Ohio History Journal

HISTORICAL NEWS

 

Historical Societies

 

ALLEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Lima

James A. MacDonell, President

The meeting of the society in March was addressed by Rabbi Milton

Schulman, who spoke on "The Clothing Industry in the Midwest, 1850-1870";

in April a former resident of Allen County, James O. Montague, now of

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, spoke on "Seventy Years In and Out of Allen

County."

The April issue of the Reporter included an article on "Bicycling in

Lima, 1880-1894," by Ferne M. Longsworth. It contains information on

the construction of the high-wheeled bicycle and on racing and cross-

country bicycle tours on the later "safety" wheels.

The society is cooperating with the Allen County Sesquicentennial

Commission, of which C. G. Lappin is president, John Davison, vice

president, and Frank Hackman, secretary.

A  leaflet has been published recently by the society soliciting new

memberships.

 

BRECKSVILLE EARLY SETTLERS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, Brecksville

Benjamin P. Forbes, President

The annual meeting of the society was held on June 21.

Another issue of the Pioneer, an occasional publication of the society, is

scheduled for release in the near future.

 

CLINTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Wilmington

Robert P. Cotner, President

The society has recently acquired a highly valued collection, a gift of

Eli Harvey of Alhambra, California, who is a native of Clinton County.

The collection includes Mr. Harvey's early work in oils, made while residing

in the county, and later oils and sketches made in France and elsewhere.

It contains also notes and original sketches of some of his best-known

sculptures.

Seventeen volumes of Ohio history have been presented by Charles A.

Gauld.

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302      Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

COSHOCTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Coshocton

Harry A. Caton, President

Restoration of the Old Stone Fort near Orange is the major project

of the society at present. The Coshocton Tribune has carried the ball in the

effort to raise a modest sum toward the restoration. Money and offers of

labor and material have come from the citizens of the county for this

purpose. Henry Hackenbracht is chairman of the building committee.

Interest in the project has added to the membership, which is now a little

over two hundred.

The society holds its monthly meetings in the Johnson-Humrickhouse

Museum. Recently Professor Harry Lybarger gave a delightful talk on the

Indians of the area, and Wilbur Grandle gave a scholarly and interesting

talk on early Coshocton County history.

 

CRESTLINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Crestline

Ernest G. Hesser, President

At the regular meeting of the society on April 15 George F. Jenny,

supervisor of education at the Ohio State Museum, spoke on the educational

program of the state museum.

In June a historical pilgrimage was made to "Malabar Farm," the home

of Louis Bromfield near Mansfield.

Many new gifts have come recently to the Crestline Museum, which is

sponsored by the society.

 

DELAWARE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Delaware

Thomas D. Graham, President

At the regular monthly meeting in March a paper prepared by Ezra

Vogel on "Some Facts Regarding the Dustin Home in Galena," was read

by Mrs. Joe Vogel, and a paper "Review of Early History of Delaware

Schools" was given by Thomas D. Graham. At the April meeting an

illustrated lecture on "Types of Architecture of Old Delaware Houses,"

was presented by Professor Jarvis Stewart of the department of fine arts,

Ohio Wesleyan University.

President Graham has been elected chairman of the Delaware County

Sesquicentennial Committee.

 

FAIRFIELD COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Lancaster

Roi DeLancy, President

At a meeting of the society on May 13 Roi DeLancy was elected presi-

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Historical News                         303

 

dent, succeeding Judge Harry Kilburger. Other officers elected at that

time are Ellwood R. Butler, vice president; Herbert M. Turner, secretary;

and Don Turnbull, treasurer. New trustees elected for terms of from one

to five years are as follows: Henrietta Slater, Adeline Ragsdale, W. W.

Woodward, John F. Furniss, Wynn Van Winkle, Judge Kilburger, and

Harold Reeves. The other board members are George Lamb, Raymond

Spitler, and Ralph R. Maccracken.

Mr. DeLancy suggested a series of programs for the coming year on

Lancaster's outstanding early citizens.

 

FAIRPORT HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Fairport Harbor

George Gedeon, President

The following persons were elected officers of the society for one-year

terms beginning in April 1952: George Gedeon, president; George Henry,

first vice president; Alma Saari, second vice president; Elma Converse,

treasurer; and Lillian Luthanen Robinson, secretary.

The society's annual award to the captain of the first cargo vessel

entering Fairport Harbor each season was made this year on March 25,

1952, to Captain Robert Robbins of Marine City, Michigan, captain of the

S. S. Comet, an oil tanker owned by Cleveland Tankers, Inc.

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Columbus

Frank A. Livingston, President

Myron T. Seifert, vice president of the society, is now also a member

of the publication staff of the Bulletin. His appointment as research as-

sistant was effective January 1, 1952.

