Ohio History Journal

HISTORICAL NEWS

 

Historical Societies

 

ALLEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Lima

James A. MacDonell, President

The December issue of the Reporter contains an article on the early grain

business in Allen County. It also includes a letter from the president of

the society announcing that the building fund of the society stood (as of

December 13) at $118,000, and that $2,000 was needed to meet the board's

annual goal of $10,000 for the fund. This amount has been secured for

the past three years largely by contributions from the members of the board.

 

ALLIANCE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Alliance

Mrs. Fred R. Donaldson, President

The society participated actively in the celebration of the Alliance cen-

tennial from May through September and is preparing six scrapbooks of

centennial material. The Alliance Chamber of Commerce presented to the

society a large blue silk gold-fringed flag with the official centennial seal.

The society is handling the sale of about one thousand of the centennial

booklets, which are now available for twenty-five cents.

Mrs. Melvin Van Winkle has been named to represent the society at the

meetings of the Stark County Historical Society.

 

BRECKSVILLE EARLY SETTLERS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, Brecksville

Ernest Green, President

Mrs. Lois Wallin has been appointed assistant to the curator, Harold

Wallin.

The society maintains monthly exhibits of antiques at the Squire Rich

house. A farm bedroom of the 1840's and an Ohio barn of the same period

have recently been restored by the society. A recent issue of the Pioneer

contains a master list of the collections in the museum.

 

BROWN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Georgetown

Isabelle McCorry, President

Officers of the society elected for the new year at a meeting on January

15 are as follows: Isabelle McCorry, president; Mrs. Hugh Gooding, vice

president; Dwight Marriott, recording secretary; Mrs. John Markley, corre-

sponding secretary; and A. J. Stivers, treasurer. Mrs. John Purdy was

appointed chairman of the dinner and program committee for the annual

dinner to be held in April.

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Historical News                         201

 

BUTLER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Hamilton

A. S. Anderson, President

On December 4 officials of the society met a group of representatives

from each of the thirteen townships in the county called together by Mrs.

George Benzing, chairman of the county organization committee. The

purpose of the meeting was to secure county-wide participation in the work

of the society. Talks on the work and plans of the organization were made

by Mrs. Paul Benninghofen, Gordon Augspurger, Charles Brennan, Harry

Kessling, and Robert F. Crow. Much interest was manifest, and cooperation

with the society was pledged by the representatives of the townships and

several farm organizations.

CLINTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Wilmington

Robert P. Cotner, President

The December meeting of the society comprised several talks on the

early history of the county by Howard Collett, Miss Marshie Austin, Mrs.

Charles Starbuck, Mrs. H. N. Lazenby, Mrs. Paul D. Watson, and Mrs. Louis

Lieurance.

The first annual meeting of the society was held on January 23, when

three amendments to the constitution were approved, one of which created

the offices of second vice president and librarian. Officers elected at the

meeting were Robert P. Cotner, president; Mrs. Harry Hague, Jr., first vice

president; Miss Dorothy Rogers, second vice president; Mrs. Lowell Cowman,

secretary; Charles R. Starbuck, treasurer (reelected); Mrs. Ethel H. Hayes,

historian (reelected); and Miss Claire Hague, librarian. Mrs. Gurney Terrell

and H. N. Lazenby were elected to the board of directors for one year;

Mrs. W. J. Galvin and Eldon L. Hayes for two years; and H. H. Thorne

for three years.

CRESTLINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Crestline

Ernest G. Hesser, President

The society is actively promoting the celebration of the Crestline Cen-

tennial, June 10-13, 1951. Open house will be maintained at the museum

during the celebration. A four-page illustrated centennial issue of the Crest-

line Historical Society Bulletin was issued January 1, 1951. It contained

articles on Rensselaer Livingston, the founder of Crestline, and on the

coming of the railroads to the town. It also includes a list of the early

settlers (1820-50) in the Crestline area.

Robert C. Wheeler, administrative assistant of the Ohio Sesquicentennial

Commission, was guest speaker at a meeting on January 30. He spoke on Ohio

newspapers and the Ohio Sesquicentennial.

