PILGRIMS, PIONEERS & ALIENS

By Diana L. Smith

On The Road Again: The Western Reserve Historical Society Library in Cleveland, Ohio

If you travel through northern Ohio, be sure to schedule some time for a genealogical stop at the Western Reserve Historical Society Library in Cleveland. Even though its stated specialty is the Cleveland and the portion of northeast Ohio once known as the Western Reserve of Connecticut, it has grown into one of the top ten genealogical libraries in the United States, containing a vast quantity of information of use to genealogists researching all over the U.S. and abroad.

The Library maintains a collection of over 200,000 books; 25,000 volumes of newspapers; 30,500 rolls of microfilm; 1,000,000 prints and photographs; and more than 3,000 collections of manuscripts and archives, consisting of over 6,000,000 pages.

Catalogs of the WRHS Collection

Since less than 10% of the WRHS collection is available in the open stacks, the catalogs are extremely important. The main WRHS catalog has recently gone online (available both in the Library and through the Internet) with author, title, subject, and keyword search. It is already about 80% complete (manuscripts and newspapers are nearly done), with approximately 3500 new entries being added each month. There's also a new Library of Congress call-number browse, which "simulates" browsing the stacks. The online catalog includes the holdings at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor; the vehicles in the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum are being added.

The familiar physical card catalogs are still available, but are no longer complete. In addition to the main catalog, there are catalogs organized by surname, locality, periodicals and manuscripts. A number of checklists are provided for special collections, such as city directories, maps, pictures, or periodicals.

Resources of the WRHS Collection

Here's just a sampling of some of the major resources available at the WRHS library:

Census Records. All federal censuses 1790-1920 (and preparing to receive 1930), including slave schedules for 1850 and 1860; 1890 Special Census of Union veterans and their widows; 1880 and 1900 Soundex for all states; 1910 and 1920 Soundex for Ohio and selected surrounding states; printed census indexes for most states through 1870; Federal non-population census schedules for Ohio, 1850-1880, including Mortality, Agricultural, and Manufacturing Schedules; and the 1855 New York State census for all available counties.

Family Histories. More than 18,000 family histories in book, pamphlet, manuscript, and microfiche (UMI's Genealogy and Local History Series); Rider's American Genealogical-Biographical Index, full-name index to genealogies and related sources, most of which are also available; genealogical notices from the Boston Transcript, 1896-1941, on microfiche; descriptive indexes of the genealogies in the Library of Congress and the library of New England Historic Genealogical Society.

City Directories. City directories for Cleveland, including east and west suburbs, from 1837, and for many other U.S. cities from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.

Regional Local Records. Histories of all Ohio counties; county and town histories of the original colonies, the Midwest, and the upper Southern states; transcribed marriage records of most Ohio counties prior to 1865; Ohio cemetery transcriptions; similar records for some other areas, particularly Illinois and Indiana; published vital records of several eastern states; late 19th century land-ownership atlases for most Ohio counties; Baldwin collection (67 volumes with an 8-volume index) of eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania genealogical materials. Vital records of Ohio Counties (particularly Geauga County, 1800-1850; Cuyahoga County 1810-1941; Cleveland Necrology File (index to Cleveland newspaper death notices, 1850-1975).

New England Local Records. New England marriages prior to 1700 (Torrey - 7 rolls - this contains his notes for the well-known book); Hale Collection of Connecticut Vital Records (358 rolls); Barbour index to published vital records of Connecticut; Corbin Manuscript Collection in NEHGS (55 rolls); Draper Manuscripts (123 rolls); Holbrook Series of Massachusetts Town Records (over 3,000 microfiche); published vital records of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland and other eastern states; Pennsylvania will abstracts.

Passenger Lists. Passenger lists for New York, 1820-1841 (index 1820-1846); Baltimore, 1820-1879; Philadelphia, 1800-1819 (index 1800-1906); San Francisco, 1850-1875. Filby's Passenger and Immigration Lists Index (and all supplements) and many of the sources; several of the ethnic collections (Germans to America, Italians to America, The Famine Immigrants, etc.).

Military Records. A number of National Archives microfilm records: Revolutionary War pension application and bounty land files (2,670 rolls, plus 1 roll index); War of 1812 Pension Application File Index (102 rolls). Also Revolutionary War Bounty Land Warrants, U.S. Military District, Ohio; Index to Ohio Civil War Records (122 rolls); DAR Lineage Books (over 170 volumes); Revolutionary War and War of 1812 published rosters for most states; NARS Index to Compiled Service Records for Union & Confederate Volunteers (over 1,700 rolls); published unit histories; WWI Cuyahoga County Draft Registration; WWII and Korean War picture files of enlisted persons (Cleveland Plain Dealer) with index.

