The Library at the Western Reserve Historical Society is the premier repository for Cleveland history.  One of the Library's principal strengths is its manuscript collections, which touch upon every aspect of Ohio history.  These collections cover a wide range of subjects, including architecture, business, education, charity and social welfare, farming, immigration, law, military, politics, religion, and transportation.  Among the individuals represented here are abolitionists, ministers, lawyers and jurists, industrialists, journalists, and civic leaders.  The photographic holdings are vast and cover all subjects dating from the advent of photography in 1839 to the present.

Special areas of the collection include:

African American Archives

Cleveland Jewish Archives

Irish American Archives

Italian American Archives

LGBT Archives

Philanthropic Archives

Sports Archives