Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

The O. B. Workman Papers consist of correspondence, manuscripts, pamphlets, photographs, and tapes collected by O. B. Workman at the Black Swamp Museum, Paulding, Ohio. The collection was donated and transferred to the Center for Archival Collections on November 4, 1975 through the cooperation of Workman's son, Paul Workman, of Paulding, Ohio.

Literary and property rights have been dedicated to the public and duplication is permitted for the purpose of preservation and scholarly research. No restrictions exist on the use of this collection. The collection was reprocessed and register prepared by Marilyn Levinson in February, 1988.

Biographical Sketch

O. B. (Orin Bernard) Workman was born on October 29, 1908 in Melrose, Ohio, son of Orin and Rosa (Fisher) Workman. He worked in construction in the Paulding county area after World War II, and was the president of O. B. Workman, Inc. As founder and president of the Black Swamp Historical Museum in Paulding, Ohio, he was active in local historical activities, particularly the Paulding County Sesquicentennial in 1970. He died December 9, 1971 after a fall while working at a construction site.

Scope and Content

The O. B. Workman papers consist primarily of materials dating from the 1960s and early 1970s collected in conjunction with the Black Swamp Museum and the Paulding County Sesquicentennial.

The bulk of the manuscript material is made up of topical papers sent to Workman for the Sesquicentennial, with a few items from the collections of the Black Swamp Museum in Paulding. Also included is a 1970 inventory of the holdings of the Museum.

The strength of the collection is in the non-print materials, the photographs and sound recording tapes. The photographs include a great number of original prints, many taken between 1890 and 1910, depicting the agricultural, industrial, and small town life of the Paulding County area. Notable among these images are pictures of tile kilns, timber industry, and the Miami Erie Canal around the Melrose, Ohio aqueduct. The recordings, made in 1969 and 1970 in conjunction with the Paulding County Sesquicentennial, include interviews with long-time county residents about rural life, industry, and social life of the Black Swamp region.

Series Description

CORRESPONDENCE

GENEALOGICAL INQUIRIES
1969-1970
Letters requesting information on the Pursel (Purcell) Family.

FORM LETTER
1970?
Letter soliciting responses for a history of Paulding County.

LITERARY PRODUCTIONS

RESEARCH NOTES
n.d.
General notes on the Workman Family (photocopy).

RESEARCH NOTES
1970?
Paulding County Sesquicentennial notes; including names of people with their township and section location, and settlement information.

MANUSCRIPTS (LITERARY)
1928, 1970, n.d.
Arranged alphabetically by subject
Historical sketches of people, institutions, and events in Paulding County, Ohio submitted for the Paulding County Sesquicentennial. Includes a list of people contacted.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

CONTRACTS
1899
Light contract between the Paulding I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 577 and the Paulding Electric Light and Power Company.

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

LEDGERS
1878-1892
Ledger of the J. W. Duckwall general store in Paulding, Ohio.

SCRAPBOOKS AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIALS

NEWSCLIPPINGS
1971
Series of articles, "Forts at Three Rivers", and "The Turtle's Story", by John Ankenbruck, appearing in Fort Wayne, Indiana newspaper.

MAPS, CHARTS, DIAGRAMS, GRAPHS, LISTS, ETC.

MAPS
1882
Plat of addition to Village of Cecil, Paulding County, Ohio.

LISTS
1970
Handwritten inventory of holdings of the Black Swamp Museum, Paulding, Ohio.

PRINTED MATERIAL

CERTIFICATES
1920, 1926, 1928
Stock certificates from three corporations operating in northwest Ohio.

CERTIFICATES
1970?
Application for certification as a "Century Farm--Paulding County."

PAMPHLETS
circa 1900
Paulding County history and names of elected officials, photocopied from unidentified published work.

BROCHURES
n.d.
Lists of Democratic and Republican candidates in Grover Hill, Ohio.

BROCHURES
n.d.
Portrait card of P. M. Catiency, Grover Hill, Ohio Improved Order of Redmen, Kiowa Tribe No. 68.

PROGRAMS
1904, 1908, 1912
Grover Hill, Ohio High School graduation program.

PROGRAMS
1907
Knights of Pythias, Black Diamond Lodge No. 267, 20th anniversary souvenir.

TICKETS
1915
Bryan High School Athletic Association tickets (2).

PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL

POSITIVE PRINTS
1888-1969, n.d.
Arranged alphabetically by location.
Original and copy prints of people, businesses, agricultural scenes, and street scenes from Arthur, Broughton, Grover Hill, Haviland, Melrose, Oakwood, Paulding, and unidentified areas of Paulding County, Ohio.

