ABOUT THE COLLECTION

The history of the City of Toledo is a story with many narratives and perspectives. Founded in 1837 on the lands of the Kiiakapoi, Meškwahki·aša·hina, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Bodwéwadmi, Ottawa, Wyandot, and Myaamia peoples, Toledo and its populations have since experienced immense growth and prosperity alongside periods of great hardship. While there is no simple summary that can encapsulate the interconnecting paths of the region’s natives, settlers, and immigrants, we can gain better understanding of our past through exploration of the remembrances that have been left behind.

The Library’s Local History and Genealogy Department offers online access to over 36,000 resources that document people, places, and events in the history of Toledo and Northwest Ohio. In our digital archive, you can explore books, photographs, oral histories, news stories, maps, historical documents, and more. Materials are added to Digital Collections regularly, so check back frequently to view newly digitized resources!

Research the history of Toledo and Lucas County using TLCPL’s Digital Collections. Select a collection to begin your search.

Materials in our collection tell stories of the people, places, and events that shaped our region. Browse our online exhibitions to learn more.

The Local History and Genealogy Department offers three online resources for researching houses and buildings in Northwest Ohio.

Buildings and Architecture Digital Collection Find photographs, blueprints, and architectural renderings.

Auditor’s Images Block Cards from the Lucas County Auditor’s Office are visual records of properties for tax assessment purposes. Find photographs for addresses in Lucas County taken between 1937-1965.

Architecture of Northwest Ohio Resource Guide Discover more about the history of architecture in Northwest Ohio and research your home.

The Local History and Genealogy Department (LHG) of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library (TLCPL) provides online access to its growing collection of local, historic records through TLCPL’s Digital Collections. Please be aware that while browsing the content in Digital Collections you may come across materials that reflect outdated or discriminatory viewpoints that may be difficult or harmful to view. LHG strives to provide a comprehensive collection of local history resources for the purposes of research and education but recognizes that sharing some parts of our region’s history can serve to perpetuate belief systems that fall outside of the Library’s values.
In order to respectfully and responsibly offer LHG materials through TLCPL’s Digital Collections, we are:
  • Continually learning and updating our best practices to ensure the Library’s materials are presented and described appropriately
  • Actively diversifying the content in Digital Collections to equitably represent the populations and perspectives of the Toledo Lucas County community
  • Providing a means for feedback if you encounter materials in Digital Collections that need review
For questions or concerns about sensitive content in TLCPL’s Digital Collections, please reach out to digitization@toledolibrary.org.