HOHS Archival Library & Office
Preserving Our Local History:
For more than half a century, the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society has been collecting and preserving the history of Hilliard and northwest Franklin County. Today, that effort is centered at the Society’s Archival Library at 5274 Norwich Street, an important resource for anyone interested in the people, families and history of our community.
The building that houses the library was built in 1912, adding another layer of history to a facility devoted to preserving our past.
The Historical Society was established in 1966, with the original goal of preserving the pioneer history of Hilliard and northwest Franklin County through a museum and historical village. As the Society grew, so did its collections. Residents and families donated photographs, documents, books, maps, manuscripts and other materials that might otherwise have been lost.
Among the library's most valuable resources are binders containing family histories dating back to some of Hilliard's founding families. These records can provide information about generations of local residents and help researchers connect names, families, homes and events from Hilliard's past.
The collection has continued to expand over the years. It includes family genealogies, land abstracts, deeds, maps and plat maps, school information, photographs, family Bibles and records, military memorabilia, manuscripts, books, music, films, videos and materials relating to transportation and other aspects of local history.
In 2018, the library was operating at its Norwich Street location and was actively helping residents with historical and genealogical research. The Hilliard Station Chronicle reported that Librarian Marilyn Evans was receiving interesting research questions from members of the community and encouraged residents to discover the resources available in the library.
Today, the Archival Library serves not only as a research library but also as an important archival and preservation center. Historical materials are carefully reviewed before being accepted into the Society's collection, and materials not currently on display are preserved in secure, temperature-controlled storage.
The Society has also begun making portions of its collections available digitally, including an extensive online archive of the Hilliard Station Chronicle dating back to 2014. This makes it possible for researchers to explore Hilliard's history even when they cannot visit the library in person.
Perhaps most importantly, the Archival Library is staffed by volunteers—people who generously give their time to help preserve and share Hilliard's history. Their work ensures that the stories of the families who built our community are not forgotten.
Visit the Archival Library
Whether you are researching your family tree, looking for information about an old Hilliard home, investigating a local business or simply curious about Hilliard's past, the Archival Library may have something to help.
Library Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday - 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Appointments are also available at other times by arrangement.
The Archival Library is more than a collection of old documents. It is a place where Hilliard's past comes alive—one family, one photograph, one document and one story at a time.
