Local History and Genealogy Takes Flight
Toledo and Lucas County have been hatching bird watchers since the mid nineteenth century! Stop in and see our interactive display in the Fact and Fiction Department at Main Library to see if you can identify the birds on our checklist.
Baseball and Suffrage: a Portrait of Toledo circa 1911
What do baseball and women’s suffrage have much in common? Toledo Central High School class novelist Edwin J. Tippett Jr. found a creative way to tie them together in the 1911 edition of The Almanac.
A Slice of Toledo History: The Home Cook Book
See how historic Toledo tackled pie making in the 1880 publication The Home Cook Book.
Women, Bicycles and Bloomers…Oh My! How Recreation Sparked a Revolution
While owning a bicycle may seem like a common rite of passage today, in the late 19th century and early 20th century it was considered a symbol of the “New Woman.”
We Are the Troopers
View our digital collection of images from the Toledo Troopers, the winningest team in professional football.
The Gales of November: the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald
The 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald is this November 10th. Here are the top 20 titles we have on the Fitz and other Great Lakes shipwrecks.
Renaming the Forgotten! Can You Help Us Identify These People?
We have 20 images of unidentified people within our Local History collection. Can you help us identify these people?
Holy Toledo! Art Tatum turns 116
On this date in 1909 Art Tatum was born in Toledo, and as a result jazz would never be quite the same. Celebrate by doing something improvisational!
Experience a Fright: 10 Works that Highlight Ohio’s Paranormal Locations
October is fast approaching, and the spooky season is nearly upon us. Check out these books to discover all the different haunted locations within Ohio.
Ready for the Genealogy Fair? Check out works featuring our speakers
Check out these works by our Genealogy Fair speakers. We are so excited to welcome them to Main Library!
Work It: Labor Day and the Jaw-Dropping History of American Workers
As you prepare to mark the unofficial end of summer this Labor Day, take a moment to reflect on the historical events that led to the creation of the holiday with these books.
Periodicals: the Family History Researcher’s Unbelievably Valuable Tools
If you're researching your family, genealogical and historical journals are your friends.
Prepare for Back to School by Studying the History of Toledo High Schools
Summer's almost over and it's once again time for pencils and books. Here's your chance to learn more about the buildings where the educating happens.
Ready for Jeepfest? Discover Toledo and Jeep’s Rich History With These 12 Historic Images
Discover the connection between Jeep and Toledo for JeepFest.
Ultimate Thrills for the Fearless: Cedar Point Spotlight
You must be at least this tall to ride this blog post.
4,000 Year-Old Babylonian Tablets: On Display Now at Main Library
Check out these 10 resources to learn more about ancient Babylon.
Discover Nature in Toledo’s Beautiful Parks and Metroparks
To highlight the incredible parks within our community, the Local History Department has pulled out some artifacts of the Toledo Metroparks and city parks.
Summer In Northwest Ohio: Beautiful Lake Erie And Islands Spotlight
Feeling landlocked this summer? Northwest Ohio has its own summer retreat: Lake Erie and its islands!
Explore a Toledo Hidden Gem: The Old West End Neighborhood
Explore the magic of Toledo's Old West End neighborhood.
Incredibly Elusive Relatives? Expose Their Secrets With This Genealogical Series
Trace hard-to-find-ancestors with these genealogical resources
Honoring America’s Brave Men and Women this Memorial Day
Honoring the Toledo service members in our Digital Collections
Celebrating 125 Years of a Toledo Landmark: The Toledo Zoo
Celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Toledo Zoo with these artifacts
How to Stay Busy in Retirement: Local Veteran and Retired Nurse Carolyn Nagy ‘Does Something About It’
From setting up a 400 bed hospital in Saudi Arabia to leading a nonprofit program meeting the needs of women veterans, Carolyn Nagy's career - and now retirement - has been guided by the deep desire to 'do something about it.'
10 Books to Help Begin Your Family History Journey
Begin to discover your fascinating history with the library's expansive genealogy resources.
Mapping Toledo’s Changing Neighborhoods
In the 1930’s, the jobless rate in Toledo was nearly 80% and citizens across the city were feeling the effects of the Great Depression. Social surveys and maps tell the tale.
15 Mud Hens Objects to Celebrate a New Baseball Season
Are you ready for the new baseball season? Explore these items while you wait!
