Ohio History Journal

HISTORICAL NEWS

Historical Societies

AMERICAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION, Washington, D. C.

Carl Bode, Chairman, Steering Committee

The sponsoring committee of the association held its first meeting at the

Library of Congress on March 22, 1951, and adopted a constitution for

the association. The organization has as its aim the encouragement of the

study of American civilization by improving communications across those

disciplines which deal with phases of American civilization and by fostering

interdisciplinary research and courses and programs in American Civilization.

Members of the committee attending represented Johns Hopkins University,

the University of Maryland, Rutgers University, the University of Wisconsin,

and the Library of Congress. Membership in the association is open to in-

dividuals, organizations, and institutions. Anyone wishing to be placed on

the association's mailing list to receive further details should write to

the chairman of the steering committee, Dr. Carl Bode, Department of

English, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.

 

ANTHONY WAYNE PARKWAY BOARD, Columbus

J. Richard Lawwill, Director

The quarterly meeting of the board was held on November 1, 1951.

Reports were made on the Independence Dam State Park, Piqua area

planning, southwest Ohio area planning, and on other projects of the board

or of cooperating agencies. The next quarterly meeting will be on February

14, 1952.

 

ASHLAND COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Ashland

W. W. Barnhill, President

At a meeting on September 8, 1951, plans were discussed for reactivating

the organization after a sixteen-year lapse and a committee appointed to

draw up a constitution and bylaws for the society. Officers elected are as

follows: W. W. Barnhill, president; C. C. Chapman, vice president; C. W.

Garver, second vice president; Mrs. Cloyd McNaull, secretary; Sidney R.

Boyd, assistant secretary; and Mrs. E. R. Livingston, treasurer. Mrs. J. Alien

Miller, professor at Ashland College, was the speaker of the day. Her

subject, "Temples of Learning," pertained to the influence of ancient uni-

versities and Greek culture.

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Historical News                         87

ASHTABULA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Ashtabula

Walter Beckwith, Acting President

The meeting of the society on November 2 was presided over by Ed E.

Large, the retiring president, who appointed a committee to draft a new

constitution and bylaws. Walter Beckwith was named acting president, and

Miss Henrietta McKinsey was elected secretary of the organization. Sugges-

tions for the future activities of the society were made by all persons

present at the meeting.

 

BRECKSVILLE EARLY SETTLERS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, Brecksville

Benjamin P. Forbes, President

Officers of the society serving with Mr. Forbes until June 1952 are

Raymond T. Thayer, vice president; Minnie Bartlett Lister, secretary-

treasurer; and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Wallen, curators.

The society headquarters, the Old Squire Rich House, has a new coat

of paint as a result of a painting bee by members of the association in

September.

The Cleveland Museum Council was entertained by the association on

October 1, when refreshments were served under the old pear trees in the

yard of the Squire Rich House.

A special exhibit of Christmas cards was made in December.

 

BUTLER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Hamilton

Paul Benninghofen, President

Extensive improvements have been made during the last year and a

half at the Benninghofen Museum maintained by the society. The exterior

of the building was painted white, a new fence erected around the yard,

the entire second flour redecorated in keeping with the original design, and an

attractive new wood and metal sign erected on North Second Street.

 

CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Springfield

Benjamin H. Pershing, President

B. H. Pershing, chairman of the department of history at Wittenberg

College, was recently elected president of the society. He succeeds Orton G.

Rust, whose death occurred on November 4, 1951.

 

CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, Cleveland

W. E. Scheele, Director

Fred C. Schlein has recently been appointed teacher in the department

of education. Mr. Schlein is also in charge of geology and paleontology.

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A special exhibition, "The Gem Show," was featured from November 3

to November 11.

Three bog sites containing prehistoric animal remains were excavated

by the museum during the past year.

