Archival Exhibit

Our Archival Exhibit is maintained in the meeting room of the Lutheran Social Services Building (located at T-793 Route 66 at Route 34, Archbold) and provides documents and materials to assist area residents in their pursuit for information on personal and educational needs. Particular emphasis is placed on procurement of historical documents reflecting the German influence, culture, and religion of Northwest Ohio.

Materials include:

A wall map (with legend) of Northwest Ohio showing location of all current and former Lutheran churches.
Translated copies of pre-1940 local German church documents and directories
Antique photographs and original German confirmation and marriage certificates
Research tools for the genealogist such as “how-to” books, family trees, and genealogical dictionaries
Written histories of area families and area Lutheran churches
Church records of some of the area Lutheran churches
Oral histories on video tape
Microfilm copies of local German language newspapers (including obituaries)
Copies of miscellaneous letters and German obituaries
Early publications used in the German-speaking home, school, and church along with miscellaneous German language books and burial records
German books on the area of our ancestral homeland
Some cemetery readings from the counties of Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, and Williams

Church burial records have proven to be an excellent research tool for family historians. Often these records contain the precise place of birth of the German immigrant — one of the greatest obstacles for any genealogist beginning research across the “pond”.