Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2, Part 69

Author: Greve, Charles Theodore, b. 1863. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1048

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THE CINCINNATI SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY.

The Western Museum projected in 1818 by William Steele, in which Dr. Drake took such a cordial interest and which was so important a feature of the educational life of the days when Cincinnati was passing from the narrow life of a town to the wider field of a city, has been described in an earlier chapter. The plan of this establishment according to Dr. Drake's address at the opening of the Museum in 1820 embraced nearly the whole of those parts of the great circle of knowledge which require material objects either natural or artificial for their illus- tration. The Museum at that time owned a cab- inet with philosophical and chemical apparatus and funds exceeding $4,000 and it was regarded as especially auspicious that the newly organ- ized Cincinnati College was given access to the property of this institution. At a later time it will be remembered it was moved to Second and Main streets where under the charge of Mr. Dorfeuille it comprised specimens, including those from both the animal and mineral king- dom. At a later time it was at Pearl and Main and in 1834 it is said to have possessed speci- mens including mammoth and Arctic elephant bones and the bones of other animals, fossils, mineral and botanical specimens, Egyptian and American antiquities and microscopic designs over 14,000 in number. It also included paint-

ings and models in wax and plaster. Here too were the well known "Infernal Regions."

In April, 1835, the Western Academy of Nat- ural Sciences was organized and soon after was located in the building of the Cincinnati College. This society had about 50 members and many correspondents and immediately began the col- lection of specimens of objects of natural history. Its president was Robert Buchanan and among its officers were John P. Foote, Mr. Dorfeuille and others interested in scientific matters. The catalogue of flowering plants and ferns found in the vicinity of Cincinnati was prepared by Joseph Clarke and published by the society. Its quar- ters were moved from time to time, to the Trol- lopean Bazaar where it was the guest of the Ohio Mechanics' Institute, afterwards to the hall of a fire company and finally back to the College Building. This organization was in some respects a successor of the Western Mu- seum and carried on for a time the interest in natural history of which the Museum was a product. As time passed however the Academy stemed to lose its popularity and Mr. Foote writing in 1855 speaks of it as being in danger of soon belonging like the Academy of Fine Arts "to airy nothing." Although the cabinet and library were no longer growing, a number of private cabinets were increasing, some rich in specimens. Among those specially mentioned were the cabinets of Professor Christy, Dr. Locke, Mr. Anthony, James Clarke, Robert Bu- chanan, Robert Clarke, George Graham, H. C. Grosvenor, U. P. James, S. T. Carley and Pro- fessor Ward.

The Cincinnati Society of Natural History, to-day one of the most important of the city's educational institutions, is the successor of these early efforts to excite interest in the study of nature. It was organized on January 19. 1870, with 25 members and incorporated on June 20th of the same year. Its first president was Dr. John A. Warder. Among those taking an active part in its early days were Robert Clarke, Julius Dexter, Charles Dury, John M. Edwards, Ho- ratio Wood. Henry Probasco, S. A. Miller, R. C. MeCracken and J. Ralston Skinner, and Drs. R. M. Byrnes, TI. II. Hill, W. II. Mussey. Charles F. Low. Joseph F. James, William Owens, E. S. Wayne, C. A. Miller, E. Williams and S. E. Wright. Rooms were soon rented in' the College Building and Prof. John M. Ed- wards was elected custodian and Charles Dury, taxidermist. In September, 1871, the society. which had already collected a number of spec-

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imens and a small library, received from the Western Academy of Natural Sciences some 265 volumes, $351 in money and the remnant of the latter's collection. The collection of Robert Buchanan was acquired in 1872 through the generosity of Mr. Probasco and other members who gave for it $1,000 as a partial compensation for III volumes and three upright cases of fos- sils, shells and minerals. Mr. Buchanan was elected an honorary member and subsequently Robert Clarke, U. P. James, George Graham, D. E. Bowles, John L. Talbot, S. T. Carley and Mr. Buchanan, surviving members of the West- ern Academy, were elected to life membership Donations were subsequently received from the Cincinnati Exposition, Dr. W. H. Mussey and others so that by 1874 it appeared from the cus- todian's report that the society had in its col- lection 22,200 natural history specimens and about 1,000 volumes. The building fund had in- creased to a little over $3,000. Charles Bod- mann, a member of the society, died in May, 1875. By his will he left to the society an un- conditional bequest of $50,000. Eleven thousand five hundred of this was invested in the purchase and repair of the property on the southeast cor- ner of Broadway and Arch streets occupied by the organization and the collection, the product of the labor of so many years and so many organizations and persons, was removed to that building in 1877, where the first meeting of the society was held on November 6th of that year. The collection of specimens and books has been increased by donations and purchases until to- day it is regarded as one of the most valuable in the West. It illustrates as nothing else can the fauna and flora, geology and mineralogy of this neighborhood and is of the greatest value in the teaching of natural history. These col- lections are open to the public without charge. lts president (1903) is Dr. C. R. Holmes and director, Dr. Joshua Lindahl.

