Winter programs bring Victorian folklore, Civil War heroines and genealogy workshops to local libraries

From Victorian holiday folklore to the hidden world of Civil War nurses and early crime-fighting in Cleveland, residents will have several opportunities this winter to dive into history and genealogy through a slate of upcoming programs across local library branches.

The season begins Dec. 2 in Seville with Ghosts of Christmas Past, a presentation by the Western Reserve Historical Society exploring the spirits, folklore and traditions that shaped 19th century holiday celebrations in Cleveland. The program begins at 6 p.m. and requires registration at mcdl.info/HistoryEvents.

Genealogy enthusiasts can connect with others during monthly Genealogy Discussion Group meetings at the Medina branch, held at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 10, Jan. 14 and Feb. 11.

A Family History Series, offered Saturdays at 2 p.m. in Medina with optional Zoom viewing, continues throughout winter. On Jan. 3, members of the Medina County Genealogical Society and the library’s genealogy team will help attendees brainstorm research resources and methods. The Feb. 7 session will focus on efficient searching and using digital libraries such as Internet Archive and HathiTrust. Registration is available at mcdl.info/HistoryEvents.

Brunswick will host Civil War Nurses on Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m., highlighting the stories and bravery of women who served during the war. In Lodi, a Jan. 29 program, Body Snatching & Grave Robbing, will examine 19th-century thefts of remains—including those of famous Ohioans. The session is presented by North Coast Narrative.

On Jan. 31, Medina will host two events: Scan Your Family Bible, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., offering attendees the chance to digitize fragile family Bibles using a book scanner; and the 11th Annual Medina County Local History Fair from noon to 4 p.m., featuring local historical and genealogical societies, displays and door prizes.

Lodi will offer Valentine’s Day in Cleveland on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m., presented by the Western Reserve Historical Society, exploring local love stories and the origins of the holiday. Registration is required.

Abolition-era history will take center stage Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. at the Buckeye branch with Freedom’s Friends: Abolition & the Underground Railroad in Oberlin, presented by the Oberlin Heritage Center. That same evening, at 6:30 p.m., Brunswick will host The Cleveland Years of Eliot Ness, detailing the famed crimefighter’s work in the 1930s.

The season concludes Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in Medina with Beginning Family History Research, a workshop introducing the basics of genealogy in six steps, with optional Zoom access. Registration for most programs is available at mcdl.info/HistoryEvents.