HOW DO I GET STARTED?

Begin with yourself and work backwards, generation by generation. Obtain as much information as you can from family members. Birth, death, marriage, divorce, probate and military records, property deeds, and family bibles are just some of the additional sources where you can find valuable genealogical information.

Organize all information obtained, keeping maternal and paternal records separate. A five-generation chart is available free of charge from the History Department. Fill it out as much as possible using available information. Once this is done, you will have a better idea where to begin searching. History Department personnel can answer questions of a general nature on genealogical research. A variety of pamphlets are available at the History Desk to assist you with specialized family history materials. If you are conducting Hamilton County research, ask for a copy of "Greater Cincinnati Genealogical Resources". It provides information on agencies which contain genealogical materials in the tri-state area. More in-depth information on searching can be found in "how-to" books on genealogy which may be checked out of the library.

WHAT TYPES OF RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY FOR GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH?

Census records, city directories, county or city histories, maps, newspapers, birth records, cemeteries, wills, property ownership records, church records, tax records, ship passenger lists, citizenship records, and voter registration lists provide valuable genealogical information. Don't overlook genealogical magazines, journals and newsletters. The majority of genealogy books are reference and must remain in the library. Copy machines are available.

HOW DO I FIND WHAT I NEED IN THE LIBRARY?

Call numbers are needed to retrieve printed materials, microfiche and some microfilm. Call slips for these materials should be submitted at the History Desk. In order to obtain the call number, use the CINCH computers located throughout Main Library and in the branches or through Dial CINCH. A variety of different search strategies can be used to find materials through CINCH. From CINCH's main menu select "Library Catalog", where you will find author, title, and subject options. If you know the exact author or title of an item, select the "author" or "title" function from the catalog menu. If you are not sure of the exact title or author of a work, a keyword search of author or title can be done.

Many genealogists begin with a subject search or keyword subject search. A subject search locates materials that use the exact heading, while a keyword subject search will yield any subject heading which contains the search word. For all materials on a particular county, enter that county name. Be sure to spell the word "county" completely, followed by the state, also spelled completely. You can also search for specific types of materials. Please note that capitalization and punctuation are unnecessary on CINCH.

The Family Surname Index, which can also be found on CINCH (option 9 on the Library Catalog Menu, "Other Types of Searches") provides access to the Library's collection of family histories and includes over 600,000 names. Searching is done by typing the family name. Results will include family history titles which lists in their indexes the surname in question.

Ask Questions. The Library continues to add resources. In addition, the staff's familiarity with the collection can help you locate and use materials in the quest for your family history.

WHAT OTHER INDEXES CAN AID MY SEARCH?

From CINCH's main menu you can select NEWSDEX, an index to news articles about Cincinnati people, places or events printed in the Cincinnati newspapers. Obituaries, which are news articles about deceased persons, are indexed back to 1940. Death notices, which are found in the classified section, have only been indexed since 1987. Retrospective indexing of death notices is underway. After you have obtained a citation, you can request the paper at the Newspaper desk.

Paper census indexes are located on Aisle 18 near the History Desk. Micorfilm indexes (Soundex) to the census and the census (for all 50 states through 1920) can be requested at the Newspaper Desk.

The Local History Index and Surname Index are card catalogs located in the History Department. While CINCH contains the most comprehensive listing of materials, some resources listed in these catalogs are not yet on CINCH. The Local History Index deals strictly with materials pertaining to Hamilton County.

FamilySearch, a set of CD ROMS, contains several databases from the LDS Family History Center, including the International Genealogical Index (IGI). Reservations may be made for one hour time slots. Inquire at the History Desk for more details.

WHAT OTHER MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE FOR BROWSING?

Cincinnati city directories, some bound family history periodicals and "how-to" genealogy books are located on Aisle 18. General high demand genealogy books, some Ohio and Kentucky materials are located in the Genealogy Alcove across from the History Desk. A selection of current genealogy journals are displayed on a magazine rack in front of the Genealogy Alcove. Keep in mind that most materials are in the stacks and must be requested by call number at the History Desk.

Note: The Friends of the Public Library Shop has some genealogical supplies (charts, books, etc.) for sale.