For the Miami Valley Today

TROY — Area residents interested in their family histories are welcome to set up a free genealogy consultation at the Local History Library (LHL), 100 W. Main St., Troy. The LHL is a branch of Troy-Miami County Public Library.

The LHL has experienced staff on hand to assist in people in locating their relatives and a wide array of materials to supplement family histories, including old newspapers, vital records, plat maps, photographs, old yearbooks, family histories, and more. The library also provides free access to Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest, Fold3 military records, and Sanborn Insurance Maps, along with staff who can make sense of the search results.

“Vital records such as birth, marriage, and death notices are an important part of the research, along with census records and military records. There’s a lot of information out there, and it isn’t always easy to find or to interpret. Our staff have been doing this for a long time, and they are able to help guide people through the process. They’ve helped with some interesting genealogies,” said Library Director Rachelle Via.

Staff can also suggest some common mistakes they have seen people make when researching and ways to avoid them. For example, not using primary source but relying on printed histories, not making photocopies when you find information of interest, not organizing records, and failing to record sources.

Library staff can help with forms needed to record the results of your research and organize your research. They can outline essential information and strategies to conduct research in a logical and successful way.

The LHL is open Mondays and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The staff can be reached by calling 937-335-4082.