Keith Orejel is an Assistant Professor of History at Wilmington College where he teaches a variety of courses on American History, the Civil War and Reconstruction, as well as African American Studies and the Cold War. Keith splits his time between Ohio and Michigan, where his wife currently resides. He is a 2015 alumna of Columbia University where he earned his Ph.D. in History with a focus on Colonial America and the Early Republic. Keith was nominated for the 2016 Society of American Historians’ Allan Nevins Prize for best-written American history dissertation. He is currently under contract with the University of Pennsylvania Press for an upcoming book: Factories in the Fallows: Rural and Small-Town Politics in the American Heartland. He has written numerous articles and papers, as well as public presentations. His most recent fellowship was as a Postdoctoral Teacher at the University of Missouri from 2015-2017. Keith is currently both a member of the American Historical Association and Business History Conference. 

Lauren is a lifelong resident of Wilmington. She graduated from Wilmington High School, Wilmington College, and Capital University Law School.  She became a Magistrate in the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas in 2022, and was formerly in the private practice of law for 17 years.  She is a member of Wilmington Friends Meeting.

Tim was raised in Clinton County and received a juris doctorate from the Ohio State University’s Law School.  Tim has been a judge since 1985, originally serving for fifteen years as the Clinton County Municipal Court Judge.  Since 2001 he has served on the bench of the Clinton County Common Pleas Court.

Christine Hadley Snyder was born in the c1830 farmhouse built by her great-great-great grandfather Eli Harvey (1803-1872), which she now maintains as a family museum and event venue, and manages the family farms. She was a birthright member of Springfield Friends Meeting, where in the burial ground lie seven generations of her ancestors. She attended all twelve years at Adams Township School, and earned a B.Sc. Degree in science education from OSU and a B.A. in Spanish and a Master of Humanities from Wright State, plus additional work in veterinary practice management. She and her husband served in the Peace Corps 1964-66. She has taught high school and university, and served as CFO of her husband’s veterinary clinic for 31 years. She served on the Wilmington College Board of Trustees for twelve years, the final four years as Chair. She has served as President of the Clinton County Genealogical Society and volunteers in the research library. She is currently working on the Quaker Scenic Byway project and serves on the Board of Energize Clinton. She and her husband love to travel the world, including visiting their three grown sons and six grandchildren.

Mary Kay (McMillan) Vance was born and raised in Clinton County on the family’s Gurneyville Road
farm. The McMillan ancestors settled in Chester Township in 1805 and the family still owns some of the
original land along with the land grant signed by George Washington. Mary Kay is a graduate of Clinton
Massie High School and Ohio Northern University’s Dicke School of Business with a Bachelor of
Administration and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. After 32 years as the City of
Wilmington’s deputy auditor, she was elected and currently holds the position as Wilmington’s City
Auditor. She has served locally on the boards of the American Cancer Society, The Murphy Theatre,
Main Street Wilmington, Downtown Wilmington Community Improvement Corporation, Clinton County
Adult Day Center, Local Emergency Planning Committee, and as the Public Information Officer for the
Emergency Management Agency.

Renee is a Graduate of University of Toledo, where she studied Business
Administration. She resides in Warren County with her Husband and
Daughter. Renee works at Peoples Bank in Downtown Wilmington as the Branch Manager and in her free time she enjoys the outdoors with kayaking, swimming and hiking.

Archives

The research library has a comprehensive collection of genealogy material.  The History Center also maintains archives of photographs; scrapbooks; manuscripts; Township ledgers; club and organization records; topical files; historic buildings; school, business and church/meeting information. We believe the collection and archives should be used to advance knowledge and can be made accessible to serious students and scholars for research. Access to our collection is secondary to its preservation, and will be given or denied by the Director. If you would like to inquire about access, please contact us by phone or email prior to arrival.

Research Requests

For research requests regarding Clinton County history, not related to genealogy, please contact the History Center at (937) 382-4684 or e-mail us at Info@ClintonCountyHistory.org.

Genealogical Research

Requests for genealogical research should be sent via email to info@clintoncountyhistory.org or in writing to:

The Clinton County Genealogical Society PO Box 529 Wilmington, OH 45177

Research inquiries are directed to one of our volunteers, who are onsite 2-3 days weekly. We attempt to answer short, clear and direct questions. A $25 donation toward your research request is requested. Your donation is used to help afford additional preservation supplies and needed equipment. Volunteers do not receive monetary compensation for their work. 

Requests for information should include:

• Your Name
• Mailing Address
• Email
• Phone #
• Reason for Request (describe who or what you are looking for)
• Copy of your Pedigree Chart or Family Group Sheet (if possible) so we know what information you have already compiled.
• $.25 per page copy, if more than 10 pages are requested/sent.

If you wish for more extensive research, you may want to contact a paid researcher.

Photography:

The Clinton County History Center makes images available for a single use, specific project or production. Images furnished by CCHC may not be resold, licensed, rented or reused in any other production or for any purpose other than originally specified.  All requests for photographic reproduction must be submitted to the Executive Director. There is a $10.00 use fee per photograph, plus reproduction costs. The Clinton County History Center reserves the right to refuse any requests.

Room Rental:

Davids Conference & Community Room

Business Hours – (W – F, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 2:00p.m.)

Room may be only rented for organization meetings and educational purposes/programming at a rate of $25 an hour. The price of renting has increased due to COVID-19 incurred costs and increased sanitization demands. Room can accommodate around 90 people. Includes Kitchenette (fridge, microwave, sink, dishes, etc), chairs, tables, and tablecloths (if needed). Climate controlled heating and A/C. Private restrooms and secluded space with rental.

Non-Business Hours – Please contact us to discuss availability of non-business hour rentals.

The History Center retains right of refusal.