Your Gateway to Toledo and Northwest Ohio History

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Discover important facts about the area's history here!  Toledo's Attic is linked to several digital archives, library catalogs, and databases to support local history research. While traditional archives maintain rare book and manuscript collections, the growing volume of digital content provide access to historical collections of documents, photographs, and recordings. Archival materials will never be completely digital, but the wealth of information in the traditional media (paper, photos, film, and vinyls) is well worth visiting the local libraries and archives. This is your virtual carrel with helpful links to archives, libraries, museums, and websites with credible historical information.  Found a broken link? Please email us:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


Archives and Libraries in Northwest Ohio

Links to Northwest Ohio-based libraries, archives, and their digital collections.

Books on Local History

The Canaday Center collections feature many books on local history. Use the University of Toledo Library Catalog to explore the center's collection of rare books and more recent publications on local history.

Genealogy Resources

Over the past few decades, genealogical research has been revolutionized with the help of electronic databases, DNA analysis, and improved access to historical documents at libraries and archives. The growing number of Web resources and available volunteers have also made a considerable difference to those who could not find information using conventional research methods. This Genealogical resource page was developed with assistance from the Local History  and Genealogy Department at the Toledo Lucas Public Library, and was subsequently expanded to include other resources. We hope to assist visitors in their search for ancestors, long-lost relatives, and related information.

National History Day (NHD) Resources

Resources selected specifically for National History Day student contestants and teachers.  The documents, photographs, and recordings are digital versions of original records preserved in archives, libraries, and museums. 

Ohio History Day

Newspaper Archives

A collection of links to digitized local, regional, and national newspapers.

Northwest Ohio History

Northwest Ohio History (formerly the Northwest Ohio Quarterly) is a regional journal of history and culture published by the Maumee Valley Historical Society. Published continuously since 1929, the journal features scholarly essays, book reviews, and edited primary documents relating to the Maumee Valley, Northwest Ohio, the Western Basin of Lake Erie, and surrounding regions.

Northwest Ohio History (University of Toledo Libraries Catalog Record)

Recorded Lectures and Presentations

View recorded lectures and presentations focusing on the region's history--arranged alphabetically below.  Many of these have been produced by WGTE/KnowledgestreamToledo Stories is a separate series of documentaries also produced by WGTE.

Shorpy Historical Photo Archive - Toledo

A small collection historic photographs of Toledo

State and Regional Archives throughout the U.S.

Digital collections at American archives and libraries

Digital Public Library of America (DPLA)

Digital Collections of images, texts, and videos across America

Toledo Lucas County Public Library Digital Collections

A new resource by the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, now comprising the greater Ohio Memory Collection.

Web Resources

The list contains links to various websites of interest, including blogs, historical societies and museums, other organizations, and antique specialists.