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202      Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

DARKE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Greenville

J. Lendall Williams, President

The annual business meeting of the society was held on January 11,

when all incumbent officers were reelected for another year. They are J.

Lendall Williams, president; J. W. Flaig, vice president; Mrs. Ruth Meyers,

secretary-treasurer. Three members of the board of trustees were also re-

elected: Fred D. Coppock, W. D. Brumbaugh, Jr., and George Klipstine.

Mrs. Marguerite Stoltz was reappointed museum curator.

EAST LIVERPOOL HISTORICAL SOCIETY, East Liverpool

H. B. Barth, Secretary

Walter B. Hill, president of the society, died on October 30. His suc-

cessor has not been elected.

The secretary of the society has in recent months conducted numerous

groups through the exhibits maintained by the society in the Carnegie

Library at East Liverpool.

FAIRPORT HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Fairport Harbor

Carroll Mitchell, President

Acquisitions to the society's Marine Museum within the past year in-

clude a United States flag of the Civil War period containing twenty-four

stars; a painting of an iron-ore carrier, the J. H. Wade; and a binnacle.

On June 30 the mast of the S. S. Michigan was dedicated as a flagpole at

the museum. When the Michigan was scrapped at Erie, Pennsylvania, Austin

Headland, former president, and other members of the society secured and

reconditioned the mast. The Diamond Alkali Company donated their crane

and the labor for erecting the pole at the museum.

The present officers of the society are as follows: Carroll Mitchell, presi-

dent; George Henry, first vice president; Alma W. Saari, second vice presi-

dent; Mary M. Whitmore, secretary; Elma Converse, treasurer; Pearl E.

Killinen, executive secretary; and Lillian L. Robinson, John W. Laczko,

Mary A. Zimmy, Frank Converse, and George I. Gedeon, trustees.

FRANKLIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Columbus

Charles A. Jones, President

The February issue of the society's Bulletin features an article by Curator

Dan F. Prugh on "A History of the Famous Columbus Metropolitan Opera

House," and another on "Evolution of the Theater in Columbus."

Dr. Linden F. Edwards, professor of anatomy at Ohio State University,

was speaker at the February meeting of the society. His topic was "Body

Snatching in Franklin County."

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Historical News                         203

GEAUGA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Burton

B. J. Shanower, President

Changes in the offices of secretary and treasurer have been made since

the last notice. Mrs. Hilda Hosmer is now secretary of the society, and Mrs.

Anna Gaither is treasurer.

HAYES MEMORIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM, Fremont

Watt P. Marchman, Director of Research

The annual Christmas party for employees and their families was held

on December 22, 1950.

The director of research, Watt P. Marchman, gave a talk about the Hayes

Memorial Library and Museum and its activities before the Waterville

Rotary Club on January 29.

Mrs. Ruth Ballenger, who was employed by The Hayes Foundation as

associate librarian and secretary for the past several years, has resigned.

Her resignation was effective February 1.

Exhibits have been arranged in the new museum cases, and all exhibits

on display in the building have been changed or replaced in an attempt

to make the museum a more effective educational medium.

HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF OHIO, Cincinnati

Virginius C. Hall, Director-Librarian

The society recently participated in "The Cincinnati Biennial," cele-

brating the arts in the city from 1900 to 1925. As historical background

a window display of old prints was shown. These included prints of the

Saengerfest Halle, Music Hall, and the old Pike's Opera House.

The annual spring exhibition of the society is scheduled to open for

members and guests of the society on the evening of April 17 at the Taft

Museum. The subject of the exhibition will be "Cincinnati in the '70's

and '80's."

In cooperation with the University of Cincinnati the society will entertain

the Mississippi Valley Historical Association at tea the afternoon of April

19. There will be at the time an exhibition of books, maps, and manuscripts

in the reading room of the society.

LORAIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Elyria

Mrs. James B. Thomas, President

Wallace D. White of Milan addressed the society at its regular meeting

on November 13 at the Oberlin Inn on the topic "Nuggets of History in

Your Own Back Yard." Mr. White, who is now writing a history of the

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204      Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

Firelands, discussed his methods of research and sources of information.

