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The Ohio Historical Society museum collections consist of approximately 1,600,000 objects divided into three broad categories: archaeology, natural history and history. The collections support the Society's mission to preserve and encourage the study of all aspects of history related to Ohio and its cultural and natural environments.
In addition to preserving significant archaeological, historical and natural materials, the museum collections support exhibit and educational services programs that interpret Ohio's heritage to the statewide, national and international visitors. The museum collections also provide resources for scholars and researchers studying Ohio's history, natural history and prehistory.
For further information or questions about the Ohio Historical Society museum collections, E-mail reference@ohiohistory.org, or call 614/297-2510.
Background
Preservation of Ohio's rich prehistoric resources was the impetus for the Society's formation in 1885 as the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society. Much of the organization's early efforts were devoted to archaeology, which laid the foundation of the Society's archaeology collections. The Society's history collections have grown from the colonial, pioneer and Civil War artifacts originally exhibited in the Ohio Statehouse Relic Room and transferred to the Society in 1916. In the 1920s, an active natural history program was established to provide a foundation for the Society's interpretation of the state's historic development.
More Information on OHS Collections
If you wish to learn more about specific portions of our collections, click on Archaeology Collections, History Collections, or Natural History Collections.
You can also access the database for our Online Collection Catalog via your computer. Click your mouse here to connect the catalog, or click on the small print header at the top of any OHS web page that says: "Go to the Online Collection Catalog." You can search for records of any of the over 230,000 entries from the museum collections (archaeology, history, or natural history) as well as all of our Library/Archives records.
Information is also available on Collections Conservation. If you are interested in donation or sale of potential collections items to the Ohio Historical Society, click on Acquisitions.


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