The state of history in Ohio

Update:According to the Columbus Dispatch,Ohio lawmakers have passed an interim budget that will last through July 7. This means that you have more time to make calls,send emails,and rally supporters for this cause. Get to work!

The Ohio Historical Society (a nonprofit org that serves as the state archives of Ohio) is now facing a massive potential cut in state funding to the tune of 45%–from $13.5 million to $7.5 million over the next two years. This will reduce the OHS to the level of state funding that they held in 1986.

Some of the consequences of this year’s OHS budget cuts include:

Eliminate teacher training and educational programs that leverage federal funding
Eliminate National History Day in Ohio,a national program which originated in Ohio
Eliminate the Local History Office that serves 800 local history organizations
Eliminate the Civil War Sesquicentennial (2011-2015) initiative
Eliminate the Ohio Historical Markers program
Severely restrict OHS services throughout the state
Reduce our ability to generate nonstate revenues (i.e.,federal grants,private revenue)
Reduce access to historic sites and museums
Reduce our ability to recruit local organizations to manage sites
Reduce assistance and resources to sites management organizations

The Ohio Historical Society has been struggling with funding issues for a long time–you may recall that I talked about this back in February;matters have not improved. Since then,they have tried mandatory furloughs for employees,local fundraising,and sustained,tireless efforts at raising the awareness of legislators and Ohioans. Want to know what I think? All Ohioans–past,present,and future have a stake;and thus,a responsibility to get involved. How to get involved,you ask?

Talk to your colleagues,your students,your patrons,your friends and family. Relate your personal and professional stories about Ohio history and genealogy. Have you used the Ohio Death Certificate Index or Ohio military rosters in your research? Have you used resources from the Ohio Memory project in your classroom?
Have you been to the Serpent Mound? Watched a vintage “base ball”game in Ohio Village? Visited the Neil Armstrong Air &Space Museum,the Ulysses S. Grant Boyhood Home,the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center,Fort Meigs,or the National Afro-American Museum &Cultural Center? Share your experiences,and urge others to do the same.
Contact the governor and your legislators. Tell them that cutting funding for Ohio cultural heritage should not be an option. In fact,do it even if you don’t live in Ohio. Let ‘em know that preserving history is important.
Spread the word via social network–send a letter to the editor,post it on your Facebook,Twitter,and wherever else. In fact,go to Governor Strickland’s Facebook page and post,too. Spread awareness in a firm,factual way,and try to do it before the budget vote tomorrow in Columbus- Tuesday,June 30.

On a personal note- I have already sent my emails and made my calls. Though I no longer live in Ohio,I proudly hold a bachelor’s degree from the history department at The Ohio State University. I have visited many of the historical sites in Ohio,and believe that preserving Ohio history is important not only to Ohioans,but to the nation and to the world. Even if you do not have a personal connection to this situation,I hope that we can agree that preserving,protecting,and providing access to state historical records is of vital importance. Please join me in contacting Ohio legislators and asking them to reconsider these drastic cuts..