Ohio History Journal

The Ohio Experience: A Symposium

On Historic Sites Administered

By the Ohio Historical Society

 

 

THE FOLLOWING FIVE PAPERS were given by members of the

staff of the Ohio Historical Society at the annual meeting of the

North American Association of Historic Sites Public Officials, held

in Columbus, October 7, 1957. They deal with five different

aspects of the Society's work with its historic properties: acquisi-

tion, development, interpretation, financing, and administration.

 

THE PRINCIPLES OF PROPERTY ACQUISITION

AND MAINTENANCE*

The Ohio Historical Society was seventy-two years old in March

of this year. Although it was founded as a private organization,

from its very beginning it has lived in an aura of state officialdom.

It was conceived in the office of the secretary of state, was born

in the rooms of the state library in the state capitol, and made its

public debut in the chambers of the senate. Three years later the

Society had its own exhibit hall in the capitol, and in 1890 it re-

ceived its first appropriation from  the legislature--the sum  of

$2,000. The next year the state of Ohio purchased Fort Ancient,

the famous prehistoric Indian earthworks in Warren County,

and assigned it to the custody of the Society. At the same time,

in order to provide the Society with official status, the legislature

directed the governor to appoint six members of the Board of

Trustees. Since that time the Society has been the recognized state

department in charge of the official historical areas and museums,

and it has received regular appropriations for that purpose.

Today the Society administers fifty-eight properties, known as

State Memorials, including fifteen archaeological sites, three natural

 

* By James H. Rodabaugh, editor and head of the division of history and science.

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SYMPOSIUM ON HISTORIC SITES          245

 

history areas, twenty historic sites and monuments, seventeen his-

toric houses or buildings, and three good-sized museums. Several

of these properties serve more than one function or combine more

than one feature, and many have more than one structure. Fort

Hill, for example, is recognized primarily as a prehistoric Indian

site, but there are over 1,100 acres preserved for natural history

values. The Society has custody altogether of about 150 buildings

and 4,500 acres of land with a total value of approximately

$10,000,000, exclusive of collections.

The Ohio State Memorials system began with the acquisition of

Fort Ancient. The leaders in the organization of the Society were

interested primarily in archaeology. It was natural, therefore, that

their first property should be the great hilltop earthworks for which

the state was already famous. The second State Memorial was the

notable Serpent Mound in Adams County, which had been exca-

vated and restored in the 1880's by Harvard University. Harvard

donated the remarkable effigy mound to the state of Ohio in 1900.

These two properties gave the State Memorials system an auspicious

beginning, for they were excellent sites with extensive visual offer-

ings in good physical condition. The archaeologists of the Society

proceeded to make a full survey of the prehistoric earthworks in

Ohio, and the Society acquired several of the outstanding ones.

In the area of history, however, the early fathers of the Society

were not so successful. In building the library and museum collec-

tions they displayed an essentially antiquarian approach. Lacking

a sense of historical values and without experience in historic

preservation, they also saddled the Society with a number of prop.

erties which are without interpretative merit. Sites where battles

or massacres or other events occurred seemed important to them

whether or not there were any visible remains. The activity associ-

ated with these properties became primarily that of memorializa-

tion of the past rather than that of enlarging our understanding

of the past. Incidentally, also, the sites memoralized sometimes

were minor ones in the state and national history.

It is significant that the Society had no department of history

and no professional historian on its staff before 1929. Even after

that, until the mid-forties, the expansion of the State Memorials

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246    THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

system was more or less a hit-or-miss proposition. Under it, local

or special groups or individuals succeeded in encouraging the

state legislature and the Society to take custody of a number of

properties of particular local interest. Fortunately, during those

forty-some years, a number of strong and valuable properties and

areas were included. Nevertheless, this was more by accident

than by design.

Now, I do not wish to be misunderstood. I am in no sense here

intending to cast reflection upon the high motives of the officials

of our Society. What I am pointing out, I think, is that they and

the organization have gone through the same transitional period

that virtually all similar agencies have experienced. In fact, has

it not been only in recent years that the historical society or agency

or the historical museum throughout the country has come to

consider itself an educational institution with a responsibility of

teaching through interpretative exhibits? We have passed but

recently from the pioneer stages in the preservation and presenta-

tion of historical materials and historic sites.

