MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE OHIO
STATE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
April 12, 1946, Meeting in Executive Session at 11:00 A.M.
and 4:00 P.M.
The following members of the Board were
present: Johnson,
Eagleson, Miller, Amos, Belden, Coppock,
Florence, Holzer, Mac-
Lean, Rightmire, Wittke, and ex-officio,
Governor Lausche and
Hissong.
A tentative program covering the
Society's activities for the
coming year being presented by the
President, it was moved by
Mr. Amos that it be adopted; seconded by
Mr. Miller, the adop-
tion was approved unanimously, as here
set forth.
No. 1--That the President be empowered to terminate the
tenure of the retiring Secretary as of
June 30, 1946, and termi-
nate the tenure of the retiring Director
as of December 31, 1946.--
That such retirement be noted with
deserved honors, on the
basis of long service and high merit.--
That the title of emeritus be awarded to
each.--
That their fine talents, and experience be
not lost to this in-
stitution.--
That they be retained for special
detached service to be
designated by the President and
compensated for on an honorar-
ium basis.--
That certain funds in the Society
treasury be made collateral
for this purpose.--
All under such terms and conditions as may be acceptable to
Director Shetrone and Secretary Lindley
and within the Society's
capacity to afford, and subject to the
approval of the Executive.
Committee.
No. 2--That the Board proceed at once to the selection of a
Director, in fact, if not immediately in
name, in order to facilitate
the prospective shifting of personnel
and implementing of a new
program.
That the Board recognize the principle
of promotion in such
selection where such principle is
applicable.
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260
OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
That the Director be chosen with special
reference to admin-
istrative and promotional ability, and
looking to the near future
addition of literary and scientific
talent unhampered by executive
duties, for development of the Wittke
plan.
No. 3--That the Society finance the employment of a travel-
ing agent for one year at least for such
service as the Board may
direct.
No. 4--That, in order to provide more income to the So-
ciety's treasury, for use in activities
not provided for in the state
budget, a plan of admission charges to
parks and institutions such
as have something worthwhile to offer to
the public, be studied,
determined, and if approved, be put in
force before the first of
June, 1946.
No. 5--That an amendment to the Constitution be initiated
looking to increases in membership fees
in the various categories,
the present fees being inadequate if not
archaic.
No. 6--That the Board of Trustees reiterate its expressed
intent to promote a more rapid
development of the Society's in-
terest in its Library, in historical
research and literary production,
and that Dr. Wittke be given widest
latitude in directing this
fundamental activity.
No. 7--That it be the intent of the Trustees to review ex-
ploratory activities in Ohio
archaeological research, in which there
is a state-wide interest.
No. 8--That in furtherance of the preceding resolutions 6
and 7 the Trustees contemplate the
organization of the Ohio
History Press, Inc., a subsidiary of the
Ohio State Archaeological
and Historical Society.
No. 9--That the Trustees conduct a friendly and unselfish
campaign to organize new and strengthen
existing county histori-
cal societies, as contemplated in Senate
Bill #240, passed by
the legislature and signed by the
Governor, providing county
financial support for such worthy
organizations upon affiliation
with this parent organization.
No. 10--That the attorney general be requested to prepare
an opinion as to the ownership of the
contents of the central and
other museums and institutions within
the Board's jurisdiction.
MINUTES OF THE SOCIETY'S BOARD OF
TRUSTEES 261
That an inventory of such contents be
prepared for the So-
ciety's and the state's information,
such inventory to be accom-
plished for presentation not later than
the next annual meeting.
No. 11--That the President be empowered to appoint a body
to be known as Society Counsellors with
places at the Trustees'
table, such counsellors to be chosen for
their respective talents
and availability, to sit individually or
collectively upon invitation.
No. 12--That it be the intent of this body to receive for
final
consideration no proposals of an
administrative nature until and
if first screened through the Director
and the Executive Com-
mittee.
No. 14--That the President be required to prepare in ad-
vance programs for stated meetings
copies of which shall be
mailed to Trustees and Counsellors not
less than one week in
advance.
No. 15--That a competent stenographer be furnished by the
Director to cover board meetings and
prepare minutes for the
record, copies of which shall be mailed
to members within one
week.
No. 16--That more emphasis be placed upon the Executive
Committee, its duties and its powers,
the more easily to conduct
the current business of the Society.
Finance Note--It is not your President's intention to recom-
mend the dissipation of the Society's
private funds, nor does he
wish to impose his pattern of a
financing plan upon the experts
who will comprise a committee therefor,
but--
It seems reasonable that the Society's
credit should be used
now to make loans for certain specified
purposes, to be repaid
within a specified time, all depending
for amortization upon a
newly adopted program for increased
income.
For the outline of such a plan your
President will call upon
Mr. Miller, Mr. Coppock, and the Vice
Director if the two trus-
tees desire his services.
* * *
A letter from Director Shetrone was
read, sympathetically
discussed and referred to the President
under item one of the
foregoing set of principles.
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OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
The Trustees adopted appropriate
resolutions on the death
of Dr. Elbert J. Benton, Director of the
Western Reserve His-
torical Society, who died at his home in
Cleveland, March 28,
1946.
A Resolution was adopted conferring upon
Mrs. Jessie Camp-
bell Coons the title of Benefactress.
The attendance of Governor Frank J.
Lausche at meetings
of the Trustees, the Society and Dinner
celebration from 11:00
A.M. to 11:00 P.M. was noted with enthusiastic
appreciation.
Re-election of staff and employees,
subject to study by the
Treasurer for reconciliation with
finances, was approved.
Incumbent officers of the Board were
formally re-elected for
the Society year.
Then adjourned.
ARTHUR C. JOHNSON, SR., President.
HARLOW LINDLEY, Secretary.