Ohio History Journal




106 Ohio Arch

106     Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

FRANK L. PACKARD

The announcement of the sudden death of Frank

L. Packard on Friday morning, October 26, brought

sadness to a wide circle of friends in Ohio and other

states. In Columbus where he was personally known

as almost no other citizen, the expressions of regret

were general and sincere. The Ohio State Archaeological

and Historical Society, of which he had been a trustee

since he was appointed by

Governor Davis October

15, 1921, was especially

shocked to hear this sad

news. In the large build-

ing projects that the So-

ciety now has under way,

including the wing to the

Museum    and  Library

building and other build-

ings on property outside

of Columbus, his advice

and assistance was of the

greatest value.  These

were given freely with-

out the thought of any

financial return as was

much of Mr. Packard's

service in Columbus. He was foremost in developing

plans for the improvement and beautification of the city.

Mr. Packard was born in Delaware, Ohio, June 11,

1866. He attended the public schools of that city and

at the age of fifteen was employed as chain carrier for

the county surveyor. He began his professional career

as office boy for F. A. Gartner, an architect and engi-



Reviews, Notes and Comments 107

Reviews, Notes and Comments 107

neer of Delaware. Later he took special courses in

architecture and engineering at the Ohio State Univer-

sity and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He also studied in the offices of the leading architects of

New York City.

In 1892 he came to Columbus, formed a partner-

ship with J. W. Yost and entered upon the practice of

his profession.  In 1899 he acquired full interest in the

firm. The list of buildings that he planned is a long

one.  The first big structure for which his plan was

accepted on competition was the Girls' Industrial Home

near Delaware.    Following this his plans were ac-

cepted for other state buildings.  A number of these

are on the University grounds of the capital city and

the grounds of the other state universities.  His plans

were accepted for the Lima State Hospital for the

Criminal Insane, one of the largest structures of its

kind in the world. Recently he was selected by Presi-

dent Harding to plan and superintend the construction

of the American Embassy building at Rio Janeiro,

Brazil, which was formally dedicated last summer at

the Brazilian Exposition.  The papers announce that

all told he had designed more than 3400 buildings. He

was prominent in business and civic circles in Colum-

bus and was active officially in the affairs of the Broad

Street Presbyterian Church.  In 1892 he was married

to Eva L. Elliott, of Delaware, who survives him. Edi-

torially the Ohio State Journal pays Mr. Packard this

tribute:

Mr. Packard was a great architect. He was a great citizen,

too. In these later years his time was in constant demand but

he always had it to spare for his city. Anything, at any sacri-

fice of his personal interests, which he felt he could do for



108 Ohio Arch

108      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

Columbus, was done with generous enthusiasm. To him more

than to any other man Columbus owes the fact that the dream

of a Civic Center is becoming a reality. That noble idea, in its

concrete form at least, was Mr. Packard's and many hours and

days and weeks he gave to perfecting his plans and to helping

create an irresistible sentiment for this greatest of city beauti-

fications, this building for the future of Columbus. What a

monument this will be to a great architect and a great citizen.

 

PROFESSOR CHARLES SUMNER PLUMB.

Professor Charles Sumner Plumb, author of the

leading contribution to this issue of the QUARTERLY,

was born in Westfield, Massachusetts, April 21, 1860.

He was graduated from the Massachusetts Agricultural

College at Amherst. For a time he was engaged in

editorial and agricultural experiment work.

Since September 1, 1892, he has been professor of

animal husbandry in the Ohio State University. He is

author of the following works: Biographical Directory

of American Agricultural Scientists; Indian    Corn;

Little Sketches of Famous Beef Cattle; Types and

Breeds of Farm Animals and revision of same; A Par-

tial Index to Animal Husbandry Literature; Beginnings

of Animal Husbandry; Judging Farm Animals; also

many monographs and contributions to agricultural

periodicals. Of his Types and Breeds of Farm Animals

more than 100,000 copies have been sold.

Professor Plumb has for years been a recognized

authority in his field and his monograph in this issue

of the QUARTERLY is a tribute to one of Ohio's pioneers

and a distinct contribution to the history of the live

stock industry of the state.