Since 1945 the Ohio Historical Society has had a somewhat

more definite, though not wholly adequate, policy of acquisition

of historic properties. This policy has resulted in the rejection of

sites and areas which the Society felt should not be the respon-

sibility of the state of Ohio. In some cases we have rejected prop-

erties, stating their lack of merit for preservation by any agency,

and in other cases we have suggested that they deserve preserva-

tion and presentation under local auspices. Some of the properties

rejected were better than some of those now in the State Memorials

system. In the past twelve years the Society has added an average

of one site a year. Among these, three are of perhaps questionable

value, and of these, two--both prehistoric Indian sites--have very

low maintenance costs.

Today, generally, an historic property acquired by the Society

must have distinction. It must be in good physical condition and

reasonably accessible, and it must have something important to

offer its visitors, that is, it must have educational value. In addi-

tion, it must be different from our other properties in its character

and its contribution to knowledge. Now, I do not think our policy

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SYMPOSIUM ON HISTORIC SITES        247

 

is so rigid that we would eliminate a particularly fine property

because it was not on or near a main road. In other words, the

quality of the property is the governing consideration in deciding

on its acquisition.

I must be quite frank with you and admit that while we have a

policy of acquisition, it cannot be said that we have a program of

acquisition of State Memorials. We have not been able to afford

the luxury of selecting properties we want and then proceeding to

acquire them. We find ourselves, rather, knowing what we would

like to add and then waiting for them to be offered to us. If, once

in a while, we can encourage the offer, of course we are not beyond

or above that. However, we must be very careful with any step

in that direction because we must have funds with which to develop,

operate, and maintain any property we receive, and these we re-

ceive from the legislature. Since 1943 the Society has added sixteen

properties, only one of which was purchased, and that for only

$1,200. The other fifteen were given to us.

We have generally found it wise, when a property we desire

has been offered, to advise that it be offered to the state through

the legislature. The Society notifies the proper legislative com-

mittees of its position on the property and furnishes estimates of

the cost of development and operation. In only rare instances in

the recent past have politics intervened in the legislative considera-

tion of properties offered to the state.

In the matter of maintenance and operation, the Society finds

itself never able to fulfill these functions in all properties to its

complete satisfaction. There is little question that prior to 1940

the move to add properties resulted in an expansion beyond the

ability of the Society to meet its responsibility. Not only have there

been insufficient funds to meet the needs of rehabilitation, restora-

tion, and adequate maintenance and routine operations in some

cases, but particularly there has been a lack of funds for an adequate

staff in research and interpretation.

For many years the Society's officials had no realization of these

requirements. While in recent years we have made some progress

in strengthening these areas, we still have much to do. With these

facts clear before us, the Society must allot its appropriated funds

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248    THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

where they can do the most good. The result is that certain selected

properties are relatively more adequately financed and staffed

than others. Though this is not the way we would like to manage

the properties if there were sufficient funds, it is the best that can

be done under the circumstances. On the other hand, in a sense,

the reduction in the funds for certain properties and sites is not

without some justification, for those properties have less historical

value and are not so useful or useable from the presentation or

education point of view.

In concluding my thoughts on the Ohio Historical Society's

experience in the acquisition of historic sites, let me summarize

briefly. In sixty-six years it has accumulated fifty-eight properties.

For many years there was more of an emphasis on the addition

of properties than on careful selection. There has been a predomin-

ant reliance upon the generosity of donors in acquiring historic

properties. One result is that the Society has a number of outstand-

ing historic sites and others that are only fair to mediocre. An-

other result is that it has not been able to acquire some kinds of

properties that it ought to have for a well-rounded representation.

A third result is that with the rising costs of new methods of in-

terpretation and in a period of inflation the Society finds itself

without sufficient funds to do a full job on some of its best proper-

ties or to maintain an adequate staff. Up to now, there has been no

policy relinquishing properties of lesser merit, although the idea

is being given some consideration. After a long period of trial

and error, typical of the general historic sites movement throughout

the country, I think we can declare with some degree of justifica-

tion that our historic sites program now has the guidance of

professional standards, that today we know what we ought to be

doing in their development and operation, though we cannot always

attain our goals.

PLANNING THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF HISTORIC SITES

IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST*

The acquisition of an historic site by the Ohio Historical Society

in itself achieves only one end--it insures the preservation as a

public trust of an area which otherwise might eventually be de-

* By John S. Still, curator of history.