 

CRESTLINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Crestline

Ernest G. Hesser, President

The society helped to carry the Crestline Centennial, June 10-13, to

a successful conclusion and received half of the proceeds from the cen-

tennial. This amount has been invested in government bonds to be applied

later toward the purchase of a museum. A committee of five has been ap-

pointed as a "Home for the Museum" committee. The November meeting,

at which a showing of colored slides and moving pictures of the centennial

was presented, drew a large attendance. The guest speaker for the January

meeting is Erwin C. Zepp, whose subject is "The Ohio Sesquicentennial

in 1953."

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Columbus

Frank A. Livingston, President

At the third annual meeting of the society on October 26 at the Ohio

State Museum, Frank A. Livingston was elected president; Myron T. Seifert,

elected vice president; Wayne J. Graf, reelected treasurer; and Hugh

Huntington, reelected counselor. Charles A. Jones and Clarence A. Swoyer

were reelected trustees.

The first homestead tour of the season on October 15 was attended by

over one hundred persons. The party inspected the historic home of Zenus

Jackson on the Westerville road and that of Benjamin Hanby in Wester-

ville. The Westerville Historical Society was host to the Franklin County

group while in Westerville. The program included a talk on Hanby by

Mrs. Dacia Shoemaker and a concert of Hanby songs on the carillon of the

First Evangelical Church in Westerville.

The society's homestead slide lecture was delivered before the Woman's

Auxiliary of the Columbus Academy of Medicine at the Columbus Gallery

of Fine Arts on November 19. This lecture is available to clubs and in-

stitutions on application to Dan Prugh, executive secretary of the society,

Columbus Public Library, or to Mrs. Fravel, Community Service Council,

Hartman Theater Building.

On the evening of November 23 the society presented Mrs. James W.

Grimes in a program of pioneer folk songs at the Ohio State Museum.

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Historical News                         89

 

GATES MILLS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Gates Mills

Tinkham Veale, II, President

The secretary of the society, Alfred Mewett, is at present transcribing

the Rudd Papers relative to the family of that name that came to Gates Mills

from New York state in 1834. The papers cover the period from 1775 to

1865. Some seventy thousand words of this material have thus far been

copied and arranged.

 

GREENE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Xenia

A meeting was called at the Xenia Hotel on November 19 by Findlay M.

Torrence of the Xenia Chamber of Commerce's historical committee in the

interest of reviving the once active Greene County Historical Society.

 

HAYES MEMORIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM, Fremont.

Watt P. Marchman, Director of Research

Mrs. Rose Sberna has been appointed secretary and assistant librarian.

Her appointment was effective September 18, 1951.

A large number of individuals and groups have visited the museum

and grounds the past summer and fall, and a greater number of students

used the library this summer than has ever been recorded in any similar

period.

The W. K. Rogers Papers consisting of several thousand items were a

added to the library recently. W. K. Rogers was an early law partner of

Rutherford B. Hayes and was his private secretary during his presidential

term, 1877-81.

 

HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF OHIO, Cincinnati

Virginius C. Hall, Director

"The Poor Soldier," the first theatrical production given in the North-

west Territory (Cincinnati, October 1, 1801), was presented by the Denison

University Theatre Players under the auspices of the society on November

9 and 10.

At the annual meeting in the Laws Auditorium, University of Cin-

cinnati, on December 3, Dr. Thomas D. Clark, head of the department of

history at the University of Kentucky, was the speaker. His subject was

"The Ohio Valley Frontier in Historical Literature."

 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MOUNT PLEASANT, Mount Pleasant

William Schuster, President

The society invited representatives from all the towns in Jefferson County

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90       Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

to a public meeting on November 29, to make plans for promoting the

Ohio sesquicentennial celebration of 1953. John S. Still, special projects

historian of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, was the

guest speaker.

 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF NORTHWESTERN OHIO, Toledo

Randolph C. Downes, Executive Director

The society has started issuing a monthly, Junior Cues, for eighth grade

students in the Lucas County school system. It is a four-page mimeographed

publication containing live-wire suggestions for history projects for each

community. Kathryn M. Keller is the editor. The society is also sponsoring

the formation of junior history clubs.