TITE CUVIER CLUB

Was formed in 1871 by a number of gentlemen who desired to elevate the tone of field sports and to enforce the game laws. It was first known as the Ohio State Society for the Pro- tection of Game and Fish. In 1875 its name was changed to that of the celebrated French natural- ist and at this time a. large public reception was held. In 1882 it moved into its present hand- some building on Longworth street. It subse- quently started to collect a museum which now comprises several thousand birds, fishes, animals

and bird eggs. There is also a collection of standard works on natural history most of them the gift of Alexander Starbuck, its president. The custodian of the museum is Charles Dury. A feature of this institution are lectures on nat- ural history, which are open to the public. The museum is free and is largely used by teachers and students of natural history. The club ban- quet which occurs in November of each year is one of the great features of the city. The Cuvier Club has devoted its attention to the passage and enforcement of laws for the protection of the game and fish of the State and to it more than to any other organization is the public indebted for the suppression of the wanton spirit of de- struction so often mistaken for the love of field sport.

A kindred organization which meets at the Cuvier Chib is the Audubon Society of the State of Ohio, which, organized in 1898, has for its purpose the dissemination of the knowledge of birds and their protection.

THIE HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF OH10.

In 1822 the Legislature of Ohio passed an act incorporating an Ohio Historical Society but the society if any there was failed to take advantage of the act. Nine years later on February 11, 1831, a charter was issued to Benjamin Tappan, S. P. Hildreth, Alfred Kelly, J. McBride, Ebenezer Lane and a mimiber of others to organize the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio. The Cincinnati charter 'members were Dr. J. Cobb, Dr. Elijah Slack, N. Longworth, John P. Foote and Timothy Flint. The society was or- ganized on December 31st at Columbus, Ohio, and Benjamin Tappan became its first president. Ebenezer Lane became president in 1836 and Judge Jacob Burnet in 1838. Judge J. C. Wright succeeded Indge Burnet who was reelected in 1844. For the first 17 or 18 years of its exist- ence, the society had its home at Columbus and its members came from all parts of the State. In 1838 the society issned its first publication in which, in addition to the act of incorporation and by-laws, list of officers and annual addresses, were contained a number of papers which had been read before the society. In the following year the second part of the first volume was pub- lished in which were addresses by Judge Walker and others and more particularly Fudge Burnet's letters addressed to J. Delafield, Jr., concerning the settlement of the Northwest Territory. The meetings during these years were usually held in the Representatives' Hall in the old State

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House or at the Neil House. The few posses- sions of the society were in a case kept in a room of the canal commissioners. The society seemed to have but little vigor and its meet- ings ceased for two years wlien on the occasion of the annual meeting Mr. Randall of Cincinnati suggested the removal to this city and the turn- ing over of its papers and property to the newly organized Cincinnati Historical Society, which suggestion was adopted and the society was moved to the Queen City.

