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Media contacts: Kim Schuette: 614.297.2314 or kschuette@ohiohistory.org
For Immediate Release
On the Record: State Archives of Ohio Turns 50
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)- What does author O. Henry's prison record, the design for the state flag and the Ohio Constitution have in common? They reside in the State Archives of Ohio.
It's been 50 years since the Ohio General Assembly designated the Ohio Historical Society as the repository for the State Archives in July 1959. Although the transfer of state archival material to the Society began in 1927, it was not made official until almost 30 years later. Since that time, any citizen can come to the Ohio Historical Society’s Archives/Library to research state and local government records.
"Recognizing this milestone for the State Archives of Ohio is important for the people of Ohio," said Bill Laidlaw, OHS executive director and CEO. "The State Archives is the keeper of Ohio's most valuable historical documents and it's through this partnership with the state that the Ohio Historical Society helps to create an understanding of Ohio's role in American history."
The State Archives identifies, selects, preserves and makes accessible records that constitute Ohio's recorded history. Records date from the founding of the Northwest Territory to the turn of the 21st century. Included in the Archives' holdings are territorial and state executive, legislative and judicial records; county probate, land and court records; and publications, reports and audio-visual materials of state, county and municipal governments. Some of the important documents in the collections include: Ohio’s 1802 and 1851 constitutions with amendments, documentation of Ohio’s flag and gubernatorial papers from the Celeste and Taft administrations.
Much of Ohio's official past can be found here. Researchers could find one of the most complete sets of state of the state addresses in the country beginning with Gov. Thomas Worthington, Ohio adjutant general's correspondence from the 1860s to 1890s, annual reports of state agencies, death records from the Ohio Department of Health dating from 1909 to 1954 and prison records among the archival materials. Other interesting tidbits of information one can find amid the treasure trove of documents: the Ohio School for the Deaf was the first publicly funded school for the deaf in the United States; the vote for Ohio's commemorative quarter's design; and what film censors deemed as inappropriate for Ohio movie audiences before the U.S. Supreme Court declared state censorship film boards unconstitutional.
One of the most important functions of the State Archives is to provide access to government records, which supports the state's open records law by serving as a resource for citizens, public officials and members of the media in obtaining public records of state government.
"The State Archives of Ohio represents the memory of our state," said Louise Jones, manager of research services. "As such, it provides accountability for the citizens of Ohio in regards to their government's actions."
Other roles performed by the State Archives include reviewing retention schedules that determine which records should be placed in the collection. Staff members also host educational seminars for county and state archivists, such as basic records management and disaster planning workshops to ensure the long-term preservation of and access to local government records.
For more information, about the State Archives, call 800-686-6124 or visit www.ohiohistory.org/statearchives.
Established in 1885, the Ohio Historical Society is a nonprofit organization that serves as the state's partner in preserving and interpreting Ohio's history, archaeology, natural history and architecture. For more information about programs and events, call 614.297.2300/800.686.6124 or go online at www.ohiohistory.org.
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