Welcome back - all locations are open for limited computer and WiFi access and/or Grab and Go browsing which allow for continued social distancing and other safety measures.
Local History & Genealogy
Your History. Your Library.
Books and artifacts inside the Local History & Genealogy Department lay a foundation of who we are today in Toledo and Lucas County. Whether you’re a new arrival or lifelong resident, (re)discover what makes our region great.
- Explore history as it happened with extensive newspaper archives, yearbooks and other artifacts
- Join one of the country’s most popular hobbies and trace your genealogy
- Read accounts of the labor movement, locally and nationally, as it pushed for worker rights
- You can also begin your family history search at home using our downloadable Family Tree workbook.
Email our Local History & Genealogy Department below or call 419.259.5200 to start learning and researching today!
Obituaries
The Library indexes obituaries as a service to the community.
If you find the name of the individual that you are searching for, we can email a scan of the obituary to you.
Out-of-state residents are charged $3 per obituary scan.
Digital Collections and Exhibits
The Toledo Lucas County Public Library is pleased to partner with Ohio Memory to present our growing digital archive of collections and exhibits on topics including (but not limited to):
- Architecture and buildings
- Genealogical records
- Historical documents and photos
- Toledo historical records
Community Photo Album
We're creating a photo collection to preserve the history of Toledo and Lucas County and we need your help!
We are looking for pictures depicting scenes from Toledo and Lucas County or of residents out in the wider world. We would love to include your vacation photos in the Smoky Mountains from the 80s, snapshots from your 4th of July picnic, Instagram selfies from Jeepfest, or your hundred year old historical photographs; absolutely anything so long as it is about Toledo/Lucas County or its residents.
Submit photos digitally using the link below, or download and complete our form if you wish to mail us your photographs (all mailed photographs will be returned).
View the Community Photo Album.
Physical Collections
Our Local History Department houses a growing list of physical collections, including:
- Special Collections for Lucas County
- Genealogy Collections
- Newspapers on Microfilm
- Local Government Records on Microfilm
- Manuscript Collection Inventories
The Blade Rare Book Room
The Blade Rare Book Room:
A diverse collection of rare and valuable items. Highlights include:
- Ancient Babylonian clay tablet (purchased by the Library in the 1900’s)
- Early Armenian manuscript of the gospels of Luke and John
- Thomas Jefferson letter dated 1800
- First edition history of the Indian Tribes of North America by Thomas L. McKenny and Jones Hall
- Complete set of Nancy Drew first editions written by Toledoan Mildred Benson
Digitization Services
We will digitize up to ten items* for you every three months at no charge!
Our state-of-the-art digitization equipment and expert staff are dedicated to identifying, digitizing, preserving and providing open access to unique and rare materials that document the history and cultural heritage of Toledo and Lucas County.
Interested in digitizing materials or have questions? Email us or call 419.259.5200 and set up an appointment today. Please note that the minimum turnaround time for digitization services is approximately two weeks.
Scanning: We will scan text, books, slides and negatives, glass plate negatives or other oversized items for you.
Editing: Looking for assistance cropping, rotating or editing your images or documents? We offer a variety of editing services starting at $30 per hour.
File Storage: Need somewhere to store your items? If materials fall within our collection scope, we will host them for free. Otherwise, we can provide materials on a CD, DVD or Flash Drive.
* Does not include 3D object or full book scanning
Ask about Digitization Services