 

LISBON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Lisbon

George L. Lafferty, President

This society is making preparations for the celebration of the sesqui-

centennial of the founding of the city of Lisbon together with the Ohio

sesquicentennial in 1953.

The historical collection of the society, now housed in the "Old Stone

House," has attracted much interest and a large number of visitors.

 

LORAIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Elyria

Mrs. James B. Thomas, President

The Lorain Club was host to the Lorain County society at Amherst for

the October meeting. Members of the society were guests of Mrs. Gates-

Stevens for the November meeting at the old Rev. John Montieth home.

Edward T. Heald, secretary-treasurer of the Stark County Historical Society,

spoke on "Building a Historical Society." Prof. Clarence Ward of Oberlin

was speaker at the December meeting, his topic being "Old Ohio Churches."

 

OHIO ACADEMY OF HISTORY, Columbus

James H. Rodabaugh, Secretary-Treasurer

About forty members of the academy attended an informal meeting at

Oxford, Ohio, on October 26 and 27. The meeting was sponsored by Miami

University and Western College. Guests stayed in Mary Lyon Hall on the

Western College Campus. Dr. W. E. Smith spoke informally Friday evening

on the lore of Oxford and vicinity. On Saturday guests were taken on a

tour of Oxford and the two campuses. Dr. William J. McNiff of Miami

University and Dr. Frank L. Esterquest were in charge of the arrangements.

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Historical News                          91

 

OHIO FOLKLORE SOCIETY, Granville

Tristram P. Coffin, Secretary

The second annual meeting of the society was held at Marietta College

on October 20. During the afternoon session papers were presented by

Orie J. Vande Visce, Baldwin-Wallace College, Dan G. Hoffman, Temple

University, and D. K. Wilgus, Western Kentucky State College. Dinner

was served at the Betsey Mills Club. In the evening a recreational hour of

Ohio folk games and dances under the direction of Mary Ann Busch, Ogle-

bay Institute, was held in the Betsey Mills Gymnasium.

 

OHIO SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMISSION, Columbus

Erwin C. Zepp, Executive Secretary

Ohio's machinery for planning observance of the state sesquicentennial

in 1953 went into high gear with the opening of the new year. The next

few months are expected to bring completion of program plans at both

state and county levels. The observance will formally open on March 1,

1953, anniversary of the date of the organization of Ohio's first general

assembly.

Sixteen state committees are in operation. They are concerned with

phases of the celebration that will have state-wide significance. During

late summer in 1951, organization of county committees began, with

Franklin and Fayette as pilot counties; Franklin is typically urban and in-

dustrial, Fayette rural and agricultural.

It is planned to have eighty-eight county committees in action. Each

county will plan and promote its own observance, the Ohio Sesquicentennial

Commission acting in an advisory capacity only.

State departments are cooperating. The executive department has pressed

for a commemorative three-cent stamp and a coin. The highway department

will supply road maps and will erect markers concerning historic places.

The department of natural resources plans a gigantic tree planting program.

The Ohio Development and Publicity Commission is helping to spread the

story of the sesquicentennial. The department of education will work with

the commission through a special representative, the sesquicentennial being

basically keyed to education.

Meeting in Columbus, November 16, 1951, the commission agreed to

seek enactment of legislation to provide Ohio with a plan of permanent

marking for historical sites and buildings similar to that used successfully

in Wisconsin. The commission also directed the firm of Hill and Knowlton,

which it retained to handle promotion and publicity, to explore possi-

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92       Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

bilities of a pageant that might be viewed in all populous centers of the state

during 1953.

Possibility of a thirty-day state fair and industrial exposition was seen

in Governor Lausche's remarks that the idea might crystallize if each in-

dustry planned an exhibit.

The commission will meet again on January 29, 1952.

