Ohio History Journal

THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND

ARCHAEOLOGY

In the Ohio Centennial, at Columbus, September 4 to October 19, 1888.

THIS department was organized to embody a distinctive

feature in the Ohio Centennial: i. e., to exhibit in one place

articles illustrative of the growth made in Ohio's history.

To do this properly, it was decided to group all articles

into classes, regardless of ownership, each class typical of

a distinct idea. This made a collective exhibit and hence

all individuality of ownership disappeared.  This plan

was decided upon after a careful examination of former

expositions, and upon the advice of those who had given the

subject much attention.

The space allotted was the north side and east end of

the gallery in the central brick building. This gallery is

twenty feet wide, and on the north is 120 feet long. On

the east the length is eighty feet. This gave a floor

space of 20 x 200 feet. On this space were placed the

table, upright and other forms of cases in which to ex-

hibit articles. The wall on the north presented an abrupt

convex surface about twenty feet high. That of the east

was straight, with inclined sides, owing to the shape of the

roof. It was sufficiently high to exhibit large maps, charts

and card cases in which were placed stone ornaments and

implements, whose owners adopt that method of keeping

them. The convex surface of the north wall was used to

hang paintings of the Governors of Ohio, from Arthur

St. Clair to Joseph B. Foraker: from 1788 to 1888. A few

pictures were hung on the lower portion of this wall.

The space allotted to this department was divided into

two general parts: History and Archaeology, the former

occupying the north side, the latter the east end. These

two general divisions were arranged in groups, each group

in turn being classified. The division of History was sep-

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542    Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

 

arated into eight groups, the Archaeology into ten, each

of which will be hereafter described. The grouping and

classification of articles enabled me to exhibit a large

number of articles; many more than could have been

done by any method involving individual exhibits, and it

also enabled me to present in compact form all articles

illustrative of the various phases of our history.  No

other method would have permitted such an exhibit. Its

wisdom was fully attested by the hearty approval of all

visitors and contributors, when examined. By this method

the visitors saw in one place all that could be seen

of articles typical of one idea, and, hence, did not have

to travel over the floor to gain an idea of use, utility,

age, or history of the articles shown. The comparison

was there. As a result, the department became a school

of object-teaching  which was visited again and again

by those who wished to study what objectively illustrated our

history.

The section of History was divided into eight groups,

as follows: 1, military; 2, domestic in-door implements

and utensils; 3, domestic out-door implements; 4, printed and

written articles; 5, mechanics' tools; 6, money and medals; 7,

flax; 8, pictures and paintings.

In the first group-military-were shown the classes of

guns, pistols and all firearms, swords, bayonets, dirks, uni-

forms, canteens, powder-horns, drums, fifes, flutes, band

instruments, flags, etc., each class containing within itself

every article which belonged therein arranged so as to

show  chronology, use and utility.  In this department

were special exhibits of the General Fearing and General

Sheridan articles. Here were also a number of sections

of trees from battle fields showing the effect of warfare in

the balls and shells still imbedded in the hard woods.

In the second group were shown implements of house-

hold use. In one case were lamps, candle-sticks and lan-

terns so arranged as to show the methods of lighting dwell-

ings from the earliest periods of our history to the present.

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Department of History and Archaeology.    543

 

Next this, came an exhibit of pewter ware of all kinds,

arranged to show, chronologically, its use.   Near this

stood a case of china and earthen ware, arranged on the

same plan. Close by were all forms of smoothing irons.

In this group were placed musical instruments, the most

valuable historically of which was a piano that had been

in use in Washington's family.

At the request of the Woman's Department I fitted up

a "New England Kitchen" in the Woman's Building. In

this were placed all articles illustrating such a department

in our forefathers' homes.

In the third group-domestic out-door implements-

were shown plows of wood and of iron, wooden pitchforks

and shovels, rakes, flails, and other tools used by the

farmer and husbandman when his necessities and condi-

tion compelled him to depend on "home talent" and industry

for all he needed.

In the fourth group were shown all forms of printed and

written matter. This embodied in one case deeds, letters,

public and private documents, newspapers, receipts, etc.,

arranged first, in classes, second, chronologically. The

second case contained books and bound papers and maga-

zines. These were arranged in classes, such as educational,

religious, etc., each class in turn arranged chronologically in

order.

The group of mechanics' tools-the fifth-embraced every

variety of auger, hand-bit, gimlet, axes of all kinds, adzes,

drawing-knives, chisels, gouges, etc., while grouped among

them were the results of work done with such tools, shown

by wooden bowls, latches, locks and other articles necessary

to the comfort of a family.

The sixth group-money and medals-contained speci-

mens of almost every State and private bank in the West;

also one specimen of each of the chief coins in use during

the century. Six double cases were required to hold the

currency and one upright triangular case, two sides of

which were used, held the coins. In all, there were up-

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544   Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

 

wards of two thousand specimens of currency, comprising

not only Ohio and Western Bank currency but also many

specimens of foreign banks and corporations, and speci-

mens of Colonial, Continental and United States issues.

