Get Started at The Archives

Welcome to the Cuyahoga County Archives! Before you start your research, here's some helpful information and what you need to know:

For Property Research
- Requires an appointment, please fill out this form.
- Then see how to get started specifically with Property Research
For all other research
- Follow the instructions on this page.

Sign the visitors' register, then head to one of our reading rooms and wait for a staff member.
A staff member will meet with you to understand your research needs and guide you to the right sources. Volunteers may also be available to help you start your research.
Please note: Others may be ahead of you, please be patient. We'll serve you as quickly as we can.

If you need multiple documents, please organize your request (e.g., by volume and page numbers).
- You can request up to ten volumes or documents at a time.
- Only one person can assist in the reference area at a time. Direct all your questions and requests to them.
- Staff will bring all materials to the reference rooms.

Microfilm records you can access yourself.
- You can make copies using the reader printers.
- If the records aren't on film, ask the archivist to retrieve them for you.

Photocopies
- We handle all photocopying.
- The first 40 copies are free, then it's three cents per copy.
Hours
- The reference area closes at 3 p.m. so no new requests after 2:45 p.m.
- An individual may request additional time, but it may not always be available.

This list is the most common types of records kept in the Archives.

Atlases: Cuyahoga County, 1852, 1874, 1892, and 1903; also City of Cleveland, 1881 and 1898.
Biographical Clipping File, circa 1914-1976.
Birth records, 1849-1908, not inclusive
Board of County Commissioners Journals, 1810-1985.
Board of Elections Abstract of Votes, 1893-1974.
Board of Elections, List of Electors, 1893-1982
Board of Elections, Index to Naturalized Voters, circa 1865-1975 (Dates of Naturalization)
Cleveland City Directories, 1837-1972, not inclusive.
Coroner (now called Medical Examiner) case files, 1833-1900 (not inclusive)
Death records, 1840-1908.
Divorce case files, 1876-1882, Court of Common Pleas; also Ohio Supreme Court records, 1811-1858, and Court of Common Pleas Special Docket files, 1876-1922.
Marriage License Applications, 1829-1875.
Marriage records, 1810-1941, Volumes 1-200; and index, 1810 to the present, or available on-line 1810-1986.
Naturalization records, 1818-1971, Court of Common Pleas; also Probate Court naturalization records, 1852-1901.
Plat Maps, circa 1890-1945.
Probate Court estate case files, 1813-1918; indexes, 1813-1993.
Real Estate Appraisal Cards, circa 1935 to 1970.
Tax records, circa 1819-1986
Township and ward maps, 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1890.
Veterans Cemetery Plat Book, circa 1937.

By email:

archive@cuyahogacounty.us

By postal mail:

The Cuyahoga County Archives
3951 Perkins Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114

When requesting copies of documents your inquiry should include the following details:

Type of record (birth, death, naturalization etc.) and the surnames to be searched followed by the relevant dates and any other pertinent information.
Page numbers and volume.
Petition numbers.

A few notes:

Limit the number of inquiries per request, please send separate request forms or emails for each type of record you are seeking.
Remember to provide your mailing address so our staff can forward the documents to you.

Response Timeframe

If your request includes all the details listed above the staff will respond to your request within 3 weeks.
If some of the specifics are not provided you can expect an additional delay before receiving a response.

The Fiscal Office has a division responsible for property record keeping.

An online database is available to research official records.