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SYMPOSIUM ON HISTORIC SITES         249

prived of all recognition. Whether any positive constructive result

is to follow depends primarily upon the planning for the develop-

ment and the use of the site.

The planning actually begins in the earliest stage, that is, during

the investigation and study made to determine the advisability of

acquiring the property. One of the several integral factors to be

considered is its prospective use; if the Society decides to accept

or purchase a property, it should have definite intentions with

regard to its development.

The physical characteristics of the site and the nature of its

significance are fundamental considerations. This may be easily

illustrated by several examples from the experience of the Society.

If the site is just that and nothing more, say the land on which

an important event occurred, it may be impractical or impossible

to do more than to erect a monument or marker commemorating

the event. This so far has been the case near Maumee, Ohio, where

a monument identifies the area as the site of the Battle of Fallen

Timbers, in which General "Mad" Anthony Wayne's legions shat-

tered Indian resistance in Ohio in 1794. Since this was not a formal

battleground, it does not lend itself to more extensive treatment.

It is possible, however, to undertake some interpretation in the

future through the erection of descriptive signs or the establishment

of a museum if that is desirable and feasible.

Somewhat different conditions prevail at Fort Recovery, the site

of a fortification constructed by Wayne at the location of an earlier

Indian victory over General Arthur St. Clair. Given adequate space

and information, it would be possible here to reconstruct the log

fort, every vestige of which vanished long ago. What did, in fact,

happen was that some years ago a log stockade with blockhouses

was built, but on a reduced scale. The misconception fostered by

this structure was finally remedied in 1954, when the condition of

the fort warranted its removal. In its stead were erected, in full

scale and based upon extensive research, two blockhouses connected

by a stockade wall. As a result, although limited to a partial recon-

struction by the acreage available, the Society has been able to

present an accurate representation of a frontier fortification.

Where physical limitations are not imposed, the Society has the

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250    THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

opportunity to essay total, rather than partial, reconstruction. As

an example we may cite the village of Schoenbrunn in northeastern

Ohio, a settlement of Indians converted to Christianity in the

1770's by Moravian missionaries. These people and their homes

met a tragic fate after a decade, and the village passed out of

existence. Because all of the relevant area was available to the

state of Ohio, the Society nearly thirty years ago reconstructed

what was thought to be the entire village. More recent discoveries

in historical sources and improved archaeological technique have

revealed inaccuracies both in the location and the method of con-

struction of the cabins and other structures. This circumstance,

however, does not invalidate the basic plan for treatment of the

site. It means merely that we must work in the future, as the

opportunity presents itself, toward correcting the errors that have

been committed.

Up to this point we have considered only sites which are devoid

of physical remnants of their original significance. In other words,

in these areas we start from scratch with nothing but the knowledge

of what happened on the spot. In many instances, however, existing

physical remains will help to determine the plans for development.

The first of several possible courses which may be followed is

simple retention or preservation. This is applicable particularly to

prehistoric sites which, because of their nature or because they have

escaped the ravages of civilization, may still be largely intact. Thus,

preservation of something which already exists is the principal

consideration at Serpent Mound, Fort Ancient, and comparable

sites. This by no means precludes the possibility of interpretation

through museum exhibits, but the first step is the preservation of

surviving evidence.

In the case of various buildings which are, for one reason or

another, considered worthy of preservation, we have at least three

choices. One is a complete, authentic restoration of the structure.

This can be accomplished with notable success only if the original

building is relatively intact or if important contemporary informa-

tion is available. It is advantageous, of course, if both of these

conditions prevail, for it is just as important to learn from diaries,

letters, wills, bills, and receipts the type of furnishings originally

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SYMPOSIUM ON HISTORIC SITES       251

 

in a home as it is to know that the architectural features of the

house are correct and basically unaltered. This is the course we

have tried to pursue at Adena, the home of Thomas Worthington

at Chillicothe. An authentic restoration will almost certainly be an

expensive undertaking, and for many properties the cost cannot

be justified. Whether for this reason or because of the lack of

adequate information, we sometimes elect to present a combination

of an historic building and a museum. In the case of a house

several rooms may be furnished in period style with the others

given over to museum exhibits on a related theme. This has been

done at the birthplace of General William T. Sherman and Senator

John Sherman at Lancaster, where several period rooms are supple-

mented by exhibits relative to the Shermans and the Civil War.

