Today I visited the 4th floor of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library which houses the section for Local History, Genealogy and Rare Books as part of the James M. & Patricia Kirchner Appold Local History Department. This was the first time for me.
This section houses an extensive collection of newspaper archives, government records, yearbooks, maps, manuscripts, genealogy, microfilms and other artifacts that document the history of Toledo and Lucas County. It is a library within a library with its own librarians.
The Rare Books Collection section begins with a reading room which contains lots of incunabula and books about collecting books and a door to a secure vault where all the real rare books are stored.
There are about 5000 rare books in there with some as old as 500 to 700 years old.
The vault has its own air conditioning and atmosphere control system to ensure that the books last for hundreds of years.
Books from the vault can be taken out and read in this reading room only with a special hold order.
This is a native American Woodland Indian stone ax-head, created between 2500-1500 BC which is on display here.


The Clara Colby Clock. Made in Switzerland to order for the U.S. government in the late 1840s, its wood case is of Honduras Mahogany. For many years it stood in the Custom House of New York City. Because of changes in the Customs House, it was declared surplus property and put up for sale. It was purchased by Love & Veight, Toledo pioneer jewelers and watchmakers. For many years it was the regulator for their Summit Street store. When the firm closed around 1853, it came into the possession of the late Judge Francis L. Nichols. For forty years it stood on the stair landing of his Summit Street home (which is now Jamie Farr Park). When the home was broken up, the Judge gave the clock to Clara Colby. For 10 years it resided in the Colby home at 2019 Summit Street. It was passed on to a niece on her marriage and taken to Rochester, NY. On her death, her husband, George Colby, willed the clock to the Jermain Library and stipulated that it be known as the Clara Colby Clock. When the Jermain Branch closed, it was transferred to the Local History and Genealogy Department.

Here is an incomplete list of periodicals that are available at the local history department:
- AAHGS News
- Publisher: Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Soc., Inc.
- American Ancestors
- Publisher: New England Historic Genealogical Soc.
- American Archivist
- Publisher: Society of American Archivists
- American Association Almanac
- Publisher: Rex Hamann, ed., Andover, MN
- American Genealogist
- American Legion Press
- Publisher: Lucas County Council American Legion
- Ancestry Trails
- Publisher: Trumbull County Chapter, OGS
- Ansearchin' News
- Publisher: Tennessee Genealogical Society
- APG Quarterly
- Publisher: Association of Professional Genealogists
- APHA Newsletter
- Publisher: American Printing History Association
- Arkansas Family Historian
- Publisher: Arkansas Genealogical Soc., Inc.
- Bend of the River
- Publisher: Maumee, OH
- Big Picture
- Publisher: Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments
- Book Collector
- Publisher: The Collector Limited, London, England
- Book Source Magazine
- Publisher: John C. Huckans, ed. & pub., Cazenovia, NY
- Branches and Acorns
- Publisher: Southwest Texas Genealogical Soc.
- Bridge Builder
- Publisher: Pontius Family Association
- British Connections
- Publisher: International Soc. for British Genealogy and Family
- Bulletin
- Publisher: Western Reserve Historical Soc. Genealogical Committee
- Canal Society of Ohio Newsletter
- Publisher: Canal Soc. of Ohio, Lakewood, OH
- Carolina Herald and Newsletter
- Publisher: South Carolina Genealogical Soc.
- Carologue
- Publisher: South Carolina Historical Soc.
- Carroll Cousins
- Publisher: Carroll County Genealogical Soc.
- Champaign County Genealogical Society Newsletter
- Publisher: Champaign County Genealogical Society Newsletter
- Collections
- Publisher: AltaMira Press3, Blue Ridge Summit, PA
- Colorado Genealogist
- Publisher: Colorado Genealogical Soc.
- Connecticut Nutmegger
- Publisher: Connecticut Soc. of Genealogists
- Crossroads
- Publisher: Utah Genealogical Assn.