The coins comprised specimens of all used in this country

from the periods of early settlements in America to the

present time: gold, silver and copper, in all about one

thousand pieces. The entire collection was the exhibit of

A. H. Smith, of Burg Hill, Trumbull county. A few smaller

collections were also shown near. The medals were chiefly

in a case shown by Dr. Eli D. Pocock, of Shreve, Wayne

county, and exhibited many of the medals, or their duplicates,

issued to individuals in the West.

The exhibit of flax-group seven-comprised in one

series the entire method of converting the raw product

into cloth. This, of course, included all machinery and

appliances used. The exhibit was gathered and arranged

by John Hayden, Esq., of Marengo, Morrow county.

The last group in this division-the eighth-that of

pictures and paintings-was somewhat scattered owing to

the nature of the wall space. In addition to the portraits

of Governors, already mentioned, there was shown a

variety of pictures, paintings, charts, commissions, wall

cases of badges, diplomas, etc., illustrating various phases

of our history. In this exhibit were shown two cases con-

taining a complete inventory of all circulars, letter-heads,

envelopes, designs, cards, badges, etc., used at the Centen-

nial Celebration held in Marietta, July 15th, commemorative

of the Proclamation of Civil Government by General Arthur

St. Clair, July 15, 1788.

The arrangements of the second division-Archaeology

-was mainly the work of Prof. M. C. Read, of Hudson.

Ten general groups were made, each in turn classified.

The groups were: 1, casts and models of earthworks; 2,

larger stone implements; 3, bone and shell ornaments

and implements; 4, human remains and skeletons from

mounds; 5, slate implements and ornaments; 6, pottery,

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Department of History and Archaeology.     545

 

domestic utensils, dress, etc.; 7, flint implements; 8, pipes;

9, specimens in wall cases; 10, miscellaneous articles.

Without going into lengthy details little can be said of each

of the above groups.

The first group comprised casts and models, in clay, of

the typical mounds and classes of earthworks on one table,

while adjoining it was a model, drawn to scale, of the earth-

works found on the site of Marietta when settled by

Americans, in 1788.

The second group contained varieties of pestles, mortars,

axes, hammers, mauls, fleshers and other large stone imple-

ments, each comprising a class, each class, in turn, being

arranged according to evident use.

The third group comprised all articles of shell and

bone, including beads, bodkins, fish-hooks and spears, discs,

etc.

The fourth group comprised, in once case, types of crania

and skeletons found in mounds and in Indian burial

places. These included several perfect skulls and fragments

of others, as well as entire skeletons and parts of skele-

tons.

The fifth group comprised the various forms of slate

implements and ornaments, such as slate beads, wands,

badges, fleshers, bark peelers, and tribal, clan and family

totems, each class being arranged in order of use.

The sixth group included a typical variety of pottery of

mounds, of Indians and modern Mexican tribes. Many

fragments were also exhibited showing the various styles

of ornamentation prevalent, especially in this part of the

country.

The seventh group included a variety of domestic uten-

sils used among the aborigines, also ornaments of copper,

bone, iron, silver, brass, reeds, etc. Among these were

also shown many articles now     in common use among

Western tribes, as deer and other skins dressed and orna-

mented for garments; platters of woven grass and other

utensils.

Vol. 11-35

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546    Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

 

The eighth group included what might, with propriety,

be termed the "evolution of the pipe."  Here were shown

all forms of smoking utensils, from the earliest straight

stem, without a bowl, to the elaborate carved handle and

bowl of the modern Indian. Also many forms of cere-

monial and clan or tribal pipes, as well as those of an em-

blematical character were exhibited in the case containing

this group.

The ninth group comprised all varieties of stone imple-

ments and ornaments, exhibited in frames, the articles

being fastened by small wires to the back of the frames.

Dr. Pocock, of Wayne county, John S. B. Matson, of Rich-

land county, H. B. Case, Ashland county, M. E. Thrallkill,

Franklin county, and the Ohio Archaeological and His-

torical Society being the chief contributors to this group.

A large archaeological map, belonging to the Society, showing

the principal earthworks, mounds, etc., in Ohio, was hung

here. Near it was a small map of Delaware county, on the

same principle, proposed by R. E. Hills, Esq., of Delaware.

A number of drawings of archaeological articles were also

shown.

The tenth group included what was brought in after the

classification was completed and the cases filled, hence into

this group were placed all unclassified articles.

But little additional need be said concerning this gen-

eral grouping and classification. Every group and class

was properly described by labels, while to each article that

admitted it was attached a special label giving all known

information, as briefly as possible, regarding it. This was

not generally necessary in the Archaeological division as

the label for a class answered sufficiently for all articles in

the class. In the Historical division almost every article

had a special and separate history and, hence, bore a

special label. This was a great convenience to visitors, and

one much commended. It obviated all necessity for guides,

and, besides, left each one at full discretion as regards time

of examination of the articles.

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Department of History and Archaeology.       547

 

Captain H. C. Roby, of Fairfield, had charge of the

section of Military articles, while Dr. L. G. Herrick

remained in charge of that of the Archaeology. A full

report containing a complete classified list of articles

exhibited, and the owners' names and addresses, was pre-

pared by Dr. Herrick, for the Centennial Board of Directors.

It is to be hoped they will publish this, that each and all may

receive due credit.

A. A. GRAHAM,

Commissioner.

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