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.