Ohio History Journal

HISTORICAL NEWS

 

Historical Organizations

 

ALLEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Lima

James A. MacDonell, President

The society now has about $134,000 in cash and a quantity of bricks

on hand for its proposed museum building. The estimated cost of the

structure is $150,000. The society would like to lay the cornerstone in

Ohio's sesquicentennial year, but definite plans have not been made.

 

ALLIANCE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Alliance

Mrs. Fred R. Donaldson, President

A marker has been placed by the society at the old Williamsport

Cemetery as a memorial to the United Brethren church which was built

on the site about 1819. Names of the early settlers buried in the old

cemetery are engraved on the back of the stone. The collection of clothing

of different periods for the museum is a current project of the organization.

The society participated in the commemorative ceremonies on February 14

when the special train over the old route of the Cleveland and Pittsburgh

Railroad from Cleveland to Wellsville stopped at Alliance. The event

celebrated the centennial of the opening of rail service between Lake

Erie and the Ohio River, which aided the development of Alliance and

other towns along the route.

 

AMERICAN JEWISH ARCHIVES, Cincinnati

Jacob R. Marcus, Director

A special Ohio sesquicentennial exhibit has been arranged. It consists

of photostats and photographs showing the history of the Jew in the Ohio

Valley as far back as the 1760's. In addition, the archives has prepared

a brochure dealing with the history of the Jews in Ohio.

Volume II of Dr. Marcus' Early American Jewry is scheduled for early

publication by the Jewish Publication Society of America.

 

ANTHONY WAYNE PARKWAY BOARD, Columbus

J. Richard Lawwill, Director

Richard C. Knopf, historian on the staff of the board, participated in

the examination of the remains of the powder magazine of old Fort

Washington recently discovered in downtown Cincinnati. A complete

181

• 1
 

182      Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

report of the find was published in the January 1953 Bulletin of the

Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio. The article was written

by Mr. Knopf with the assistance of Raymond S. Baby, curator of

archaeology of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, and

Dwight L. Smith of the Ohio State University department of history.

The board is cooperating with the Anthony Wayne Parkway Commission

of Indiana and the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society in

the marking of the Greene Ville Treaty Line at junctions with major

highways. It is also working with the Hamilton County sesquicentennial

committee in marking historic sites in that county.

The collection of Indian War slides prepared by the board to aid in

telling the story of the Indian Wars in the Ohio Valley is being used

by a number of agencies. The set of forty-four slides may be purchased from

the board.

Guy D. Hawley of Greenville was appointed recently by Governor

Lausche as a member of the Anthony Wayne Parkway Board to succeed

Fred D. Coppock also of Greenville, who had resigned.

 

CRESTLINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Crestline

Ernest G. Hesser, President

The program committee for the year 1952-53 is composed of Mrs.

F. J. Gosser, B. J. Fry, and J. L. Morrow. They were elected at a meeting

on September 1.

The guest speaker for the January 21 meeting was Earl J. Knittle of

Ashland, Ohio. His subject, "Antiques of This Area--How and What to

Collect," was illustrated by antiques from his own collection.

The society is taking an active part in planning for Crestline's Ohio

Sesquicentennial Home Coming, May 30 and 31. The president of the

society has given talks before the Bucyrus, Mansfield, and Galion Rotary

clubs and other groups to interest them in local sesquicentennial observances.

The annual four-page bulletin of the society was issued on November 1.

 

CLINTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Wilmington

Robert A. Hussey, President

The following officers were elected at a meeting of the society in

January: Robert A. Hussey, president; P. M. Ellis, first vice president;

Mrs. H. N. Lazenby, second vice president; Mrs. Fred Carroll, secretary;

Mrs. Harry Hague, Jr., treasurer; and Ethel H. Hayes, historian.

• 2
 

Historical News                       183

 

FAIRPORT HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Fairport Harbor

George Gedeon, President

The society will sponsor a sesquicentennial dinner launching the Fairport

Mardi Gras on Wednesday, July 1. This will be a part of the Mardi Gras

observance of Sesquicentennial Day. Carl Reeves is chairman of the dinner

committee.

A sesquicentennial postcard featuring views of the old lighthouse is

also being planned by a committee composed of Pearl Killinen and Alma

Saari.