- Delaware Genealogical Society Journal
- Publisher: Delaware Genealogical Soc., Wilmington, DE
- Delaware Genealogist
- Publisher: Delaware County Genealogical Soc., OGS
- Detroit Soc. for Genealogical Research Magazine
- Publisher: Detroit Soc. for Genealogical Research
- DOROT
- Publisher: Jewish Genealogical Soc., New York, NY
- Dot! Newspaper
- Publisher: Susan Utterback, pub., Maumee, OH
- Downriver Seeker
- Publisher: Downriver Genealogical Soc., Lincoln Park, MI
- Echoes
- Publisher: Ohio Historical Soc.
- Elkhart County Indiana Searcher
- Publisher: Elkhart County [IN] Genealogical Society
- Everton's Genealogical Helper
- Familia
- Publisher: Ulster Genealogical & Historical Guild
- Family History
- Publisher: Institute of Heraldic & Genealogical Studies
- Family Tree
- Publisher: Montgomery County Chapter, OGS
- Family Tree Magazine
- Publisher: F & W Publications, Cincinnati, OH
- Family Tree Talk
- Publisher: Muskegon County [MI] Genealogical Soc.
- Fayette Connection
- Publisher: Fayette County Genealogical Soc.
- Firsts: The Book Collector's Magazine
- Publisher: Firsts Magazine, Tucson, AZ
- Flint Genealogical Quarterly
- Publisher: Flint Genealogical Soc.
- Florida Genealogist
- Publisher: Florida State Genealogical Soc.
- Fort Industry Reflections
- Publisher: Lucas County Chapter, OGS
- Forum
- Publisher: Federation of Genealogical Soc.
- Fulton Footprints
- Publisher: Fulton County Chapter, OGS
- Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey
- Publisher: Genealogical Society of New Jersey
- Genealogist
- Publisher: American Society of Genealogists
- Genealogy by Computer Soc. Newsletter
- Publisher: Genealogy by Computer Club, Toledo
- Godfrey Update
- Publisher: Godfrey Memorial Library
- GSMC Record
- Publisher: Genealogical Society of Monroe County, Michigan
- Henry County Genealogical Soc. Newsletter
- Publisher: Henry County [OH] Genealogical Soc.
- Highlander
- Publisher: Angus J. Ray Assoc., Inc., Winnetka, IL
- Historic Times
- Publisher: Toledo's Historic Old West End
- History Ireland
- Publisher: History Ireland, Dublin
- History News
- Publisher: AASLH
- Hook & Letter
- Publisher: Toledo Firefighters Museum, Inc.
- Howland Quarterly
- Publisher: Pilgrim John Howland Society
- Humble Genealogist
- Publisher: Humble [TX] Genealogical Society
- Huron County Kinologist
- Publisher: Huron County Chapter, OGS
- Idaho Genealogical Society Quarterly
- Publisher: Idaho Genealogical Soc., Boise, ID
- Illinois State Genealogical Soc Newsletter
- Publisher: Illinois State Genealogical Soc.
- Illinois State Genealogical Soc Quarterly
- Publisher: Illinois State Genealogical Soc.
- Illuminator
- Publisher: Zion [IL] Genealogical Soc.
- Indiana Genealogical Society Newsletter
- Publisher: Indiana Genealogical Soc., Fort Wayne, IN
- Indiana Genealogist
- Publisher: Indiana Genealogical Society
- Indiana Magazine of History
- Publisher: Indiana Historical Soc.
- Inland Seas
- Publisher: Great Lakes Historical Soc., Vermilion, Ohio
- Internet Genealogy
- Publisher: Moorshead Magazines Ltd., Toronto, Ontario Canada
- Irish Family History
- Publisher: Irish Family History Soc.
- Irish Roots
- Publisher: Belgrave Publications, Cork, Ireland
- Jacksonville Florida Genealogical Soc. Quarterly
- Publisher: Jacksonville, FL Genealogical Soc.
- Jazz Notes
- Publisher: Toledo Jazz Society
- Jots from the Point
- Publisher: Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society
- Journal of the Afro-American Hist. & Gene. Soc.
- Publisher: Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Soc.
- Kalamazoo Valley Heritage
- Publisher: Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Soc.
- Kansas History
- Publisher: Kansas State Historical Society
- Kentucky Ancestors
- Publisher: Kentucky Historical Soc.
- Keyhole
- Publisher: Genealogical Soc. of Southwestern Penn.
