Ohio History Journal

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206 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

206     OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

it is a job well done. It is really only in its beginning. The op-

portunity for service to the State of Ohio has been multiplied

many times beyond that we ever hoped for in years gone by.

As I remarked at the opening of the meeting this is a sort of

birthday for the director. He is today joining the quarter cen-

tury group in service. In lieu of the report of the director I am

going to ask him to say something about the Society and the staff,

feelings he may have about his hopes for the future. Imme-

diately following Dr. Shetrone's address I will ask a committee

to retire for a moment to make nominations for three members of

the Board of Trustees to succeed Dr. Rightmire, Mr. Clark of

Cleveland, and Commander Hayes, whose terms expire this year.

I will appoint Mr. Carlisle, Mrs. Dryer and Curator Thomas.

The director needs no introduction, and for this tough citizen who

grows better with age, we wish another twenty-five years of very

active service in behalf of the Society. If the Nominating Com-

mittee will now slip out, we will ask the director for his report.

 

THE SOCIETY--A QUARTER CENTURY OF PROGRESS

By H. C. SHETRONE

After the disastrous flood of 1913 had subsided and the debris was

partly cleared away, this speaker found himself lodged on the threshold

of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Museum, as assistant to

the then curator. Which is but a round-about way of saying that just

now he is observing the twenty-fifth anniversary of his connection with

this organization.

Presumably a quarter-century of service entitles the servitor to lay

aside inhibitions and modesty and to make free use of the personal pro-

noun "I". With your permission, then, I shall attempt a brief evaluation

of the twenty-five-year period corresponding to my incumbency, with per-

haps a word of comment as to the future of the Society.

Without doubt, time is an important factor in human activities, since

conditions obtaining in any given time-period definitely influence the careers

both of individuals and organizations. The period under consideration--1913

to 1938--in many respects has been the most remarkable quarter-century

on record. It has witnessed the greatest era of peace and prosperity that

humans have known; the most widespread and destructive war in history;

the most poignant period of depression that society has had to endure; and,

finally a social revolution which finds us now living in a new social, in-

dustrial and economic world.   Had conditions remained favorable the

Society by now might be well on the way toward realizing its ideals. Since

they have not so remained, we may inquire as to just how the changes have

been met.

This twenty-five-year period, in so far as the present discussion is

concerned, separates into two distinct sub-periods; the first fifteen years

were a time of prosperity and the last ten years a time of depression.