Genealogy & Research

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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

ProQuest 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

NEW! Chillicothe Gazette and Ohio Newspaper Archive

NEW 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

HeritageQuest

NEW! New York Times (1980-current)

Newspaper Archive

Ohio History Central

Ohio Memory Online Scrapbook

Explore 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