Robert Vexler’s Cincinnati: A Chronological and Documentary History, 1676-1970 is just what its title says. It begins with a section that chronologically lists events in the cities history followed by a collection of important, more or less important, documents relating to that history. The chronology is a valuable resource if you consider it only a starting point for your research. The documents are of questionable value as they seem to be abridged and nowhere does the book say otherwise. What is there has proved to be, for me invaluable. Where can you find a better quote than this from the 1817 contract for Cincinnati’s first water system specifying that water “be delivered three feet above the floor of James Ferguson's kitchen in the second ward”? (Pg 79)
Anyone researching Cincinnati history would benefit from a few minutes looking through this little book. Unfortunately the last forty years of entries are missing. It is time for an update. ( )