- Kinsman Courier
- Publisher: Coshocton County Chapter, OGS
- Kishwaukee Genealogists
- Publisher: Kishwaukee Genealogists, Rockford, IL
- L.O.G.: Ledger of Genealogy
- Publisher: West Virginia Genealogy Society
- Labor: Studies in Working-Class History of the Americas
- Publisher: Labor & Working-class History Assn.
- Lagrange Street News
- Publisher: Lagrange Street News, Toledo, OH
- Lake Erie Ledger
- Publisher: Society of the War of 1812, Ohio
- Local Historian (Ohio)
- Publisher: Ohio Assn. of Historical Societies and Museums
- Magazine of Virginia Genealogy
- Publisher: Virginia Genealogical Soc.
- Maine Genealogist
- Publisher: Maine Genealogical Soc.
- Marine History Lines
- Marion Memories
- Publisher: Marion Area Genealogy Soc., OGS
- Marshland to Heartland
- Publisher: Ottawa County Chapter, OGS
- Maryland Genealogical Society Journal
- Publisher: Maryland Genealogical Society
- Maryland Historical Magazine
- Publisher: Maryland Historical Soc.
- Mayflower Chronicles
- Publisher: Toledo Colony of Mayflower Descendants
- Mayflower Quarterly/Journal
- Publisher: General Soc. Of Mayflower Descendants
- MCGS Reporter
- Publisher: Milwaukee County Genealogical Soc., Inc., Milwaukee, WI
- MDHS News
- Publisher: Maryland Historical Society
- Mennonite Family History
- Publisher: Elverson, PA
- Mercer County Monitor
- Publisher: Mercer County Chapter, OGS
- Michigana
- Publisher: Western Michigan Genealogical Soc.
- Minie Bullet-In
- Publisher: Greater Toledo Civil War Roundtable
- Minnesota History
- Missouri Historical Review
- Missouri State Genealogical Society Journal
- Publisher: Missouri State Genealogical Association
- National Genealogical Society Quarterly
- Publisher: National Genealogical Soc., Arlington, VA
- National Soc. US Daughters of 1812 Newsletter
- New England Ancestors
- Publisher: New England Historic Genealogical Soc.
- New England Hist. & Genealogical Register
- Publisher: New England Historic Genealogical Soc.
- New Hampshire Genealogical Record
- Publisher: New Hampshire Society of Genealogists, Inc.
- New York Genealogical & Biographical Record
- Publisher: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
- New York Researcher
- Publisher: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
- Newsletter (Genealogical Society of New Jersey)
- Publisher: Genealogical Society of New Jersey
- Newsletter (Historic Perrysburg)
- Publisher: Historic Perrysburg, Inc., Perrysburg, OH
- Newsletter of the Parke Society
- Publisher: Parke Soc.
- Newsletter of the Southwest Cuyahoga Chapter, OGS
- Publisher: Southwest Cuyahoga Chapter, OGS
- Newsletter of the Sylvania Area Historical Society
- Publisher: Sylvania Area Historical Society
- Newsletter of the Wood County Chapter, OGS
- Publisher: Wood County Chapter, OGS
- NGS Newsmagazine
- Publisher: National Genealogical Soc.
- North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal
- Publisher: North Carolina Genealogical Soc.
- Northwest Ohio History
- Publisher: Lucas County/Maumee Valley Historical Society
- Ohio Civil War Genealogy Journal
- Publisher: Ohio Genealogical Soc., Mansfield, OH
- Ohio Genealogical Society Quarterly
- Publisher: Ohio Genealogical Society, Mansfield, OH
- Ohio Genealogy News
- Publisher: Ohio Genealogical Society, Mansfield, OH
- Ohio History
- Publisher: Kent State University Press
- Ohio Magazine
- Publisher: Ohio Magazine, Inc., Columbus, OH
- Ohio Postal History Journal
- Publisher: Ohio Postal History Society
- Ohio Records and Pioneer Families
- Publisher: Ohio Genealogical Soc., Mansfield, OH
- Ohio Valley History
- Publisher: Cincinnati Historical Society & Filson Historical Society
- Ohioana Quarterly
- Publisher: Martha Kinney Cooper Ohioana Library Assn., Columbus, OH
- Ohio's Last Frontier
- Publisher: Williams County Genealogical Soc., OGS
- Oklahoma Genealogical Society Quarterly
- Publisher: Oklahoma Genealogical Soc.
