Family History & Learning Center

Virginia Wheeler Martin Family History & Learning Center

The Virginia Wheeler Martin Family History & Learning Center at Medina Library opened in December 2019 thanks to a $2.5 million donation from namesake and former Medina resident, Virginia Wheeler Martin. The renovation also included a new computer lab, dividable conference room, study rooms, and a Makerspace and Digital Lab.

Local & Family History Collection

The former Franklin Sylvester Collection serves as the foundation for the space and includes books, microfilm, photographs, maps, and more to help you research your ancestors.  Learn more about our holdings in the Local History & Genealogy Research Sources booklet.

It is enhanced with Virginia Wheeler Martin's archival collection of research notes, vital records, and photographs, documenting her ancestors. Surnames covered include Baker, Bennett, Brandt, Crawford, Curtiss, England, Frazier, Moore, Pentz, Richardson, Wheeler, and others. Geographic coverage includes Medina, Seville, and various other locations.

Check MCDL's Events Calendar for Genealogy & Local History Events.

Makerspace & Digital Lab

Preserve family heirlooms for future generations. Convert home movies, slides, photographs, negatives, records, and other media to digital files in the Digital Lab. Or, create something new in the Makerspace. A 3D printer, large-format printer, laser engraver, embroidery machine, and more await your project ideas. Learn about all these spaces have to offer.

Questions?

Contact MCDL's Genealogy Team at me-team.genealogy@mcdl.info.

Donations

Medina County District Library is grateful for donations of historic materials pertaining to Medina County, Ohio and its surrounding counties of Ashland, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Summit, and Wayne.  Contact kuntzman@mcdl.info for more information on donating to the collection.

Who was Virginia Wheeler Martin?

Virginia Wheeler Martin (1928-2016) graduated from Medina High School, then Miami University, and became Medina’s first airline stewardess. She married Navy Captain Barney Martin, traveled the world with his career, and settled in California. Upon her death at age 88, she returned to Mound Hill Cemetery in Seville, along with five generations of her family, for burial. Virginia was active in many organizations; however, family history was her passion.