As another example, tentative plans (which have been partly exe-

cuted) call for a similar approach at the Yearly Meeting House

at Mt. Pleasant, Ohio. This huge brick structure (it is 90 feet

long, 60 feet wide, and 60 feet high) is being restored as nearly

as possible to its original state, but in addition a small section of

it will probably be used to interpret the story of the Quakers in

Ohio. Finally, if by circumstance we find ourselves obliged to ad-

minister a building which has little real historical or architectural

significance, we may resort to the expedient of using it as a

museum alone. Generally speaking, this is true of the Harriet

Beecher Stowe House in Cincinnati, which possesses no architectural

merit and little connection with the famous author. Consequently,

it is devoted to exhibits recounting the history and contributions of

the Negro in Ohio.

Synthesizing all of this, then, we find seven distinct possible

treatments of an historic site, depending upon the factors mentioned

earlier. These are commemoration--that is, the erection of a mon-

ument or marker--partial reconstruction; total reconstruction; pres-

ervation of existing remains; complete restoration; a period-room-

museum combination; and museum exhibits alone.

Varying amounts of additional planning will be necessary beyond

the initial stages. In a complete restoration such as that attempted

at Adena, planning is to some extent a continuing procedure, since

evidence discovered during the restoration may necessitate changes

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252    THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

in interpretation. A project of this nature entails exhaustive re-

search and the cooperative efforts of many individuals. In the case

of Adena we formed a "restoration committee" composed of two

historians, a landscape architect, an archaeologist, and a construc-

tion supervisor. This group formulated policies and guided the

restoration work. In addition, the various members carried out

specific work for which they were qualified: historical research

by the historians, planning of the garden by the landscape architect,

and so on. The work on any building which is to house exhibits

also involves extensive planning, for the exhibits should be care-

fully thought out and coordinated so that the desired effect is

achieved.

Always in the background and sometimes bearing directly upon

the planning is the ultimate use of the site, especially its interpre-

tation. This must always be taken into consideration, with the

planning along this line becoming more concentrated as the restora-

tion, reconstruction, or other treatment nears completion. It should

be mentioned that all the planning for the development and use

of these sites is done by Society staff members located at the Ohio

State Museum. From this center of activity, the Society's head-

quarters, come the direction and guidance for this work at our

properties throughout the state.

This brief resume has presented a somewhat idealistic program

supplemented by actual examples of what the Society has done.

Such an approach was not always used in the past, just as in earlier

times properties were sometimes acquired which might better

have remained in private hands. This is, then, in effect, a program

to which we aspire now and which we hope to carry out even

more effectively in the future in an effort to preserve and interpret

only worthwhile sites and to do it in an adequate manner.

THE HISTORIC SITE AS AN EDUCATIONAL

AND RECREATIONAL FACILITY*

Ohio's experience in developing a utilization program for its

historic sites has been encumbered with problems and frustrations

common to all such endeavors. Yet the very severity of several

 

* By William G. Keener, curator of historical collections.

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SYMPOSIUM ON HISTORIC SITES          253

lessons administered by that experience has aided the Ohio Histori-

cal Society in formulating a number of basic concepts, or working

philosophies, that can be applied to the administration of its his-

toric properties.

We have proceeded, first of all, on the assumption that an his-

toric site has or ought to have an educational potential; and further,

that the Society has an obligation to realize that potential in one

form or another. However, the application of this rather elementary

yardstick to the fifty-eight properties that have been acquired over

the years has led to a second basic conclusion that some properties

have a greater or more realistic potential than others. These warrant

greater attention both in their physical care and in their historical

interpretation. As a result, we have a group of properties in which

our major interest at this time is in maintaining the status quo;

that is, preserving these areas from destruction or deterioration

until their final disposition can be accomplished. In this category

are included some ten archaeological sites, three natural history

areas, and three historic sites for which the necessary staff and

funds required for exploitation are currently unavilable.

Another fundamental consideration in assessing the educational

potential of our properties is the value of the contribution which

they can make to the understanding and enrichment of history on

the local, state, or national level. Included in our roster of historic

sites are some fifteen monuments, markers, and other properties

whose historical obscurity or whose inefficacy does not lend them to

interpretation in an integrated program. These sites are maintained

primarily for local or special groups in whom they generate some

interest, or serve a more nebulous function as historic memorials.