The Cincinnati Historical Society was organ- ized in August, 1844, with James H. Perkins as president ; John P. Foote and William D. Gallagher, vice-presidents ; recording secretary, E. P. Norton ; treasurer, Robert Buchanan ; and librarian, A. Randall. Three years later Judge Este became president to be succeeded on the following year by W. D. Gallagher. In 1847 Dr. S. P. Hildreth presented to the society the manuscript of his "Pioneer History," which was published in 1848. The transfer of the Colum- bus organization to Cincinnati took place in February, 1849, at which time the two societies were united, members of the Cincinnati society elected members of the older association and all the property of the Cincinnati society donated to it. The first president of the new organization was William D. Gallagher and prominent among its officers were James H. Perkins, E. D. Mans- field, Robert Buchanan, A. Randall, John C. Wright, John P. Foote and David K. Este. In 1850 the society's constitution was revised and its primary object was announced to be "re- search in every department of local history, the collection, preservation and diffusion of whatever may relate to the history, biography, literature, philosophy and antiquities of America-more es- pecially of the State of Ohio, of the West and of the United States." In April, 1850, a meeting was held to commemorate the. 62nd anniversary of the first settlement of Ohio and Mr. Gallagher the president delivered an address which was sub- sequently published by the society. Hildreth's "Memoirs of Pioneer Settlers of Ohio" was published two years later. Other early presidents were E. D. Mansfield, John Johnson, John P. Foote and Robert Buchanan. Judge M. F. Force became president in 1870. Among others who were active in the affairs of the society were George Graham, Peyton Symmes, James Lup- ton, J. G. Anthony, Osgood Mussey, John D. Caldwell and A. R. Spofford. The books of the society were first deposited in the front room of the fourth story of a brick building at Third and

Race. About 1853 they were transferred to the basement of the Cincinnati College and later were taken to Mr. Buchanan's store. About 1860 they were packed in boxes and deposited in the Public and School Library then in the Mechanics' Institute building at Sixth and Vine. At the close of the war but four active members remained 'in Cincinnati : Messrs. Buchanan, Graham, Caldwell and Force. Three others who afterwards did more in contribution of time and money than any three of the society's friends -- Julius Dexter, Robert Clarke, and Eugene F. Bliss-became interested with the four survivors in the reorganization of the society which took place in May, 1868. The library was resurrected and placed in the hospitable rooms of the Lit- erary Club. It contained at that time 700 bound volumes, and 1.250 pamphlets. Robert Bu- chanan became the president, Judge Force the corresponding secretary, Charles E. Cist record- ing secretary and John D. Caldwell librarian. Judge Force was elected president in 1870 and retained that position until 1889 at which time he left the city and Eugene F. Bliss was elected in his place. Mr. Bliss had been the treasurer from 1874 to 1885. John M. Newton became li- brarian in 1869 and was succeeded by Julius Dex- ter in 1870 who continued in that position until 1880. Miss Elizabeth Appleton was librarian from 1880 to September, 1886, at which time she was succeeded by the present incumbent, Mrs. C. W. Lord. Mr. Bliss resigned the presi- dency in 1899, at which time he was succeeded by Joseph Wilby.

In 1871 the library was removed from the rooms of the Literary Club to five rooms in the upper story of the College Building on Walnut street between Fourth and Fifth, which were furnished by the Cincinnati College rent free. Here it remained 14 years to move in 1885 to No. 107 West Eighth street just west of Race. The Garfield Place buikdling held the library for 16 years at the end of which time it was trans- ferred to the Van Wormer Library on the grounds of the University of Cincinnati. The library at present has on its shelves 17,450 bound volumes and 65,320 pamphlets. It has 80 cor- porate members, 22 life menibers, 10 correspond- ing members and two honorary members. The use of the library is free to the public under reasonable regulations. In addition to the bound. volumes and pamphlets on the shelves of the library, there are a number of collections of manuscripts, many of which are of great value to a student of local history. Among these are

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. the Torrence papers, including a large number of letters relating to the carly history of Cin- cinnati and in these occur such names as those of Findlay, Harrison, Whiteman, Longworth, Ludlow, Taylor, Burnet, Storer, Kilgour, Yeat- man, Ruffin, Baum, Carneal, Kemper, Worthing- ton, Short, Wright, Lytle, Drake and Hammond. Other papers are the Walker papers, the Gano papers, the Follett papers and the Clarke papers. Among the volumes belonging to the library are many of great value and rarity. There is the Williamson collection, that of Peter Force, the books of the New England Society, the Cen- tennial collection presented to Goshorn, the Robert Clarke collection, and the Thomson col- lection, a library of 768 beautifully bound vol- umes and 11,063 pamphlets in itself. On the walls of the library hang a number of portraits of prominent Cincinnati personages as well as views of the city showing its appearance at various times in its history. Among the publi- cations of the society nave been the reports al- ready referred to, the journal of Capt. John May and the journal of David Zeisberger trans- lated from the German manuscript with annota- tions by Eugene F. Bliss. (See address of Joseph Wilby, February 11, 1902, and reports of the society.)

