Trumbull County Historical Society

What Trumbull County Historical Society does

Trumbull County Historical Society (TCHS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1938 and headquartered in Warren, Ohio, that serves as the primary institutional steward of Trumbull County's historical heritage. The organization operates three physical sites: the Morgan History Center (administrative and research hub, currently under construction), the John Stark Edwards House (the oldest remaining home in Warren, built in 1807), and the Sutliff Museum (acquired in 2024 and slated for relocation and reinterpretation within the Morgan History Center by 2026). It maintains a permanent collection of over 30,000 artifacts and archival items, including nearly 1,000 Sutliff family letters documenting Underground Railroad activity and the VOICES Oral History Project featuring extensive interviews on civil rights, segregation, industry, and community life.

TCHS runs a multi-platform digital and educational program, with online access to its collection via CatalogIt software (covering 13,000+ archives searchable by person, date, place, or tag), dedicated veteran and general grave databases, the TC Encyclopedia community-contributed research platform, the 'Key to the Past Cast' podcast, and online 'History at Home' lessons for grades 3-8. Educational outreach includes 'Museum in a Box' artifact rentals (free to schools for two-week periods), in-school programming aligned to Ohio social studies standards for 4th and 8th graders, and field trip coordination. The society also operates the Historic Building Recognition Program, the Old Mahoning/Pioneer Cemetery preservation initiative, and signature events including Oktoberfest on the Square, Family Day, Oakwood After Dark cemetery tours, and Coffee & Conversations programming.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue mix rather than commercial sales. Primary revenue streams include annual membership dues ($10 student to $1,000 lifetime, plus Corporate/Nonprofit at $500), fee-based research services ($18 first hour, $25 thereafter, with 50% member discount), ticketed event admissions, retail book sales, artifact donations, and a range of grants and bequests. The organization is supported by a small staff of 7 led by Executive Director Meghan Reed, with partnerships spanning the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, Ohio Humanities, AASLH, Ohio Museums Association, the Wean Foundation, and the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau. TCHS is also leading the development of the Museum of Science Fiction & Fantasy Arts in Warren, based on a 2024 acquisition of 500+ props from Hollywood's Modern Props.

Name

Trumbull County Historical Society

Legal name

Trumbull County Historical Society

Website

https://trumbullcountyhistory.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Trumbull County Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1938 that preserves and interprets the heritage of Trumbull County, Ohio, through three museum sites, a 30,000+ item collection, educational programs, and digital archives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historical Society and Museum Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (712110), Libraries and Archives (51921), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Historical society services
• Museum exhibits
• Archival research
• Oral history projects
• Educational programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Warren

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $10 (student) to $1,000 (lifetime), with multiple tiers including Individual ($30), Family ($50), Contributing ($100), Advocate ($250), Benefactor ($500), and Corporate/Nonprofit ($500). Members receive newsletter subscription, discounted program rates, invitations to exclusive events, and 10% shop discount.
2. Research Services: Fee-based research services at $18 for the first hour and $25 per hour thereafter with a 50% discount for members. Additional fees for photocopies ($0.15 B&W, $0.75 color) and photograph reproductions.
3. Event Admissions: Ticketed events such as Oakwood After Dark cemetery tours ($10 admission with reservation required).
4. Retail Sales: Sale of historical books and publications including Warren: Postcard History Series, Warren: Images of America, Iron Valley, and other local history materials through the online shop.
5. Historic Building Recognition Program: $60 fee for research reports on historic buildings applying for plaque recognition through the Historic Building Recognition Program.
6. Artifact Donations: Accepts artifact donations related to Trumbull County. Donations are generally tax deductible; large items or restoration needs may prompt additional fundraising donations toward preservation and maintenance.
7. Donations and Fundraising: General donations and legacy giving programs. The Raymond & Janice Bland Archives & Research Center was funded through bequest funds toward the Operation: RESTORATION campaign.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Trumbull County Historical Society operates museum facilities, historical preservation programs, and educational services for Trumbull County, Ohio. Core offerings include the Morgan History Center, John Stark Edwards House (built 1807), and Sutliff Museum, along with online searchable archives of 30,000+ items, oral history projects, podcasts, K-12 educational programs, genealogy and historic research services, and community events. The Society is supported by membership dues, donations, grants, and ticketed event admissions.

