The Virginia Wheeler Martin Family History & Learning Center at Medina Library was made possible through a $2.5 million donation from namesake, Virginia Wheeler Martin. The center includes the Makerspace and Digital Lab, where you can preserve family heirlooms for future generations. Convert home movies, slides, photographs, negatives, records, and other media to digital files in the Digital Lab. Or, create something new in the Makerspace. A 3D printer, large-format printer, laser engraver, embroidery machine, and more await your project ideas. Learn about all these spaces have to offer.
History Guides
Introduction to Family History Booklet - This guide for beginners will help you learn to research your family’s history in six easy steps. It also includes tips on evaluating the reliability of sources and covers the benefits and concerns with DNA testing. Booklets are available for free at your library, or download at mcdl.info/HistoryGuides.
Genealogist One-on-One
Family history is our passion! Let our expertise help guide you on your family history journey or tackle a tough research problem. Schedule an appointment with one of our genealogy specialists by calling 330-722-2681 or emailing MCDL's Genealogy Team at me-team.genealogy@mcdl.info.
Local & Family History Events
MCDL offers a variety of history events to fit different interests. Medina Library regularly hosts the Genealogy Discussion Group as a way to connect with other researchers. Plus, look for special events throughout the year like Family History Day and the Local History Fair. Browse and register for events at mcdl.info/HistoryEvents.
Local & Family History Collection
The Local & Family History Collection serves as the foundation for the Family History & Learning Center. Browse more than 1,500 books focused on Medina County history, Ohio history, and family history research. Use our digital microfilm readers to explore nearly 900 reels of microfilm, preserving local newspapers and county records dating as far back as the early 1800s. Contact me-team.genealogy@mcdl.info for researching in the center’s archival collections.
Research Databases
Unless noted, these databases (and more) are available at mcdl.info/HistoryResearch.
- Digital Archives of MCDL - Search Medina County newspapers and company newsletters (1830 -1977) at mcdl.info/Newspapers.
- Medina County Memory Project - Explore photos and documents from Medina County (1865-1965) at medinacountymemory.mcdl.info.
- Medina County Yearbooks - View yearbooks from Medina County schools (1913-1978) at mcdl.info/Yearbooks.
- R. B. Hayes Ohio Obituary Index - Indexes obituaries from Medina County newspapers and 65 other Ohio libraries at mcdl.info/Obituaries.
Societies
These organizations, societies, and agencies can provide assistance and records for your Medina County relatives at mcdl.info/Societies.
Donations
Medina County District Library is grateful for donations of historic materials pertaining to Medina County, Ohio and its surrounding counties of Ashland, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Summit, and Wayne. Contact me-team.genealogy@mcdl.info for more information on donating to the collection.
Who was Virginia Wheeler Martin?
Virginia Wheeler Martin (1928-2016) graduated from Medina High School, then Miami University, and became Medina’s first airline stewardess. She married Navy Captain Barney Martin, traveled the world with his career, and settled in California. Upon her death at age 88, she returned to Mound Hill Cemetery in Seville, along with five generations of her family, for burial. Virginia was active in many organizations; however, family history was her passion.