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Columbus

Frank A. Livingston, President

The speaker for the January meeting of the society was George E.

Roudebush, former superintendent of the Columbus public schools, who

presented an illustrated talk, "Passing of the Little Red Schoolhouse." The

February meeting featured "The Staging of Early Melodrama in Columbus,"

a lecture by Dr. John H. McDowell, director of theater at Ohio State Uni-

versity. An added attraction was the first showing of the Oral M. Heffner

Theater Collection, which includes over 700 rare photographs of early

actors and actresses who visited Columbus years ago.

 

GEAUGA COUNTY HISTORICAL AND MEMORIAL SOCIETY, Burton

B. J. Shanower, President

The directors of the society recently authorized the purchase of a district

school building to be rebuilt on the museum grounds with other typical

buildings of the past. The school will be dedicated at the annual home

coming at the museum, the tentative date for which has been set for

October 10-11.

 

HANCOCK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Findlay

W. Albert Hogle, President

President Hogle is continuing his study of General William Hull, who

marched through Hancock County on his way to Detroit in 1812. He

plans a third trip to Washington and New York in search of data for the

study.

 

HAYES MEMORIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM, Fremont

Watt P. Marchman, Director

William Andrews, janitor and night watchman at the memorial, died

• 3
 

184     Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

of a heart attack on January 26, while on duty. He is survived by his

widow, a son, and five daughters.

A special exhibition on the out-going president, Mr. Truman, and the

in-coming president, Mr. Eisenhower, was shown from November through

January.

The papers of Rutherford B. Hayes are included in the National Historical

Publications Commission's selection of manuscript collections recommended

for publication. The list includes the papers of 110 prominent Americans.

The director attended the opening of the Ohio Sesquicentennial Exhibit

at the Library of Congress on January 8 as a special guest of the library.

He and Erwin C. Zepp, director of the Ohio State Archaeological and

Historical Society, also a special guest, appeared with Senator Robert A.

Taft, Dr. Carl F. Wittke, and others in a photograph published in the

Library of Congress Information Bulletin.

The director is a member of the Sandusky County Sesquicentennial

Celebration Committee.

 

HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF OHIO, Cincinnati

Virginius C. Hall, Director

The Buckeye Birthday Exhibition of this society will open for members

and guests at the Taft Museum on Friday, April 17. Thereafter it will

continue open to the public through May 31.

The director is a member of several committees preparing programs for

the Ohio sesquicentennial observance in Hamilton County. Alice P. Hook,

librarian, is on the speakers bureau in connection with the celebration.

 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF NORTHWESTERN OHIO, Toledo

Randolph C. Downes, Executive Director

The society has engaged the director to give full time from February 1

to September 1, 1953, to the writing of a textbook for the eighth grade

of the Toledo public schools. The text is to be entitled An Introduction

to American Democracy and will approach United States history through

the part of Lucas County in it. This is to be one of Lucas County's con-

tributions to the commemoration of Ohio's 150th anniversary.

 

LORAIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Elyria

Mrs. James B. Thomas, President

The president, Mrs. Thomas, has recently been named chairman of the

Ohioana Library Committee for Lorain County.

• 4
 

Historical News                        185

 

MAHONING VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Youngstown

Howard C. Aley, President

The annual meeting of the society on January 21 marked the seventy-

ninth year of the society's existence. Officers elected at the meeting are

as follows: president, Howard C. Aley; first vice president, Mrs. Henry A.

Butler; second vice president, Joseph G. Butler III; third vice president,

Randall H. Anderson; recording secretary, Mrs. Ernest A. Goodman;

corresponding secretary, Ada M. Rogers; treasurer, James L. Wick, Jr.;

assistant treasurer, Joseph G. Butler III.

The society sponsored a display during March in commemoration of

the sesquicentennial of Ohio at the Butler Art Institute. The project was

under the direction of Paul L. Hendricks, curator of the institute.

The issue of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society News for March

1953 inaugurated a new quarterly publication of the society. The four-page

bulletin also launched a membership drive which is to continue throughout

1953. The society has two types of memberships, annual memberships with

dues of $1.00 and sustaining memberships of $10.00.

