Historical Records Survey (Ohio): Municipal/county archives inventories for Northwest Ohio

 Collection
Identifier: MS-1166

Collection Overview

Abstract

The files of the Ohio Historical Records Survey, Municipal/County Archives Inventory (Northwest Ohio), covers the period of the late 1930s. The collection consists of completed forms, handwritten inventories, and historical sketches, culled from both municipal and county sources.

(Note: This finding aid contains collection- and series-level descriptions for the Historical Records Survey (Ohio): Municipal/county archives inventories for Northwest Ohio. For the full box and folder list, see the container inventory available on our legacy finding aids site.)

Dates

  • Creation: 1925-1946

Extent

12.87 Cubic Feet

Creator

Scope and Contents

(Note: This finding aid contains collection- and series-level descriptions for the Historical Records Survey (Ohio): Municipal/county archives inventories for Northwest Ohio. For the full box and folder list, see the container inventory available on our legacy finding aids site.)

The Northwest Ohio Municipal/County Archives Inventories consist of subject file folders, organized by county and sub-arranged alphabetically by local jurisdictions with completed forms, handwritten inventories, and historical sketches. The standard, mimeographed forms provide information on the record series such as date range, description of contents, indexing, physical condition, and location. Forms also were completed for local government buildings, with information on building age, description (including drawing and floor plan), ownership, and use.

Additional background and historical information was compiled, including lists of local government officials, essays and historical sketches of the offices and localities, and reports on the care and maintenance of the records. These background files vary in quality and legibility, often consisting of handwritten drafts.

Material created in Erie, Wood, and Lucas counties, such as CCC files and War Production Board records were added from CAC general holdings to complement the collection in 2011.

Biographical / Historical

The Ohio Historical Records Survey, under the supervision of the U.S. Works Progress Administration, conducted its first project in Ohio in 1936 with the Inventory of the County Archives of Ohio, published in 1938. The extension of the project, compiled between 1936-1940, aimed at preparation of complete inventories of municipalities, including historical materials and unpublished government documents. While the only part of the Inventory of the Municipal Archives of Ohio published was for Cuyahoga County in 1940, the data collected serves as a guide to the materials of local government at the time.

In addition, numerous items in general county records may have direct pertinence to the general activities of the WPA as it operated locally. These materials added include such programs as the Civilian Conservation Corps and later the War Production Board on a local level from Erie, Lucas, and Wood Counties.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The records were transferred to the Center for Archival Collections from the Ohio Historical Society with the cooperation of Victor Wagher, Local Government Records Specialist, with an addition in 2011 from general collection sources from Erie, Lucas, and Wood Counties.

Processing Information

The collection was processed and revised by Marilyn Levinson, Curator of Manuscripts, in January 1993, with the addition in 2011.

Other Finding Aids

This finding aid contains collection- and series-level descriptions for the Historical Records Survey (Ohio): Municipal/county archives inventories for Northwest Ohio. For the full box and folder list, see the container inventory available on our legacy finding aids site.

Title
Guide to the Historical Records Survey (Ohio): Municipal/county archives inventories for Northwest Ohio
Author
Marilyn Levinson, Haley Hoffman, Nick Pavlik
Date
1993, 2011, 2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin