REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR
To the Officers, Trustees and Members of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society:
Herewith is submitted, in condensed form, the sixteenth annual report of the undersigned as Director of the Society.
Presumably you are not so much concerned with past accomplishments of the organization, which speak for themselves, as with the future. The temper of the times appears to demand that the Society, along with others of its kind, should conscientiously evaluate its activities, in order to justify its continued existence and its support, in part, through expenditure of public funds.
During the more than a half-century of its existence the Society, functioning as conservator, interpreter and disseminator of Ohio's historic traditions, has come to enjoy the confidence and appreciation of the Ohio public. With this background, achieved through conscientious and effective effort through the years, potentialities for service are limited only by our ability to anticipate and meet the demands which evolutionary changes will make of us.
At present, under conditions unprecedented in history, we find ourselves confronted with the task not only of continuing established regime, but of rendering new and distinct types of service, while handicapped by curtailed personnel and facilities. Even more important is the planning for what will be, after the global conflict is ended, a virtually different world.
Difficult though this may be, in prospect, it is rendered even more- difficult by the tendency in time of war to disregard the esthetic concepts of life, because of the immediate urgency of material considerations. The following are the more important factors on which rests the Society's opportunity of successfully meeting the inevitable impact of the future.
As part of the post-war planning, the material equipment for effectively carrying out future programs of service must receive immediate attention. Structural needs, or additions and better
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ments, focus primarily on the Society's Museum and Library building. While museum and library requirement may not exceed those provided for in the original plans for many years to come, those plans, perhaps with modifications, should become reality without delay. Briefly stated, the final wing to the present building, provided for in the master plan, should be constructed as early as possible, or as an alternative, a commodious auditorium should be erected in the space represented by the existing open court. There is urgent need for such an auditorium, and either plan might provide it. Not only from the standpoint of the Society's activities, but from that of the Ohio State University, the City of Columbus and the State of Ohio as well, there should be available a capacious auditorium at the gateway to the Campus. Construction of an auditorium proper would correspond to the main floor of the present building, while the spacious basement area would furnish relief to the newspaper library, and would afford much needed storage, laboratory and study space. Should the additional wing eventually be forthcoming, construction problems would be simplified as contrasted to the opposite procedure. Additional physical requirements include replacement of the outmoded lighting system, display facilities and public comfort rooms.
An additional urgent need in the category of additions and betterments, which perhaps concerns the Society only collaterally, is provision for the growing bulk and importance of State Archives. Non-current State Archives of certain categories, are now being cared for by the Library Division of the Society, without adequate space and personnel for anything more than dead storage. In view of the fact that, following the lead of the Federal Government, a number of states in the Union have now erected or have already made definite plans to erect special archival buildings, it would appear that such is the only logical and permanent solution to the problem in Ohio.
Specific plans and recommendations covering these needs are in preparation and will be submitted to the Board of Trustees in the near future.
The Society and the War Effort: Some idea of how changed conditions are being met at present may be had from a hurried
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review of special activities on the part of the several departments and divisions of the Society. A series of lectures and special exhibits, to be mentioned later, have been designed to interpret Ohio's part in the world conflict; a considerable amount of research, correspondence and other aids have been accorded to individuals and groups; and cooperation has been extended to various state departments, a committee of the State legislature and to various community organizations interested in post-war planning. In accordance with approved practice, the Society has refrained from participation in propaganda of an emotional nature, in the belief that the presentation of basic history and the simple offering of truth has greater permanent inspirational and cultural value than has the emotional appeal. A total of fifteen members of the Society's staff-Board of Trustees, Museum, Library, and State Memorials personnel-now are in military service.
Shortly after the outbreak of war, the Society advocated the formation of the Ohio War History Commission. This organization was created by Governor John W. Bricker in the spring Of 1942, with Dr. Carl Wittke, a Trustee of the Society, as its Chairman. From its inception, the Commission has been furnished headquarters in the Museum and Library building, for the greater part of the past year, Dr. Francis P. Weisenburger, vicechairman, has served as acting supervisor. Material for a detailed history of the current war is gradually accumulating and will accrue to the Society.
Special Exhibits: Permanent displays, while essential to any museum, must be supplemented by occasional special exhibitions of a timely and dynamic nature. Such exhibits enable a museum to offer its public something new at all times, and to avert the possibility of stagnation and consequent lack of interest on the part of visitors. With this in mind, an Exhibition Committee of the Museum and Library staff, organized early in the year, was charged with the responsibility of devising and displaying a series of exhibits in the interest of service men and the general public. These exhibits were designed to reflect the particular interests of the Society, particularly as regards the current war in its many phases, the history, background and tradition of our own people
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and others of the Allies, and something of the naturalistic and artistic complex which is an essential part of human culture.
In January an exhibit of Indian Arts and Crafts of the Americas, including a group of water colors of Mexican and Guatemalan subjects by Miss Carolyn Bradley was highly appreciated. While the Museum is not primarily concerned with art exhibits, as such, a display of Kentucky mountaineer studies by Professor James R. Hopkins, and a series of water colors by Professor Ralph Fanning depicting historic houses, was well received. In response to public request, a display of the noted drawings of dogs, by Will Rannells, attracted many visitors and art lovers. Soldier art of the current war furnished a rather unique and timely display, and included the charcoal drawings of Pvt. Richard W. Rembrandt and Pfc. Groce Evans, the oil paintings of John A. Rocco, and posters by Ensign Richard M. Green. Subjects depicted were camp and training scenes.
Photography exhibits comprised natural history monochromes by Arthur L. Harper, Walter A. Tucker, Otto S. Marchworth, Lloyd Reber, Conrad Roth and Edward S. Thomas. A display Of 76 prints of scenic and historic Ohio by Robert Wheaton interpreted the out-door attractions of the State.
Two unusual displays of the year were the music, manuscript and historical items relating to the American Folk Song Society and its founder, jean Thomas; and "Ohio Builds for Victory," depicting graphically a busy waterfront scene with its attendant wartime industrial activities, constructed by the Museum's technician, Cyril H. Webster.
Additional special exhibitions were: The Columbus Philatelic Club; the National Chrysanthemum show; Flags of the United Nations; Valentines of Yesterday; and, at the Holiday season, Christmas Trees of 1843 and 1943.
Reports of Departments: A gratifying degree of cooperation among the several departments and divisions of the Society has atoned in great part for the loss of personnel to the war effort, and has resulted in definite accomplishment for the past year. Not only have the curatorial personnel carried on their routine activities, but through a joint exhibition committee they have created
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a number of permanent and special exhibits of unusual merit. Without exception they have been untiring and unmindful of extra work and long hours in making certain that no institution of comparable plant, personnel and funds should surpass their own in service and accomplishment. Each curator has submitted a detailed report of his or her department. In the interest of brevity, these have been condensed for publication.
Department of Archaeology: Richard G. Morgan, curator. This department has continued a long-time program of collecting and disseminating information pertaining to the prehistoric and historic Indians of Ohio. Since field work, because of labor shortage, was impractical during the year, time was given over principally to much-needed research, writing, revamping of permanent collections and installation of new ones; indexing and filing of records; lectures before Sociology classes of Ohio State University; and innumerable additional activities. A major publication of the year was a report published in the Jan., 1943 Quarterly on exploration of the Fairport Harbor village site (Lake County, Ohio) examined in 1937, by the curator and H. Holmes Ellis, then of the Department of Archaeology. A Bibliography of Ohio Archaeology, under preparation by the curator in collaboration with the assistant director of the Hayes Memorial, will be ready for publication in 1944. This book-length manuscript is as nearly exhaustive of printed references to Ohio archaeology as it is humanly possible to make it.
Outstanding among the several exhibits prepared by the department during the year are: A display entitled "Prehistoric Ohio Indians" which presents synoptically the several Ohio preColumbian cultures with respect to distinctive traits, chronological positions, etc.; an exhibit, "The Family Tree of Man," designed to show the evolution and relationships of fossil man, modern man and the primitive anthropoids; and displays illustrating the Human Form in American Indian Art, and Smoking Customs of the North American Indians. The Dr. William Lipkind collection of Caraja Indian material from Brazil was also placed on exhibition.
Department of History: This department, of which Dr. Wil-
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liam D. Overman was curator until his resignation early in 1943, has maintained its status as well as could be expected, in view of the fact that the vacancy has not been filled. Through energetic cooperation of the staff as a whole, an outstanding historical exhibit, "Ohio in the Wars," was installed. This display, which occupies one entire exhibition hall, is designed to show Ohio's part in the nation's wars, from the French and Indian war, through the American Revolution and succeeding conflicts, including the two great wars of the present century.
Department of Natural History: Edward S. Thomas, curator. This department continues to be the clearing house for information on nature in Ohio in its many phases. The importance and popularity of the department is reflected in the fact that during the past year the curator has received more than 1,000 requests, by letter and telephone, for information on the flora, fauna, geology and other aspects of the commonwealth. The curator has given freely of his time and energies in other directions, as follows: 'Collaboration with the Columbus Audubon Society in a series of bird walks and talks; classes in natural history in the public schools; lectures for university classes in fine arts, educational research, ornithology and vertebrate zoology; natural history hikes with various groups; and numerous talks before garden clubs, service organizations, and other groups throughout the State. Several technical papers have been presented before scientific bodies and published in various technical journals. A gratifying number of accessions have come to the department during the year. These include several birds and insects which are rare or new in Ohio. The curator's nature column in the Columbus Sunday Dispatch has attracted many visitors to the Museum where they have been privileged to see specimens not otherwise available to them. The Department made several outstanding special exhibits during the year.
Division of State Memorials: Curator Erwin C. Zepp and Assistant Curator J. R. Lawwill utilized their time and facilities in the maintenance of the 46 archaeological, historical and nature sites and areas in custody of the Society. The task of administering this large number of highly developed areas, in view of the
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manpower shortage, has taxed the energies and abilities of the curator and his staff to the utmost. But for the fact that the superintendents of the four districts into which the State Memorials fall are exceptionally efficient, the present satisfactory condition of these properties could not have been maintained. Aside from maintenance, needed improvements, remodeling and repairs have been effected at the River Museum, Campus Martius, Marietta; the Grant Schoolhouse, Georgetown; the Hanby House, Westerville; and the Garfield House at Mentor.
During the year two additional important properties came under the custody of the Division. The William McKinley Memorial, at Canton, was transferred from the William McKinley National Memorial association to the Society, together with an endowment fund of approximately $135,000-00 for administration and maintenance. Custody of this memorial, which is classed as a national shrine, imposes additional responsibility on the Division of Memorials. During the year, also, through action of the State legislature, the George Rogers Clark Memorial, near Springfield, was added to the list of properties entrusted to the care of -the Society. This area of some 200 acres is the site of the Battle of Piqua in which Clark defeated the Indians in the year 1780. It is highly developed and landscaped and has facilities for picnic and recreational activities.
The curator and his staff have taken an active part in the proposed Anthony Wayne Memorial, which contemplates the creation of a grand parkway system along the old Wayne Trace, from Cincinnati, through Greenville, Defiance, Toledo and Detroit, and up the Maumee Valley to Fort Wayne. The division was called upon to furnish the necessary historical research, maps of the Indian wars and other information for a joint legislative committee and the Anthony Wayne Memorial association. These bodies, in cooperation, will present a definite plan for the proposed memorial to the next General Assembly.
The curator and his assistants have made numerous addresses during the year, and have contributed articles of interest to various publications. The Annual Report of the Division for 1942, and Ohio Landmarks, a brochure containing a cartographic map
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and descriptions of outstanding State Memorials in Ohio, have been published.
Educational Service: Winnie N. Waite, secretary. The educational program of the Society is designed to serve both children and adults. The school service, available to all schools of the State is of four types:
I . Visual aids are furnished to Ohio schools through loan collections: Objects, photographs and slides on the subjects of Ohio archaeology, insects, birds, animals, minerals, history, and life of the pioneer. During the school year 1942-1943 some 800 sets were used by more than 53,000 students.
2. For school classes coming to the Museum, a special guide and lecture service is offered. Among the special classes in attendance during 1943 were those for underprivileged children, including sight-saving, deaf mutes, and hard of hearing groups; Ohio State University classes in Sociology, History, Home Economics, Geography, Costume Design, Fine Arts, Education, Physical Education, and Farm Labor Training, as well as Ohio high school and Y. M. C. A. classes.
3. The Museum sponsors radio dramatizations for the Ohio School of the Air broadcast from station WOSU. "Visions of What Used to Be," a program devoted to the history of Ohio towns and cities, received an award by the Institute of Education by Radio as an outstanding educational broadcast of the year. "Ohio at War" was a series which dealt with Ohio's contribution to the war effort. The program beginning with the fall term Of 1943 was entitled "Museum Echoes," and was scheduled to continue through May, 1944. It was designed to acquaint school children with the activities and collections of the Ohio State Museum. The materials for the radio dramatizations, provided by members of the staff, was prepared for radio under the supervision of Margaret Carey Tyler, and produced by the WOSU Players.
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4. An important school service rendered by the Museum is the daily class schedule maintained for Columbus schools. This program is sponsored by the Columbus School Board, which employs a teacher to instruct all classes in subjects based on Museum exhibits, such as the prehistoric and historic Indians, Ohio history, the pioneers, races of the world and natural history. The regular classes, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, numbered 255 during the past year, with a total of 8,963 children instructed. In addition to this work, the teacher gave illustrated lectures in the public schools to approximately 4,000 children from 1st to 6th grade levels. Children of the 5th, 6th and 7th grades of Columbus and Franklin County schools are eligible for special classes on Saturday mornings.
During the summer of 1943, a new program was inaugurated under the direction of the Public Relations Secretary. For five weeks in July and August, special classes of directed activities were offered in natural history, sketching, story telling and movies. The total registration of boys and girls reached 499, and the total attendance for all events was over 7,000. Acknowledgment of appreciation for help given in this work is due to Miss Olive Clevenger, who supervised the work of the Natural History Clubs with the assistance of Mr. and Mrs. Edward S. Thomas, and others; to the Story Tellers' League of Columbus, which presented the Story Hour; to Miss Alice Robinson, who provided seven instructors -from -her Ohio State University classes for the art instruction; to Mr. B. A. Aughinbaugh, of the Ohio Division of Visual Education, for advise and the loan of films; and to Mrs. Lucille Phillips, and the Moores and Ross -Co., for a movie machine, films and service.
Each year the Ohio State Museum offers to the general public a lecture series which is given in its auditorium. During 1943 four lectures were scheduled: Dr. William Lipkind, "Indians of South America"; Professor Samuel Cobb, "Ohio in Two Wars"; Dr. Jonathan Forman, "Vim, Vigor and Vitamins", and I. T. Frary, "Early Ohio Homes and Their Furnishings." Public sup-
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port of this series encouraged the staff to continue similar lectures during 1944.
Public Relations: Irma P. Anderson, secretary. As a result of the efforts of the staff in organizing special exhibits, the lecture series program and other activities, the year's publicity work produced more than 250 published articles and news items. These appeared in newspapers of local and state-wide circulation and in national and regional periodicals and bulletins. A number of feature articles were printed during the year. A special note of appreciation is due the three Columbus dailies, the Dispatch, the Citizen and the Journal, f or their coverage of activities and exhibits of the Society.
Radio publicity in the form of spot announcements and interviews has been carried by Columbus stations WBNS, WCOL, and WOSU. The Public Relations Secretary was called upon to address 22 groups, including school and university classes or clubs, women's clubs and other adult groups, in the past year.
The Public Relations Secretary and the Secretary to the Director had charge of arrangements for special group meetings in the Museum auditorium. Around 100 of these meetings were attended by several thousand people in 1943. Among these groups were chapters of the D. A. R., the Columbus Philatelic Society, the Ohio Indian Relic Collectors Society, the National Institute for Wartime Traffic, the Columbus Audubon Society, Scout troops of boys and girls, the Ohio Conference of Elementary Teachers, the State Highway Department and the University Women's and Mothers' Clubs. The Museum was opened also to meetings of air raid wardens and other Civilian Defense organizations; to War Chest meetings, and a meeting of the Gasoline Rationing board. Other groups which made use of the auditorium were the Ohio Academy of Science, the Wheaton Club, the Victory Garden Show, the Rose Show, the Ohio Weavers' Guild and the Ohio Parks Association.
Financial Secretary: Irene C. Stahl. War years have brought with them many extra problems for this department. Monthly reports must be prepared for the federal government on taxes collected, and on sales of jewelry in the concession stands; on
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admission taxes to certain areas; on payroll withholding taxes; and on alcohol used in the laboratories.
Quarterly reconciliation reports on the withholding taxes collected must also be filed, as well as the semi-annual Ohio Sales Tax report. An ever-changing personnel requires many extra hours of routine. During the 1943 session, the State legislature provided a mandatory increase of ten per cent on all State salaries up to and including $1,800. Each quarter a salaries and wages report is made to the Board of Control of Ohio and from that report an additional allotment is made to the available appropriation covering the amount of ten per cent increases.
Services to the staff have included membership privileges in the Public Employees Retirement System; the Blue Cross group hospitalization plan; and the payroll deduction plan for the purchase of United States War Bonds.
The transfer of the securities from the McKinley National Memorial Association to the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society was started but will not be completed until early in 1944. The President William McKinley fund was established from the miscellaneous receipts transferred for the purpose of operation and maintenance of the area. Record was also made of the $10,000 trust fund as provided by the will of the late Lillian Bimeler, and created for maintenance of the William C. and Lillian Bimeler Memorial Museum at Zoar.
Maintenance : Starling L. Eaton. Under the direction of the superintendent of maintenance nearly 9,000 square feet of walls and ceilings and some 2,000 square feet of floors at the Ohio State Museum were painted during the calendar year of 1943. General repairs about the building included work on the roof and the stonework of the roof and steps. Several trees near the Museum were found to be infected with the elm disease, and had to be removed.
This department also has charge of receiving and shipping. The bulk of this work concerns the sending out of books and pamphlets from the publications department and shipping visual aids to schools throughout the State. In addition, the work of the department included setting and printing 21 forms for the Mu-
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seum staff. The Superintendent served as Commander of District No. 7 of the Columbus Civilian Defense organization, and conducted 55 meetings for practice of defense activities.
The Society and Ohio State University: The close cooperation which has existed in the past between the Museum and Library of the Society and the Ohio State University has been strengthened during 1943. The location of the Museum and Library building at the entrance to the university campus affords opportunity for educational cooperation not enjoyed by most comparable institutions. The Museum and Library serve teachers, students and many classes from the university, while the university contributes freely to the program of the Society. University faculty members and students have been of inestimable value to the Museum in matters of advice and assistance in numerous situations, particularly in preparing exhibits and in loaning materials f or the same.
In closing this report, the Director trusts that your reaction to activities for the year 1943 will be favorable. Whatever credit may be due him is attributable directly to the energies, abilities and initiatives of members of the Staff, to all of whom unstinted credit is due.
It may be significant of the confidence and respect of the public for the Society at this time that the Director was elected President of the Ohio Academy of Science at its 1943 annual meeting. He also was reelected to the Council of the American Association of Museums and attended the meeting of the Council in New York City in February, 1943.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY C. SHETRONE,
Director.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
To the Officers, Trustees and Members of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society:
The Secretary presents to the Board of Trustees and members of the Society his eleventh annual report covering the year 1943, it being the annual report for the fifty-eighth year of the Society.
Due to the fact that there was no annual meeting in 1943 and that the meeting for 1944 will not be held, it is thought advisable to make this year's report cover the calendar year of 1943, corresponding to the fiscal year of the Society.
To the Secretary is assigned by the constitution of the Society the responsibility for the official correspondence, the sale of publications, the membership records and membership on all committees of the Society. He is also Editor of the Society's publications and Librarian.
I. SECRETARIAL DUTIES
In addition to the usual routine duties of the Secretary, he has engaged in a number of extra activities. He represented the Society at the annual meetings of the Society of American Archivists and the American Association for State and Local History held at Princeton, New Jersey, November 15-17, 1943He was reelected a member of the governing council of the latter for a term of five years. As chairman of the Ohio State Executive committee of the Anthony Wayne Memorial Association, he has given much attention to the project. He has addressed ten public meetings during the year on subjects related to Ohio history.
Membership
The total membership of the Society as of December 31, 1943, was 623 as compared with 626 at the last annual meeting. The present membership is made up of I Benefactor, 2 Patrons,
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315 Life members, 6 Sustaining members, 18 Contributing members and 281 Annual members.
A survey made of eight historical societies similar to our own discloses that their membership has been fairly well maintained in spite of war conditions. Most of these societies have a larger membership than our Society. The general nature of these reports indicates that our experience has been about the same as that of similar organizations in other states except that we have a smaller membership. This is a situation which should claim the attention of all members.
II. PUBLICATIONS
In addition to the regular periodical publications of the Quarterly and Museum Echoes, the major responsibility has been the completion of the editorial work on the History of the State of Ohio, Volume V, Ohio Comes of Age, 1873-igoo, by Professor Philip D. Jordan, of Miami University, was completed and delivered during the year. The editorial work on Volume IV entitled, The Civil War Era, by Professor Eugene H. Roseboom, of Ohio State University, was completed and the book will be delivered sometime during 1944. With this volume the entire series is published. While it has taken over six years to accomplish this, yet we feel that the Society has rendered one of its most outstanding services in this connection.
In December two other volumes were ready for the printer. One of these will become Volume XI of the Ohio Historical Collections series. It is edited by Harlow Lindley and entitled "Captain Cushing in the War of 1812." The other is to be Science Bulletin III in the natural history series. It will be entitled "The Amphibia of Ohio, Part I, Frogs and Toads," and is being prepared by Charles Walker, a former staff member.
During the past year, the head of the Department of Documents, and the head Cataloger have devoted a great deal of their time to the preparation, proofreading and indexing of these publications.
A Bibliography of Ohio is being prepared by James H. Rodabaugh for publication by the Society. There is also other good
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material available for future publication. This phase of the Society's program is deserving of greater attention.
During the year the total sales of the publications of the Society amounted to $3,093.44.
III. THE LIBRARY
The Library has continued to grow in spite of limitations due to small appropriations. As a result of an expanded exchange program and certain private gifts, this growth is much more favorable than could have been possible by State appropriation alone.
During the year, 1,918 books were added to the library. Of these, 984 were gifts, 614 were purchases, 277 came through exchange, 28 were review copies and 15 came from miscellaneous sources. The largest single acquisition was a library Of 415 volumes, of an historic nature, which were secured from the estate of Maria Ewing Marten. The library also secured 266 periodicals of which 57 were gifts, 169 were on exchange and 40 were regular subscriptions. These are exclusive of the newspaper accessions.
The bindery completed 680 volumes and 1,200 pamphlets. In addition to the binding and repairing of books, the bindery has handled all the local newspapers and made many file boxes for both the library and the museum.
Reference Department
The Reference librarian, Helen M. Mills, assisted by Winifred Smith, handled approximately 1,000 letters and calls in answering historical and genealogical inquiries from all parts of the State and different parts of the country. Special attention has been given to genealogical material and nearly 70,000 cards are now in the genealogical file case. The W.P.A. Project known as the "Graves Registration Project," formerly in the custody of the Columbus Genealogical Society, was acquired by the library during the year.
While the regular patronage of the Reference department has decreased considerably during the year, due to war conditions, yet the department has served many in the "armed forces." Prac
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tically every state in the Union was represented by someone in uniform interested in history or genealogy.
Department of Documents
The head of this department, Bertha E. Josephson, who is also editorial associate, has divided her time between the heavy publications program of the past year and the cataloging and reference work on the documents.
For the calendar year 1943, the Department of Documents (which includes under its jurisdiction manuscripts, maps and State archives), has received a total of 79 different collections of manuscript materials, ranging from an individual piece to a huge collection of about 4,000 items. These collections totalled 18,621 pieces. Of these 79 collections acquired, 38 were through purchase and the remaining 41 came to the Society as gifts. These include some rare and choice items.*
Of the 79 collections, 37 have already been accessioned and cataloged and are now available for qualified use by the public. The number of cataloged manuscripts total, 3,562 individual pieces and their cataloging has added a total of 6,124 catalog cards to the Manuscript Catalog.
In addition to work oil the manuscripts acquired during 1943, a total of 5,244 pieces of manuscript material, from 72 different collections acquired earlier, were cataloged. This has made an addition of 10,412 cards to the Manuscript Catalog. During the same period, 499 posters of World War I were cataloged.
The Department of Documents has rendered reference service through mail, telephone, and personal attention to research patrons from all ever the country. The department has also cooperated with the Museum by putting on a series of monthly exhibits and by assisting on several special exhibits. It has also given reference service on archival and historical inquiries to officials of the various departments of the State as well as to other patrons.
An imperative need of this -department, which has such a huge backlog and multiplicity of materials, is for more shelving
*More specific data. may be found in the section called "Documentary Data," which appears in successive issues of the Quarterly. A particularly outstanding gift is the "Register of Commissions Issued by Governor Thomas Worthington," in 1815.
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space as well as for better equipment. Cases are needed to house oversize manuscripts, maps and posters; a truck to carry manuscript and archival materials; additional card file cases for catalog cards become more urgent as the catalog becomes more complete. In addition to all these needs remains the serious problem of housing and servicing the archival records of the State of Ohio.
Newspaper Department
The Newspaper department, in charge of Arthur Mink, for the past year, in addition to giving service to patrons, has also cataloged early and current newspapers, has completed a survey of Ohio newspaper resources in Ohio, and has rendered special services to the Society, all in its endeavor to fulfill its responsibilities as the largest newspaper library in Ohio.
The war has greatly increased the number of calls for Ohio papers, which are not only an authoritative substitute for birth certificates, but have become a useful source for war information. About 860 patrons made personal visits to the Newspaper department during the year. The number of phone calls for newspaper data amounted to approximately 800, while correspondence pertaining to specific research totalled about 300 letters.
Through careful purchases and exchanges, the Newspaper department acquired in 1943 about 700 issues of early newspapers (some of which were first issues that filled in valuable sets). In spite of the great cut in newsprint, letters by the librarian and the head of the Newspaper department were instrumental in the continuation of many papers. Altogether 64 daily and 71 weekly and semi-weekly Ohio newspapers were received during the year. Through the kindness of the War History Commission, this department now has on file current issues of 20 army and navy papers. The Ohio State Library continues to send 3 daily Ohio newspapers. From all of these sources the department has received during 1943 a total of 166 current newspapers.
From an historical point of view, probably the most important work of the department has been a thorough survey of all Ohio newspapers available in Ohio. This survey gives this library the most accurate and up-to-date record of Ohio news
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papers in existence. A notable contribution to this project was the Western Reserve Historical Society's cataloging, for the first time, of their entire holdings of Ohio newspapers, a collection second in number only to the papers in the, possession of this Society. Returns from every library in the State are now in the process of being indexed. When the project is completed, Professor James E. Pollard, of the journalism Department of Ohio State University, has generously offered to print the entire list in installments in his monthly publication, the Ohio Newspaper. The type will be saved until such time as funds may be available for a single printing. Many librarians in the State have expressed their desire for such a union list, which is certain to have a genuine reference value.
Cataloging Department
The Cataloging department, headed by Clarence L. Weaver, has handled not only the cataloging of books and periodicals but has also given much help to the work of editing the Society's publications. During the year, 1,320 books were accessioned and 2,421 were cataloged. At the end of the year, 2,100 books were in the process of cataloging with a like number of process slips written. Library of Congress cards have been secured for 1,300 books which are now awaiting preparation for filing.
The Staff
There have been many staff changes during the year, due to the war program. These changes have occurred in almost every department, but the Society should consider itself fortunate to have been able to hold together a faithful and capable nucleus of workers.
Various members of the staff have been engaged in a number of professional activities (such as giving talks, attending professional meetings, etc.) outside their regular duties. These activities have all been of a nature to reflect credit upon the Society and have acquainted the public with the ability of its staff members.
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Miscellaneous
Both the Library and Museum are cooperating in the plans of the Anthony Wayne Memorial Association and this will claim the interest and support of the Society for some years. The Ohio General Assembly provided for a legislative Anthony Wayne committee to cooperate with the Association and during the year a practical plan was inaugurated for promoting effectively the purposes of the Association.
The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society was organized in 1885. It will be sixty years old in 1945 and plans should be made promptly toward an appropriate commemoration of this event, should conditions warrant it. The Society was making plans for a commemoration of Henry Howe in 1943, but these plans had to be postponed. It is possible that the two celebrations might be combined.
During the year, the librarian cooperated in the drive for the collection of books for U.S.O. and camp libraries and a large collection of desirable books was contributed from the Society's duplicate collection.
The secretary-librarian believes that it is the primary function of a state historical society to make available to the public the historical materials pertaining to its history. This can be done in two ways. The first and most ideal way is to have the material at hand and make it available directly, and the second is to have at band definite information as to where desirable material may be found.
During the year, plans were made for micro-filming as complete a file as possible of the Centinel of the Northwest Territory, using our own file as a basis to be supplemented by missing numbers available in other libraries. This would involve only two other institutions. The original file is so valuable that this project should be completed to save wear and tear on it and also to make this same material available in other institutions. The actual work was delayed because of the loss of the Society's photographer but will be carried out as soon as possible.
Mention should be made of the very generous act of the Indiana Historical Society in transferring from its William Henry
288 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
Smith Memorial Library an original manuscript volume containing the "Register of Commissions Issued by Governor Thomas Worthington," 1815. The library committee of the Indiana Society expressed a feeling that the item should be in Ohio and gave evidence of a growing tendency among such organizations to give due attention to the principles concerning the logical placing of such material.
In conclusion it remains to present some suggestions and recommendations for a program for future work. While most of these cannot receive serious attention until the war is over, yet it seems desirable that the Society should be considering a program of related activities for future work, so that when the time comes, no time will be lost. In the Secretary's report for last year, he recommended for such consideration the following:
1. A union list of Ohio newspapers available (this might well be expanded to include Ohio newspapers in the leading centers outside the State).
2. A union list of the manuscript material relating to Ohio and available for research in Ohio (this must await the completion of our own Manuscript Catalog).
3. A union list of maps relating to Ohio available for research in Ohio (this might well be launched in the near future).
4. The publication of an Ohio Bibliography (which the Society has already sponsored).
5. A Dictionary of Ohio Biography. The need for a set of scholarly biographical sketches of the more important men and women of Ohio can hardly be denied. This should be planned along the lines of the Dictionary of American Biography. It should be a cooperative effort, handled by a competent staff and guided by the judgment of a state-wide committee of qualified historians.
In addition to these, the Secretary recommends for consideration:
1. A union catalog of Ohio research material available in Ohio.
2. A catalog of Ohio material available outside the state of Ohio.
ANNUAL REPORTS 289
3. A Cumulative Index to the Society's Publications and the Quarterly.
4. A Handbook of Ohio History containing a survey with references for teachers, students and literary clubs.
5. A monthly Bulletin giving information, stories, readings and sources of information on Ohio history adaptable for use in the public schools. This should be made available to teachers of history in the junior high schools in particular.
6. A survey for a record of place names in Ohio. Some work has already been done and a report embodying the history of the origin of these names would be of great historic value.
7. A survey of historic sites in the State, some of which has already been done.
8. Leadership in the promotion of a program to organize junior historical societies similar to the successful movements in other states, particularly in Indiana and Texas.
9. The inauguration of a program providing for at least one meeting of the Society each year (in addition to the annual meeting in Columbus) outside Columbus where the State Society might join with local historical societies in promoting common interests. This might be called an annual historical convention to distinguish it from the annual meeting of the Society.
10. Encouraging regional societies to adopt a constructive program for the collection of local material in their respective regions provided that such material can be properly preserved and made available for use.
11. The absolute necessity for more space and equipment, not only for the Library proper, but also for the housing and arrangement of the archival records of the State of Ohio.
In conclusion, the Secretary-Librarian wishes to suggest an educational program which might well include the following:
1. To discover the material of state and local history.
2. To collect and preserve the materials of state and local history.
3. To provide means for research in state and local history.
4. To compile and write state and local history.
5. To publish in pamphlet, periodical, monograph and book form, Ohio history.
290 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
6. To assist county and local historical societies as auxiliaries.
7. To conduct a state-wide juvenile historical program in cooperation with the regularly established public school and the 4-H Club agencies of the State.
8. To cooperate with patriotic and hereditary organizations, civic and service clubs and women's clubs in historical endeavor.
9. To make historical surveys and locate and mark historical sites.
10. To promote pageants of state-wide historical interest.
11. To cooperate with colleges and universities in research and graduate work, and historical publications.
12. To calendar and secure photostatic copies of historical material relating to Ohio, in libraries outside the State.
13. To make the Library and Museum of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society the "court of last resort" on Ohio's history.
14. To finance successfully an organization to carry this program to conclusion.
While the program suggested may seem somewhat ambitious, yet it is only by considering such possibilities and opportunities that the Society can let the public know what advantages it has to offer the State and its citizens. It is evident that many people would become more directly interested in the Society if they knew just what its objectives are.
Respectfully submitted,
HARLOW LINDLEY,
Secretary,
Editor, and Librarian.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER
To the Trustees and Members of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society:
Following is a report of the Receipts, Disbursements and Balances of the various accounts of the Society for the year ending December 31, 1943. We regret to report, however, that due to circumstances beyond our control, there has been no examination of the records by a certified public accountant.
