Background
Effective January 11, 1988, the Archivist of the State of Ohio, in cooperation with the Stark County Probate Court, assumed responsibility for many of the Court’s oldest and most historically valuable records series. Lack of acceptable storage facilities necessitated the transfer in order to preserve the Court’s records and increase their accessibility to the public.
The particular records have been transferred to the state designated repositories at the University of Akron and the Stark County District Library. Please call the respective facility regarding the hours they are open; the availability of the records; and any particular requirements.
Records Available for Use at Archival Services of theUniversity of Akron
Title of Record Series Volume Numbers Inclusive DatesBirth Records (original) 1-8 1867-1908Criminal Dockets A-H 1853-1932Death Records (original) 1-5 1867-1908Death, Index to 1 1940Industrial School Records 2 1906Inventory Records 1-23 1880-1902Journals A-Z; 27-101 1852-1931Limited Practioners Record 1 1916-1978Lunancy Dockets 1-2 1894-1902Marriage Dockets A-C; 5-18 1809-1901Marriage, Index to 1 1809-ca. 1857Medical Certificates, Record of 2-4 to 1916Ministers Licenses, Record of 1-10 1873-1982Naturalization Records 1861-1903Nurses Records 1-5 1916-1934Truancy Records 1 1905Any inquiries regarding these records should be sent directly to Archival Services. The mailing address is: University of Akron, Archival Services, Polsky Building, Room LL10, 225 S. Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44325-1702 and the telephone number is (330) 972-7670.
Records Available for Use at Stark County District Library in Canton, Ohio
NOTE: Records indicated as stored in the Stark County District Library Archives are available upon request. Other records are housed within the Genealogy Division.
Administration Record of Accounts, Volumes B-Z, 27-53 (Original Book Records in Archives)
Administration Records (Estate Files), Old Series 1-2568, New Series 1-14999 (Original Records in Archives)
Administration Records Index, 1809-1914 (Microfilm)
Applications, Bond and Letters of Administration, Volumes 1-3 (Original Book Records in Archives)
Applications, Bonds and Letters of Administration with Will Annexed, Volumes 1-4 (Original Book Records in Archives)
Assignee Records, Volumes 1-15 (Original Book Records in Archives)
Assignments, 1-661 (Original Records in Archives)
Birth Records, 1867-1909 (Microfilm); At the front of each volume is an alphabetical list of names indicating page numbers of entries.
Common Pleas Journal, 1809-1852, Probate Court Journals, 1852-1886 (Microfilm)
Information in these journals includes administrators appointed, applications to sell property, guardians appointed, guardian accounts, judgments, and ministers licensed. Names are listed alphabetically by category at the beginning of each volume.
Death Records, 1867-1908, (Microfilm)
Volume 1, 1867-1879. Names are listed alphabetically with page numbers at the front. Volumes 2-4, 1879-1908. Names are listed in alphabetical groupings for sequential time periods. There is no list with page numbers at the front.
Executor’s Bonds and Letters of Administration, Volume 1-2
(Original Book Records in Archives)
Files and Administration Dockets Index, 1810-1890 (Book)
Gives Administration Docket volume and page number and case or file number.
Guardian Records of Accounts, Volumes B-R (Original Records in Archives)
Guardianship Records, Old Series 1-2087, New Series 1-6011 (Original Records in Archives)
Index to Guardian Dockets, 1816-1900 (Microfilm)
Names are listed alphabetically, first by surname then by given name. Reference is to Guardian Docket volume and page.
Marriage Index, 1809-1972 (Microfilm)
Early Index, 1809-1874. This is an alphabetical list providing Marriage Record volume and page number.
Alphabetical Index, 1858-1972. Surnames of both sexes are listed alphabetically giving volume of marriage record and page number.
Marriage Records, 1809-1916 (Microfilm)
Records of 1809-1874 are referenced by the Early Index, 1809-1874. Records of 1858-1916, Volumes 5-26 are referenced by the Alphabetical Index, 1858-1972.
Naturalization Records, 1861-1903 (Microfilm)
Will Index, 1811-1942 (Microfilm)
Lists names alphabetically giving volume and page number of Will and Record.
Will Records, 1811-1980s (Microfilm)
Any inquiries regarding these records should be sent directly to the Stark County District Library. The library’s mailing address is; Stark County District Library, 715 Market Ave., North, Canton, Ohio, 44702 and the telephone number is (330) 452-0665.
Remaining Records and Genealogy Searches
The remaining Probate Court records, (including the estate case files since 1810 which are on microfilm) are still retained by the Stark County Probate Court.
We regret that the Probate Court is not sufficiently staffed to handle genealogy searches because the deputy clerks’ official duties occupy their full work days. As a service to the public, the Records Center personnel will show you how to use the court indexes, should you or your representative care to visit the Stark County Probate Court. The Probate Court is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except legal holidays. You may call the Records Center directly at (330) 451-7753.