YOUNGSTOWN - On Monday, leaders from the Diocese of Youngstown, community members, and state officials gathered for the groundbreaking of the All Saints Diocesan Archives Center located at 252 E. Wood St. in Youngstown.

The two-story, climate-controlled building will cover 4,900 square feet and will be constructed next to the former Saints Cyril and Methodius Church.

It will house a diverse collection of archives, including records from six bishops and over 116 parishes, spanning more than 200 years.

"Collections from groups like [National] Council of Catholic Women and university women, so different organizations, parishes, individuals. It's, a wide range represented. And again, it's from all over. It's from six counties. So it's all of Northeastern Ohio, from lake to river," Joan Lawson, Chancellor and Diocesan Archivist, said.

Saints Cyril and Methodius Church will be repurposed as a space for public events.

"It's the oldest Slovak church in the area, and that will be a place for public programming and for exhibits," Lawson said. 

A special fund through the diocese will support the $2.7 million dollar building

"The new building will be a place where people can come do research. There'll be a public reading room, and it will be storage and a place to process records," Lawson said.

The building is expected to open by the end of Summer 2026.