 

PORTAGE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Ravenna

Mrs. J. R. Turner, Executive Secretary

Officers elected at the January meeting of the society are M. Herbert

Heighton, president; Paul H. Krueger, vice president; Mrs. J. R. Turner,

executive secretary; Earl Willford, treasurer; Iva Seymour, recording secre-

tary; J. B. Holm, historian; and Cyrus Plough, curator.

The chief activity of the society still centers around the renovation of

the property given for use as a museum and place of assembly. Meanwhile,

the society holds monthly meetings in the various townships of the county.

Merrible Myres was reappointed membership chairman. The organization

now has 875 members.

 

SCIOTO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Portsmouth

Franklin E. Smith, President

Additional repairs on the society's building have been made recently

under the direction of Ralph Marting, chairman of the building committee.

The collection of objects of historical interest is supervised by Mrs.

Harry W. Miller. Mrs. William L. Fannin was appointed membership

chairman in November 1952.

• 5
 

186     Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

SHAKER HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Shaker Heights

Caroline B. Piercy, Secretary

A round table was held on January 18 at the Shaker Heights Public

Library with Howard Luce as moderator. The panel was as follows: "Early

Warrensville," Caroline Piercy; "North Union Shakers," Rev. John Schott;

"Shaker Music and Dance," Miriam Cramer Andorn; "Shaker Songs,"

Mrs. Erickson; "The Van Sweringen Brothers," Virginia Hampton; "Shaker

Heights of Tomorrow," Mayor Barkley of Shaker Heights. There were

three hundred in attendance.

The society is sponsoring an exhibit of Constanine Kermes's paintings

of Shakers at the Shaker Heights Galleries on March 1. Five miniature

Shaker scenes made by Caroline Piercy are being exhibited in local schools

and libraries.

All officers of the society were reelected for another year at a meeting

on January 28, except that L. M. Van Fossan was elected treasurer

succeeding Howard Luce.

A map of Shaker holdings and a corresponding modern map of Shaker

Heights have recently been published by the society with the aid of

Howard Luce, the Rev. John Schott, and the Shaker Savings Association.

 

SHELBY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Sidney

George 0. Harshbarger, Secretary

L. U. Hill and Maud Carey are writing a series of articles on local

history which is being published in the Sidney Daily News.

 

SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF PIONEER RIVERMEN, Marietta

Frederick Way, Jr., President

True magazine, through its editor, Ken W. Purdy, is presenting an

original oil painting of the former Pittsburgh-Cincinnati packet, the

Betsy Ann, to the River Museum at Marietta. A color reproduction of

the painting, which is the work of Dean Cornwell, appeared on the cover

of the February 1953 issue of True.

"Luxury Liner of the Mississippi," by Frederick Way, Jr., a factual story

of the growth of the Greene Line Steamers, Inc., of Cincinnati, was

published in the February number of Ships and the Sea.

 

STARK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Canton

Donald K. Merwin, President

The annual dinner meeting of the society held at the American Legion

• 6
 

Historical News                         187

 

Hall in Canton was attended by 114 members and guests. Ernest J. Wessen

of Mansfield spoke on "¹⁵⁰ Years of Ohio Authors," and brought out

many interesting facts about Stark County writers.

 

SUMMIT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Akron

Carl H. Pockrandt, President

Dean Albert I. Spanton of Akron gave a talk, "Impressions from a Trip

to England," at the January meeting of the society. Three color films,

"Oddities of Ohio," "Ohio, the Beautiful," and "Ohio Year Book," were

presented at the February meeting.

Karl H. Grismer's Akron and Summit County, which was published last

year by the society, received the annual award of the Mead Sales Company

of Dayton for outstanding physical characteristics.

 

UNION COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Marysville

Clarence A. Hooper, President

Clarence A. Hooper was elected president of the society in place of

W. H. Snodgrass, who resigned. Mrs. William Coleman was named vice

president to succeed Mr. Hooper when he became president. Trustees are

Guy Robinson, Peter Fisher, Todd Hooper, Elizabeth Bonham, Ethel Helser,

Bruce Cahill, and Mrs. Richard Langstaff.

The society is cooperating with the Union County Sesquicentennial

Committee under the chairmanship of Frieda Edwards in preparation for

the county's celebration of the state sesquicentennial. While the society's

part has not been fully determined, one of its contributions will be the

purchase of an Ohio state flag for use during the observance.