The society conducted its annual summer homestead tour, Friday, May 23,

with members of the Westerville Historical Society as special guests.

Theodore Miller, a charter member of the sponsoring society, gave a picnic

supper for the tour party at his farm home at 4464 Parsons Avenue. Mrs.

James W. Grimes entertained with pioneer folk songs during the evening.

Research and editing on the October annual is progressing. This year's

annual, "⁵⁰ Outstanding Events in Columbus History," will commemorate

the Ohio sesquicentennial year. The booklet will be sold at the Ohio State

Fair in 1952.

 

GREAT LAKES HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Cleveland

Clarence S. Metcalfe, Executive Vice President

The society is sponsoring the manufacture of dishes picturing historical

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ships of the Great Lakes. The dishes will be made by the famous English

firm of Josiah Wedgwood & Son from designs drawn by Rowland Murphy,

Toronto artist and official painter for the Royal Canadian Navy. The name

of the society will be carried on the back of each dish.

The project was announced at the annual dinner meeting on National

Maritime Day, May 22, which was attended by over a hundred members of

the society. The organization now has six hundred members and has set

a goal of one thousand.

Officers reelected at the annual meeting for the coming year are Alva

Bradley, president; Clarence S. Metcalfe, executive vice president; Lawrence

A. Pomeroy, Jr., secretary; Fred W. Dutton, treasurer; and Janet Coe

Sanborn, assistant treasurer.

Donna L. Root, managing editor of the society's magazine, Inland Seas,

was given recognition for her outstanding work during the past year.

 

HAYES MEMORIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM, Fremont

Watt P. Marchman, Director of Research

Gertrude Richards resigned as librarian on April 1, 1952. Replacing

her is Ruth Thoma of Fremont. Sylvia Baker, also of Fremont, has been

appointed receptionist. Both appointments were effective April 15, 1952.

Several improvements have been made recently in the interior of the

museum. The dome of the atrium has been painted, glass has been placed

in the skylight, and channeled lighting has been placed at the top of the

eight stately columns. The stone of the atrium has been cleaned. In addition,

an information desk and counter were built for the office area in the

museum.

The director of research spoke at the annual meeting of the Ohio State

Archaeological and Historical Society in Columbus on April 4, on the

preservation of historical manuscripts and at the annual meeting of the

Florida Historical Society at Jacksonville, Florida, on April 25, on "Florida

in the Election of 1876."

 

HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF OHIO, Cincinnati

Virginius C. Hall, Director

Plans are being laid for the celebration of the Ohio sesquicentennial

in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Chalmers Hadley, president of the

society, and Virginius C. Hall, director, are taking an active part in the

arrangements.

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Historical News                         305

 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MOUNT PLEASANT, Mount Pleasant

William Schuster, President

The society has listed five objectives for 1952: (1) a census of old

cemeteries, (2) the construction of markers and the identification of local

historic sites, (3) an augmentation of the library collections, (4) a special

drive to have the Friends Meeting House completed in 1952 and dedicated

in 1953, and (5) participation in the Ohio sesquicentennial celebration.

In line with the fifth objective, members of the society participated in a

dinner conference on March 25 with representatives from clubs and other

organizations at which plans were laid for the local celebration of the

sesquicentennial. Senator Arthur Blake, a member of the Ohio Sesqui-

centennial Commission, outlined the state-wide program.

 

KNOX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Mount Vernon

James Beam, President

The present officers of the society, elected at the meeting on April 21,

1952, are James Beam, president; Verna T. Pinkley, vice president; and

Pauline Riley, secretary-treasurer.

 

LOGAN COUNTY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Bellefontaine

O. K. Reams, President

At a meeting of the society on March 25, 1952, O. K. Reams of Zanesfield

was elected president succeeding Elmer O. Heath of Middleburg, who

was named vice president. Guy W. Furbay, Zanesfield, and Guy Inskeep,

East Liberty, were reelected secretary and treasurer, respectively.

Additional roadside markers were prepared and erected this spring.

 

LORAIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Elyria

Mrs. James B. Thomas, President

At the annual meeting of the society on April 14, 1952, the following

officers were elected for the coming year: Mrs. James B. Thomas, president;

Victor D. Lytle, first vice president; Prof. Robert S. Fletcher, second vice

president; Mrs. Kenneth Boylan, secretary; Mrs. Frank Horan, corresponding

secretary; Frank Ayres, treasurer; and Julian Fowler, program chairman.

Judge Horace Nye spoke at the March meeting on "Courts of Ohio and

Lorain County."

The society is planning to collect histories of each township as told by

some of the descendants of the early settlers.

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306      Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

NORTHWEST OHIO HISTORICAL AND ANCESTRAL SOCIETY, Toledo

Mrs. William E. Noble, President

The society is an association of several local historical and genealogical

societies. It has as its purpose the collection of documents and records

having historical and ancestral value for the historical department of the

Toledo Public Library.

The present officers are Mrs. William E. Noble, president; Dr. N. Worth

Brown, vice president; Mrs. John Daniells, secretary; Mrs. Fisher Ranney,

treasurer; Mrs. Ray C. Spilker, publicity secretary; and Mrs. Max Shepherst,

librarian.

The board of directors is composed of Randolph C. Downes, Mrs. Henry

Horn, Mrs. N. Worth Brown, and Mrs. Howard Overmeyer.

 

OHIO FOLKLORE SOCIETY, Granville

Tristram P. Coffin, Secretary

The third annual meeting of the society was held in Columbus on

April 18-19 in connection with the Ohio College Association. On Friday

evening, April 18, an open house was held at the home of Anne Grimes.

The business session on Saturday morning was followed by three addresses:

"Music and the Broadside Ballad," by Claude Simpson of Ohio State Uni-

versity; "The American Folk Stories in the Ohio Scene," by Moritz

Jagendorf, president of the New York Folklore Society; and "The Folksong

of Social Protest," by John Greenway of Rutgers University.

 

OHIO HISTORY DAY ASSOCIATION, Circleville

Anna Chandler, Corresponding Secretary

M. E. Noggle, treasurer of the association, is the author of a leaflet,

"Tradition of the Circle in Circleville," recently published by the Business

& Professional Women's Club and sponsored by the Third National Bank

of Circleville.

 

SCIOTO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Portsmouth

Franklin E. Smith, President

The 1952 officers of the society are as follows: Franklin E. Smith,

president; Mrs. Stewart D. Ruggles, Harry M. Dodson, Robert R. Leesom,

and Mrs. Harry W. Miller, vice presidents; Mrs. William H. Schwartz,

recorder and secretary; Mrs. Frank Webb, corresponding secretary; Mrs.

William L. Fannin, membership secretary; Frank C. Balmert, treasurer;

Harry W. Wagner, assistant treasurer; and Lucy Hall, historian.

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Historical News                        307

 

At the present time improvements are being made in the museum build-

ing. Ralph Marting is chairman of the museum committee.

 

SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF PIONEER RIVERMEN, Marietta

Frederick Way, Jr., President

The Columbus Dispatch Magazine, Sunday, March 23, 1952, carried an

illustrated article, "Paddlebox Paintings," written by Captain Frederick

Way, Jr.

STARK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Canton

Donald K. Merwin, President

The Stark County Historical Society has signed a contract with the

Stoneman Press of Columbus for publishing 1,100 copies of Volume III

of The Stark County Story under the title, Industry Comes of Age. It

will cover the history of the county for the period 1901-17, between the

death of President McKinley and American entry into World War I. The

book is expected off the press about September 1. A prepublication offer of

$10 is good until September 1, after which the price will be $11.

This is the fourth volume published by the society since its organization

six years ago. The first two, Bezaleel Wells, Founder of Canton and Steuben-

ville, and Volume I of The Stark County Story (Cities, Towns and Villages

of Stark County), are sold out. A limited number of Volume II (The

McKinley Era) remain unsold.

 

SUMMIT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Akron

Carl H. Pockrandt, President

At the March meeting of the society Arnold M. Davis gave an illus-

trated lecture on the "History of New England Architecture-Its Influence

on the Western Reserve." In April a panel of old-timers led a "Do You

Remember When" round table, and in May a Central High School group

under the direction of Beatrice Sprague presented a program of vocal

and instrumental music.

The April number of the Bulletin carried articles on the First Baptist

church of Akron and its historical bell.

TALLMADGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Tallmadge

Gilbert Root, President

The ninety-fourth annual meeting of the Tallmadge Historical Society,

the oldest in the state, was held at the town hall, March 11, with Henry

Barnes as the speaker. Reports on all the activities of the society were re-

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308      Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

ceived and officers elected for the current year. They are as follows: Gilbert

Root, president; Claude Sackett, vice president; Stanley Watts, secretary;

and Clara Huffman, treasurer.

 

WARREN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Lebanon

Mrs. Edward Herrick, President

The annual dinner meeting of the society was held in March of this

year. The speaker was Fred J. Milligan of Columbus.

The sixth annual pilgrimage sponsored by the organization was made

on June 14-15.

 

WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Cleveland

Russell H. Anderson, Director

Helen P. Williams resigned as museum assistant on April 15 and re-

turned to her home in Virginia. Maud C. Pay of Shaker Heights succeeds

her.

The society participated in the Parade of Progress held on April 27 to

celebrate the removal of street cars from Euclid Avenue. Ladies wearing

old-fashioned costumes and riding in old conveyances represented the his-

torical society. Costumes from the society's collection were loaned to other

participants also.

