The Wyoming Historical Society

The Wyoming Historical Society is a nonprofit organization with the purpose of WHS1.jpgcollecting, preserving, and disseminating historical and genealogical information pertaining to Wyoming, Ohio. It encourages local historical research and promotes interest in Wyoming's heritage. The Historical Society played an instrumental role in listing the City's Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.


Activities

Activities sponsored by the Historical Society include:

  • Lectures and workshops on subjects of historic interest
  • Local history tour for all Wyoming third grade students
  • Junior history award
  • Historic house tours

The Historical Society also participates in:

  • Wyoming Fall Festival
  • The City's 4th of July Parade
  • Wyoming Schools' May Fete
  • Wy-Homing Days

 

Resources

The headquarters and library of the Wyoming Historical Society are located in the lower level of the City Municipal WHS3.JPGBuilding at 800 Oak Avenue. This location serves as the focal point for the Historical Society's activities, and includes modern storage facilities for the photos, books, artifacts, and documents included in the Historical Society's collection.

Items in the archives include:

  • Early Village Records
  • Early City Records
  • Genealogies of Local Families
  • Wyoming High School Yearbooks
  • Wyoming High School Alumni Association Archives
  • Wyoming PTA Archives
  • Wyoming Women's Club Archives
  • Wyoming Junior Women's Club Archives
  • Wyoming Tennis Association Scrapbooks
  • Wyoming Players Scrapbooks
  • Lockland-Wyoming Kiwanis Club Archives
  • Back-Issues of Wyoming Living
  • House History Files
  • Maps
  • Photographs
  • Oral History Tapes

whs.jpgMany written histories of Wyoming, Hamilton County, and Cincinnati are available in the Historical Society's reference library. There are also selections on the history of local transportation and military actions. For those wanting to know more about the style of their home there is a growing collection of items on identifying historic home styles and in-depth volumes on specific house types, such as Victorian Homes and Sears Homes. Additionally, the library has a number of guides on how to maintain and restore historic homes.

Walking Tours

The Wyoming Historical Society has prepared several self-guided walking tours. The following are a brief description of each and a link to a printable guide and map.

Wyoming’s Historic District

Wyoming’s Historic “Village” District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in September 1986, and includes more than three hundred buildings in the heart of Wyoming. It is described by the Ohio Historical Preservation Office as “a one-of-a kind community with an extremely impressive array of architecture.”
Click here for a printable guide and map of the Historical Walking Tour. Paper copies are available at the Historical Society Office.

This tour provides information on buildings with significant history and unique architecture, characteristic of the times. Throughout the District, lovely old trees and wide expanses of green lawns have blended the vertical lines of nineteenth century styles with the more horizontal lines of twentieth century architecture. The community that evolved has special charm and historical significance.

Trees of History

Wyoming’s citizens have a long history of planting trees to enhance their community. Over time, many of these trees have grown to be great specimens of their species. With a combination of history and botany, this tour offers an enjoyable walk through the village historic district with an eye to the green canopy overhead. Click here for the Trees of History Walking Tour information. Paper copies are available at the Historical Society Office.


Membership

Anyone may become a member of the Wyoming Historical Society. Membership dues are the primary funding for the activities of the organization. The benefits of membership include attendance at special member-only events and receiving the society's newsletter. Click here for a Historical Society membership form.


Donations

The Wyoming Historical Society is always seeking additional information about our community. The Historical Society currently has a vigorous program to collect, preserve, and catalog items of Wyoming history, for example: photographs, event programs, yearbooks, house histories, family genealogies, letter sweaters or fraternity pins. Any and all memorabilia pertinent to life in Wyoming at any period of time are accepted. Items can be scanned or photocopied, and originals returned, if desired.


Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer assistance is vital to the Wyoming Historical Society. It is used to maintain the archives, staff the Fall Festival WHS2.JPGbooth, prepare and guide house tours, develop educational programs, gather oral history interviews, and take photographs. Please contact the Wyoming Historical Society if you would like to donate your time to these or other related activities.

 

 


Publications

"The Historical Record", the Wyoming Historical Society Newsletter, is published four times a year. It includes information on upcoming programs, interesting stories on historical events in Wyoming, and informative articles on topics such as researching family history and maintaining historic homes.

February 2010

November 2009

September 2009

July 2009

April 2009

February 2009

 

WYOMING HISTORICAL SOCIETY
800 Oak Avenue
Wyoming, OH 45215
513.842.1383
history@wyoming.oh.us
Hours: Tuesday 10:30-3:00
and by appointment

 

Upcoming Events


Please join the Wyoming Historical Society for a program on Thursday, February 18th at 7pm at the Presbyterian Church of Wyoming, 225 Wyoming Avenue. Linda Pumphrey, Curator of the Historical Mountain Mist Corporate Quilt Collection and Co–President of The Alliance for American Quilts, will speak about the Lockland-based Stearns & Foster Company, which revolutionized the cotton wadding and batting industry in the late 19th century. Her presentation will include insight into the history of the Stearns family of Wyoming, a family that was a major player in the development and growth of Wyoming. For additional information, please contact Glenn Lewis at 513-821-1361.

On Sunday, March 21st, the Wyoming HistoricalSociety will sponsor a presentation by Walter E. Langsam, architectural historian and historic preservation consultant. He will bring to light the veritable museum of architecture constructed in Wyoming in the last century and a half. The program will begin at 2 pm at the Wyoming Civic Center, 1 Worthington Ave, at the corner of Springfield Pike. For additional information, please contact Glenn Lewis at 513-821-1361.