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The Platt R. Spencer Memorial Archives & Special
Collections Area of the Ashtabula County District Library is an assemblage of research works with a heavy emphasis on
genealogy and history, both national and local. The majority of these
works are books published from 1802 through the 1890's.
(The Genealogy Room also contains newer books about old
subjects.) There are several special collections housed here, as well as
numerous archival artifacts. The collection can be broken
down into three main categories:
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Genealogy
Collection. Our Genealogy Collection should
be your place of first-resort for family history
research! Located in the Archival area of the
Geneva Public Library, it is heralded by researchers far and
wide, it includes local and regional
family history resources and a trained volunteer staff.
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The General
Archives Collection. Features biographical sources,
regional histories, and social history resources from the
1800s.
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Local History
Archives Collection. Vertical
files of pamphlets and articles dealing with the history of
Ashtabula County, Ohio, from pioneer days to the early
1900s. The collection focuses on the history of
Geneva, Ohio, with secondary interest in the County.
Also included are a card index to marriages and death
notices (1868-1979), Geneva High School year books
(1908-1969), and Geneva telephone books (1933-1965).
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Other Archive Collections.
Our collection has many historic resources on, and by,
local personalities. Some noteworthy collections are:
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Spencer Collection. Platt
R. Spencer (1800-1864) lived the better part of his life
in Ashtabula County, mostly in Geneva, where he
developed his famous penmanship system. Collection
intended for the serious scholar.
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Archie Bell Collection.
Archie Bell (1877-1943), born in Geneva, was an art and
drama critic for various Cleveland newspapers, and the
author of a series of travel books.
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Edith M. Thomas Collection.
Edith Thomas (1854-1925), schooled in Geneva, became
widely known in international literary circles as a
writer and poetess.
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Old & Rare Book Collection.
Many historical books on such topics as Phonetic
Spelling Reform, 1800s Medical practices, Military
History (1815-1940s), children's texts, atlases, period
song books, and many more.
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