It was suggested that the same sources might be used by the society in its

work.

MAHONING VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Youngstown

Donald J. Lynn, President

At the annual meeting of the members of the Mahoning Valley His-

torical Society held at the museum of the society on February 7 the follow-

ing officers were elected: Donald J. Lynn, president; Mrs. Henry A. Butler,

first vice president; Joseph G. Butler III, second vice president and assistant

treasurer; Mrs. Franklin B. Powers, third vice president; Mrs. Ernest A.

Goodman, recording secretary; Ada M. Rogers, corresponding secretary;

and James L. Wick, Jr., treasurer.

Randall H. Anderson of Youngstown has recently presented to the society

a harpsichord and a mahogany sideboard belonging to the Boardman family,

four daguerreotypes, two blown vases, a Guy Mannering platter containing

Scott's illustrations, a vanity box, a candelabrum with crystal pendants, and

two fine early whale-oil lamps. These items are a part of the collection of

Mr. Anderson's sister, Blanch Anderson, and were given to the society as a

memorial to her. The Boardman family were prominent in the history of

Boardman Township. Elijah Boardman, for whom the township was named,

was a member of the Connecticut Land Company and the owner of con-

siderable land in the Connecticut Western Reserve. His son, Henry M.

Boardman, settled in Boardman in the early part of the nineteenth century.

In 1819 or 1820 he helped organize St. James Episcopal Church and served

for some years as a lay reader both here and at Canfield. Miss Mabel

Boardman, former secretary of the national Red Cross, was a granddaughter

of the founder.

Other gifts received by the society during the past year include an 1834

map of the United States, a collection of calligraphy belonging to Prof.

J. E. Campbell, a certificate of register issued by the land office at Ft. Wayne,

Indiana, covering land sold to John Shehy, old deeds from Charles R. Moses,

a history of Paradise Lutheran Church, a copy of the anniversary edition

of the Mahoning Dispatch, and portraits of James Ward, John D. Reese,

and Elisha Whittlesey.

The society is collecting many relics and records of the early Mahoning

Valley including old church records, diaries, journals, and portraits of early

settlers. Its museum is located on the second floor of the Public Library

of Youngstown and Mahoning County.

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Historical News                        205

OHIO ACADEMY OF HISTORY, Columbus

William J. McNiff, President

A symposium on "American Foreign Policy in Time of Crisis," spon-

sored by the Ohio Academy of History in cooperation with Kent State

University was held on February 10. Speakers at the morning sessions were

Alfred J. Hotz, associate professor of political science at Western Reserve

University, and Spencer Irwin, foreign news editor of the Cleveland Plain

Dealer. Dr. Hotz spoke on "The Struggle Between Power Politics and

Morality," and Mr. Irwin on "Israel in Time of Crisis." Dr. Lowell Ragatz,

chairman of the department of history at Ohio State University and vice

president of the academy, addressed the luncheon sesson on "Imperialism

Today." Three concurrent afternoon sessions were devoted to round table

discussions on American foreign policy as it relates to Europe, to the Far

East, and to the United Nations.

The annual meeting of the academy is scheduled for April 7 at the

Deshler-Wallick Hotel, Columbus. Dr. Carl Wittke, professor in the

department of history and dean of the graduate school, Western Reserve

University, will be the principal speaker.

 

OTTAWA COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM, Port Clinton

May Hesselbart, Curator

The official count of visitors to the museum for the calendar year 1950

was 1,301. Of these, 384 were first-time callers. Ohio visitors came from

thirty-nine localities in addition to Port Clinton and vicinity. Eighteen

other states and one foreign country (Germany) were represented by the

visitors.

RADNOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Radnor

David H. Thomas, President

Officers elected at the last annual meeting for the year were David H.

Thomas, president; Mrs. Lloyd Jones, vice president; Mrs. Nora Rinehart,

secretary; and Mrs. James Thomas, treasurer.

SHELBY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Sidney

George O. Harshburger, Secretary

The only remaining covered bridge in Shelby County has recently been

repaired and strengthened and is now open to traffic. The preservation of

this bridge has long been urged by the society.