The remaining twenty-seven properties administered by the Society

comprise the group to which our major educational or interpreta-

tive effort is devoted. Each of them has a virtue of filling one or

more of what we consider to be the four basic requirements of the

meaningful historic site.

The first and perhaps most important characteristic of several of

these properties is their intrinsic historical value; that is, the

importance which is attached to their very existence in the course

of political, social, and economic history. Examples of properties

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254    THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

in this group are Adena, the restored home of Thomas Worthington

near Chillicothe; the reconstructed village of Schoenbrunn, settled

by Moravian missionaries in the 1770's; Campus Martius, the site of

the first organized settlement in the Northwest Territory; and Fort

Recovery, a reconstruction of one of Anthory Wayne's military

outposts during the Indian Wars.

A second consideration in formulating our interpretative program

is the high quality or, in some cases, the unique value of an area or

building. Serpent Mound, a magnificent prehistoric effigy mound in

Adams County, and the village of Zoar, a nineteenth-century

communal settlement, have been developed as this type of property.

A third factor, which is applied to otherwise less deserving areas,

utilizes the external relation of a site to important historical events

or periods. Thus Harriet Beecher Stowe House is devoted to the

preservation of material concerning the history of the Negro in

Ohio, and McCook House, the residence of an entire family of

military heroes, is used, in part, as a Civil War museum.

The final requirement is point of location. Hence, the proximity

of the site to an historic event or area may justify the use of a

portion of its facilities for the interpretation of related subjects.

The museum at Campus Martius near the Ohio River, for example,

houses a rather sizeable collection of river materials that are in-

terpreted within the context of western development.

Obviously the wide variety of sites administered by the Society

that meet one or more of these four requirements precludes the

formulation of a standardized interpretative program. Several of

them encompass materials of archaeological as well as historical

significance, and often these areas of interest are not related. In

addition, demands on the educational program include school

classes, special study groups, and casual visitors, all of whom have

different levels of interest. Our efforts must therefore be flexible

enough to provide an informative and challenging interpretation

for all.

Other papers have referred to the processes of research and devel-

opment used in the restoration, reconstruction, and preparation of

historic sites. The same intensive efforts are applied to the inter-

pretation of these properties in three fundamental ways: first,

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SYMPOSIUM ON HISTORIC SITES          255

through the publication of leaflets and books; second, in the

preparation and installation of exhibits; and finally, in the training

of participants in oral interpretation programs.

The publications program makes use of popular brochures, leaf-

lets, and scholarly monographs to provide the visitor with orienta-

tion information, brief surveys of the historical or archaeological

significance of the site, and documented studies of a more concen-

trated nature prepared by staff members and other scholars.

Several of our sites also include museums in which the signifi-

cance of the property is developed in exhibit form. Again, the re-

search staff and exhibit personnel seek to employ the most recent

materials and techniques to present the viewer with a broad inter-

pretation of that property's contribution to history. At Marietta a

new wing has been added to the Campus Martius Museum which

will house, among others, a comprehensive interpretative exhibit on

the Ohio-Mississippi river system. More than a year will be spent in

planning displays and completing the research and collection of

materials to be presented there. The scope of this particular ex-

hibit will include the entire period from the era of exploration

through the colorful steamboat age to the modern use of the diesel

towboat. Displays will also relate the corresponding social and

economic development of the West.

A final basic interpretative tool emphasized in the educational

program is the use of guides and hostesses. Particularly in the case

of historic buildings, the weight of technical information that must

be digested to make a tour of the property meaningful, cannot

easily be presented in any other way. We have been unable to

reach our goal in the training of guides for various reasons, includ-

ing lack of money for personnel. We recognize this as a serious

deficiency in our program.

With this wide variety of historic properties, many of which are

somewhat isolated, the question of providing picnic and other rec-

reational facilities has naturally arisen. In some areas, space limita-

tions have removed any consideration of the problem, but where

larger tracts of undeveloped land exist, we have made an effort to

meet these needs. Nearly all of the large archaeological sites have

picnic facilities, as do several of the historic military sites. How-

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256    THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

ever, in the case of historic houses, such facilities have been kept

at a minimum, since they necessarily intrude upon the proper res-

toration and interpretation of grounds and outbuildings. In every

location, ballplaying and other active games are discouraged.