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ITS PRECURSORS. By N. D. C. Hlodges, Librarian of the Public Library of Cincinnati.

At 6 o'clock on the evening of February 13. 1802, a few people met in one of the rooms of Yeatman's Tavern, in response to a call printed that morning in the Western Spy and Hamilton Gasette, and addressed to those interested in having a public library in Cincinnati. Jacob Burnet, Martin Baum and Lewis Kerr were appointed a committee to open a subscrip- tion list, the subscribers to agree to take one or more shares of stock and to pay for these at the rate of $io for each share. A second meeting of subscribers and "others desirous of encouraging the library" was called for .Mon- day evening, March 8th, also at Mr. Yeatman's, to receive the report of the committee. The list of subscribers was headed by Arthur St. Clair, the first Governor of the Northwest Territory. The subscription paper, once owned by Robert Clarke, is now in the possession of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio. In a note on the back it is stated that the library went into operation March 6, 1802, with Lewis Kerr as librarian. Of the fate of the library nothing is

known. It may have been merged in the collec- tion of the Circulating Library Society.

The carly history of the Library Society has come down to us in a preface to a catalogue of the books of the society, published in 1816. In the autumn of 1808 several persons "desirous of seeing a public library established in Cincin- nati" assembled for the purpose of applying to the Legislature for a law of incorporation. A petition and the draft of a bill were forwarded but for reasons never disclosed to the petitioners their prayer was not granted. In 18HI the project was revived and a subscription paper was circulated by George Turner, Esq., with con- siderable success. The subscribers, in answer to a call published in Liberty Hall of June 26th, assembled at Goodwin's Tavern ( Eagle and Plough) opposite the Court House, on the fol- lowing Saturday, at carly candle-light. Two meetings were, in fact, held and a constitution adopted, officers chosen and a committee appoint- ed to apply for a charter at the next legislative session. This application was not made and all further exertions ceased for a twelvemonth.

At the expiration of that period, two or three persons succeeded in obtaining the papers which the committee had prepared the year before and transmitted them to the Legislature, which enacted a law of incorporation January 2, 1813. In this act seven directors were named, to hold their places until the annual election in the en- sning March. Still public enthusiasm at the prospect of having a public library was not at a white heat. No election was ordered in March and in a call for a meeting printed in Liberty Hall of May 25th, to be held next day, the sub- scribers are urged to come forward and dis- charge their subscription without further delay and the directors express a regret that little at- tention had been given to previous notices and indulge a hope that there will be no further cause of complaint. The subscriptions were payable either in cash or in books. William Corry was the librarian.

The original directors continued, by common consent, in the exercise of their functions until the spring of 1814, when the first election was held, and on the 16th of April the library, con- taining 300 volumes, apparently all received in lieu of cash, was opened. To effect an immediate increase in this diminutive collection was re- garded as so desirable that, in addition to a pressing call for the unpaid subscriptions, the 'di- rectors borrowed small sums of money on a credit of three years without interest, and purchased

تانك حالهذه مسكمعكم تحيط بالمرك المتتاعيب بها

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

books on the same terms. With the money bor- rowed and collected from the subscribers of received from further sales of stock, there was made in the ensuing summer, at Philadelphia, the first purchase of books, amounting to about 250 volumes. In the autumn the charter, through the omission of the former directors, having become extinct, and being moreover con- sidered defective, application was made by the board to the Legislature and a new act of in- corporation was passed December 22nd.

In the summer of 1815 the trustees of the Miami University authorized a committee of that board to examine the books belonging to the college and to dispose of such as were not es- sential to its library. Of the works thuis rejected, the Library Society purchased on credit 100 volumes. In the autumn of the same year a member of the board about to visit the Eastern cities was vested with discretionary powers to purchase books. As a result, nearly 400 volumes, among them "many rare and valuable works," were secured.

