History Guides
Charts, Forms & Logs
Download these PDFs, then print or fill in electronically.
Ancestral Chart
Family Group Sheet
Research Log
Introduction to Family History: A Guide for Beginners
The Introduction to Family History booklet will help you start researching your family history. Download a copy or pick one up at any MCDL location. If you've already begun your journey, see below for the additional resources referred to in the booklet.
Download the booklet (PDF, 35MB)
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Ancestral Chart demonstration (6 minutes)
Family Group Sheet demonstration (10 minutes)
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Interview questions and prompts coming soon!
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FamilySearch.org has many collections of vital records for Ohio. You may find the following useful:
- Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953
- Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001
- Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003
- Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013
- Medina County Birth & Death Records, 1867-1909
- Medina County Marriage Records, 1818-1965 and General index, ca. 1837-1869
- Medina County Marriage Records Card File, 1867-1980
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Source evaluations coming soon!
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Presentation on Digitizing (18 minutes)
Vendors of Archival Storage Products:
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Writing prompts and information on ethics coming soon!
Intermediate Family History: Further Your Research
Booklet coming soon! As your research skills grow, you will start to ask more complex questions about your family history. This booklet will provide you with the next steps in your research journey.
Need More Guidance?
Ask the MCDL Genealogy Team – we love family history and we’re happy to help! One-on-one appointments can be held in-person at the library or virtually with Zoom. Email me-team.genealogy@mcdl.info or call 330-725-0588 x5017 to schedule an appointment.
The MCDL Genealogy Blog covers topics of interest to genealogists and local historians with an emphasis on the undiscovered resources at MCDL. New topics published weekly.