Local History

Amherst Public Library Digital Archive
The Amherst Public Library is proud to partner with the Ohio Historical Society to present a virtual collection of local history and memorabilia.

Amherst Historical Business Database
We’ve recently compiled Fay Van Nuys Ott’s work chronicling the history of Amherst businesses and offer a searchable interface for online users.  Fay last edited this information in 1996 and we are working to bring this resource up to date.  Please email us if you have facts relating to the addition of a business in our database.  Provide us the name, address, years of operation, and business owner and we will make every attempt to update our information.

Ohio Obituary Index
An index to over 1,600,000 obituaries, death and marriage notices, from Ohio including 1810s to the present day.

Amherst High School Yearbooks
This collection begins with the 1913 Amherst High School Annual.  Some books contain alumni information as well as class and faculty photos, sports, clubs, and commencement information.

Firelands High School Yearbooks
Copies of “The Torch” for selected years are now available.

Clippings Files
The library has collected a variety of undocumented newspaper clippings, photos, and articles relating to local history people and events. While these items cannot be included in our Ohio Memory Page we offer them here as items of local interest.

Amherst Pictorial History
This published work by local historian Fay Van Nuys Ott covers early days in Amherst history.  Pages are organized by business type and by street to provide a visual history of Amherst.

Amherst’s Story
Originally published in 1914, this book by Robert Grenville Armstrong chronicles the early history of Amherst.  Thirteen chapters include early pioneers, fraternal organizations, church and school history. The first Old Home Week is included as “An Epoch Event”.

Photographs
View photographs of historic Amherst from our local history collection.

Newspapers
Fully searchable, digital issues of the Amherst News Times along with the Free Press (1875 – 1879) are available.

Motorcycle History
Personal scrapbooks of John Penton and Al Born help chronicle the history of the Penton motorcylce and various racing events.

Amherst Fire Department
Historical information compiled by Assistant Fire Chief James H. Wilhelm.

Historic Amherst Postcards
Browse through our online collection of Historic Amherst Postcards.

Amherst Public Library History
Learn about the history of the Amherst Public Library.