Ohio History Journal

426       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

 

ADDRESS OF DR. W. O. THOMPSON.

Mr. Chairman, my election to a position in this Archaeolog-

ical and Historical Society was accepted as a distinct honor. I,

therefore, rejoice in the hour that is now here with all the

other members of the Archaeological and Historical Society. For

indeed this is an hour of genuine rejoicing. It gives the Society,

as we hope, a permanent place in the history of the State.

I happen, in the fortune of life, to be here as the President

of the University, and in that capacity I rejoice knowing that we

are to have upon this campus, permanently, so dignified and hon-

ored a society as this one is. It is, therefore, with sincere pleasure

that we anticipate the completion of a building which shall be in

keeping with the dignity of the State and the dignity of the So-

ciety. I come here simply to express anew our most cordial wel-

come to the Archaeological and Historical Society and join in

the congratulations of the hour to them upon this happy and

auspicious day.

I am looking forward to the time when this very building

itself will be a place to which distinguished men will come. I

think Ohio in its early phases presents a great opportunity for

scientific study and research, and I am glad the State of Ohio

recognizing that fact has given this Society a permanent home

upon this campus. Not many of the people of the University,

or of the State or City, are aware of the fact that we have already

had some of the most distinguished men of the world appear

upon this campus looking for this Society. Sir Walter Ramsey of

Scotland came to this place, and the only thing in Columbus he was

at all interested in was the Archaeological and Historical Society.

He made the journey at considerable expense, time and money

for the satisfaction of seeing with his own eyes the result of the

research work in this line as made in Ohio. Sir Walter Ramsey

is only one of a number of others, and I am anticipating the time

to come when scholars from all over the country will come to

this particular building as the place where they expect to find

the information for which scholars are always looking. I ex-

pect, therefore, this building itself will be a tribute to Ohio's

judgment, to her character, to her own dignity and to the work

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Laying Corner Stone of the Society's Building.  427

 

that shall be carried on in this building and outside of the build-

ding and that it will, in the years to come, add very greatly to the

distinction of our commonwealth.

I congratulate the people, of Ohio, I congratulate the Uni-

versity, I congratulate the State upon this happy hour and the

prospect of this building.

MR. RANDALL: Prof. B. F. Prince of Wittenberg Uni-

versity, Springfield, Ohio, and one of our most loyal trustees will

now speak.

ADDRESS OF PROF. B. F. PRINCE.

Mr. President: At many of the meetings held in this City

we discussed the question of a location, a place, in which to put

our collection. We thought for a long time it ought to be down

in the City, but that seemed impossible. Next there was offered

to us ground here upon the State University Campus, and we

are pleased to know now that we accepted that proposition, and

that we are here located so favorably on this ground.

I am sure that every member of the Directorship of this

Association feels grateful to the State of Ohio and to the Ohio

State University for this privilege of locating at this point. I am

sure that as time passes there will be greater pleasure come to

the trustees as they see what opportunities and privileges have

been accorded to this Society. There are a great many things

that helped to contribute to the growth and prosperity of this

Society. Peoples of long ages past have laid up relics for us.

They have scattered them all over the State of Ohio; put them in

mounds where they are being found from time to time and are

being transported to this place for the inspection of the people of

today, and in the days to come. The State of Ohio, or what is

now Ohio, has long been to my mind a battle field-a battle

ground-a pleasant place, too, in which to live. People in her

historic times have left their monuments. After them  came

the Indians into this Country. No matter what their origin they

were here, and they have come down to us-their memory-in

historic times. They struggled for this country. We read in

history that the Algonquins and the Iroquois fought for this

land until they made it a desert; for almost a hundred years no

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