 

WARREN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Lebanon

William Mason Phillips, President

The annual reorganization meeting of the society was held on December 29

at the Golden Lamb. Officers elected at that time for one-year terms are as

follows: William Mason Phillips, president; Laura Cunningham, vice

president; Mary Lincoln, secretary; Lena Iorns, treasurer; and Mrs. Gardner

H. Townsley, historian.

The programs this year, which are emphasizing state and local history,

are being arranged by a committee composed of Mrs. Lawrence J. Gray,

chairman, Mr. Gray, and Mrs. Phillips. The annual banquet will be held

on April 20 at the Golden Lamb.

The portrait of Lucy Cowan painted by Marcus Mote in 1850, which

• 7
 

188     Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

was acquired by the society through the will of the late Fred Brant, was

lent to the Ohio State Museum for an Ohio paintings exhibition.

The society has begun the issuance of a one-page bulletin, Warren County

Historicalog, edited by the historian, Mrs. Townsley.

 

WELLSVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Wellsville

Edgar Davidson, President

Two significant events of February 14 climaxed the efforts of members

of the historical society, the Carnegie Library Board, the Chamber of

Commerce, and others. The first was the arrival of the "History Special"

train in commemoration of the centennial of the arrival in Wellsville

of the first train over the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad. Ceremonies

of one hundred years ago were reenacted when Governor Frank J. Lausche

and Hugh Wells of Cleveland drove a golden spike at the railroad yard.

The second event was the opening and dedication of the new river

museum in the former Henry Aten mansion. A good collection of exhibits

had been installed, outstanding among which were several models of river

boats. Edwin Pugh, vice president of the society and general chairman

for the celebration, Arlene Scotton, and Donald Newbold were the most

active members of the society in the preparations for the opening.

 

WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Cleveland

Russell H. Anderson, Director

Jacob D. Cox, a trustee of the society for thirty-six years, died on

February 16, 1953.

Herman L. Vail has presented the society a collection of Americana from

his personal library.

As a part of the society's sesquicentennial activities the women's advisory

council has sponsored a series of meetings devoted to Ohio history. Dean

Carl F. Wittke and Walter Havighurst presented the first two lectures

on early Ohio. In March, Frank Siedel introduced the Standard Oil

Company film on Ohio, and on May 8 Harlan Hatcher will address a dinner

meeting, at which time honor will be paid to a number of persons who

have written on Ohio history.

During the remainder of the year some of the older companies and in-

stitutions of Cleveland will present exhibits showing their part in the

industrial growth of the state.

Recent exhibits included a toy shop of yesterday; a costume exhibit of

gowns worn by wives of the presidents, featuring those from Ohio, pre-

• 8
 

Historical News                         189

 

sented by Mrs. Howard Bissell of Peninsula, Ohio; and a photographic

display in which the Photographic Society of Cleveland, the Women's

Photographic Society, and the Camera Guild cooperated. Prints showing

Ohio scenes were shown during February. On each Sunday afternoon

during the month selected colored slides were shown by the camera dubs

and a demonstration of the microfilming of documents was given. Prizes

were awarded in a competition limited to junior and senior high school

students.

 

WOMEN'S CENTENNIAL ASSOCIATION, Marietta

Mrs. Arthur T. Henderson, President

Officers for the year 1952-53 are as follows: Mrs. Arthur T. Henderson,

Jr., president; Etta Collins, first vice president; Gertrude P. Strahl, second

vice president; Mrs. E. A. Flemming, recording secretary; Mrs. Harry T.

Smith, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Carl C. Combs, treasurer; and Freda

Schimmel, auditor.

 

About Historians

Louis Filler of the history department at Antioch College had an article,

"Movements to Abolish the Death Penalty in the United States," in the

Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science for

November 1952.

 

Marvin Becker, a member of the history faculty of Baldwin-Wallace

College since September 1952, published two articles last year: "Benefit of

Counsel in Criminal Cases in Coke," in the Miami Law Review for June

1952; and "The Florentine Revolution of 1343," in the Arkansas Academy

of Arts and Sciences for April 1952.

David Lindsey also published two articles during the past year: "George

W. Norris at Baldwin University," in the Baldwin-Wallace Alumnus,

Spring 1952, and "George Canning and Jefferson's Embargo," in Tyler's

Quarterly for October 1952.