Very often, of course, the full enjoyment of an historic site

demands that hiking trails be provided. At our natural history and

archaeological sites this is frequently the only way in which the

interpretation of the site can be accomplished. Hiking trails become,

therefore, an integral part of the educational program.

In this motorized age, a major contribution to recreation is the

pleasant drive to one or more of our properties. Many of them

are located in picturesque towns and villages, or in relatively un-

spoiled countryside. Thus the journey to them often provides an

insight into their surrounding physical environment, or, at the very

least, an enjoyable ride through Ohio's woods and fields.

A final word might be directed toward future development.

Several of our historic sites do not measure up to the standards

outlined above, and every effort will be made to remedy those

shortcomings. In addition, the staff of the Society is constantly en-

gaged in perfecting new techniques of exhibition and interpreta-

tion. Where it is possible, these techniques and other improvements

will be installed or put in effect. Our job is to make these historic

properties meaningful to every individual, and it is not a function

that can remain in a static condition. As other means of communi-

cation improve, our communication of history through the historic

site must also reach new heights.

FINANCING AND LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS*

The finance officer of an organization such as the Ohio Historical

Society should be required to prepare a talk such as this at least

once a year. It forces him to free himself temporarily from the

thousand and one immediate problems of day-to-day operations,

and to consider the broader problems of financing the organiza-

tion. Today I have dropped the problems of the October 15th

payroll and the realignment of our job classifications. How will

the changes affect our quarterly obligation rate for the remainder

* By Robert C. Cupp, business manager.

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SYMPOSIUM ON HISTORIC SITES       257

of the fiscal year? How can I get it all straightened out in time

to meet the payroll? (For the benefit of the members of the staff

of the Ohio Historical Society present today, I expect to get back

to these problems tomorrow.) Today I am thinking of our basic

funding problems, past, present, and future, and what we have

done, what we are doing, and what we should do to meet them.

First, I believe the nature of our organization should be made

clear. The Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit membership

organization, incorporated under the laws of Ohio. Our purpose

is the preservation and dissemination of the state's history. Our

governing body, a Board of Trustees, consists of some members

appointed by the governor and others elected by the Society mem-

bership. Under this organizational plan, our primary financing is

by the state of Ohio, with some supplementing funds from other

sources.

Our first state appropriation was in 1890 for $2,000. Our last

appropriation for the two-year period beginning July 1, 1957, was

$980,840 for maintenance and operation, plus $90,000 for addi-

tions and betterments and a special item of $52,600 to repair,

rehabilitate, and operate the former governor's mansion, to be

used as an archives building. As a basis for a more recent compari-

son of the current biennial operations appropriation of $981,000,

we had $747,000 appropriated in 1952. Of these recent appropria-

tions, approximately two-thirds of the total has been for the

operation of our State Memorials and one-third for our other

primary activities, such as the library and the educational, research,

and publications programs and services. Clearly the state of Ohio has

recognized its responsibilities for preserving the story of its birth

and development.

As to whether this recognition has been adequate, it is a little

difficult to say. Our situation may be considered good or bad,

depending upon the basis of comparison. Compared to what we

feel our program should be, our appropriations seem low; compared

to our resources in the past, it seems that we have fared well.

At least we have made progress.

At every session of the legislature we endeavor to acquaint the

legislators with the Society and its program, both by personal con-

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258    THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

tact, as much as possible, and by use of our literature and publica-

tions. Particular problems in a particular area are brought to the

attention of the representatives from that area. Frequently we have

questions from legislators interested in the maintenance or devel-

opment of historic sites or houses in their areas. Naturally, such

questions offer an opportunity for us to clarify our over-all require-

ments, of which their special interests are only a part. Although

much of the groundwork has already been accomplished by the

time of our budget hearings before the finance committees of the

house and senate, these hearings are the climax of our biennial

budget requests. At these hearings we have the opportunity to

consolidate, summarize, and justify our total needs for state sup-

port, and to clarify any specific points of particular importance. In

general, I believe we have achieved good legislative relations, and,

if we do not always receive all we request, it is not that the value

of our program is unrecognized or that the soundness of our figures

is doubted. Rather, it is that there is just so much money to be dis-

tributed to meet so many legitimate requirements of state operations.

