Shelby County Resources

Entrances are under the east, west & south outside stairs.
An elevator is near the center of the building next to the inside stairs.
Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30am - 4:00pm

Probate Court
Located on the 2nd floor of the courthouse.
Contains marriage records 1824 - present
(names of parents are given beginning in 1900);
Birth and death records 1867 - 1908; and
Estate Records 1824 - present with 1824-1950 on microfilm only.

Clerk of Courts
Located on the 3rd floor of the courthouse.
Contains Naturalizations, Divorces, early guardianships, partition suits &
other misc. files.

Shelby County Courthouse Annex
Located at the Southwest corner of Main & Court
Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30am - 4:00pm
Elevator is located in the lobby.

Recorder's Office
Located on the 2nd floor of the Courthouse Annex.
Contains Land transactions 1819 - present, military discharges, and military burials. 

Shelby County Health Department
202 W. Poplar St.
Sidney, OH 45365
(937) 498-7249

Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30am - 4:00pm
Contains: Birth and Death records 1908 - present. 

Amos Memorial Public Library
230 E. North St.
Sidney, Ohio 45365
(937) 492-8354

Located at the Northwest corner of North & Miami.
Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
(except first Thursday of the month is Noon - 8:30 p.m.)
Friday 8:30 a.m - 6 p.m.
Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Listings of newspapers on microfilm:

Sidney Daily Journal  March 5, 1914 thru Feb 29, 1916
  ** also Sept 5, 12, 19, 26 and Oct 3 of 1912

Western Herald, Saturday Herald, and Republican Herald are on one film dated
Sept 1831 - April 1836

Sidney Journal  Feb 6, 1863 to March 17, 1905

Sidney Journal Gazette  March 17, 1905 to Aug 13, 1909

Shelby County Democrat  Jan 7, 1876 to June 28, 1940
     also Jan 8, 1869 to Dec 26, 1873

Weekly Republican  Jan 7, 1909 to Dec 25, 1913

Valley Sentinal  Oct 27, 1881 to Jun 17, 1886

Ft. Loramie Progress  May 20, 1915 to May 11, 1916
  also  Sept 14, 1916 to Jun 14, 1917

Piqua Gazette  July 27, 1820 to Aug 30, 1834

Western Piqua Courier and Enquirer  March 14, 1835 to April 11, 1840

Sidney Daily News  Jan 1, 1891 to present
 
Genealogical Section

•  Books: In addition to books of genealogical information of various states, this section is well known for its Ohio Collection (books of genealogical information of the counties of Ohio).
• Manuscript Filing Cabinet: This filing cabinet contains many family histories and other soft bound books.
• Microfilm: U.S. Federal Census 1790 & 1810.  All Ohio counties 1820-1900.  The 1910 & 1920 reels include Shelby & surrounding counties.  From Probate Court, Birth & Death records 1867-1904; Will books 1825-1902; Marriages 1824-1904; some estate files & other misc. info.  From the Recorder's Office, index & deed books 1819-1903.  Civil War Roster Index of 5 rolls (an index to the set of Civil War Roster books that are on the shelf).
• Microfiche: The Ohio Historical Society - Ohio Newspaper microfilm Catalogue (an index of Ohio newspapers at the OHS in Columbus); Index to Estates Summit Co., Ohio 1840-1944; the IGI (International Genealogical Index) of the United States.

• Microfilm: Filing cabinets in this section contain microfilm of the newspapers of Shelby County, Ohio ("The Sidney Journal" 1863-1909"; "The Sidney Democrat" 1876-1932 & 1934-1940; "The Sidney Daily News" 1890 to within two months of current date).  This section has additional viewers and microfilm from the Genealogy Section may be taken to these viewers.

Inquiries should be sent by U.S. Mail and only those letters enclosing a self addresses stamped envelope (S.A.S.E) will be answered.  The fee for doing local research will be quoted on inquiry.
Publications
 

Shelby County Historical Society
PO Box 376
Sidney, Ohio  45365-0376
(937) 498-1653
The site features more than 1,100 pages of local history information on Shelby County, Ohio, including more than 75 historical articles and feature segments on Black History, Canals, Civil War, Downtown Sidney Architecture, Immigration, Indians, Industry, and Pioneers.  The site also provides information on the Shelby County Historical Society and their recently opened museum, the William A. Ross, Jr., Historical Center.
 

Wilderness Trail Museum ~ Fort Loramie Historical Association
Box 276
Fort Loramie, OH 45845
Publications
 

Ohio Department of Health
State Vital Statistics Unit
246 N High Street
P.O. Box 15098
Columbus, OH 43215-0098
(614) 466-2531 (recorded message)

Make check or money order payable to the Treasury, State of Ohio. Uncertified
copies of vital records is minimal - copying cost and postage.  Indicate the copies are
for genealogical use and you will be sent photocopies of the actual original marked
"statistical"

Ohio Historical Society
Archives/Library Reference Questions
1982 Velma Avenue
Columbus, OH 43211
(614) 297-2510

In addition to birth & death records, other genealogical material available at the OHS
includes: marriage records, census records, land entry records, tax lists, city and county
directories, county histories, family histories.
 

State Library of Ohio
274 East First Avenue
Columbus, Ohio