THE OHIO
STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL
SOCIETY COMBINED STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND
DISBURSEMENTS,
STATE, CURRENT, MEMORIALS
AND PERMANENT
FUNDS FOR YEAR 1943
| Cash Balance, January 1, 1943 |
$18,015.31
|
||
|
RECEIPTS
|
|||
| Current Funds Income | |||
|
General
account |
$4,473.22 650.15 31.25 29.36 |
$5,183.98 | |
|
|
|||
|
State Memorials Concession |
6,469.87
|
||
| State Appropriations House Bill 227 | $164,609.26 | ||
|
Less: Balance December 31, 1943, unused |
13,749.00 | 150,860.26 | |
|
|
|
||
| Total income | 162,514.11 | ||
| Total | $180,529.42 | ||
|
DISBURSEMENTS
|
|||
|
Museum
and Library |
†$87,369.24
|
|
|
|
Administration District One: |
†$8,0407.37 |
|
|
|
Mound City |
4,604.62 389.58 10.00 231.52 3,291.22 |
||
291
292 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
|
Leo Petroglyph
District Two: |
126.35
|
||
|
*Fort Ancient District Three: |
5,756.72 38.53 2,368.68 1,115.25 859.92 876.65 39.89 1,228.45 2,134.96 2,807.96 1,402.43 1,087.24 892.16 243.37 25.99 |
||
|
Campbell Mound District Four: |
113.05 5,740.84 34.65 1,184.13 7,841.80 322.35 2,760.00 496.92 |
||
| *Schoenbrunn
Custer Monument Fort Laurens Garfield Home Gnadenhutten McCook Zoar McKinley |
7,471.30 29.73 1,462.06 5,254.65 112.75 35.73 3,021.31 60.75 |
$76,836.17 | |
|
|
|
||
|
Total |
$164,206.41 | ||
|
|
|||
| Balance | $ 16,324.01 | ||
| *Headquarters for District | |||
ANNUAL REPORTS 293
| † Includes the purchase of War Bonds as follows: | |||
| Museum
and Library State Memorials |
$3,000.00 3,000.00 |
6,000.00 | |
|
|
|
||
| $ 22,324.01 | |||
| Represented
by Current Fund: |
|||
| General
checking account Fallen Timbers Grant Memorial |
$1,612.21 68.31 650.15 |
$2,330.67 | |
|
|
|||
| United
States War Bonds, Series F United States War Bonds, Series B Savings account balance John Hancock Klippart Fund Hamilton Kline checking account Hamilton Kline certificate of deposit U. S. Grant-U. S. Treasury Bonds Memorials Fund checking account Memorials Fund War Bonds, Series B |
148.00 3,000.00 664.87 2,379.35 398.04 2,000.00 5,000.00 3,403.08 3,000.00 |
||
|
|
|||
| $22,324.01 | |||
| The Society's Permanent Fund is represented by | |||
| United
States Treasury notes Savings account Certificate of Deposit |
$15,000.00 3,150.00 3,600.00 |
21,750.00 | |
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ 44,074.01 |
||
| In addition to the above listed funds, the Society has the following Trust Funds: | |||
| Marietta
Comley Trust Fund (Deposited in the Ohio National Bank, Columbus, Ohio) |
$ 1,000.00 | ||
|
Lillian Bimeler Sturm
Trust Fund |
10,000.00 |
||
Respectfully submitted:
OSCAR F. MILLER, Treasurer
By IRENE C. STAHL, Financial Secretary
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR
To the Officers, Trustees and Members of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society:
Herewith is submitted, in condensed form, the sixteenth annual report of the undersigned as Director of the Society.
Presumably you are not so much concerned with past accomplishments of the organization, which speak for themselves, as with the future. The temper of the times appears to demand that the Society, along with others of its kind, should conscientiously evaluate its activities, in order to justify its continued existence and its support, in part, through expenditure of public funds.
During the more than a half-century of its existence the Society, functioning as conservator, interpreter and disseminator of Ohio's historic traditions, has come to enjoy the confidence and appreciation of the Ohio public. With this background, achieved through conscientious and effective effort through the years, potentialities for service are limited only by our ability to anticipate and meet the demands which evolutionary changes will make of us.
At present, under conditions unprecedented in history, we find ourselves confronted with the task not only of continuing established regime, but of rendering new and distinct types of service, while handicapped by curtailed personnel and facilities. Even more important is the planning for what will be, after the global conflict is ended, a virtually different world.
Difficult though this may be, in prospect, it is rendered even more- difficult by the tendency in time of war to disregard the esthetic concepts of life, because of the immediate urgency of material considerations. The following are the more important factors on which rests the Society's opportunity of successfully meeting the inevitable impact of the future.
As part of the post-war planning, the material equipment for effectively carrying out future programs of service must receive immediate attention. Structural needs, or additions and better
269