Ohio History Journal


272 Ohio Arch

272        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF OHIO.

One of the most interesting developments in connection with Ohio's

preparations for carrying on a successful war has been the appointment

of the Historical Commission by Governor James M. Cox. It is the

function of the Historical Commission to collect and preserve the records

from which a history of Ohio in the Great War may eventually be

compiled. The appointment is a recognition of the fact that a people

conscious of the historic role it is essaying can fight with greater courage

and to nobler purpose than a people whose claim to future fame is left

the prey of chance and of the mouldering hand of time. The Commission

is composed of twenty-three men and women representing a wide variety

of educational and historical interests of the state.

The monumental task which the Commission has set for itself

cannot attain success without the earnest co-operation of citizens in all

walks of life throughout the state. Readers of the Quarterly can render

valuable assistance by collecting wartime documents of local importance

for transmission to the Historical Commission and by stimulating local

organizations to keep a careful record of their war activities.  The

Commission has given a broad definition to the term "war records,"

meaning thereby letters and diaries, printed matter of all kinds, pho-

tographs, motion pictures, posters, cartoons, and relics.

For the guidance of persons interested in the assembling of such

records, the Commission has indicated eight classes of materials, as

follows:  (1) Records of state agencies and of federal agencies within

the state, such as speeches of Ohio's Congressmen and Senators, records

of the state offices of the Food Administration, Fuel Administration,

Ohio Council of Defense, American Red Cross, etc.; (2) Military records,

such as documents throwing light on the history of Camp Sherman and

other camps where Ohio men may be found, war letters and diaries, war

photographs, and relics; (3) Religious records, such as the records show-

ing the activities of the Y. M. C. A. and the Knights of Columbus, war

sermons, and publications of church societies bearing upon the war;

(4) Economic material, such as records showing the influence of the war

upon capital and labor, agricultural production, price variations, etc.;

(5) Political and propagandist material, such as patriotic addresses,

handbills and pamphlets issued to influence public opinion for or against

the war, conscription, etc.; (6) Educational records, such as records

showing the effect of the war upon the attendance and curricula of

schools and colleges; (7) County and municipal records, such as materials

which disclose the intimate local workings of the Food and Fuel Admin-

istration, Draft Boards, War Chest movement, etc.; (8) War literature,

such as publications written by Ohioans touching upon war subjects or

by others touching upon Ohio's part in the war.

As materials are accumulated they should be sent to Dr. A. M.

Schlesinger, Chairman Historical Commission of Ohio, Columbus.

The Historical Commission of Ohio, as appointed by Governor Cox,

consists of the following persons:

E. J. Benton, Cleveland; J. E. Bradford, Oxford; Glenn D. Bradley,

Toledo; I. J. Cox, Cincinnati; G. A. Cribbs, Alliance; Elizabeth Crowther,

Oxford; Martha L. Edwards, Painesville; G. C. Enders, Defiance; W. B.

Guitteau, Toledo; L. B. Hall, Oberlin; T. N. Hoover, Athens; K. S.

Latourette, Granville; W. D. Niswander, Ada; W. F. Peirce, Gambier;

B. F. Prince, Springfield; E. O. Randall, Columbus; W. H. Siebert,

Columbus; C. Snavely, Westerville; R. T. Stevenson, Delaware; J. I.

Stewart, New Concord; Elizabeth A. Thompson, Akron; Mary A. Young,

Oxford; Arthur M. Schlesinger, Columbus, Chairman.