The first of a series of activities of the Women's Advisory Council was

a tour of historic places held on May 21. A motor caravan visited the

Girdled Road; the society's outlying house museum, Shandy Hall, near

Unionville; the Dean C. Matthews home in Painesville (a Goldsmith house

recently removed to the campus of Lake Erie College); and Lawnfield,

President Garfield's home in Mentor. The second event in the series was

an annual garden party for members and friends held June 18 at the

society buildings on East Boulevard.

Recent exhibits of the society have been well attended. A photographic

exhibit featured early equipment and prints and a selection of prints on

"Historic Ohio." A series of programs of colored slides was given in

connection with this exhibit. The Cleveland Railroad Club, a group of model

builders, cooperated in a showing of models of steam and electric equip-

ment. Colored movies on railroading were correlated. During the opera

season a number of costumes worn by Eleanor Painter in various operatic

roles were shown. A special textile exhibit during April featured daily

demonstrations of carding and weaving of wool. The demonstrations were

continued until May 14 for school groups. Buck Segelin's collection of

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Historical News                        309

 

music boxes was exhibited in May. An exhibit of bells was shown in June

with a special display during the meeting of the American Bell Association

on June 20-21.

Important accessions to the library included the papers of Warner M.

Bateman, Sr., presented by his children. They cover his law career and his

service as state senator and United States district attorney (1855-97) and

include letters from prominent Republicans especially relating to John

Sherman's campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 1880.

Herman L. Vail has added his collection of World War I books to the

library's splendid collection. The society has acquired also costumes worn

by Mrs. Harry K. Devereux and her daughter, Mrs. Lawrence L. Winslow;

a model of the sloop Osprey, sailed by Hubbard & Co. before the Civil

War; and a collection of tools, houseware, and other items presented by

Edward H. Kelley.

The director recently completed a trip to New York and Massachusetts

to microfilm Shaker and Connecticut Land Company manuscripts. Alta B.

Claflin, cataloger, recently returned from a six weeks' trip to Italy.

 

WOMAN'S CENTENNIAL ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, Marietta

Daisy Henderson, President

The present officers of the society are Daisy Henderson, president; Gertrude

Strahl, first vice president; Etta Collins, second vice president; Lucy Cole

Fleming, secretary; and Mrs. Carl Combs, treasurer.

An effort is being made to build up the membership, especially to attract

younger members into the group.

 

About Historians

George Fadenrecht will be replaced this fall as instructor in history at

Bluffton College by Karl Kreider.

 

A. P. Rosselot, chairman of the department of history and government

at Otterbein College, has retired, and Harold Hancock is acting head of the

department for the current year.

 

Harold M. Helfman published an article, "'Good Time' Laws Come

to the Michigan State Prison, 1857-1861," in the December 1951 number

of Michigan History. Dr. Helfman, formerly an instructor in history at

Ohio State University, is now director of the field program of the Office

of Command Historian of the Air Research and Development Command

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310      Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

at Baltimore, Maryland. He left Ohio State to assume his present position

in March 1952.

Dwight L. Smith will be visiting instructor at Centre College of

Kentucky for the eight-week summer session, and during August and

September will be a Newberry Fellow at the Newberry Library, Chicago.

 

Charles D. Cremeans, professor of history at Oberlin College, has a

two-year leave of absence while he is in Washington. His place will be

taken by Barry McGill, now a graduate student at Harvard. The appoint-

ment was made in May.

Thomas LeDuc is serving as chairman of the committee on local arrange-

ments and reservations for the annual meeting of the Economic History

Association, which will be held at Oberlin, September 12-13.

 

A. T. Volwiler, chairman of the history department at Ohio University,

participated in a conference held recently at the Newberry Library, Chicago.

The conference, composed of nine historians and nine anthropologists,

explored the interrelationship of history and anthropology and their

methodology.

 

Merle Curti of the University of Wisconsin delivered two Charles

Phelps Taft lectures this year at the University of Cincinnati.

 

Dean Andrew J. Townsend resigned his chairmanship of the history

department at the University of Toledo effective in February 1952. The new

chairman is Duane D. Smith. Dr. Smith was given the rank of full pro-

fessor for the 1952-53 academic year, and Willard A. Smith was promoted

to associate professor. Dr. Townsend will devote full time to his duties as

dean of the college of arts and sciences.

 

Harvey Wish, professor in the department of history at Western Reserve

University, is the author of an article, "The Racialist Factor in American

History," in the Chicago Jewish Forum, Winter 1951-52 issue.

 

Karol Marcinkowski of Wilberforce University recently published pri-

vately a 98-page book, The Crisis of the Polish-Swedish War, 1655-1660.

 

E. B. Smith, professor of history of Youngstown College, has recently

been appointed director of the United States State Department Summer

Foreign Affairs Seminar for the summer of 1952.

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