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Winter 1984 Annual Report 1984 89 Annual Report 1984 Report of the President 1984 Annual Meeting John Diehl President President John Diehl called the 1984 Annual Meeting of The Cincinnati Historical Society to order at The Cincinnati Historical Society has enjoyed, 8:23 p.m. on January 9, 1985. He asked the Director, in 1984, the best year in its more than a century and a half Gale Peterson, to serve as secretary for the meeting and existence. Our financial condition is healthy. Individual obtained the consent of the membership for dispensing membership has exceeded the 3,000-mark for the first time. with reading the Minutes of the previous meeting. Business membership continues to grow in proportion. We Mr. Diehl provided a brief report on develop- are reaching more people and demonstrating our steadily ments during the past year in which he noted that the growing usefulness to the community. Society's membership had surpassed 3,000 for the first time. Added growth makes our already critical The President then commented on the space problem more acute. Much of the time of the Board is revised Constitution that was being submitted to the spent on the alleviation of this problem. In close harmony membership for ratification. The new Constitution had and cooperation with the Board of the Museum of Natural been approved by the Board of Trustees which recommended History, we are diligently exploring the possibilities of a its approval, and the text was published and distributed Heritage Center, to be located in Union Terminal. This to the membership with the Fall Newsletter. Mr. Diehl could be a marvelous asset to the community—a brilliant pointed to two major changes that the new Constitution jewel in the crown of the Queen City. CHS and CMNH would bring about: that of moving the Annual Meeting would occupy the building, sharing certain common from January to the second week of October and that of facilities. Each would preserve its separate identity. Each limiting the tenure of trustees to three consecutive three- would solve its critical space problem. Resulting would be year terms. Following a brief discussion, on a motion duly an even better Museum of Natural History, a completely made and seconded the revised Constitution was unani- adequate Historical Society Library and, in addition, a first mously adopted. class history museum that would present in a stimulating Mr. Diehl asked Mr. Huenefeld for the report visual way the important, fascinating history of our area. of the Nominating Committee for seven trustees to serve And at the same time, we would preserve an architectural three year terms ending with the Annual Meeting in 1987. gem of national importance. Mr. Huenefeld presented the nomination of David Bowen If s an exciting prospect. Cincinnati has all the and the re-election of six present trustees: Robert H. Allen, credentials to deserve such a Heritage Center. Its accom- Wallace T. Collett, J. Rawson Collins, Richard R. Deupree, plishment involves a lot of money, but with the favorable Jr., Mrs. Elsie Warrington, and Mrs. John H. (Rosamond) climate generated by the approaching Bicentennial of the Wulsin. There being no other nominations, a motion was city, now, if ever, is the time that it can be done. We'll keep made, seconded and passed directing the secretary to cast you posted on developments. an unanimous ballot for the slate as read. On the following pages you will find detailed There being no additional business the reports of the library, educational, collecting, social, and meeting was adjourned at 8:32 p.m. community service activities of the past year. I am sure you will agree that we have made excellent progress. Thank you sincerely for your continuing interest. John Diehl was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1962 and has served the Society as its president since 1974. 9O Queen City Heritage Director's Report Society who wish to support the work of the black history group can contribute $5 above their regular membership contribution and become a member of this affiliated body. Gale E. Peterson With this structure in place, the Black History Archives Advisory Committee can now set about its principal tasks, defined in its own statement of purpose as being: Many issues critical to the future of The To maintain a working relationship with The Cincinnati Historical Society were discussed and moved Cincinnati Historical Society as a preserver and repository of towards resolution in 1984. Final decisions were not made Black History Archives. about whether the Society will attempt to complement its To facilitate a network of black organizations in existing programs with a museum worthy of the city's the collection and preservation of black history in Cincinnati. history, so the Society continued along already familiar lines. To serve as a catalyst to improve the education The library remained a busy center of research and reference on Black History of all Cincinnatians, specifically youth. services, popular both with local students and distant To