10 Remarkable Stories of Women in Toledo
Amazing women can be found all over the world, in every country, state, city, and small town. Some women go on to be great entrepreneurs, inventors, artists, writers, and explorers, doing extraordinary things that make
Then and Now: Toledo’s Black-Owned Business Leaders
Stories of Black entrepreneurial success abound within the collections of your Library. Read about Toledo’s Black business pioneers, complete with notes on how these history-makers paved the way for the area Black-owned businesses we enjoy supporting in this current day.
Toledo’s Water Crisis, Ten Years Later
Water is a building block of life on earth. So why does it keep trying to kill us?
8 Titles to Pursue Your Reproductive Justice Journey: An Interview with a Local Feminist and Nurse Practitioner in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Our conversation on Reproductive Justice continues with local feminist and obstetrics and gynecology nurse practitioner Bri Bumbaugh. Join us for a discussion at the Steinem Sisters Collection Talking Circle on Reproductive Justice on Thursday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Maumee Library.
5 Titles to Continue Your Reproductive Justice Journey: An Interview with a Local Feminist and OB/GYN
Our conversation on Reproductive Justice continues with local feminist and OB/GYN Jackie Vannuyen. Join us for a discussion at the Steinem Sisters Collection Talking Circle on Reproductive Justice on Thursday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Maumee Library.
7 Titles to Start Your Reproductive Justice Journey: An Interview with a Local Feminist, Midwife, Educator, and Public Health Practitioner
Local midwife and owner of Solace Health and Wellness of Toledo, Erin Martin answers our questions about Reproductive Justice and issues in our area around reproductive health. Join us for a discussion at the Steinem Sisters Collection Talking Circle on Reproductive Justice on Thursday, June 20 at 6:30 pm at the Maumee Library.
Processing Civil War Papers: Who Gets To Tell The Story?
How do we understand a person's identity in historical documents? Often, it depends on who is doing the storytelling.
6 Titles for Your Feminist Journey: An Interview with a Toledo Feminist
Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Steinem Sisters Collection (and Gloria Steinem's 90th birthday!) in interviews with local feminists! Our final interview features local feminist Mechelle Zarou.
6 Titles to Build a Feminist Leader: An Interview with a Steinem Sisters Feminist
Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Steinem Sisters Collection (and Gloria Steinem's 90th birthday!) in interviews with local feminists! Our third interview features local feminist and managing director of Women of Toledo, Nina Corder.
6 Titles to Grow Your Feminist Philosophy: An Interview with a Steinem Sisters Feminist
Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Steinem Sisters Collection (and Gloria Steinem's 90th birthday!) in interviews with local feminists! Our second interview features Steinem Sisters Advisory Board member Ayla.
7 Books to Launch Your Feminist Journey: An Interview with a Steinem Sisters Feminist
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Steinem Sisters Collection (and Gloria Steinem's 90th birthday!) in interviews with local feminists!
Going to Toledo Comic Arts Festival on Saturday November 4? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
The first ever Toledo Comic Arts Festival is happening (Th) Nov. 2 (online) and (Sa) Nov. 4, 2023 at Main Library. Here's everything you need to know before you go.
100 Years of West Toledo Branch
You may have heard West Toledo Branch is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Read this to drop some historical knowledge at the event (and check out some staff book recommendations too).
3 Books About How Art Tatum Became a Legendary Jazz Musician
Toledo born jazz virtuoso, master solo pianist and improvisational provocateur Art Tatum was a renowned 20th century musician. Discover these 3 books to learn more about him for Disability Pride Month!
On International Museum Day, Visit One of the Toledo Area’s Fine Museums
Some of the world's finest museums are closer than you think!
Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month with Digital Library Resources
Celebrating women of the Jewish community in Toledo for Jewish American Heritage Month.
Toledo’s Black History in Scrapbooks
Two scrapbooks in the Local History and Genealogy Department tell the story of Toledo’s Black community.
Honoring the Toledo Troopers – The Winningest Team In Pro Football History
Thanks to a generous donation from retired Bowling Green professor and photographer Ronald J. Jacomini, our Toledo Troopers Collection is growing again!
Celebrating 150 Years of Paul Laurence Dunbar
Happy Birthday, Dunbar!
Local History Resources at Main Library and a Prominent Toledo Dog
The Toledo Library proudly displays three paintings featuring the customary topic of renowned Toledoan artist, Edmund Henry Osthaus. Get the inside story of the painting of “Laddie,” displayed in the Local History Department.