- Our Family
- Publisher: Cardinal Stritch High School Alumni
- Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America
- Publisher: Bibliographical Society of America, New York, NY
- Pathways
- Publisher: Ohio Humanities Council
- Pinckney District Chapter Quarterly
- Publisher: Pinckney District Chapter, SC Genealogical Soc.
- Platte Co. Missouri Hist. & Gene. Soc. Bulletin
- Publisher: Platte County Historical & Genealogical Society
- Prall Newsletter
- Publisher: Prall Family Assn., Albuquerque, NM
- Printing History
- Publisher: American printing history Assn., New York, NY
- Quest
- Publisher: Florida Chapter, OGS
- Rare Book Review
- Publisher: Countrywide Editions, London, Eng.
- RBM: A Journal of Rare Books
- Publisher: Assn. of College and Research Libraries, ALA
- Rear View Mirror
- Publisher: Ford Genealogy Club, Dearborn, MI
- Reflections
- Publisher: Kansas State Historical Soc.
- Register of the Kentucky Historical Society
- Publisher: Kentucky Historical Soc.
- Reunions
- Rhode Island Roots
- Publisher: Rhode Island Genealogical Society
- Ross County Genealogical Society Newsletter
- Publisher: Ross County Chapter, OGS
- Sketch Pad
- Publisher: Toledo Artists Club
- Smoke Signals
- Publisher: Toledo Dept. of Fire and Rescue Operations, Toledo, OH
- South Carolina Historical Magazine
- Publisher: South Carolina Historical Soc.
- South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research
- Publisher: Brent Holcomb, Columbia, SC
- Southern Roots and Shoots
- Publisher: Delta Genealogical Soc., Rossville, GA
- Starter
- Publisher: Willys-Overland-Knight Registry
- Stirpes
- Publisher: Texas State Genealogical Society
- Stritch-o-Gram
- Publisher: Cardinal Stritch High School, Oregon, OH
- TAB-loid
- Publisher: Teen Advisory Board, TLCPL
- TAGS
- Publisher: Toledo Area Genealogical Soc.
- Telescope
- Publisher: Great Lakes Maritime Institute, Vermilion, OH
- Toledo Bar Association News
- Toledo Blade
- Toledo City Paper
- Publisher: Adams Street Publishing Co., Toledo, OH
- Toledo History Museum Quarterly
- Publisher: Toledo History Museum, Toledo, OH
- Toledo Medicine
- Towpaths
- Publisher: Canal Soc. Of Ohio, Marietta, OH
- TPGS Newsletter
- Publisher: Toledo Polish Genealogical Society, Toledo, OH
- Tracer
- Publisher: Cuyahoga West Chapter, OGS
- Track and Trace
- Publisher: Hardin County Genealogy Soc., OGS
- Tracking in Crawford County
- Publisher: Crawford County Chapter, OGS
- Tree Climber
- Publisher: Stark County Chapter, OGS
- Tree Talks
- Publisher: Central New York Genealogical Soc.
- Tuscarawas Pioneer Footprints
- Publisher: Tuscarawas County Genealogical Soc.
- Union Echoes
- Publisher: Union Chapter, OGS
- Village Voice of Ottawa Hills
- Publisher: Ottawa Hills, OH
- Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter
- Publisher: Virginia Genealogical Soc.
- Virginia Magazine of History & Biography
- Publisher: Virginia Historical Society
- Voice of the Building Trades
- Washington
- Publisher: Washington County Chapter, OGS
- Wayne Ancestors
- Publisher: Wayne County Chapter, OGS
- Western Lake Erie Historical Society News
- Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly
- Publisher: Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society
- Working USA
- Publisher: Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., Hoboken, NJ
- Your Genealogy Today
- Publisher: Moorshead Magazines Ltd., Toronto, Ontario Canada
The Toledo Lucas County Public Library also has digital collections published at the OhioMemory.org website.
Here is a link to the Local History and Genealogy section in the Toledo Library website https://www.toledolibrary.org/localhistory