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OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
and Commander Webb C. Hayes, for terms
of three years. The
Committee, realizing the deep interest
and long service of Mr.
Harold T. Clark and bowing to his
personal desire for retirement,
nominated for the third vacancy Dr.
Charles E. Holzer, of Gallipo-
lis. The Secretary was instructed by the
Chairman to cast the bal-
lot for each of the nominees.
President Johnson: "Last year Dr.
Overman, of our staff,
presented a paper on the subject of the
relationship between the
State Society and Local Historical
Societies, with special reference
to the State Society's viewpoint. Now,
Mr. Eugene D. Rigney,
President of the Ross County Historical
Society, Chillicothe, will
present a paper on the subject of 'The
Relative Functions of State
and Local Historical Societies: The
Local Viewpoint.'"
THE RELATIVE FUNCTIONS OF STATE AND
LOCAL
HISTORICAL SOCIETIES: THE LOCAL
VIEWPOINT
By EUGENE D. RIGNEY
The following remarks are a synthesis
of my own opinions and preju-
dices, unsullied by research, and
presented, in unglazed English, as my per-
sonal contribution towards a solution
of the mutual problems of state and
local historical societies.
Most local historical societies are the
by-product of the general enthu-
siasm and exuberance manifested at local
historical celebrations, exhibitions
and parades. Usually, the proud
promoters, imbued with the spirit of the
occasion and a desire to memorialize
their achievement, discover themselves
in the midst of organizing an historical
society, with the immediate neces-
sity of housing the material that has
been assembled from local attics, never
to return.
Too frequently the housing problem is
never solved and the project
dies with the occasion; but, fortunately
for many of our cities, public sub-
scription meets the need, or some
well-disposed--and wealthy--member is
sufficiently civic minded to endow the
fledgling and provide the necessary
quarters.
Of course, all of those who have been
infected by the celebration are
susceptible to membership and more than
willing to do their share of work
in the formation of the society--for the
first year. After that, and the
inevitable injuries to personal feelings
and differences of opinion, member-
ship rosters decrease and puzzled
officers must face the formidable task of
OHIO HISTORY CONFERENCE, 1941 227
seeking a stimulant, in the form of
varied programs, exhibits, and even
social functions.
Oddly enough, money is seldom present in
sufficient quantity to de-
moralize the administration of the
society, but almost always available if
the need is well publicized and the
proposed use is an intelligent one.
But, having been founded by the
historical minded and maintained by
the elect of the community, there is a
tendency towards stagnation, and lack
of interest. There is little evidence of
a general desire to develope the pos-
sibilities of the organization and its
services to the city and county, as an
educational factor and means of arousing
interest in, and properly publiciz-
ing, local historical landmarks and
attractions. Ultimately, the trend is to
crawl in a cave and convert it into a
catch-all for the ancient and unwanted
odds and ends of the locality, be they
animal, vegetable, mineral or his-
torical.
To arouse the local organization from
its lethargy, to make it see its
possibilities and the need for its
service, is usually the task that confronts
each succeeding board of directors and
each new group of officers. For-
tunately, an idea here, a novelty in
program there, from the well-meaning
amateur, is frequently sufficient to
keep the body alive and functioning from
year to year.
The state historical society, on the
other hand, has the considerable
advantages of an expert staff, of size,
location, prestige; but suffers from the
ravages of two dread diseases: more
stagnation, from a surplus of per-
manent collections, and financial
malnutrition, due to the very nature and
extent of its operations, and the whims
and caprice of the legislature. Most
historical societies would quietly close
their museum doors if the burden
of the dread "biennium" was
added to their present difficulties.
But where is the common ground of
action, the common means to solve
the mutual problems of state and local
historical societies? It is unlikely
that the absorption of local museums and
local societies, frequently advo-
cated as a panacea, would remedy the
situation, since such action would
only impose an additional financial
burden on the state without producing
compensating revenue. Pursuit of such a
policy would also tend to elimi-
nate local interest, enthusiasm, and the
more subtle, more important, quality,
conveniently labeled
"atmosphere."
Removing subsidy and merger from the
prescription list, we must con-
clude that the alternative course,
bearing that vast and vague title: "co-
operation," is indicated. To this
end, the following suggestions are offered
as a means of establishing a basis for
action.
There must be a complete conversion to
the idea that an historical
society, state or local, with a museum,
should devote that institution and
form its policies on the lines of
education and service in its own sphere
of influence. Such a policy necessarily
entails the abandonment of stagnant
collections, and the use of
well-prepared, carefully-selected, exhibits de-
228
OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
signed to link the past with the
present, to indicate clearly progression or
decline in some field of human endeavor,
and, ultimately, to educate or in-
spire the visitor. In this effort, the
handsome, vermin- and dust-proof case,
with its permanent collection, is
representative of a policy that is as modern
as the moat around a castle. For, if we
are to hold the attention of that
visitor, we must be prepared to display
our material as skillfully as any
industrial or commercial exhibitor.
Light and color must be added to our
resources and well-conceived
installations must be devised. Such a pro-
cedure demands technical skill as well
as financial outlay. Dissemination
of this knowledge would be possible
through the medium of a mimeographed
news bulletin designed to serve as a
forum for the description of trends
and the examination of successful
practice and policies. It is not inconceiv-
able that these exhibits could be
circulated among the historical societies of a
state, particularly when the subjects
were of general interest, to be aug-
mented by related local material, and
discussed by a competent speaker.
Collaboration in the development of
parks on historic sites, and the
preservation and restoration of
important landmarks (with or without the
aid of the Federal Government) would be
of great benefit. Local historical
societies would undoubtedly participate
in the preparation and publication
of descriptive leaflets, in photographic
surveys, and in the erection of suit-
able markers for their counties. A
series of tour guides, uniform in plan,
would be of considerable value to the
traveler. An extension of this co-
operative effort could result in the
preparation of a series of volumes
dealing with the state's historical
intangibles: such as balladry, humor and
cooking.
The suggestion has been made on several
occasions that the field of
genealogy should be left to the
libraries; and with this policy we should
completely disagree. The historical
society's mail is full of normal--and
abnormal--inquiries about ancestors, and
many visitors come to our mu-
seums with the expressed intention of
inquiring about their family "trees."
Why should we disregard this valuable
contact with the public? If copies
of the letters we write in answer to
these requests for information were
sent to a central agency, such as the
state society, there to be filed by name
or area, an important collection of
research material would soon accumulate.
Such a course of action implies that the
state society must assume the
leadership and serve as an example, as
well as a friend, to the local so-
cieties. In return for this service, the
local societies can exert considerable
influence on local members of the
legislature to support the state institu-
tion. We will not be as so many
"St. Georges" to combat the dread
"biennium," but our local
support should bring the desired result.
President Johnson: "Mr. Rigney has
certainly brought us
a very refreshing paper filled with life
and color. I trust that we
OHIO HISTORY CONFERENCE, 1941 229
may keep in touch with him with the idea
of utilizing, in part at
least, some of the suggestions which he
has made."
In response to the Chairman's inquiry as
to further business,
the Director called attention to the
forthcoming convention of
the American Association of Museums
which will meet in Colum-
bus on May 15-16, when the Society will
have the honor, for the
first time, of playing host to the
national organization.
After announcements the Annual Business
Meeting adjourned.
HARLOW LINDLEY, Secretary.