The 1990 Annual Report of the Cincinnati Historical Society

Winter 1990 Annual Report 49 1990 Annual Report of the Cincinnati Historical Society President's Report tuned because the second annual Broadcast Hall of Fame evening will be held this coming June. The other event that grew just like the plant in The Cincinnati Historical Society has just the "Little Shop of Horrors," was this year's auction completed a really incredible year. We actively participated in extravaganza, "A Sentimental Journey." It also doubled as the the completion of the Museum Center project and for the first grand opening of the Historical Society in the new Museum time we've gone into the museum business. We added staff in Center. When I asked Susan Stanley and Board members Sue the development, museum, education, and business and finance Huffman and Patti Gaines if they would be willing to undertake departments. We increased our membership by twenty-five this mission, I knew that we had the right team and that they percent. We continued our regular programming, including would assemble a knowledgeable, talented, and aggressive corps History Day, our tours, and our educational lectures. The which would assure the success of the evening. However, I had number of talented volunteers participating in our work grew no idea that the overwhelming success of the evening would steadily and we now have volunteers in virtually every endeavor, itself become the most harrowing concern. Union Terminal had from acting to research. never been tested as a site for a dinner party to this extent before, Several active and thoughtful members of our and you generally prefer to ease into a new facility by trying Board of Trustees retired, including Mrs. John H. Wulsin, who, it out with reasonable numbers to be sure you can provide an as a result of the change in our constitution several years ago, enjoyable evening and a well-prepared and served dinner. As the had to leave the board after serving nine consecutive years. We number of reservations surpassed our early goal of 800, we received more free publicity from September through determined that we had to close the reservations at 1,200 because November 1990, than we have gotten in our entire history. And we were not sure we could even seat any more than that in the we had two incredible social events which, for the 1,800 friends rotunda. However, the committee was undaunted and 1,400 of the Historical Society who were lucky enough to participate individuals enjoyed the grandest of grand openings. In addition, in one or the other of them, will certainly go down as extremely we surpassed my very aggressive financial goals for the evening. memorable occasions. Our limited staff has also been through an The first of our extraordinary parties, the incredible year. The actual move to Union Terminal was Broadcast Hall of Fame dinner, occurred in June in the Hall agonizing because it took place while the building was still of Mirrors of the Omni Netherland Hotel. This was a once in under construction making life very difficult for everybody. a lifetime event chaired by Janet Block Rosen with a terrific In addition to preparing for and completing the move, the committee of individuals who know everybody who has ever staff developed new educational programs for its expanded been in a radio or TV studio in this town. The evening's audience, did the research necessary for exhibits, and opened entertainment included presentations of inaugural Broadcast our first ever museum exhibit while deep into construction Hall of Fame awards to Stan Matlock, Mortimer Watters, the of our permanent exhibits. In addition, several direct mail Mills Brothers, Al and Wanda Lewis, Honore Nichols Yeager, solicitations were largely responsible for a twenty-five percent Hulbert "Hub" Taft, Ruth Lyons, and our very special guest growth in our membership during 1990. The Society's Board Rosemary Clooney. Board member Nick Clooney created, is indeed proud of the work and accomplishments of this very produced, and directed it. He, Janet's committee, and a few talented and dedicated staff. others whose lives have been dedicated to the broadcast industry Finally, as our mission has evolved from being in Cincinnati created an evening that should have been filmed a highly respected regional history research library with and broadcast on commercial television. It was one of the thrills lectures, special events, and outstanding publications, to of my lifetime, and the Historical Society is very much indebted becoming a major regional cultural museum with broad to Janet, Nick, and the others for all of the thoughtful effort educational programs and a changing public persona, our and energy that went into producing the evening. And stay budget has been stretched to its limit. Capital funds are 50 Queen City Heritage required to complete office space and furnishings and to build In 1991 we will see the fruition of five years of museum exhibits, and operating funds are required for hard work when the first major exhibit for the museum opens programs and staff needs. In this regard 1990 has been a very and I believe you will all be proud to be active members of the difficult year. At the same time, we have been rewarded by Historical Society. Nineteen ninety-one will be just as the financial support of the membership and close friends of challenging as 1990 has been because this is really the year when the Historical Society. On behalf of the Board I want to we meet our public. I have every confidence that, given the express our very sincere gratitude to all of you who have financial tools and the growing volunteer base, the Cincinnati supported Gale Peterson and the staff permitting them to Historical Society will have a significant role to play in continue the traditional work of the Historical Society in Cincinnati's future. maintaining and improving the library, and at the same time to enlarge educational programs, publish a variety of John Weld Peck important written materials, and help us become a museum. President •v -\ «t 9 Some 1,400 members and friends attended the Society's gala opening at the Museum Center on November 3, 1990. Winter 1990 Annual Report 51 Director s Report a strong relationship with the faculty and students that continues to distinguish the institution from local historical societies in most cities. Gale E. Peterson Suffering from increasingly crowded space at the university and seeking a broader educational role in the community, in December 1963, the organization changed its Since its opening in March 1933, Cincinnati name to The Cincinnati Historical Society and, in the early Union Terminal has become one of Cincinnati's most months of 1964, relocated to a new wing of the Cincinnati treasured resources. In part because its construction provided Art Museum in Eden Park. Through the generosity of employment for many during difficult years of the Great Cornelius J. Hauck, the Society participated in financing the Depression, in part because it functioned so magnificently in construction of what became the Adams-Emery Wing and moving more that three million troops during the trying years occupied 30,000 square feet of modern, air-conditioned space. of World War II, and in part because it is a triumph of Over the next quarter of a century the architectural design, the building touches the emotions of collections, programs, and staff expanded dramatically. many Cincinnatians. A dozen years after its completion, Indeed, the greater visibility afforded the Society by its Union Terminal entered a long period of decline interrupted beautiful new facilities, the growing professionalism of its only briefly in the early 1980's by a valiant, though ultimately staff, and the deepening commitment of its volunteer insufficient, effort to create a shopping mall. leadership forced the Society to acknowledge within a span The re-dedication of Union Terminal as a of only ten or fifteen years that it must move again. Initial Museum Center in November 1990 was, therefore, a proud planning began in 1980 when E. Verner Johnson, an architect moment for the entire community. The building, widely and museum planner, examined the Historical Society's regarded as the most important architectural achievement in programs and potential. His study encompassed an the city's first 200 years, has at last found a use commensurate examination of other institutions in the city, and his report to its own grandeur. In the first days and weeks after the early in 1981 suggested three options: a new library facility building was reopened, the most common sight was that of for the Historical Society; a larger building that would enable observing people come into the rotunda, take a quick glance the organization to begin a program of collecting and around, then gaze up to the yellow and silver ceiling more exhibiting three-dimensional objects as well; and a visionary than 100 feet above them—and smile. Union Terminal is suggestion that the Historical Society and the Cincinnati coming to life once again, and, once again, The Cincinnati Museum of Natural History also in dire need of additional Historical Society has a new home. space, join forces and create a museum complex. He reasoned Since its founding in Columbus in 1831 as the that such a facility would attract many more visitors than either Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, the organiza- institution would draw independently, and there would be tion has moved often. First it relocated to Cincinnati in 1849 economies of operation through use of shared facilities, such and, though retaining its original name, was absorbed by the as the parking lot, restaurant and auditoriums. Cincinnati Historical Society that had been formed in 1844.

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