The death of Paul A. Sherman occurred on February 4. Mr. Sherman

was a charter member of this society, served for a number of years as

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206      Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

secretary, and was a director at the time of his death. He was well known

as a historian of Shelby County.

STARK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Canton

Donald K. Merwin, President

The annual dinner meeting was held January 25 at the American Legion

Hall with 175 in attendance. The speaker was Robert Waldrop, narrator

of "The Ohio Story" radio program, who gave an interesting talk on his

experiences with that program. An ensemble of twenty-two voices of the

Lincoln High School under the direction of Miss Ruth Cogan sang four

selections. A feature of the meeting was a gift of 160 red carnations by the

Lamborn Floral Company of Alliance for table decorations in recognition

of the fiftieth anniversary of President McKinley's death.

The annual report of the society for 1950, published in January of this

year, shows the greatest activity and largest revenues in the four and a half

years of the society's history. The membership remained almost stable,

but publications, radio, cemetery, and other projects equaled or exceeded

those of 1949. The acquisitions to the society's collections totaled 1,205

historical items.

The historical committee has chosen the restoration of the McKinley

Memorial Lagoon as the major project for 1951.

SUMMIT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Akron

Carl H. Pockrandt, President

The February meeting of the society featured a display by Mrs. Lee Allen

Cole of rare and beautiful items from her glass and china collection. Mrs.

Cole also narrated interesting stories of farm life in Ohio in the early days.

UPPER OHIO VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Wheeling, W. Va.

Virginia Ebeling, President

The annual meeting of the society was held at the Windsor Hotel in

Wheeling on January 17. The dinner program included informal talks by

several members of the society followed by group discussion.

WARREN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Lebanon

Harry C. Schwartz, President

At the reorganization meeting of the society on January 8, Harry C.

Schwartz was reelected president. Other officers renamed were Mrs. Edward

Herrick, vice president; Otto Augspurger, treasurer; Mary R. Lincoln, secre-

tary; and Mrs. Lena Irons, historian. Trustees reeelected were Seth Furnas,

John E. Holden, Miss Perle Riley, Frank Anderson, and Mrs. Otto Augs-

purger. The speaker on this occasion was the Rev. J. Taylor McHendry.

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Historical News                         207

WELLSVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Wellsville

Edwin V. Pugh, President

Present officers of the society are Edwin V. Pugh, president; Edgar S.

Davidson, vice president; Thelma Baum, secretary-treasurer; Arlene Scotton,

publications, and Clarence Nickels, curator.

The society is making and preserving wire recordings of the living heads

of pioneer families in the community. These recordings are used on some

of the programs.

A new committee has been created which calls members by telephone

to notify them of the day of each meeting. This procedure has increased

the attendance and created good will for the society.

WESTERVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Westerville

E. L. Weinland, President

The following officers were elected at the last reorganization meeting:

president, E. L. Weinland; vice president, Mrs. E. D. Needham; secretary,

ILa Grindell; and treasurer, H. B. Sowers.

About Historians

Lawrence Kramer (A. B. Antioch, 1950) is serving as instructor of

history at Antioch College.

Dominie de la Salandra, associate professor of history at the University

of Dayton, is a contributor to the New Century Encyclopedia of Names,

having written a brief article on "Balboa."

Dr. William E. Smith, chairman of the history department and dean

of the graduate school of Miami University, has announced that the his-

tory department of the university will offer an Institute of Russo-American

Affairs in the first summer session, July 9-20, in cooperation with the state

department. The institute will consist of conferences, lectures, and round

table discussions, in which top authorities will take part. The sessions are

open to teachers for two hours of graduate credit and to the public. Miss

Irene Meister has been appointed as coordinator of the institute.

Recent articles by members of the history department of Ohio State

University are as follows: Robert Bremner, "Self-Government," published

in the American Journal of Economics and Sociology; Charles Morley,

"Major Russian Collections in American Libraries," in Slavonic and East

European Review; Paul Varg, "Maximilian Freiherr Schele De Vere," in

the Swedish Pioneer Historical Quarterly; and Lowell Ragatz, "Facilities for

Research in History in Washington," in the Historian.

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