NEGATIVES
Arranged alphabetically by location.
Copy negatives made by the Center for Archival Collections of photographs of Paulding County, Ohio locations.

AUDIO RECORDINGS

AUDIO RECORDING TAPE
1969-1970
Eleven cassette tape interviews with Paulding County, Ohio residents describing early settlers, rural life, agriculture, local industry, and historical events.

Inventory

Box 1

1. Correspondence: Genealogical inquiries, 1969-1970
2. Correspondence: form letter requesting responses for Paulding County History, 1970
3. Workman family history papers
4. Paulding County Sesquicentennial notes, 1970?
5. Paulding County Sesquicentennial notes: Salem Township, 1970?
6. Lists of persons compiling histories, n.d.
7. Auglaize Chapel, Church of God, 1970
8. Lewis Beck, Paulding County pioneer, 1928
9. Episode of Benedict Arnold, n.d.
10. Paulding, Ohio artists, n.d.
11. Edwin Bell & Sons Company plant, n.d.
12. Broughton, Ohio odds and ends, n.d.
13. Highlights of the canal system, n.d.
14. Corona Chapter 94, Order of the Eastern Star, 1970
15. Friendly Neighbor club, Paulding, Ohio, 1970
16. Harrison Township, 1970
17. History of Haviland Methodist Church, 1970
18. Review of Journalism in Paulding County, 1970
19. Paulding County, an essay (2), n.d.
20. Brief sketch of the history and development of Paulding County, May, 1970
21. Paulding County Business and Professional Women's Club, 1970
22. Paulding Soil and Water Conservation District, 1970
23. Tribute to pioneers of Paulding County, 1970
24. St. John the Baptist Church, Payne, Ohio, 1970
25. I.O.O.F. Lodge contract with Paulding Light & Power Co., 1899
26. J. W. Duckwall's ledger, 1878-1892
27. Little Turtle's story (newsclipping), 1971
28. Forts at Three Rivers (newsclipping), 1971
29. Paulding County, Cecil Addition plat map, 1882
30. Black Swamp Museum inventory, 1970
31. Stock certificates:
    • National Tribune Corporation, Delaware, Ohio, January 25, 1928
    • Paulding Equity Mercantile & Produce Company, January 28, 1926
    • First National Bank of Antwerp, Ohio, October 16, 1920
32. Application for "Century Farm" plaque, 1970?
33. Paulding County history and names of elected officials, ca. 1900
34. Grover Hill, Ohio lists of Democratic candidates, n.d.
35. Grover Hill, Ohio lists of Republican candidates, n.d.
36. P. M. Cantiency portrait card, Grover Hill, Ohio, n.d.
37. Grover Hill High School graduation programs, 1904, 1908, 1912
38. Knights of Pythias Lodge no. 267 20th Anniversary souvenir, 1907
39. Bryan High School Athletic Association tickets (2), 1915

