The Research Center is a valuable resource for patrons who are interested in learning more about the history of Syracuse, Onondaga County and its inhabitants. It includes files covering locally relevant topics, family names, photographs, maps, and locations of Syracuse and Onondaga County. Visitors are also able to request local historical documents and material from the Archives. We hope you research with us and perhaps learn more than what you expected.
Visiting the Research Center
Closure to Research Center and Services
The Onondaga Historical Association is currently undergoing a large building project that directly impacts our access to resources and collection materials. Due to the project, we have paused our remote research services. The Research Center will be available for in person appointments until Friday, December 19th. After this, the center will be closed until the project is completed. The expected completion is Summer of 2026.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we undertake this extensive project to strengthen and improve our research service capabilities.
If you have any questions, please email OHA Research Center Manager Maria Lore directly at maria.lore@cnyhistory.org.
Research Center Rules⯆
Catalog and Finding Aid
A partial catalog of our archival collection is available through the NYS Library Catalog. To search our collection specifically, change the library to ‘HDI’ and include ‘and Onondaga Historical Association’ in your search terms.
The Research Center Subject Finding Aid gives an overview of the topics covered in our Reference Collection.
The African-American Materials Finding Aid provides an inventory of African-American related collections and Reference Collection files.
Research Center Services
We have thousands of images that are available as reprints or digital files. We also offer remote research services, conducting research on behalf of our customers. Click here for more information, or to purchase these services.