ENG 145.1 (Friedman)

Ohio Wesleyan University has some excellent resources for students interested in looking into local history. From campus resources to statewide ones, this page has a list of valuable tools to help with your research.

For links to a Guide that fully fleshes out OWU's digitized historical collections and how to use them, please click the following link: LINK.

However, some particularly helpful resources for this project are:

• Student newspapers - Part 1
• “Our Shared History”
• OWU Ghost Stories & Folklore (accessible only on-campus)

Beyond just sources tied to OWU, students have access to a number of other resources covering both state and local history.

The Delaware County Historical Society

The Delaware County Historical Society seeks "[t]o be a trusted resource to connect the diverse stories and fabric of the past to the people of today and tomorrow through preservation, education, and engagement." They are dedicated to preserving the history of Delaware County.

Ohio Memory

"Established in 2000, Ohio Memory is the collaborative statewide digital library program of the Ohio History Connection and the State Library of Ohio. On this free website, you can explore digital content from over 390 cultural heritage institutions representing all 88 of Ohio’s counties covering a wide range of topics from prehistory to present day."

Ohio Digital Network at the Digital Public Library of America

"The Digital Public Library of America empowers people to learn, grow, and contribute to a diverse and better-functioning society by maximizing access to our shared history, culture, and knowledge." Within that broader network, the Ohio Digital Network focuses more specifically on Ohio--centric historical resources.

Finally, you may be interested in researching a piece of property -- who owned it, its history, and more. If that's the case, here are some tools meant to help you with that research.

National Register of Historic Places (Ohio)

"The official list of properties recognized by the federal government as worthy of preservation for their local, state, or national significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture."

Ohio Historical Markers “Remarkable Ohio”

"The Ohio Historical Marker program is administered by the Ohio History Connection. Since 1957, the program has placed more than 1,700 markers that share our state’s history. Partnering with community sponsors, we help tell the unique stories of the people, places, things, or events that helped shape individual communities as well as Ohio and the nation."

Delaware County Auditor

Most counties have an 'auditor', which keeps track of property ownership records. This is the website for the Delaware County Auditor.

Ohio Sanborn maps online through Open Acces Kent State

Sanborn Maps, or Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, are old maps ranging from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century focusing on property lines.