Genealogy

Uncover your African American roots, empowered by excellent resources and devoted researchers, who have been in your shoes. Experience the satisfaction of discovering your unique story to share with everyone in your family.

If you are researching British roots, this database is well-worth exploring. American Ancestors, by the New England Historic Genealogical Society, has the largest collection of original materials about the British people of North America. Its ongoing Great Migration study is the most authoritative record of tens of thousands of British subjects who helped found New England! Available only in the Main Library.

Discover your family tree for free with the most popular online family history resource! Piece together your unique story searching hundreds of millions of newspapers. Discover census, immigration, and military service information. You can even find passenger lists! In-library use only.

Discover the African American experience through the eyes of the news media recorded all the way back to 1783. Explore topics, eras, and events, as well as notable people.  From arriving in America through slavery, the Civil War, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, and beyond, discover what journalists wrote as the story of Black Americans unfolded. Continuously updated.

Could you have an ancestor who fought in the Civil War? Are you researching hometown heroes to honor for their service?  Your first stop for answers is the Fold3 database. Not only can you easily access military records. You can also find stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served.  

Find your family roots with the premier collection of American obituaries and death notices, dating back to 1704. Easily identify relatives and discover unknown family members. Heritage Hub covers all 50 states and includes original obituary images. You can access it 24/7.

Discover your family history with research from over 60 countries, dating back to the 1700s! Search American and Canadian Census records. Find information on people and places described in more than 28,000 family and local histories! You can even search a selection of American Revolution records.

Journey back in time to discover your family roots or community’s past with over 100 years of local publications converted from microfilm. Search Stark County papers from 1810 to 1946, including the Canton Daily News, Stark County Democrat, Stark County Republican, Canton City Directory, and more.

Go waaaaaaaaaay back researching your family tree with databases spanning the past five centuries. Access billions of international historical documents, photos, and resources.

Discover fascinating history and empower your search for your family roots with free access to Ohio newspaper archives. You can read nearly 700 newspapers, dating all the way back to the 1700s. Search for family obituaries, marriages, historic events, and more! There are even newspapers in foreign languages, giving insight into the ethnic groups that form our state.

Go back in time to explore what roads, buildings, and houses made up Ohio’s cities and towns, with detailed maps dating all the way back to 1882. The Sanborn Map Company created more than 40,000 maps in the Buckeye State for fire insurance purposes until 1962, providing fascinating historical information.

Uncover family history - home and abroad, going back in time with real photos, documents, and recordings. Access our fascinating local digital collection, AND research other collections around the world.