In regard to our future policy of financing by state appropriations,

our greatest problem is in convincing the legislators and state

officials that we have absorbed to the limit the indirect costs of

expansion. If we are to assume responsibilities for other properties

or other functions, or even to continue expansion of present pro-

grams and facilities to meet the increasing public demand, the

funds for the direct costs of such additions will not be adequate.

There must be provision for the indirect costs, such as research,

central planning and development, and administration, if we are

to make available to the people of Ohio the full value of their

investment in historic sites.

As I mentioned earlier, under our plan of organization and oper-

ation we have other sources of funds. Of these sources, the largest

is our income from sales of publications, souvenirs, and postcards.

Our experience has been one of rapid growth in this source, par-

ticularly from the sales stores at our State Memorials. In 1950 our

gross sales were approximately $30,000; for the year ending June 30,

1956, they amounted to $64,000; and for the year ending June 30,

1957, $79,000. Thus we have had an increase of 163% in sales since

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SYMPOSIUM ON HISTORIC SITES       259

 

1950, and a 23% increase in the one year from 1956 to 1957. We

feel that we have been riding a trend, but we have put a few

spurs to that trend too. We have made a concentrated effort to

increase such sales. Recognition has been given to the fact that

merely to have publications and sales items available is not suffici-

ent. We are in business. What we have to sell must be made known

to potential customers, and purchase must be made easy. Sales

items must be attractive, as well as meet our educational and

suitability criteria. Our art department has cooperated in preparing

attractive mailers, and we have found that the effort and expense

have paid off in increased sales.

Other sources of Society fund income deserve mention, although

the amounts received are not substantial in comparison. We have

recently extended admission charges to all historic houses, although

not to parks or sites. We have increased Society membership dues

from a $2.00 minimum to a $5.00 minimum. Donations have in-

creased substantially, again resulting from a definite effort to

increase this source. I am sure you gentlemen realize, but will not

mind hearing again, the advantage of soliciting funds for a

specific purpose, rather than just money for anything. It is much

better to say, when approaching a prospective donor, "We would

appreciate a new shelter house at the beautiful and historic site

of the Okefenokee massacre," rather than, "We would like for

you to donate some funds for some new buildings at some of

our properties."

One other substantial portion of our financing plan should be

mentioned before I close. That is the special endowments and

trust funds, and the income from such funds. Our largest endow-

ment is $163,000 in principal, established for the purpose of

maintaining and operating the McKinley Memorial at Canton. More

recently, a fund accompanied the bequest of a valuable, beautiful,

and interesting natural history area in Ohio's Hocking Hills, the

Carmen H. Warner estate. We do not expect the income from

these funds to cover completely the costs of maintenance, but such

income is of substantial help. I do not pretend to be an expert in

investments, and fortunately we have a well-qualified treasurer to

handle these problems. However, I am sure we all realize the

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260    THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

danger of a regulated fixed dollar income endowment becoming

inadequate for its purpose, as over the years the dollar buys less

and less in the way of materials and services.

In summarizing our financing by Society funds, as distinguished

from state appropriations, I must add that our favorable experi-

ence in increasing our gross income, and even our net income from

operations, is not reflected in that final annual figure entitled "Net

Income" at the very bottom of the page of our financial report.

Between the figures is a constantly rising rate of expenditures for

maintenance supplies and services, because we have found it neces-

sary to pay from Society funds a greater proportion of these routine

costs. Again using 1950 for comparison, annual maintenance wages

paid by Society funds have increased from less than $5,000 to over

$34,000. In addition, many other costs formerly covered completely

by appropriations are now paid in part from Society funds. We

feel that this is a matter of self-help, and not necessarily dangerous

to our stability as long as it can be kept within reasonable limits.

There appears to be no letup in the increasing financial needs

of organizations such as ours. We hope to meet these needs by

continuing to spur our sources of Society funds, and to do all in

our power to see that our state legislators and officials under-

stand our legitimate needs. We can be sure that there will never

be quite enough for everything we would like to do; we can only

concentrate on the programs and site developments of the greatest

value.

Our primary purpose is not to make money. As a finance officer

I am only a service to the operating departments. However, some-

times I find that the best service I can render is to urge the director

to say No to a proposal for a new program or development, and to

furnish him with the information to back up the No. I may be

accused occasionally of taking the negative approach. This I will

deny. Financing is not only a matter of income, it is also a matter

of planned spending. In this all members of a staff must cooperate

in making and following a clear plan of operation to derive maxi-

mum utilization of all available resources.