Product overview

The Trumbull County Historical Society operates a multi-platform historical preservation and education organization. Its core offerings include three physical museum facilities: The Morgan History Center (main exhibition and research hub), the John Stark Edwards House (1807 historic house museum), and the Sutliff Museum (Underground Railroad history, pending relocation to Morgan Center by 2026). Digital platforms include an Online Database with over 30,000 searchable archival items using CatalogIt software, the VOICES Oral History Project with oral history interviews, and the Key to the Past Cast podcast series. Educational programs encompass History at Home online lessons, Museum in a Box classroom rentals, and In-School Programs for grades 4 and 8. Research services provide access to the Bland Archives with paid hourly research. Additional offerings include Grave Databases (veteran and general), the TC Encyclopedia, Historic Building Recognition Program, and annual events such as Oktoberfest. The society operates a membership program, museum shop, and accepts artifact donations for its permanent collection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VOICES Oral History Project: An oral history initiative that collects and preserves human experiences highlighting the heritage of Warren and Trumbull County, featuring interviews with local residents covering topics such as civil rights, education, industry, and community life.
• Key to the Past Cast
• TC Encyclopedia
• Abolitionist & Me

Products and services

• The Morgan History Center The main museum facility housing rotating exhibit galleries, the research center (Bland Archives and Research Center), and administrative offices, located at 328 Mahoning Ave, Warren, OH. Currently closed to the public for construction with appointments available for artifact donations.
• John Stark Edwards House Historic house museum built in 1807, the oldest remaining home in Warren. Acquired by TCHS in 1938 for museum use. Tours available by appointment via phone (330) 394-4653 or email.
• Sutliff Museum Museum exploring Underground Railroad history, Sutliff family history, and Victorian-era life. Contains nearly 1,000 Sutliff family letters. Originally opened November 1971 inside Warren-Trumbull County Public Library; TCHS assumed management in 2024; relocation to Morgan History Center planned for 2026.
• Online Database (CatalogIt) Digital collection database with over 30,000 searchable items including letters, documents, ledgers, scrapbooks, and photographs, using CatalogIt software for artifact documentation. Searchable by person, date, place, or tag.
• Key to the Past Cast Podcast Podcast series with 18 episodes covering local history topics, featuring interviews and historical storytelling about Trumbull County.
• VOICES Oral History Project Collects and preserves human experiences highlighting the heritage of Warren and Trumbull County. Features interviews with over 20 individuals covering civil rights, segregation, education, industry, neighborhoods, and community life.
• History at Home Lessons Online educational lessons and activities for grades 3-8 covering local history topics including printing, pandemics, Connecticut Western Reserve, architecture, women's suffrage, Underground Railroad, President McKinley, and Packard Electric.
• Museum in a Box Educational outreach program bringing museum objects to classrooms. Boxes are designed to enhance Ohio's social studies academic content standards with themes including Underground Railroad/Civil War, Pioneer Life, Native American, and Victorian Life. Available for two-week rental periods free of charge.
• In-School Programs Educational programs for 4th and 8th grade students in Trumbull County schools, including curriculum-aligned content delivered by TCHS staff.
• TC Encyclopedia Public research platform compiling entries on people, businesses, and locations throughout Trumbull County submitted by local researchers and history organizations.
• Old Mahoning / Pioneer Cemetery Preservation Preservation project for the 1804 established first public burial ground in Trumbull County. Includes digitization of the 2003 survey, research on those buried, Find-A-Grave indexing, clean-up days, Ground Penetrating Radar scanning, and GPS mapping.
• Historic Building Recognition Program Program recognizing historically significant buildings in Trumbull County that are 75+ years old. Awards plaques based on tiered scoring (Historic Landmark - Tier 1 or Historic Home/Building - Tier 2). $60 fee for research reports.
• Research Services Paid research services providing access to the Bland Archives and Research Center. Research fees are $18.00 for the first hour and $25.00 per hour thereafter, with 50% discount for TCHS members and museum personnel. Additional fees for photocopies.
• Artifact Donation Program Program accepting artifacts related to Trumbull County for the permanent collection, including photographs, newspapers, letters, books, and digital media. Items must relate to Warren or Trumbull County's 24 townships.
• Membership Program Annual membership program with multiple levels: Student ($10), Individual ($30), Family ($50), Contributing ($100), Advocate ($250), Benefactor ($500), Lifetime ($1,000), and Corporate/Nonprofit ($500). Includes benefits such as newsletters, event invitations, and shop discounts.
• Museum Shop