 

Robert Kreider became assistant professor of history at Bluffton College

on the first of September.

Two members of the Bluffton College history faculty have published

books during the past year. Delbert Gratz is the author of History of Bernese

Anabaptism published by the Mennonite Historical Society, Scottdale, Penn-

• 9
 

190      Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

sylvania; and Paul Shelly, of Religious Education and Mennonite Piety

Among the Mennonites of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1870-1943, issued

by the Mennonite Publication Office, Newton, Kansas.

 

The department of history at Bowling Green State University in co-

operation with other social studies departments of the university sponsored

an institute, "Looking at Ohio," on March 26, in commemoration of the

Ohio sesquicentennial. The schedule of speakers and subjects was as follows:

Professor Wilfred E. Binkley, "A Revaluation of McKinley"; Judge Paul A.

Alexander, "Ohio's Work in Domestic Relations and Juvenile Courts";

Richard C. Knopf, "Anthony Wayne in Northwest Ohio"; Maurice New-

berger, "Activities of the Ohio Bureau of Juvenile Research"; Professor

H. F. Raup, "Names on the Map of Ohio"; W. J. Loufman, "Growth

of the Ohio Oil Industry"; and Nancy Johnston, "Ohio Prehistory."

 

Stanton Ling Davis, chairman of the history department at Case Institute

of Technology, is conducting a European study tour this summer which

carries six semester hours graduate or undergraduate credit. It is open to

students from other institutions and to teachers for in-service training credit.

 

The department of history at Central State College, under the chairmanship

of Wilhelmena S. Robinson, presented a chapel program on October 29,

"A Review of Political Campaigns," and another on November 5, "A

Review of the Election Returns."

Vernell M. Oliver, associate professor of history, delivered a paper at the

annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History

at Detroit, Michigan. The paper, "Russian Radicals and the Civil War,"

will appear in the Journal of Negro History for Spring 1953.

William P. Robinson, professor of political science, has completed his

Ph.D. dissertation, Judicial Limitations.

 

Carl G. Klopfenstein, chairman of the department of history at Heidelberg

College, is on leave of absence for the second semester of the academic

year, 1952-53.

 

Richard G. Salomon, professor of church history, Bexley Hall Divinity

School, Kenyon College, is the author of an article, "Mother Church--

Daughter Church--Sister Church: The Relations of the Protestant Episcopal

• 10
 

Historical News                          191

 

Church and the Church of England in the 19th Century," published in the

Historical Magazine of the Protestant Episcopal Church for December 1952.

 

Alfred D. Low, associate professor of history and political science at

Marietta College, has been granted a leave of absence for the second semester

of the current school year. During this period he will serve in the capacity

of visiting lecturer in political science at New York State College for

Teachers, Albany, New York. He will be engaged also in graduate in-

struction.

Frederick B. Artz, chairman of the department of history at Oberlin

College, is the author of Mind of the Middle Ages, A.D. 200-1500, An

Historical Survey, published by Alfred A. Knopf, January 1953.

 

Paul A. Varg, associate professor in the history department at Ohio

State University, is the author of a book, Open Door Diplomat: The Life of

William Woodville Rockhill, published last year by the University of

Illinois Press, and of an article, "William Woodville Rockhill and the Open

Door Notes," in the Journal of Modern History for December 1952.

James M. Smith had an article, "The Aurora and the Alien and Sedition

Laws. Part I: The Editorship of Benjamin Franklin Bache," in the

Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, January 1953.

 

Frederick D. Kershner, Jr., professor of history at Ohio University, read

a paper, "George Chaffey, International Engineer," at the annual meeting

of the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association held at

Vancouver, British Columbia.

John F. Cady, who served for a year as visiting professor in the Southeast

Asia Institute at Cornell University, resumed his duties at Ohio University

on February 1, 1953.

Phillip Shriver, assistant professor of history at Kent State University,

is the director of a special sesquicentennial program in Ohio history, which

is being offered by the university from July 13 to August 1. The program

surveys the history of the state from earliest times to the present in a

comprehensive schedule of lectures, discussions, films, interviews, and travel

to historically significant localities. Three credit hours in history (or five,

if a paper is submitted) may be earned by graduate and undergraduate

students. Noncredit participants are also welcomed.

• 11