Cincinnati History
Local Artifacts
The Joseph S. Stern, Jr. Cincinnati Room, adjacent to the Genealogy and Local History Department at the Downtown Main Library, displays local history artifacts and provides a climate controlled and secure environment for using the Library’s rare and fragile materials.
, opens a new windowDigital Library
The Library's collection is one of the nation’s oldest and largest. To provide greater access to our rare print materials, especially those of local significance, please visit our Digital Library, opens a new window.
Popular collections include Ohio River Floods, opens a new window, Cincinnati History Lantern Slides, opens a new window, and the Cincinnati Photo and Print File, opens a new window, which includes many photos of local landmarks.
Cincinnati Inventors Database
This database indexes patents issued to Cincinnati and Hamilton County Ohio Inventors from 1814 through 1873. Each entry provides a link to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office website. TIFF software is required to view a patent's full-size image. View the database.
Services
Genealogy and Local History Department staff offers specialized reference assistance to all customers, from children and beginning genealogists to professional researchers and scholars. The department presents monthly tours, co-sponsors programs with the Hamilton County Genealogical Society, and develops programs tailored to the needs of any size class or group, including family reunions. To schedule a program, contact the department in person, by phone, or email.