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SYMPOSIUM ON HISTORIC SITES          261

 

ADMINISTRATION OF THE HISTORIC SITES*

In the assignment of the subject for this paper the word "Main-

tenance" could well have been substituted for the word "Adminis-

tration," because persons charged with the operation of historic

sites are primarily concerned with maintenance. Good maintenance

is good administration.

When speaking of maintenance, I wish to go beyond the usual

meaning of the word, which would only imply keeping the struc-

tures in good repair, the lawns well mowed, and the areas policed.

To administer or maintain an historic site it is necessary to consider

every phase of operation, including authentic restoration, clear

and understandable interpretation, adequate and simple presenta-

tion of the true background of the area, and visitor accommodation,

together with the physical maintenance.

The administrator of historic sites is entirely dependent upon the

historian for research in restoration projects and later for interpre-

tative materials. He is also dependent upon the archaeologist, the

creative artist, the finance officer, and many other specialists, de-

pending upon the type of project at hand. The historic sites admin-

istrator should be the liaison between the specialist and the admin-

istrating staff. It is his duty to bring into being the research data

presented by the historian and the archaeologist, and to maintain

the site accordingly.

Much of the trouble encountered by an administrator is caused

by the indiscriminate and unwarranted use of the word research.

This type of thinking accepts legend as fact and frequently serves

to muddy the problem at hand. The restoration of any site is only

as authentic as the research upon which it is based; consequently,

the administration is entirely dependent upon the research specialist,

if this phase of the maintenance program is to be top level.

The administrator's total efforts would be useless if the visiting

public did not accept an area, or left the area without gaining

some idea of why funds are being expended to maintain the site.

This leads to another important phase of maintenance, the inter-

pretative program.

* By Richard S. Fatig, superintendent, division of properties.

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262    THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

I am sure each one of you has experienced the feeling that

some interpretative efforts are so juvenile as to insult the average

intelligence, or some so scholarly or technical the average visitor

cannot understand what it is all about. There is a happy medium,

and it is the administrator's responsibility to determine just where

it is, and work with the historians and editors to provide short,

intelligent, understandable, and informative materials, be they

signs, labels, or literature. An acquaintance of mine, who was a

department curator in one of the nation's largest museums, told

me many years ago he tried to keep all informative materials on

the high school level; thus both ends of the human intelligence

scale derived some knowledge of his exhibits. This may be a good

formula to follow in presenting historic site information.

It must be remembered that the administrative staff on the area

is the closest to the public, taking the criticisms as well as the com-

pliments from the citizens who are paying the bill. Consequently,

great care should be taken in selecting the area personnel. Also

you cannot expect a staff member to become valuable unless he

feels his job is important and that you will support him to the

limit. The best public relations any department can have is a

high morale level among its various members.

It is my belief that all staff members should be informed on

all policies and should be given the reasons for establishing the

policies. I also believe it is good for staff members to get together

periodically and have a good "bull session" without the "boss"

being there. Each member finds out that his problem is no greater

than that of the other fellow.

It has been our policy to have what we term a "school." In

one of the sessions other department heads attend, and we have

several hours of general discussion and interpretation of various

policies and rulings. In an evening session we discuss work and

development on various areas, and we insist the local staff mem-

bers talk on their own areas. These schools generally consume two

days, counting travel time, and they pay big dividends. Each staff

member feels he is a part of the organization.

Lest we forget, administration requires money to carry on any

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SYMPOSIUM ON HISTORIC SITES        263

 

program, and it is the responsibility of an administrator to expend

funds in the interest of the general public. The complete story

must be told if the site is to serve its purpose. Frequently we are

tempted to spend for the frills, but these must be forgotten in

the interest of basic necessities; then, if we are fortunate, the

trimmings may be added.

I could continue this paper by discussing concessions, fees and

charges, equipment, and a number of items which have been

discussed at meetings numerous times. All of these problems you

must meet in your areas in the way you consider most satisfactory.

In closing let me summarize by saying that the successful ad-

ministration of historic sites is based on four things: faithful res-

toration based on thorough research; a clear, concise, understand-

able interpretative program; a loyal, informed staff; and a lot of

hard work.

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