Genealogy
On-Site Resources
We have a vast collection of genealogy and local history resources.
Ashtabula County District Library has a large collection of genealogy and local history resources housed in our Ashtabula building. However, some Geneva-specific items are duplicated and/or remain at our Geneva Library.
Here’s a quick list of some of what we have to offer:
- American Ancestors by the New England Historic Genealogical Society
- Ashtabula County Genealogical Society, headquartered at our Ashtabula Library
- Ashtabula County Infirmary Death Records listing the names, dates, and locations of burial for several patients in the Ashtabula County Infirmary.
- The document has been broken up easier downloading and navigation.
- Family Files at Ashtabula Library
- Index of books and vertical files in the Genealogy Collection (PDF)
- It’s A Keeper!(PDF) – a listing of genealogy resources available at ACDL
- Family Search – Affiliate library access, a service provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Other genealogy and local history websites:
- Ancestry.com – Library Edition – census records, vital records, immigration records, family histories, military records, court and legal documents, directories, photos, maps, and more (in library use only).
- Ashtabula County Genealogical Society, headquartered at the Ashtabula Library.
- Ashtabula County Naturalization Records includes Naturalization Declaration of Intention, Vol 1-11; Repatriations 1935 through 1945; and Naturalization Petition and Records, Vol 1-29.
- Ashtabula Maritime and Surface Transportation Museum – A museum is housed in the former residence of lighthouse keepers and the Coast Guard chief. It features not only maritime history, but also includes the railroads and the large part they play in the local economy. This site includes a blog with information about the museum and its collections.
- Ashtabula Memory – Ashtabula County District Library’s growing contribution to Ohio Memory including digitized photos and documents from the Library’s archival collections.
- Ashtabula Star Beacon – The web version of the daily Ashtabula newspaper.
- The Beachcomber – a weekly newspaper published by the Payne family in 1946 and 1947 in Geneva on the Lake. Issues can be downloaded from the Summer Heritage Fun Trail.
- Cemetery Headstone Listings for Ashtabula County (incomplete)
- Chronicling America provides free online access to over 17 million digitized historic newspaper pages covering 1789-1963 from over 50 U.S. states and territories. Made possible through the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP), a partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Library of Congress, and state partners, like the Ohio History Connection. Ohio has added more than half a million pages to Chronicling America since 2008.
- Cyndi’s List – A categorized & cross-referenced index to genealogical resources on the Internet.
- Family Search – a service provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
- Find A Grave – Find the graves of ancestors and famous people.
- Fold 3 – Veteran records
- Free Online Courses in genealogy from Brigham Young University.
- Heritage Quest – research materials for tracing family history and American culture.
- Ohio Memory – A collaborative statewide digital library program of the Ohio History Connection and the State Library of Ohio. Includes digital copies of local newspapers; photographs, diaries, archaeological artifacts, books, and more documenting Ohio’s history, from prehistory to present day.
- ProQuest African American Heritage
- R.B. Hayes Obituary Index – An index to 2,850,000 obituaries, death & marriage notices & other sources from Ohio from the 1810s to the present day.
- Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps – Over 40,000 detailed maps of Ohio cities drawn between 1882 and 1962.
- Select Ohio Public Records Index – Includes a partial selection of Ohio death certificates from 1858-1946.
Other local history resources:
- The Ashtabula Bridge Disaster – full text of the 1914 book by Stephen D. Peet, from the Hathi Trust.
- Ashtabula County Historical Society
- Ashtabula County from the Ohio History Connection.
- Judge Florence E. Allen – an Open Access Kent State site commemorating Ashtabula County resident Florence E. Allen, the first female judge elected to a state supreme court. (Courtesy of Kent State University’s Ashtabula campus library.)
- The Ashtabula Telegraph, a local weekly newspaper, digitized and available free online from the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America site.
If you need any assistance please contact the archives (archives@acdl.info) or visit one of our locations. We would be happy to help!