Genealogy Resources and Services

Welcome to your guide to the genealogy resources and services at the Dayton Metro Library. Although a personal visit to our collection is undeniably the most effective (and satisfying) way to research the history and lineage of your Dayton, Montgomery County or Miami Valley family, this electronic access provides useful information for the effective use of our resources, whether online or on-site. Online research will of course expedite your on-site research .

The Genealogy Collection is located on the first floor of the Main Library. The book collection is arranged on the shelves by state and by county within the state for the convenience of the genealogy researcher. Librarians are available at the East Reference Desk to help locate materials in the Genealogy area. The Genealogy Librarian is available during specially designated hours in the genealogy area Wednesday mornings from 9:00 to 1:00. Assistance is available other times but as with all such specialized research, it is always wise to CALL BEFORE YOU VISIT if you want to consult the genealogy librarian or to request special manuscripts and documents.

The Main Library's hours are Monday - Thursday, 9-9; Friday and Saturday 9-5:30;

Parking is available in several lots located on 2nd and on St. Clair Streets, or at parking meters surrounding the Library and Cooper Park block. Parking meters are free after 6:00 pm weekdays and all day Saturday.

Books

Ohio county histories and atlases
Published genealogical and historical works for Ohio and the states along the migration routes from the East to Ohio
Family histories of Dayton and Miami Valley families
Montgomery County Genealogy Index (every-name card file index)
Miami Valley Genealogy Index (every-name card file index)
Military sources such as roster, pension and service record indexes
Passenger and immigration lists indexes
Beginners' books on family research
Enumeration '96: A Name and Source Description Index to Persons in the Ohio Counties of Montgomery and Greene, 1796-1810
DAR lineage books and indexes

Montgomery County Records

Montgomery County and City of Dayton birth records, 1867-1908
Montgomery County and City of Dayton death records, 1867-1908
Marriage records, 1803-1910
Naturalization records, 1834-1916
Tax duplicates, 1820-1845, 1850
Will records, 1805-1910
Miscellaneous governmental and non-governmental records

City Directories

Dayton City Directories, 1850, 1856-current
Dayton Suburban Directories, 1956-1993, 1998-current

Census Records

Population census - All Ohio Counties - 1820-1880, 1900
Dayton and Montgomery County - 1820-1930

The following special censuses are available for Montgomery County:
Agriculture - 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880
Industry - 1850, 1880
Mortality - 1850, 1860
Civil War Veterans & Widows - 1890

Magazines and Newsletters

Many historical and genealogical journals, Ohio Genealogical Society Chapters newsletters and family surname newsletters are available. The multi-volume Periodical Source Index is available to locate articles by family names and by place names.

Newspapers and Obituaries

Dayton Repertory, 1808 - 1809
Ohio Centinel, 1810 - 1813
Ohio Republican, 1813 - 1816
Ohio Watchman, 1817 - 1826
Dayton Journal, 1827 - 1987
Book index to Dayton Journal, 1934 - 1938
Dayton Daily News, 1898 - current
Computerized index to Dayton newspapers, 1985 - 2003, Obituaries, 1985 - current
Daytoner Volks Zeitung, 1876 - 1914
Gedenk Blaetter, 1894 - 1912
Book index to obituaries in Gedenk Blaetter
Gross Dayton Zeitung, 1914 - 1947
Card file to World War II Casualties and Service Notices in Dayton newspapers

Photocopies

Most of the genealogical materials are reference only. They cannot be checked out, nor are they available for interlibrary loan. Photocopying on-site is 10 cents per copy. When requesting photocopies by mail, charges are 25 cents per page ($1.00 minimum) for copies sent to residents of Ohio, and 25 cents per page ($1.00 minimum) plus $1.00 for handling and mailing outside the state of Ohio.

Correspondence

The Genealogy Librarian will answer letters and e-mail (Required: include your postal address) requesting research on Montgomery County families, providing the request is clearly defined and limited in scope. Your query should provide full names, dates (approximate, if actual dates are unknown) and city or township locations. Many genealogical records and resources are not fully indexed, making a general or vague request for information on a family too time-consuming to research. For indepth searches we recommend that you obtain a list of researchers from the local genealogical society listed below.

Local Genealogy Society

Educational programs and advice from other genealogists are very helpful in family research. Membership is encouraged in local societies.

Montgomery County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 1584
Dayton, Ohio 45401-1584
Meets the 2nd Saturday of each month at 1:30 p.m. at the
Dayton & Montgomery County Public Library

Shawna Woodard, Genealogy Librarian, Dayton Metro Library, Dayton, Ohio.
This page was updated Dec. 6, 2003.
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