We would like to invite you to visit The POORHOUSE STORY website (a clearinghouse for information about 19th century American poorhouses)at http://www.poorhousestory.com Thanks to many of the Ohio "listers" who volunteered to do the transcribing, we have a Holiday Gift. For history fans and genealogy buffs alike ... we think you will enjoy these. Here is a description: --------------------------- During the 1930's and 1940's the Work Projects Administration (WPA) began the process of inventorying County Archives of Ohio. Their work was cut short when funding elapsed prior to World War II, but several volumes were published. The Columbiana County edition states: "The inventories produced by the Historical Records Survey Program attempt to do more than give merely a list of records--they attempt further to sketch in the historical background of the county or other unit of government, and to describe precisely and in detail the organization and functions of the government agencies whose records they list. The county, town, and other local inventories will, when completed, constitute an encyclopedia of local government as well as bibliography of local archives." ... While these records may no longer be stored in the vault, it is proof that they did exist at the time the book was compiled. It may take some digging, but chances are good that the records can be found. The WPA Inventories were never totally completed for all counties in Ohio. ... They are unavailable today except in most major Ohio libraries, where a complete set will usually be found. page 60 OHIO GENEALOGICAL GUIDE 6th Edition by Carol Willsey Bell, C.G. - ------------------------------- Note: Of the 27 counties whose WPA Inventories included Infirmary (poorhouse)records ... we have just posted the excerpts from 7 of them and are working on the others. We have posted: ASHLAND COLUMBIANA HANCOCK LUCAS MONTGOMERY PIKE STARK If you have recently visited the site, you may need to click on REFRESH when you get to relevant pages in order to see the NEW material. If you are new to the site, DIRECTIONS: At the homepage (linked above) click on POORHOUSES BY STATE, then OTHER STATES, then OHIO on the table of states. The WPA Inventories' link is at the top. Hope you enjoy! Happy Holidays Linda Crannell (aka=The Poorhouse Lady)