Minutes of the Meeting of the
Ohio Academy of History,
Columbus, April 13, 1957
One hundred historians attended the
spring meeting of the Ohio Academy
of History at the Ohio State Museum on
Saturday, April 13, 1957.
At one of the two concurrent morning
sessions, Erving E. Beauregard of
the University of Dayton introduced
Edward J. Goodman of Xavier
University, who presented a paper on
"Spanish Nationalism in the Struggle
Against Napoleon," and Alfred D.
Low of Marietta College, whose subject
was "Lenin on the Question of
Nationality." Alfred A. Skerpan of Kent
State University commented on the
papers. Presiding over the other session
was Donald P. Gavin of John Carroll
University. A paper, "The Centennial
of the Dred Scott Decision," by
Harold Schwartz of Kent State University,
was followed by pertinent remarks by
Paul Murphy of Ohio State University
and Paul I. Miller of Hiram College.
For the luncheon at noon, the Academy
once again enjoyed the hospitality
of the Ohio State University Faculty
Club. Subsequent to the business
meeting, a resume of which appears
below, the Rev. W. Eugene Shiels of
Xavier University delivered the featured
address, "The Place of History
in University Education."
The afternoon program at the Museum
included a panel discussion on
"History and Current Affairs: The
Problem of Synthesis" and a session on
international relations. Carl Wittke of
Western Reserve University served
as moderator for the panel, the members
of which were Helen Kaslo of
Wooster College, Robert W. Twyman of
Bowling Green State University,
James Wolfenden of Wittenberg College,
and Mary Young of Ohio State
University. As chairman of the
concurrent session, William L. Fisk of
Muskingum College introduced Charles R.
Ritcheson of Kenyon College,
whose paper was entitled "Toward a
Revision of Anglo-American Relations,
1783-1795." Comments were offered
by Richard C. Knopf of the Anthony
Wayne Parkway Board and Thomas L. Moir
of Heidelberg College.
The business session, held immediately
after the luncheon, was conducted
by Grover C. Platt of Bowling Green
State University, president of the Ohio
Academy of History. In the first of a
series of reports, the secretary-treasurer
306
THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
announced a sharp decrease in
membership, the present total being 69, far
short of the 125 listed one year before.
The recent increase in the dues
for joint membership in the Academy and
the Ohio Historical Society may
have been partly responsible, but it was
believed that many of the delinquent
members would yet respond. The probable
maximum appeared to be 116,
which would represent a net loss of 9 members
since April 1956. The
secretary-treasurer also expressed his
appreciation to the heads of depart-
ments for providing information for the
revised roster of historians.
Robert H. Bremner of Ohio State
University was then named recipient
of the Academy's Certificate of Award
for 1956. The announcement was
made by the Rev. W. Eugene Shiels of
Xavier University, chairman of the
committee on awards, which had selected
Dr. Bremner's book, "From the
Depths: The Discovery of Poverty in the
United States," as the outstanding
historical achievement by a member of
the Academy in 1956.
Raymond W. Bixler of Ashland College,
chairman of the program com-
mittee, commented upon the cooperation
he had received in arranging
the program, and he thanked the
participants and his fellow committee
members.
Eugene C. Murdock of Marietta College,
chairman of the committee on
the teaching of history, explained that
the panel discussion in the afternoon
would reflect the work of that committee.
He expressed his gratitude to the
members of the panel and of the
committee.
The chairman of the committee on
nominations, William L. Fisk of
Muskingum College, offered the following
slate of officers for 1957-58:
For president--Landon Warner of Kenyon
College
For vice president--Paul I. Miller of
Hiram College
For secretary-treasurer--John S. Still
of the Ohio Historical Society
The motion was duly seconded and
unanimously approved, and the slate was
declared elected.
At the president's request, Landon
Warner reviewed the question of
whether or not the Academy should
continue its joint membership agree-
ment with the Ohio Historical Society.
Balloting by mail and a vote taken
at the fall meeting at Heidelberg
College had both been affirmative, but they
represented only a part of the
membership. Dr. Warner then presented
the following resolution and moved its
adoption:
The Ohio Academy of History strongly
favors the continuation of its
joint membership arrangement with the
Ohio Historical Society at the
revised fee for each person of $5.00 per
year, of which the Academy re-
ceives $1.00. All are urged to subscribe to the
combined membership, though
it is permissible for a person to join
the Academy and not the Ohio
Historical Society by paying dues of $1.00.
OHIO ACADEMY OF HISTORY 307
After a brief discussion the motion was
carried with only four dissenting
votes.
The president next inquired whether the
members preferred the business
meeting immediately after the luncheon
or subsequent to the afternoon
session. By a show of hands, those
present voted in favor of the earlier hour.
A. Sellew Roberts of Kent State
University was then granted the floor. He
tendered a cordial invitation to the
Academy to hold its fall meeting at
Kent State University on October 18 and
19, 1957. The president accepted
with the enthusiastic approval of the
members.
The business session was concluded with
the adoption of a resolution
sponsored by William J. McNiff of Miami
University:
Resolved, that the Ohio Academy of History hereby thanks by means
of
this resolution the Ohio State
University Faculty Club and the Ohio
Historical Society for their gracious
hospitality in making their facilities
available to the Academy for its spring
meeting, and Mrs. S. Winifred
Smith and Mrs. Jane Ward of the Ohio
Historical Society for their valuable
services in connection with the meeting.
The president then introduced the
featured speaker, the Rev. W. Eugene
Shiels, after extending his sincere
thanks for their wholehearted cooperation
during his tenure to his fellow officers
and to the committee members listed
below.
Committee on Awards: Rev. W. Eugene
Shiels, Xavier University, chair-
man; Donald P. Gavin, John Carroll
University; Erwin J. Urch, Defiance
College; A. T. Volwiler, Ohio
University; Francis P. Weisenburger, Ohio
State University.
Committee on Nominations: William L.
Fisk, Muskingum College,
chairman; Henry H. Simms, Ohio State
University; Carl G. Klopfenstein,
Heidelberg College.
Committee on Program: Raymond W. Bixler,
Ashland College, chair-
man; Marion C. Siney, Western Reserve
University; Robert J. Taylor,
Marietta College; William L. Wannemacher,
Kent State University.
Committee on Publications: Watt P.
Marchman, Rutherford B. Hayes
Library, chairman; Harry L. Coles, Ohio
State University; James H.
Rodabaugh, Ohio Historical Society.
Committee on the Teaching of History:
Eugene C. Murdock, Marietta
College, chairman; Robert H. Bremner,
Ohio State University; Carl G.
Gustavson, Ohio University; Helmut
Haeussler, Wittenberg College.
JOHN S. STILL
Secretary-Treasurer