Religious Group Records. Including Quaker records (Hinshaw - North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and New York; Heiss - Indiana), Shaker records; New York church records (primarily Dutch Reformed and Lutheran).

Ethnic Newspapers. Many Cleveland newspapers published for ethnic groups, including African-American, Czech, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Jewish, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, and Slovenian. Also an index to death and marriage notices in the Jewish Review and Observer complete from 1889 to 1940.

In addition to the above, the Library has undertaken several special initiatives to collect records in specific categories. Bibliographies for these collections are available at the library. Highlights of some include:

African-American Archives. Archival repository for Cleveland Branch of the NAACP, Urban League of Greater Cleveland, Universal Negro Improvement Association, and numerous African-Americans influential in the growth of Cleveland; business and institution records; correspondence; membership lists; diaries; unpublished manuscript; oral history tapes and transcripts.

The Irish American Archives. Parish maps of Ireland, passenger and immigration lists; abstracts of Irish wills; Irish family surnames histories; census of Ireland abstracts; Ballycroy Parish, County Mayo records; Griffiths valuation (1849-1864); index to wills (1536-1810), guide to Irish churches and graveyards.

The Cleveland Jewish Archives. Records of the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland; guides to genealogical collections in Israel; Cleveland Jewish newspapers including The Jewish Review and Observer and Die Yiddishe Velt.

Visiting the WRHS Library

The library is located at 10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio, near University Circle. The library web site gives further details on how to get there. The hours are currently 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday (closed Monday). In addition there are Wednesday evening hours until 9:00 PM and Sundays noon to 5:00 PM. [Note that there is no vault access on Wednesday night or Sunday, so some fragile or rare materials are not available.]

The admission fee is free for WRHS members, $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, $5.00 for students over 6 years old. Parking is available at some meters on the streets around the library, or in the large guarded, lighted lot adjacent to the Library for $1.00/half-hour to a maximum of $8.00/day (ask the guard for a return pass if you go out for lunch).

When you enter the main lobby, advise the guard that you are heading for the library and you will receive a researcher's "pin" to attach to your shirt. Then proceed to the Library Registration Desk and present two forms of identification (members must present current membership card). For manuscript users, an additional form must be completed.

Be aware that purses, coats, cameras, umbrellas, briefcases, packages, bags, etc., are not permitted beyond the reception desk. Free lockers are provided, which are adequate to hold a computer case, purse, coat, and other sundries. There are also coat racks if you don't need to lock your coat. The coat room is visible from the Reading Room. [Note - computers are allowed, but must be removed from the case prior to entering the Reading Room.]

Food and drink are not permitted in the library. There is a lunchroom adjacent to the reading room which patrons may use from 10 AM to noon and 1:30-3:00 PM (noon to 1:30 is reserved for staff). This room includes a microwave and refrigerator. There are beverage and snack machines and additional tables across from the gift shop on the opposite side of the lobby. There's a water fountain between the restrooms opposite the library registration desk.

When checking in, the library staff will be delighted to direct you to any specific resources you want to review. If you just want to browse first, pick a table or workstation by the wall (depending on your preference - to see people going by or not). All have excellent task lighting, power outlet and adequate work space. Note that the first row of tables are reserved for those using manuscripts.

Across from the registration desk is a display of brochures and forms explaining the library collections and policies. Check these first to determine any changes. Ask questions, but as always, be prepared with your information first. The staff may ask to see your 4-generation chart to get a feeling for where your ancestors were and what you have learned.

For materials not on the open shelves, call slips must be completed (with your desk number so they can deliver to you). Paging begins at 9:15 AM, continues on the half-hour and ends at 4:15 PM (except Wednesday when it continues to 8:15 PM). Don't reshelve any materials - return open stack materials and microfilm to the indicated carts, and follow the staff instructions regarding manuscript materials.

If you wish to consult the microforms, register at the desk first (indicate your desk number). There are several types of microfilm readers, plus numerous microfiche readers. The reader-printers are reserved for those actually making prints($.50 per page). Please limit yourself to two rolls of microfilm at a time. If there is a waiting list for the readers, a one-hour limit may be imposed. Please be considerate of others - if you are taking a lunch break, sign out so someone else can use the machine during your absence. The printed census indexes are along the wall near the Microfilm Room check-in desk. Please be sure to use them there or return them as soon as possible after use.

