio History Central was researched and written by staff at the Ohio History Connection.
Ohio History Central
Ohio Memory Online Scrapbook
Ohio Memory Online Scrapbook
Ohio Memory Online ScrapbookExplore digital content from over 390 cultural heritage institutions representing all 88 of Ohio’s counties covering a wide range of topics from prehistory to present day.

Ohio Memory features over 1,000,000 digital images from a variety of primary and secondary source image types, including: photographs, maps, drawings and paintings; full-text manuscripts, letters, diaries and journals; archaeological artifacts, natural history specimens and historical objects; searchable newspapers, books and e-publications; and audio and video.
Ohio Memory Online Scrapbook
Ohio Obituary Index
Ohio Obituary IndexAn index to over 3,500,000 obituaries, death and marriage notices, and other sources from Ohio from the 1810s to the present day.
Ohio Obituary Index

More research databases are availble in the eLibrary.