SHELBY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Sidney

George O. Harshbarger, Secretary

The society dedicated a marker on September 23, 1951, on the site of

the first log cabin built in the county eight miles west of Sidney near

Bunker Hill Church. The large boulder with a bronze plaque also marks

the military road taken by General Josiah Harmar in 1790 when he marched

against the Indians. E. J. Griffis, president of the society, presided at the

ceremony. Speakers for the occasion were Earl Woodell, president of the

board of county commissioners, who accepted the marker, A. Foster Moon,

Urban Doorley, and J. Richard Lawwill.

STARK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Canton

Donald K. Merwin, President

The society cooperated with the state historical society in planning and

carrying out the special ceremonies at the McKinley National Memorial at

Canton on the fiftieth anniversary of President McKinley's death, September

16, 1951. The parade preceding the ceremonies was the most impressive

ever seen in Canton and the exercises at the memorial most appropriate.

Senator John W. Bricker gave the principal address. Paul B. Belden was

chairman of the McKinley Commemorative Committee of the local society,

and the officers and members gave a great deal of time and energy to make

the celebration a success.

The secretary-treasurer of the society, Edward T. Heald, reported a

most successful conclusion to the membership drive which had as its goal

470 new members to bring the total to 1,000. Five hundred and fifty-five

new members were secured to bring the total membership to 1,085. J. M.

Markley, chairman of the membership committee, made the championship

record of 74 new members.

The society in cooperation with T. C. Knapp, superintendent of the

county schools, sponsored a local history contest for high school students

and seventh and eighth grade pupils in the county. Rules for the contest

were worked out by a committee of six teachers. Cash prizes of $15, $10,

and $5 were offered for the best three high school articles and the best three

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Historical News                         93

grade school articles. The fifty best articles were screened by the teachers,

and from this number the winners were selected by the judges, H. T. O.

Blue, Miss Mary McNary, and J. L. G. Pottort, all of Canton.

 

STOW HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Stow

Arthur G. Moore, President

Present officers of the society are Arthur G. Moore, president; Joe Melton,

vice president; and Mrs. Frank A. Green, secretary-treasurer. The immediate

projects of the society are the gathering and recording of historical data

pertaining to Stow Township and the collection and preservation of his-

torical relics.

SUMMIT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Akron

Carl H. Pockrandt, President

The current interest in place names is reflected in the Society's Bulletins

for September and November, which are devoted to the origin of the names

of towns, streets, and schools. The October issue is given to the early

history of Tallmadge in recognition of that town's recent incorporation as

a city.

The September meeting of the society was addressed by Alfred D. Ladd

on "The History of the Panama Canal--And Our National Defense." At

the October meeting Willard Seiberling presented "A Flying Trip to

Greece, Sicily, Italy, and France." In November Allen B. Diefenbach talked

on "Firearms in American History," and there was an exhibit of pistols,

revolvers, rifles, and muskets.

 

UNION COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Marysville

Guy Robinson, President

Officers elected at a regular meeting of the society on October 12 for the

ensuing year are: Guy Robinson, president; Mrs. Clarence A. Hoopes, vice

president; Minnie Otte, treasurer; and Mrs. D. G. Scott, secretary.

 

WARREN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Lebanon

Harry C. Schwartz, Sr., President

The society lost a charter member and past president by the death on

December 19, 1951, of John E. Holden of Morrow. Mr. Holden was also

an active supporter of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society.

A former state senator, Mr. Holden was prominent for many years in

political and civic affairs in Warren County, and at the time of his death

was chairman of the board of elections.

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94       Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

The society observed the sixth anniversary of the acceptance of the

Warren County Museum by the state of Ohio as a state memorial on Sunday

afternoon, October 21, 1951, by an open house and tea at the museum.

 

WELLSVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Wellsville

Edwin V. Pugh, President

For the second time in three years, stories from the society's publication,

Wellsville Echoes, have furnished the basis for scripts for the state his-

torical society's radio broadcasts, "Once Upon a Time in Ohio." On

December 11, 1951, "William Ralston, Pacific Trailblazer," was broadcast

over WOSU, Columbus. The 1949 series included "General John Morgan's

Night in Wellsville."

