Portal:Genealogy/Front page content/Department services

Department Services

The Wayne County Public Library provides access to several genealogy databases as a service to its patrons. Some databases may only be accessed by visiting the library. Other databases may be accessed from home with a valid library card. Other databases listed below may be accessed anywhere with Internet access.

Databases

Frequently Used Databases

• Access World News: Remote access with valid library card
  • More than 665 million current and archived articles can be searched, browsed, printed, emailed and even cited from over 10,000 news sources around the world! Extensive, exclusive coverage in Wooster and throughout the state of Ohio, the United States and all over the globe! Available in the library and remotely with your library card on an easy-to-use mobile responsive interface. Includes quick links into suggested topics for your convenience.
• African American Heritage: Oplin database, Remote access with valid library card
• American Ancestors: Main library use only
• Ancestry Library Edition: Oplin database, Library Use Only
• FamilySearch: Anywhere with Internet access
• Fold3: Oplin database, Remote access with valid library card
• Heritage Quest Online: Remote access with valid library card
• WCPL Catalog: Anywhere with Internet access

Obituaries/Deaths

• Billion Graves: Anywhere with Internet access; browse free of charge; subscription available for more details"
• Find-A-Grave: Anywhere with Internet access; includes tombstone inscriptions; may find obituaries, photos, and other documents
• Legacy.com: Anywhere with Internet access; includes obituaries posted by Funeral homes
• RB Hayes Obituary Index: Anywhere with Internet access; includes representation from more than 36 Ohio counties

Local Newspapers

• Ohio Newspapers: Remote access with valid library card.
  • Includes the Akron Beacon Journal 1984 - present; the Ashland Times-Gazette 2006 - present; several newspapers from the Columbus area; Medina Sun 2007 - present; Plain Dealer (Cleveland) 1991 - present; Repository (Canton) 1999- present; and many more titles.
• The Daily Record (official website): The Daily Record covers news, sports, and events in Wooster and surrounding Wayne County, Ohio.
• The Daily Record Collection: Remote access with valid library card.
  • This links provides images to the Wooster Daily Record from 2018. Text-based articles date back to 1999.
• Historical Newspapers of Wayne County, Ohio 24 newspaper titles covering the years 1840-1982: Anywhere with Internet access
  • Creston Journal 1904-1930
  • Dalton Gazette 1875-2002
  • Rittman Press 1912-1979
  • Wayne County Democrat 1850-1913
  • West Salem Messenger 1963-2019
  • Wooster Daily News 1883-1885
  • Wooster Daily Republican 1890-1895
  • Wooster Republican 1853-1908
  • Shreve News1907-1952
  • For a complete listing, see Community History Archive of the Wayne County Public Library.
• Wayne County Democrat 31 issues sporadically covering 1845-1891 and November 1913: Anywhere with Internet access
• Wooster Daily News 1906-1913, 1917-1920:Anywhere with Internet access
• Wooster Daily Republican 1917-1920: Anywhere with Internet access
• Miscellaneous Historical Wayne County, Ohio Newspapers: Variety of titles and years covered; Not searchable

Miscellaneous

• Digital Public Library of America: Anywhere with Internet access
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: Anywhere with Internet access
• Periodical Source Index: Anywhere with Internet access. Available through the Allen County (IN) Public Library.
• ReferenceUSA: Remote access with valid library card
• Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps,1867-1970: Remote access with valid library card

Society Databases

• Ohio Genealogical Society Research Databases: Ask staff for login
• Swiss Anabaptist Genealogical Society: Ask staff for login
• Wayne County Cemetery Preservation Society: Anywhere with Internet access.
  • Cemetery Listings by Township
  • Master Name Index
  • Wayne County, Ohio Death Records 1867-1908
  • Wooster German Lutheran & Reformed Church
• Wayne County Genealogical Society, original version
  • Lookups
  • School information
  • Vital records
• Wayne County Genealogical Society, 2nd version: Anywhere with Internet access
  • 1815, 1819, 1823 Quadrennial Enumerations
  • Pioneers of Wayne County with Townships
  • Wayne Ancestors Newsletters 2000-2007
  • Wayne Ancestors Index 2000-2007

Wayne County, Ohio Digital Collections

• Wayne County, Ohio Through the Years: Anywhere with Internet access
• Wooster Digital History: Anywhere with Internet access