Published books and pamphlets such as county histories, directories, and biographies supplement the primary source materials with valuable background information. In 1968, the CAC began a local government records acquisition program with special emphasis on county records. Seven years later, in 1975, it joined with the Ohio Historical Society and six other state and private institutions to implement Ohio's Local Government Records Program. The CAC, through established Network agreements, collects and maintains historically valuable records which include those of counties, municipalities, townships, and school districts within a defined nineteen county region in Northwest Ohio. County, municipal, township, and school district records are rich in historical data.
County records provide a wealth of information to scholars and genealogists.
Birth, death, and marriage records, wills, naturalizations, and deeds relate the history of individuals and families. Historical studies of the social, political, and economical growth of a region can be undertaken using county home records, tax lists, and wills. Demographic studies can make use of birth, death, and enumeration records, poll books, voting abstracts, agricultural statistics, and children's home records. Municipal records , although basically administrative in nature, can be used for historical and genealogical research. Studies may be completed charting a municipality's growth and its legislative history through council minutes, ordinance and resolution records, and minutes of various boards and commissions.