Materials that are not likely to be damaged may be photocopied by the reference staff at a cost of $0.35 per page. Copies must be paid for in advance. Try to do your copying as you go so you don't tie up the staff for hours on end - and to be sure you do not run out of time - the staff requests that ALL photocopy requests be submitted by one-half hour before closing. The book is returned to the stacks so make sure you're finished with it ... and don't forget to have the title page copied!

Special Services

A Library Research Service is offered to assist those who cannot visit the Library to conduct their own research. The service is on a fee basis of $40.00 per hour with a half-hour minimum, and includes up to ten photocopies.

Don't forget to fill out card(s) for any Ohio ancestors for the Surname Exchange File.

Other WRHS Sites to Visit

The Western Reserve Historical Society includes six other properties:

Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, Cleveland. This fascinating museum (conveniently located adjacent to the Library), contains nearly 200 antique, vintage, and classic automobiles, motorcycles, bicycle, aircraft, carriages and other vehicles. This collection is a must-see for auto enthusiasts, and even well worth the time for those of us who consider automobiles basic necessities of life.
Hale Farm & Village, Bath. This is an outdoor, living history museum representing the mid-1800s, with the buildings occupied by costumed re-enactors who demonstrate the daily life of the time, including tasks and crafts essential to survival on the frontier.
History Museum, Cleveland. From the main Historical Society entrance you can also access the history museum, which includes the adjacent Hay-McKinney House, which is a mansion built in 1911, to discover the life of the wealthy of the time. There is also the Chisholm Halle Costume Wing which features displays from the extensive WRHS collection. The Museum also features special exhibitions on subjects ranging from ice cream to sports.
James A. Garfield National Historic Site, Mentor. This was the home of the 20th U.S. President, and has been recently renovated to reflect the 1880-1904 period. The home reflects the tranquility of homelife of the era (for the wealthy, of course), and includes memorabilia of President Garfield's presidency and assassination.
Shandy Hall, Geneva. This is one of the oldest remaining homes in the northeast Ohio area, built in 1815. Even though it appears modest from the outside, it contains 17 rooms, ranging from the original cellar kitchen to a grand banquet room.
Loghurst Farm Museum, Canfield. Built in 1806, this is believed to be the oldest surviving dwelling in the Western Reserve and represents the farmers of the early 19th-century, including those who were part of the Underground Railroad harboring fugitive slaves.

Acknowledgements

My sincere thanks to Barbara Billing and Marie Weiss of the WRHS Library staff for their assistance in preparing this article.

Further Reading (please!)

Web Sites:

Western Reserve Historical Society web site. This is a terrific first stop before visiting the library. It includes basic library information (like hours and rules), plus a searchable catalog. Be sure to check out the Links section for other Cleveland area resources. http://www.wrhs.org

University Circle. This site includes maps and tourist information for the entire University Circle area. http://www.universitycircle.org/

Books and Magazine Articles:

Pike, Kermit J., compiler. A Guide to the Manuscripts and Archives of the Western Reserve Historical Society. Cleveland, OH: Western Reserve Historical Society, 1972.

Grabowski, John J., and Lucinda K. Arnold, compilers. A Guide to Jewish History Sources in the Library of the Western Reserve Historical Society. Cleveland, OH: Western Reserve Historical Society, 1983.

Pike, Kermit J., compiler. A Guide to Shaker Manuscripts in the Library of the Western Reserve Historical Society. Cleveland, OH: Western Reserve Historical Society, 1974.

Szucs, Loretto Dennis, and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking. The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy. Revised edition. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, Inc., 1997.

Other Resources:

Repeat Performance (aka AudioTapes.com) records many presentations at national and regional genealogical conferences. These are available on audio cassette for about $8.50 each on-site, through mail order, or through their web site. A search engine also allows you to search for other presentations by title or presenter. http:/www.repeatperformance.com/ or http://www.audiotapes.com Specifically look for this:

Sperry, Kip, "The Western Reserve in Ohio: Sources for Genealogists", Cincinnati, OH: FGS/OGS, August 1998. FOHT71.

I am always interested in hearing from readers, so if you have any comments, suggestions, or questions, please email me at: talkgenealogy@aol.com. However, I regret that I am unable to help readers with specific research.

Happy Hunting!

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28-May-2001