Search Cleveland Genealogy

Cleveland genealogy records cover one of Ohio's oldest and most diverse cities. Located in Cuyahoga County along the shore of Lake Erie, Cleveland drew waves of immigrants from Europe throughout the 1800s and 1900s. That means the city's genealogy collections are rich with vital records, naturalization papers, church records, and ethnic heritage materials. The Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland Public Library, and Cuyahoga County Archives all hold major research collections. Whether you are looking for a birth record from the 1870s or a newspaper obituary from the 1940s, Cleveland has strong resources for every stage of family history work.

Cuyahoga County Records for Cleveland

Cleveland sits in Cuyahoga County, and the county handles most vital records for the city. The Cuyahoga County Archives is at 2905 Franklin Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44113. Call 216-443-8856 for research help. The archives hold birth records from 1867 to 1908, death records from the same period, marriage records, naturalization records, probate files, and court records. Finding aids are available on the website to help you plan your visit.

The Cuyahoga County Probate Court keeps marriage records from 1810 to the present. You can search marriages online for the full date range. The court also holds birth and death records from 1867 to 1908, probate records from 1810, and guardianship files. Estate inventories and wills are at the Probate Court as well. For birth and death records after 1908, contact the Ohio Department of Health or the Cleveland Department of Public Health at 601 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland City Hall, Room 122.

The Cuyahoga County Archives holds a wide range of historical government records for Cleveland researchers.

Visit the archives at 2905 Franklin Boulevard to search birth, death, and naturalization records for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.

Western Reserve Historical Society

The Western Reserve Historical Society is the top genealogy research center in Cleveland. It sits at 10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106. Call 216-721-5722. The Research Library at the Cleveland History Center holds over 250,000 books, more than 20 million manuscripts, 2 million photographs, and large collections of newspapers, maps, and genealogical materials. The library is especially strong on Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and Connecticut Western Reserve history.

WRHS collections include funeral home indexes, family Bibles, and family histories. They also have original land records for the Western Reserve, which covers the northeast corner of Ohio. If your ancestors came from New England or the mid-Atlantic states before settling in Cleveland, the WRHS likely has materials that tie those regions together. The society also holds the world's largest collection of Shaker materials and a strong American Civil War collection.

The Western Reserve Historical Society serves as the primary genealogy research center for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.

The WRHS Research Library at the Cleveland History Center offers access to millions of manuscripts, photographs, and genealogical collections.

Cleveland Public Library Genealogy

The Cleveland Public Library has an extensive genealogy collection in the Center for Local and Global History. Call 216-623-2864 for help. The library holds Cleveland city directories going back to 1837, census records on microfilm, and the Cleveland Necrology File with cemetery records and newspaper death notices from 1833 through 1975. The Cleveland News Index gives citation information for local news stories, feature articles, and reviews.

Databases available at the library include Ancestry Library Edition with over 4,000 genealogy databases, HeritageQuest Online with census records from 1790 to 1930, Fold3 for military records, and Newspapers.com with historical Cleveland Press issues from 1884 to 1929. The Plain Dealer Historical archive covers 1845 through 1991 with full page images and searchable text. Staff and volunteers from the African American Genealogical Society of Cleveland are also available for research clinics held at the library on a regular basis.

The Cleveland Public Library's Center for Local and Global History is a key stop for genealogy research in Cleveland.

Access Ancestry Library Edition, the Cleveland Necrology File, and decades of newspaper archives at the library's genealogy department.

Cleveland Digital Genealogy Resources

The Cleveland Memory Project is a searchable digital collection from Cleveland State University Special Collections. It has historic photographs of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, the complete digitized run of the Cleveland Press photo archive, neighborhood history collections, and ethnic heritage materials including Polish American and African American history. The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History from Case Western Reserve University is the main historical reference for the city with thousands of articles on people, places, and organizations.

For statewide tools, FamilySearch provides free access to Ohio databases including births, deaths, marriages, and county records. Ohio Memory has digitized collections from archives and libraries across the state. The Cleveland City Hall website also has some municipal records online. Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705, vital records follow state guidelines for registration and access.

Land and Court Records in Cleveland

The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts keeps civil and criminal case files, divorce records, and court documents for Cleveland. Ohio is a public records state, so most court files are open. The Cuyahoga County government website lets you search some records online. Property records including deeds, mortgages, and military discharge papers are at the County Recorder.

Under Title 37 of the Ohio Revised Code, the rules for accessing vital records and related documents are laid out clearly. Some items like adoption files and sealed records have restrictions, but the bulk of court and land records are available for genealogy research. The OhioGenealogy.org site has direct links to Cuyahoga County record offices and search tools.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Cleveland. Records for your ancestors may be filed in a neighboring city or county depending on where they lived.