From the Collections Blog Archives - Ohio History Connection

May 22, 2026

Second Best Cow

A prize for "Second Best Cow" sparks a dive into the 1859 Ohio State Fair and a search for the elusive "Best Cow."

April 22, 2026

Flesh-eating Beetles – A Museum’s Best (and Worst) Friends

What do you think of when you hear “flesh‑eating beetles”? Something alien in a science fiction movie? Maybe those swarming scarab beetles from The Mummy — huge, exotic, and terrifying as they crawl across the screen and devour every living thing (and person) in their path. But did you know the Ohio History Connection has […]

March 10, 2026

Ohio Artist Archibald Willard and the “Spirit of ’76”

Learn more about Archibald Willard, the Ohio artist who painted "Spirit of '76" to celebrate our nation's 100th birthday.

February 5, 2026

Mourning President James Garfield

By Benjamin Baughman, History Curator A former canal worker, college professor, and Civil War general, Ohio congressman James A. Garfield was relatively unknown when he received the Republican nomination for president in 1880. Despite his national obscurity, the Cuyahoga County, Ohio, native managed to win that year’s presidential election, securing 214 electoral votes to his […]

January 9, 2026

Ohio’s Centennial Spirit

Curious about how Ohio celebrated the nation's 100th and 200th birthdays? Learn more about Ohio's Centennial Spirit and how we have celebrated America's founding over the years.

December 22, 2025

Cookies in Collections

Ready to cook up a holiday tradition? Learn more about artifacts related to baking cookies in the collections of the Ohio History Connection.

December 17, 2025

Were Rudolph’s Ancestors from Ohio?

Reindeer often evoke thoughts of the holiday season or distant northern landscapes, but did you know they used to live right here in Ohio?

November 17, 2025

Collections Spotlight: The Al Margolis collection

By Daniel Willis, Audiovisual Archivist Ohio History Connection recently acquired a collection cartoon advertising artwork created by Cleveland artist Al Margolis during his career working in advertising agencies and greeting card companies. The Al Margolis collection features greeting cards and advertising art created during the 1960s and 1970s. Several forms of art are present in […]

November 12, 2025

Kathleen Donahue, World War II SPAR

By Benjamin Baughman, History Curator The Ohio History Connection recently acquired several items relating to the military service of Kathleen Donahue (née Ruff) who served with the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (known as “SPARs”) from 1944 to 1946. Created in 1942 during World War II, the SPARs (derived from the Coast Guard’s motto “Semper […]

November 5, 2025

The Turkey Wishbone, or Five Ways to Be a Nerd This Thanksgiving

Do you want to know what the turkey wishbone really is and what its function is inside the bird? If you’d like to teach about the bird skeleton to your family and friends while car