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 13,000 archives searchable online with 30,000+ total collection items documented via CatalogIt
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Paige & ByrnesminorOthersLogo partner listed on TCHS Partners page. Nature of partnership not specified in available source materials.
• Trumbull County Board of CommissionerscoreOthersGovernment partner providing support and collaboration for county historical initiatives and programs.
• American Association for State and Local History (AASLH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational professional association for state and local history organizations. Ryan MacLennan serves on the AASLH Small Museum Committee.
• Ohio Museums AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState association supporting and connecting Ohio museums through professional development and resources.
• Museums for AllminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational initiative supporting accessible museum experiences for all audiences regardless of economic status.
• Ohio Local History AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network connecting local history organizations. Savannah Moss serves as regional representative for the Ohio Local History Alliance.
• Western Reserve Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner organization serving the Western Reserve area of Northeast Ohio.
• Trumbull County Tourism BureaucoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial tourism partner for Trumbull County promoting visitor attractions, hotels, restaurants, and activities. Collaborates on America 250 'This is Trumbull' program and distributes visitor guides and materials.
• Sutliff MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCHS assumed management of Sutliff Museum in 2024. Received Ohio History Fund grant for 'Moving the Sutliff Museum: Preserving Warren, OH's Underground Railroad History' project. Museum will relocate to Morgan History Center in 2026 for reinterpretation focusing on Underground Railroad.
• Warren-Trumbull County Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner hosting Local History & Genealogy Center on second floor, Family Day events, Transcribing History Workshops, and temporarily housing Sutliff Museum. Contact: 330.399.8807 ext. 202.
• Shepard of the Valley's Howland CommunityminorOthersHost venue for monthly Coffee & Conversations programs featuring Trumbull County history topics. Located at 4100 North River Rd. NE, Warren, OH 44484.
• Trumbull County Genealogical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated 2003 survey of Old Mahoning/Pioneer Cemetery to TCHS for digitization and online database creation.
• Warren G. Harding Alumni Band CollectionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCHS serves as repository for this collection. Donors should contact collection managers for information via project website.
• America 250-OHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide initiative celebrating America's 250th anniversary. TCHS participates in Ohio Statewide Experiences including Trails & Tales trails, Fourth Grade History Pass, and Next Generation Citizens programs.
• Museum of Science Fiction & Fantasy ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew museum initiative led by TCHS following acquisition of 500+ iconic props from Modern Props (Hollywood prop house founded by Warren native John Zabrucky). Kattie Bortmas serves on founding team. Ryan MacLennan serves on steering committee. Will be the first U.S. museum dedicated exclusively to science fiction and fantasy arts.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Mercer County Historical Society: Western Pennsylvania county-level historical society offering comparable museum operations, genealogy research services, and educational programming for the same regional demographic TCHS serves across the state border.
• Crawford County Historical Society: Northwestern Pennsylvania historical society with similar small-staff museum operations, historical house management, and educational programming for K-12 audiences.

Direct peers

• Columbiana County Historical Society: Neighboring Ohio county historical society comparable in scale, collections focus, and reliance on small staff plus volunteer workforce for museum and educational operations.
• Geauga County Historical Society: Neighboring Northeast Ohio county historical society operating multiple historic sites; comparable in scale, revenue model (memberships, donations, events), and small-staff operational structure.
• Mahoning Valley Historical Society: Operates the Arms Family Museum and Tyler Historic Center in Youngstown, OH — a directly comparable neighboring county historical society with overlapping mission, membership model, and educational programming.
• Lake County Historical Society: Adjacent Northeast Ohio county historical society operating the Lake County History Center; directly comparable in mission, county-level scope, and educational outreach to schools.
• Western Reserve Historical Society: The largest regional historical society in Northeast Ohio, operating multiple museum sites (including the Cleveland History Center) and serving as a directly comparable peer in scope of operations, collections, and geographic market overlap with TCHS.
• Ashtabula County Historical Society: Directly comparable small-county Northeast Ohio historical society operating the Hubbard House and other sites with similar collections, educational programming, and museum infrastructure footprint.

Others

• CatalogIt: Cloud-based collections management software platform used by TCHS to digitize and publish its 30,000+ item archive — a technology/ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor, but central to TCHS's digital access strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Ohio History Connection: Statewide nonprofit history organization operating the Ohio History Center and multiple historic sites across Ohio; functions as both an umbrella body and competing grant-funded peer to TCHS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/trumbullcohistory
• Instagraminstagram.com/trumbullcohistory
• Xx.com/TrumbullOhHist
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trumbull-county-historical-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trumbull County Historical Society