assist with fund raising projects, i. e., contact scholars. During the year the library also made significant foundations and other funding bases for adequate resources in progress in implementing more adequate conservation and keeping with the policies and procedures of The Cincinnati preservation programs. Membership continued to grow, Historical Society. and a variety of fund raising events and gallery openings To advise the administration of The Cincinnati infused the Society with new, and younger, blood. Most Historical Society in the appointment of Blacks to its standing adversely affected by expiring governmental grants and committees and to facilitate Black participation in all activities decisions-held-in-abeyance were the Society's educational of the organization. outreach programs. Redefining the long-term goals of the institution forced short-term curtailments in programs the Society believes in but presently cannot afford the personnel to continue. Of the many pieces of advances and setbacks that mark most any year in the life of a non-profit cultural institution, four developments stood out in 1984. First, the Society established an organizational framework that prom- ises to help implement one of its most important objectives, that of more adequately serving Cincinnati's large and important black community. With special support from Dr. Halloway C. "Chuck" Sells and Trustee Dr. Ronald J. Temple, a Black History Archives Advisory Committee began to function meaningfully. A group responding to their initiative began to meet in 1983. Its participants seized an opportunity early in 1984 to sponsor a special exhibition at the Fourth Street History Gallery that marked the committee's debut both to the membership and to the community. Gradually over the next several months the A second group, also organized in 1984, group articulated its purposes, defined its organizational builds on the Society's role of seeking to share accurate structure, and gained a sense of commitment. By the year's historical information about Greater Cincinnati with the end, it had adopted a constitution and by-laws which the general public, including new residents and visitors. This Society's board of trustees approved, enabling the Black purpose led the Society to play a principal role in creating History Archives Advisory Committee to be represented on the self-guided "Queen City Tour" in 1969 and in re-routing the Society's board similar to the way in which the Women's and expanding the tour in 1981-1982. Under the direction Association has maintained liaison for twenty years. Moreover, of Sue Redman-Rengstorf, in 1984 the first group of a dues structure was established so that all members of the "urban docents" were trained to offer a variety of guided Gale E. Peterson, Director of Mrs. Elthel Anderson, a super- The Society's Black History the Society since 1978, re- visor with Ohio National Clean- Archives Advisory Committee ceived his M.A. and Ph.D. in ing greets photographer helped sponsor an opening history from the University of Roland Freeman at the opening reception for the exhibition. Maryland. of his exhibit, "Southern Roads/City Pavements" at the Fourth Street History Gallery. Winter 1984 Annual Report 1984 tour services. The program was designed to operate very similarly to an independent business, though staffed prin- cipally by volunteers. It provides an ideal way for people to combine their love of history, their enthusiasm for Cincin- nati, and their commitment to the Cincinnati Historical Society into an enriching volunteer experience. After several weeks of focused study on the city's history and of training in how to develop tours for clients, these hardworking volunteers began to offer Cincinnati Heritage Tours to the community. By the end of the year a new volunteer class was being organized with an alternative training oppor- tunity also available: that of developing the skill to present one or more illustrated lectures on Cincinnati history topics to audiences requesting a speaker from the Society. In developing both Cincinnati Heritage Speakers and Cincinnati Heritage Tours, the Society has broadened the range of volunteer opportunities available to its members while also enabling the institution to reach more people with programs on Cincinnati's history than the staff could neously, the Society applied to the National Endowment for ever accomplish. the Humanities for assistance with this large and costly A third activity initiated in 1984 that promises endeavor. If all goes well, in 19 8 8 the local citizenry will have to produce important products is the Society's Bicentennial access to a marvelous compendium of local history that will Guide project. This effort seeks to produce a publication document the city at the time of its bicentennial. similar in scope and comprehensiveness to the WPA- The fourth development that has special sponsored Cincinnati: A Guide to the Queen City and Its importance for the Society's future was the establishment of Neighbors, published in 1943.

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