The October meeting took the form of a visit to the "Old Stone House,"

the recently acquired headquarters of the Lisbon Historical Society. A

review of Lisbon's history was given by Mrs. Ross Firestone.

 

WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Cleveland

Russell H. Anderson, Director

Mrs. Alberta Thorne Daywalt, curator of the museum for the past twenty-

one years, has resigned to move to Florida. The museum is now in charge

of Mrs. Evelyn C. Bingham and Mrs. Florence Dawley as associate curators.

Mrs. Virginia R. Hawley has joined the staff as assistant genealogist.

One museum room has been entirely revamped with ten wall cases. The

cases are used at present for a display of World War I materials. A special

exhibition of Oliver H. Perry items was arranged in connection with the

rededication of his statue in a new location in Gordon Park. Other recent

exhibitions include the Adella Prentiss Hughes music collection, powder

horns, and fall fashions.

The separate maps of geographical areas larger than the states, with the

exception of Civil War maps, have been cataloged. The war maps and local

maps have been sorted and listed preparatory to cataloging.

 

About Historians

Mrs. Vernell M. Oliver has been appointed assistant professor of history

at Central State College.

 

Hilmar C. Krueger of the history department of the University of

Cincinnati has received a Fulbright award to carry on his research work

in the Genoese Archives during the academic year, 1951-52.

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Historical News                        95

 

Several changes have been made in the staff of the department of history

at the University of Dayton: Dominic de la Salandra has left to accept a

position at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base; William D. Ross resigned to

move to California because of his health; and Robert O'Donnell has been

appointed assistant professor in the history department effective September 1,

1951. Wilfred J. Steiner, acting head of the department, has been promoted

to the rank of associate professor.

Erving E. Beauregard has submitted a chapter on "Mohammedanism and

the Crusades" for the History of Civilization series being compiled by the

Commission on Christian Higher Education.

 

Robert Kinney has been appointed instructor in history at Franklin

University.

 

The department of history at Notre Dame College offers a course in

Current Issues to interest as many students as possible in world problems.

Miss Norma Gabriel is now an instructor in the department.

 

Frederick B. Artz, chairman of the department of history at Oberlin

College, is the author of The Mind of the Middle Ages 200-1500, an His-

torical Survey, recently published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

 

William A. Williams, who taught last year at Washington and Jefferson

College, became an instructor in the department of history at Ohio State

University, October 1, 1951.

Lowell Ragatz, chairman of the department, taught during the summer

session at the University of Southern California.

 

The Fifth Annual Awards Competition in Ohio History, Government,

and Citizenship for Ohio High School Students was held at Ohio Uni-

versity on November 16 and 17. The final examination was conducted on

Friday afternoon, November 16, and John D. Blackford, president of the

Ohio Education Association, addressed a general assembly on Saturday

morning on the subject "Foundations of Freedom." Winners were an-

nounced at the close of assembly. The contestants were guests of the uni-

versity from Friday afternoon until after the football game on Saturday.

 

Walter Whalen has been appointed to the department of history at Our

Lady of Cincinnati College, effective September 1951.

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96       Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

The members of the history department at Otterbein College and two

students formed a panel to discuss world peace over WBNS-TV, on Thurs-

day, November 8, from 1:00 to 1:30 P.M.

L. William Steck has resigned from the department.

 

At the College of Wooster, Robert Ronsheim has resigned as instructor

to resume his graduate work at Harvard University. Helen Kaslo has been

appointed in his place.

 

Frank A. Peters has returned to the department of history and political

science at Xavier University after two years spent in completing his re-

quirements for the doctoral degree in political science. William Channing

left the department to finish his graduate work at Columbia University.

W. Eugene Shiels, S. J., published a study on "Rights of University

Professors" in the January 1951 issue of the Jesuit Educational Quarterly.

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