Archives & Collections

The Oakwood Historical Society Archive and House Museum contain a collection of items pertaining to Oakwood’s storied history. Many of these artifacts have been in the process of collection since the inception of the Society in 1974.

The archive collection includes:

1. Books— rare and first edition books pertaining to Ohio, Dayton and Oakwood history, including several signed by notable Oakwood and Dayton residents, such as Charlotte Reeve Conover, Colonel Edward Deeds, John H. Patterson, Charles Kettering, Orville Wright and the Talbott and Mead families.
2. Maps and Atlases— early and original maps and atlases of Van Buren Township, Dayton and Oakwood. Bound edition of Oakwood Sanborn Fire Maps; 1912 Olmsted landscape plan of Oakwood Subdivision.
3. Newspapers— original editions of the Oakwood Village Record, Oakwood Record, Oakwood Press, Oakwood Tidings, The Oakwood Register, the High School Oak Leaf, and microfilm of the Oakwood Press and Kettering-Oakwood Times.
4. Special collections— signed Orville Wright Christmas cards, original pioneer land deeds, early subdivision booklets, and extensive collection of early photographs.
5. Oakwood Schools— booklets, yearbooks, scrapbooks, class photos dating to first Oakwood Village School. Also includes items from Dayton Stivers, Steele High Schools.
6. City of Oakwood— digitized city council meeting minutes, newsletters, vintage Safety Department photographs, early village records.
7. Files containing research on Oakwood homes, people of note, including the Schantz, Shroyer, Patterson and Wright families, buildings, such as Runnymede Playhouse, and various companies, including the National Cash Register Company. Digitized early ownership records of every Oakwood home.
8. Oral Histories— Transcribed, printed, and recorded recollections of notable Oakwood residents. DVD collection of history presentations.

Other artifacts on current and permanent public display include portraits of important Oakwood residents, original 1913 Dayton Flood photographs, rare Oakwood Pottery and personal items from the families of John H. Patterson, Schantz, Talbott and Mead.

The Archive is located in the Oakwood City Building. Some items are on loan from the archive for special displays in the Society’s House Museum, and occasionally at Wright Memorial Public Library.

The Archive is not a lending library, but it is open by appointment for research. Please contact us at info@oakwoodhistory.org to arrange a session. The Society also maintains a small collection of books pertaining to Oakwood History at our House Museum. These can be taken on loan with proper identification.