Box 2

1. Arthur, Ohio
   • Log wood shed, 1 mile south of Arthur, Ohio and a half mile east, 1963, 3.25 x 4.25"
2. Broughton, Ohio
   • Broughton School class picture, n.d. 5.5 x 8.5"
   • Hardware store north of railroad on each side, n.d. 6.5 x 4.5"
   • H. Stores & Son Hardware, east side of street north of railroad, n.d. 5 x 8"
   • Broughton Tile Mill, exterior with 8 unidentified persons, 1904. 5 x 8"
   • Edwin Bell & Sons Co./Vanderbuilt Stave & Lumber Co., with close view of VS & L Co. Store, n.d. 5 x 7"
   • Edwin Bell & Sons Co./Vanderbuilt Stave & Lumber Co., with train tracks and distant view of VS & L Co. Store, n.d. 5 x 7"
   • Edwin Bell & Sons Co./Vanderbuilt Stave & Lumber Co., with five men in yard behind plant, n.d. 5 x 7"
   • Edwin Bell & Sons Co./Vanderbuilt Stave & Lumber Co., with storage sheds and four unidentified men, n.d. 5 x 7"
3. Grover Hill, Ohio
   • Dr. E. Kohn & Son in front of truck, n.d. 8 x 10"
   • Sifter room of the Grover Hill Mill, n.d. 3 x 4"
   • Defiance District Methodist Episcopal Church meeting, with group members in front of old church in Grover Hill, 1903? 6 x 8"
   • Grover Hill firehouse with four persons in front, n.d., 5 x 8"
   • Men of the Grover Hill Fire Department in front of a fire-damaged house, 1910, 3.5 x 5.25"
   • 3:00 p.m. train in Grover Hill, showing engine and two cars, 1900? 3 x 4"
   • Grover Hill Tile Mill, 1 mile east of the Indiana line, showing group of people by tile kiln, n.d. 5 x 8"
4. Haviland, Ohio
   • E. C. Click Blacksmith shop, interior of old shop with three people, 1903. 5 x 7"
   • E. C. Click Blacksmith shop, interior of new shop with Joe Armstrong, Frank Sheer and Ed Click, 1920. 5 x 7
5. Melrose, Ohio
   • Aqueduct of the Miami Erie Canal over the Little Auglaize River, showing plank mule path, circa 1900. 5 x 7"
   • Aqueduct over the Little Auglaize River, showing view from the river below, circa 1900. 5 x 7"
   • East side of the Melrose Aqueduct in winter, showing view from the river below, circa 1900. 5 x 7"
   • West side of the Melrose Aqueduct in winter, showing view from the Little Auglaize River, ca. 1900. 5 x 7"
   • Melrose Aqueduct, with large group of people on towpath, showing south half of canal flooring missing, circa 1900. 5 x 7"
   • Stone culvert under the Miami Erie Canal along Route 113, 1969. 3 x 3"
   • Melrose Band in front of the George Hotel & Restaurant, with some individuals identified, between 1890-1900. 8 x 10"
   • Melrose Band, with all individuals identified, 1908. 8 x 10"
   • Main Street looking south during flood, March 26, 1913. 5 x 7"
   • Melvin Medicine Company wagon with oxen, at corner of Main and Franklin, 1890. 6.5 x 8.5"
   • Wheeler Brothers Hoop & Stave Mill, with nineteen employees, 1888. 8 x 10" (3 copies)
   • Wheeler Brothers Hoop & Stave Mill, with sixteen employees and a yoke of oxen, 1888. 8 x 10"
6. Oakwood, Ohio
   • Employees of the Bobenmyer Stone Quarry, n.d. 5 x 7"
7. Paulding, Ohio
   • Black Swamp Museum, interior and artifacts, 1960s. 17 items. 3 x 4"
   • General store interior, with two unidentified people, n.d. 5 x 7"
   • Main Street looking north across Perry Street, showing Republican Print Shop and Cullen & Richards Insurance, n.d. 5 x 7"
   • Street scene with team of oxen and group of thirteen people, n.d. 3.5 x 5.25"
   • South side of Perry Street, across from courthouse, n.d. 5 x 7"
   • Street scene, with a millinery-confectionery shop, grocery, post office, and harness shop, n.d. 5 x 7"
   • Street scene, showing O. F. Kraner & Company store, n.d. 5 x 7"
   • Street scene, showing People's Drug Store, a furniture store, and a restaurant, n.d. 5 x 7"
   • Street scene, showing a boot & shoe store and a dry goods store, n.d. 5 x 7"
   • Street scene,showing J. Switzer Boots and a grocery and saloon, n.d. 5 x 7"
   • Street scene, with storefronts including a drug and jewelry store, n.d. 5 x 7"
   • W. G. Dangler Tile and Saw Mill
8. Paulding County, Ohio
   • Agricultural scene with wheat (?), wagons, and horses at harvest time, n.d. 8 x 10"
   • Tree-stumps in a field being cleared, n.d. 8 x 10"
   • Wooden storage shed, two views, n.d. 3 x 3"
   • Elmer Thompson driving the first mail car in Paulding County, circa 1910. 8 x 10"
   • Stone quarry, n.d. 8 x 10"
9. Upper Sandusky, Ohio
   • Covered wagon owned by the Black Swamp Museum, 1963. 3 x 3"
10. Portraits
    • Lewis Beck, age 78, of Blue Creek Township, Paulding County, 1926. 3 x 5"
    • Lewis Beck with deer horn and rifle, 1926. 3 x 5"
    • Lewis Beck with his daughter, 1926. 3 x 5"
    • Lewis Beck with Mr. Grooms, 1926. 3 x 5"
    • Mrs. Ida Hardesty's parents, Payne, Ohio, circa 1880. 6 x 8"
    • Family portrait of six males of the Hardesty family, circa 1880. 5 x 7"
    • Hardesty family group in front of a log cabin, circa 1880. 5 x 7"
    • Garrett Zuber of Antwerp, Ohio with his artifact collection, 1959. 3 x 3"
11. Arthur, Ohio (negatives)
    • Log Wood Shed, 1 mile south of Arthur, Ohio
    • Broughton School class picture
    • Broughton, Ohio hardware store north of railroad
    • H. Stores & Son Hardware, Broughton, Ohio
    • Broughton Tile Mill, exterior
    • Edwin Bell & Sons, Co./Vanderbuilt Stave and Lumber Co., with close view of VS & L Co. Store
    • Edwin Bell & Sons, Co./Vanderbuilt Stave and Lumber Co., with train tracks
    • Edwin Bell & Sons, Co./Vanderbuilt Stave and Lumber Co., with five men in yard
    • Edwin Bell & Sons, Co./Vanderbuilt Stave and Lumber Co., with storage sheds
12. Grover Hill, Ohio; Haviland, Ohio; Melrose, Ohio (negatives)
    • Dr. E. Kohn & Son in front of truck, Grover Hill, Ohio
    • Sifter room of the Grover Hill Mill
    • Defiance District Methodist Episcopal Church meeting, with group members in front of old church in Grover Hill
    • Grover Hill firehouse with four persons in front
    • Men of the Grover Hill Fire Department in front of a fire-damaged house
    • 3:00 p.m. train in Grover Hill
    • Grover Hill Tile Mill
    • E. C. Click Blacksmith shop, Haviland, Ohio, interior of old shop with three people
    • E. C. Click Blacksmith shop, interior of new shop
    • Aqueduct of the Miami Erie Canal over the Little Auglaize River, showing plank mule path, Melrose, Ohio
    • Aqueduct showing view from the river below
    • East side of the Melrose Aqueduct in winter
    • West side of the Melrose Aqueduct in winter
    • Melrose Aqueduct, with large group of people on towpath
    • Stone culvert under the Miami Erie Canal
    • Melrose Band in front of the George Hotel & Restaurant
    • Melrose Band, with all individuals identified
    • Melrose, Ohio Main Street looking south during flood
    • Melvin Medicine Company wagon with oxen, Melrose, Ohio
    • Wheeler Brothers Hoop & Stave Mill, Melrose, Ohio, with 19 employees
    • Wheeler brothers Hoop & Stave Mill, with 16 employees and a yoke of oxen
13. Oakwood, Ohio; Paulding, Ohio; Paulding County, Ohio; Upper Sandusky, Ohio
    • Employees of the Bobenmyer Stone Quarry, Oakwood, Ohio
    • Black Swamp Museum, Paulding, Ohio, interior and artifacts
    • Paulding General Store interior
    • W. G. Dangler Tile and Saw Mill, Paulding, Ohio
    • Paulding Street scene with team of oxen and group of people
    • South side of Perry Street, Paulding, Ohio
    • Paulding street scene, with a millinery-confectionery shop, etc.
    • Street scene, showing O. F. Kraner & Company store
    • Street scene, showing People's Drug Store, etc.
    • Street scene, showing a boot & shoe store, etc.
    • Street scene, showing J. Switzer Boots etc.
    • Street scene, with storefronts
    • Paulding County agricultural scene at harvest time
    • Tree-stumps in a field being cleared, Paulding County
    • Wooden storage shed in Paulding County (1)
    • Wooden storage shed in Paulding County (2)
    • Elmer Thompson driving the first mail car in Paulding County
    • Stone quarry in Paulding County
14. Portraits
    • Lewis Beck, age 78, of Blue Creek Township
    • Lewis Beck with deer horn and rifle
    • Lewis Beck with his daughter
    • Lewis Beck with Mr. Grooms
    • Mrs. Ida Hardesty's parents, Payne, Ohio
    • Family portrait of six males of the Hardesty family
    • Hardesty family group in front of a log cabin
    • Garrett Zuber of Antwerp, Ohio with his artifact collection