By the spring of 1815 it had become apparent that the proceeds from the fines and sales of stock were insufficient to meet the current expenses and leave any balance for a yearly addition to thie library and the directors passed an ordinance levying on each share an annual contribution of $1. In the year 1816 it was necessary to double this assessment. The money was wanted : Ist, to discharge the rent of a room and the salary of the librarian; 2nd, to pay for the binding and repairing of books; 3rd, to pay for the printing of catalogues and blanks; 4th, to meet the annual subscription for Rees' Cyclopædia and the seven periodicals taken by the library ; 5th, to make occasional purchases of new books; and 6th, to pay off the outstanding debts. From the citizens, who had not extended their support to the library, the directors solicited that patron- age "which is equally calculated to benefit the community and the persons who afford it." Shares were offered at the original price, either on an extended credit or payable in books, and the directors, evidently of a sanguine disposition, en- tertained a hope very soon to observe an aug- mentation of the library "which will render it equally honorable and useful to our flourishing town."

The directors of the society in 1816 were : Daniel Drake, president ; Jesse Embree, secre- tary; Peyton S. Symmes, treasurer; William S. Hatch, Thomas Pierce, David Wade and Micajah T. Williams. The librarian was David

Cathcart. Daniel Drake, the president, was also deeply interested in the Cincinnati College, first known as the Cincinnati Lancaster Seminary, and as early as 1819 the books belonging to the society had been placed in the Cincinnati Col- lege for the use of the students in common with the proprietors. In 1819, Dr. Drake was still president and the directors were: Jesse Em- bree, Thomas Pierce, Peyton S. Symmes, Will- iam Corry, David Wade and Micajah T. Will- iams, with David Cathcart as librarian.

In the Cincinnati Directory of 1825 this li- brary, referred to. as "belonging to the city," was still in the Cincinnati College edifice. By 1829 the books had been removed to William- son's book store on Main street near Third. At that time there were about 1,500 volumes. The Cincinnati Directory of 1831, under the heading "Public Libraries," enters the Cincinnati Cir- culating Library as on Main near Fifth, with 6,000 volumes, probably an exaggeration.

The end of the Library Society is chronicled in the minutes of the Apprentices' Library, now in the possession of the Ohio Mechanics' Insti- tute. A considerable portion of the stock had been forfeited, probably through non-payment of dnes, George T. Williamson had become owner of Il shares of the unforfeited stock, while Henry Avery owned one. These they donated to the Apprentices' Library in 1837 and the books were removed to the room of the Ap- prentices' Library, where they stood apart from the other books and were marked in the cata- logue with the letter "B." This action was the result of a meeting of the directors of the Ap- prentices' Library April 28, 1837, at which incet- ing were present: A. 11, Ernst, S. S. L'Tom- medieu, D. F. Meader and H. L. Tatem.

The books of the Circulating Library had evi- dently been neglected for at a meeting of the Ap- prentices' Library held May 26th, it was resolved that the City Council be asked for an appropria- tion of $75 to defray the expenses incurred in cleaning the books obtained from the old Cincin- nati Library and arranging and fixing the shelves. This money was appropriated as reported at the meeting of June 30th.

From the minutes of the Apprentices' Library it appears that a public meeting of citizens was convened on the 8th of February, 1821, for the purpose of forming a library for the use of ap- prentices .in the city of Cincinnati . A committee was appointed for each ward to make personal application from house to house for contribu- tions of books, money or other valable com-

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modities. This committee had 18 members. The. minutes of the first meeting are signed by E. Stone, chairman (who was one of the first di- rectors of the Cincinnati Circulating Library), and Joseph Buchanan, secretary, and are 'dated February 8, 1821. The committee of 18 col- lected about 1,200 volumes and with this col- lection the library went into operation and con- tinued some 15 years with occasional additions, when it was nearly doubled in size by receiving the books of the Circulating Library Society al- ready referred to. The library was open every Saturday from one to four P. M., and all young people, girls as well as boys, had the privilege of taking out books on giving security for their safe return and proper usage.

The library had no funds or income other than donations and the receipts from fines. The City Council provided a room during most of , the library's existence and a small salary for the librarian. After the first meeting in 1821 there are no records until the first annual meeting on March 5, 1822. The minutes were then signed by Ephraim Morgan, the librarian. At the second annual meeting on March 6, 1823, the report of the librarian shows 1,127 volumes in the library and a weekly circulation of 180 to 200 volumes. The library had a struggle for existence and it was necessary from time to time to appoint committees to canvass the dif- ferent wards for donations of money and books.

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Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2, Part 69

Author: Greve, Charles Theodore, b. 1863. cn Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1048

Author: Greve, Charles Theodore, b. 1863. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1048