Center for Archival Collections

First Steps

• Select an event or topic in Ohio History
• Do background reading in your textbook and in the general library collection
• Locate resources to support your research
• Determine if there are sufficient primary sources to support your research
• Be flexible!

 Selecting a Topic

Below is a list of potential research topics, just meant to start you thinking. You may find other ideas by reading through the subject bibliographies or the Archival Chronicle newsletter at the Center for Archival Collections website.

African-Americans

• Manuscript Collections
• Newspapers
• Manumission records
• Archival Chronicle: Multicultural Perspectives
• Archival Chronicle: NW Ohio Civil Rights Leaders

Agriculture

• Manuscript Collections
• Grange records
• Letters
• Diaries
• Newspapers

Civil War

• Manuscript Collections (many are transcribed online)
• Letters
• Diaries
• Local government records (e.g., Soldiers' Relief Records, Militia Rolls)
• G.A.R. records (veterans' organization)
• Newspaper correspondence and articles
• Archival Chronicle: December 1989 (The Civil War documented in Local Records)

Education

• Manuscript Collections
• Letters
• Diaries
• School registers
• Teacher certification records
• Local government records

Ethnic Groups

• Manuscript Collections
• Church records
• Newspapers
• Naturalization records

Gas and Oil Boom

• Diaries
• Letters
• Oral history
• Newspapers
• Archival Chronicle: December 1993 (Gas & Oil Boom)

The Great Depression

• Letters
• Diaries
• Newspapers
• Police blotters
• County infirmary records (social statistics)
• Archival Chronicle: March 1995 (County Infirmaries)
• Archival Chronicle: December 1997 (Civic Improvements, WPA)
• Archival Chronicle: December 2001(The Great Depression in NW Ohio)

Great Lakes

Consider topics from the perspective of Great Lakes industry, shipping, etc.

• Historical Collections of the Great Lakes--Manuscript Collections
• Archival Chronicle: December 2005 (Research topics/Images from the HCGL Collections)
• Archival Chronicle: March 2006 (Commerce on the Great Lakes)

Higher Education

• Manuscript Collections
• BGSU Archives
• BG News Index
• Student Affairs organization records
• National Student Affairs Archives
• Student diaries
• Letters

Industry

• Business Manuscript Collections
• Labor Manuscript Collections
• Archival Chronicle: December 2000 (The Automobile in NW Ohio)
• Archival Chronicle: December 1997 (Civic Improvements, WPA)
• Archival Chronicle: August 1996 (The Glass Industry)
• Archival Chronicle: December 1993 (Gas & Oil Boom)
• Archival Chronicle: March 1988 (Sam Pollock Collection, Labor)

Kent State University Shootings (May 4, 1970)

• BGSU Archives (President Jerome's papers)
• Newspapers
• Manuscripts--Politicians' papers
• Ohio Memory--Search for Kent State Shootings

Labor

• Manuscript Collections
• Union records
• Labor organizers
• Letters
• Diaries
• Archival Chronicle: March 1988 (Sam Pollock Collection, Labor)

Native Americans

• Manuscript Collections
• Bureau of Indian Affairs
• Draper Manuscript Collection
• Federal government records

Politics

• Manuscript Collections
• Papers of Congressmen and other elected officials
• Newspapers -- look for party affiliation or special interest group
• election records (found in local government records)

Prohibition

• Archival Chronicle: August 1991 (Prohibition & Social Reform)
• Anti-Saloon League
• Arrest Registers (found in local government records)
• Newspapers
• Women's organizations

Religion

• Manuscript Collections
• Papers of Clergy

Roads

• State and local government records
• Manuscripts (references in passing)
• Newspapers

Social Development

• Manuscript Collections
• Women's organizations
• Letters
• Diaries

Temperance

• Background in Archival Chronicle: August 1991
• Anti-Saloon League
• Woman's Christian Temperance Union
• Newspapers

Vietnamese Conflict

• Manuscript Collections
• Politicians' papers
• BGSU Archives
• BG News (1966-1972 articles and letters, personal interviews (slanted)

Women

• Manuscript Collections
• Letters
• Diaries
• Club records

Women's Suffrage

• Manuscript Collections
• Newspapers
• Letters
• Diaries

World War I & II

Consider homefront activities, POWs, effect on BGSU, etc.

• Manuscript Collections
• Letters
• Diaries
• Newspapers

 Locating Resources

Center for Archival Collections

5th Floor, Jerome Library

The Center for Archival Collections is a repository for manuscripts, local government records, the BGSU Archives (including the BG News on microfilm and original copy, and an online index), newspapers and other materials documenting the history of northwest Ohio. Most of the primary source material you will need for your research will probably be located here. Some preliminary research can be done online. The Guide to Newspapers at the CAC  is available online on the CAC website. You may wish to review the Hints for Newspaper Research . Holdings of Local Government Records can also searched online (though not the records themselves). Subject bibliographies of manuscript holdings have been prepared. The online catalog also provides information about the CAC's collections.

 Jerome Library

Jerome Library holds books, federal and state government documents, and microfilm newspapers of national scope and those which fall outside the northwest Ohio region. (However, the Toledo Blade is available from 1835-present, as is the microfilm copy of the BG News. An online index to the BG News is available). Some manuscripts are available on microfilm (for example, the Draper Manuscript Collection). To see which titles the library holds, check the online catalog.

Your Hometown Library

Your hometown library will probably have newspapers on microfilm or in original form from your hometown and the surrounding area. It may also have a local history collection which may include primary source material. If you wish to use these resources, be sure to check with your instructor first.