Box 3: Tapes

1. Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers Reunion, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, August 30, 1969 (side A); Conversation with Orlo Foster, grandson of A. W. Foster (Whitey) early gunmaker of Columbia, Williams County, Ohio (side B)
2. Conversations with Burdet Kilpatrick, Payne, Ohio, February 6, 1970, three tapes (sides A & B) with one extra copy
3. Account of Simon Kenton (side A); Miscellaneous from almanac of 1892 (side B)
4. Interview with Grover Hipp, Grover Hill, Ohio, January 18, 1970 (side A); Interview with Mr. & Mrs. Richard Dietrick, Junction, Ohio, at their farm, January 26, 1970 (side B)
5. Interview with Dr. Greer, N. Cherry Street, Paulding, Ohio, February 1, 1970 (sides A & B)
6. Interview with Ernie and Faye Neds at her home, Broughton, Ohio, October 21, 1970 (sides A & B)
7. Newspaper account from Gazette, April 14, 1884, Mr. Midler, Civil War veteran (side A); Pioneer reminiscences, 1884, William R. Banks, Oakwood, Ohio (side B)
8. Andrew Danlefson, Riley Thomas, Freeman Long, O. B. Workman, Briceton and Paulding Township, July 1970, two tapes (sides A & B)

Manuscripts by Subject | Agriculture Collections | Family Collections | Photograph Collections | Miscellaneous Collections