Searching for Archives/Library Collections in the Online Collection Catalog

Introduction: • ABOUT: The Ohio Historical Society’s Online Collection Catalog allows you to search for books, pamphlets, newspapers, government records, manuscript collections and audiovisual materials. Most material is related to the lives of Ohioans and Ohio’s social, geographic, political and economic history. • USE: Researchers interested in viewing print materials through the Ohio Historical Society should start here to learn what we have. Some catalog records offer additional information about the items and their authors, such as a short historical sketches. • ACCESS: Certain items have restrictions, while others are publicly accessible. o Each item’s catalog record has a Location. If the location is “OHC Archives/Library,” it is located in Columbus. The “Status” section indicates whether or not you can view this item. . “Self-serve”: Item is in the Research Room at the Archives/Library. This includes some of our books and many of our microfilm collections. . “Can be paged”: Item is located in the stacks and a staff member can retrieve it. . “Ask at desk”: Item is restricted or otherwise unavailable due to special circumstances (physical condition, state law, etc.). o Objects located at the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor will appear as “Youngstown Archives/Library” as the location in the catalog record.

Search Tips: • BEFORE GETTING STARTED: o Our Archives/Library is comprised of a variety of materials (see our archives’ webpage for an overview of our holdings: http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/archlib). . Books (call number is a series of numbers, sometimes proceeded by R or Ohio Docs) • Biographies, county histories, city directories, state publications, serials, etc. . Government records (call number will be preceded by “State Archives Series”) • Material that documents the activities of public offices in counties, cities, villages, and townships and material created by state agencies and officials. . Manuscripts (call number will be preceded by “MSS,” “VFM,” “OVS,” “VOL,” et. al.) • Personal documents and paper collections by or about Ohioans. . Pamphlets (call number will be preceded by “PA Box”) . Newspapers (call number will be preceded by “N” or “Roll”) . Photos and audiovisual materials (call number will be preceded by “AV,” “SC,” “P,” “OVS,” et. al. or end with “AV”) • SEARCHING for ITEMS: o Start by going to the Online Collection Catalog (http://www.ohiohistory.org/occ/menu.htm) and clicking on the second option: Archives/Library Collections. o Enter the search criteria by typing keywords into one or more of the seven different fields. (General, Title, Author, Subject, Series, Publication, Call#). . A Keyword General search searches for your terms across an entire catalog record. . A Keyword Author search is helpful when you want to find all collections written by a particular person or organization. For example, try: Ohio Adjutant General’s. . A Keyword Subject search will help you find holdings about a person, place, etc. but not necessarily written by that person, place, etc. For example, try: Ohio Penitentiary. . You may also want to do a Keyword Subject search for a very general term. For example, if you want to know what we hold for railways, you would search: Ohio rail*. If you include the asterisk, it will search for railway, railroad, railroads, etc. o To limit your search to objects available at the Ohio History Center (OHC), scroll down the Archives/Library Keyword Search page. You can also refine your search by limiting it to a location, format of an item, date and/or language. o You may also want to browse the catalog (choose the “Browse” option from the green menu bar near the top of the screen) by Title, Author, Subject, Series, Dewey Call# or Local Call#. Archives/Library Hours OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10-5 800 E 17th Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43211 email: [email protected] Research Services Phone Shift Hours website: www.ohiohistory.org/resource/archlib/ Monday and Tuesday 9-12; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10-5 ph: 614.297.2510, fx: 614.297.2546

This will lead you to alphabetical lists of the exact terms we use in the catalog to describe items, which may help you find relevant items more easily. For example, to find all the county government records for Lucas County, you would do a Browse by Author search for: Lucas County Ohio. • WORKING with the ITEMS: o Once you have found an item you would like to view, note its status. If it is self-serve, you can find it in the Research or Microfilm Rooms. If the status denotes that the item, “Can be paged”, fill out a call slip and the item will be delivered to your table by a staff member. If you need help finding an item or completing a call slip, please ask a staff member. Please be aware that items in the catalog are not available to be read in full-text online. o Certain items (audiovisual materials, vault items, government records, manuscripts) can only be viewed in the corral (Tables 1-3) and one at a time (indicated by a “Corral Use Only” note in the “Shelving” field). A staff member may also let you know when this applies to the items you have paged. o Government records and manuscript collections are often comprised of several boxes and are accompanied by finding aids. These documents will provide additional detail about the collection as well as indicate what materials or groups of materials are found in each box. When requesting to view an item, this helps you narrow your request to fewer boxes. o Patrons who visit the Archives/Library to do research may request to have items photocopied for a fee. OHS staff reserve the right to refuse or limit reproductions due to copyright or the material’s condition

Other Helpful Resources: • RESOURCES within OHS: o Ohio Memory (http://www.ohiomemory.org/) currently has several digitized collections, including government records, newspapers, manuscripts and photographs. o Ohio Pix (http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/ohiopix) has over 5,000 images online, representing some of our audiovisual collections. o To find out more on how to search the catalog, please see the Searching Museum Collections, Newspaper Research or Finding Photographs and Audiovisual Material Research Guides. • RESOURCES outside OHS: o The State Library of Ohio may have collections of interest to Ohio-related research. Address: 274 E 1st Ave, Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43201 Phone: General Information: 614-644-7061; Research Services: 614-644-7051 o Local libraries, genealogical and historical societies may have information more specific to their regions. To find a public library, see: http://www.oplin.org/content/find-a-library. For local history organizations, see: http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/oahsm/directory/. o You might also consider contacting local or state government agencies.

Research Requests: • PROCEDURE: Patrons who are unable to come into the Archives/Library can request to have photocopies or scans of items sent to them. For more information about this process, please contact the Research Services Department at [email protected] or 614-297-2510. You can also write to us at the address listed at the bottom of the page. • COST: Cost depends on the amount of research required to find the material of interest and the format in which the patron wants it delivered to him/her. For more information, please contact a staff member.

Contact Information: • If you have questions about the items held in our archives, please contact the Reference Department at 614-297-2510 or [email protected]. Please provide the author, title and call# of the item.

The Research Services Staff is trained to help you! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!

Archives/Library Hours OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10-5 800 E 17th Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43211 email: [email protected] Research Services Phone Shift Hours website: www.ohiohistory.org/resource/archlib/ Monday and Tuesday 9-12; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10-5 ph: 614.297.2510, fx: 614.297.2546