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

Introduction

Dr. Clayton C. Kohl's papers, comprising one cubic foot, begin in approximately 1900 with his writing, "The Congressional Story of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill" and end with his sudden death in 1938, while chairman of Bowling Green State University's graduate school. A few pieces of correspondence between his widow and Stephen Morton, Bowling Green State University Archivist, are included from 1968 to 1970. These discuss the donation of the Kohl papers in July 1969. Otherwise, the papers primarily consist of Dr. Kohl's speeches, research and writings on such topics as history, sociology, psychology and education.

No restrictions exist on the research use of this collection and duplication is permitted for purposes of preservation and scholarly research. The finding aid was prepared by Eric Honneffer in October 2004.

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Clayton C. Kohl was a distinguished member of the Bowling Green State University's faculty, from 1920 until his death in 1938, and the first to hold an earned doctorate. He was instrumental in developing course offerings in liberal arts and graduate study which expanded the University's programs beyond that of a training school for teachers.

He was born near Perrysburg, Ohio, on June 15, 1875. In 1901 he received a bachelor of philosophy degree from Ohio State University. He taught school and became a principal and superintendent at Mechanicsburg, Ohio. He was awarded a fellowship at New York University where he earned his doctorate. He headed the Department of Education at Mount Holyoke College and later returned to New York University as a professor of social history.

In 1912, Dr. Kohl traveled to Berlin to pursue studies in sociology at Tilly Institute and the University of Leipzig. In 1915 he returned to Toledo to teach history at Scott High School and then was appointed director of the teacher's training department of the Toledo schools. By 1920, he moved to Bowling Green to head the history and social sciences department at Bowling Green Normal College. When the College became a University in 1936 he headed the graduate school.

He and his wife Margaret were active in many local civic organizations. Dr. Kohl also was remembered as a notable public speaker. He died November 10, 1938, leaving his wife and two sons, Frederick and John. In 1939, the first male residence hall at Bowling Green State University was named Kohl Hall in his honor.

Scope and Content

Dr. Clayton C. Kohl's papers consists of his speeches and various writings, dating from approximately 1900 to 1935, on topics of education and the social sciences. The writings document his extensive academic study and knowledge and his social consciousness. Specific topics of more local interest include a discussion of the Town and Gown Club, a Bowling Green study group comprised of city and university men, and a discussion of the proposed year of graduate instruction being considered at Bowling Green State University.

The small amount of correspondence and memorials offered at the time of his death shed light on his academic credentials, his social involvement, community mindedness, and important influence he had at Bowling Green State University as a faculty member and administrator.

Local depression-era concerns are evidenced in some correspondence of the Wood County Citizenship Council and some news clippings dating from 1933 to 1934 documenting Dr. Kohl's involvement with public welfare. He also illustrated his concerns about the State's interest in converting the University to a mental institution in the 1930s by the clipping, "Costly Folly to Abandon Bowling Green College." Also included is an essay/interview by Lois L. Hodge about the Toledo Travelers' Aid Society which highlights the work of that organization in 1929.

Series Description

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE--PERSONAL
1938, l968-1969
Arranged chronologically
Includes resolutions, tributes and condolence letters sent to Mrs. Kohl at the time of Dr. Kohl's death. Also includes letters between Mrs. Kohl and University Archivist, Stephen Morton, regarding the donation of Kohl's papers.

CORRESPONDENCE--WOOD COUNTY CITIZENSHIP COUNCIL
1933
Includes letters documenting the Farm and Home Protective\Committee.

LITERARY PRODUCTIONS

MEMORIAL TRIBUTES FOR DR. KOHL
1938
Includes address delivered by Grove Patterson, editor of Toledo Blade, and memorials by the Torch Club of Toledo, and The Hayes Memorial Library.

WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF DR. KOHL
1900-1935, n.d.
Includes Dr. Kohl's writings which are separately listed in the box/folder inventory.

WRITINGS BY OTHER AUTHORS
1923, 1925, 1929, n.d.
Includes a paper/interview on the Traveler's Aid Society, and Town and Gown papers of S.A. Canary.

PRINTED MATERIAL

NEWS CLIPPINGS AND ARTICLES
1921-1933
Many of these articles were used for reference purposes. They also pertain to Dr. Kohl's death, and various BGSU and Wood County subjects.

COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM
1901
Dr. Kohl's commencement program from Ohio State University.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PAPERS
n.d.
Includes constitution and bylaws and a list of the Young People's Society.

PHOTOGRAPHS

PHOTOGRAPHS.
c. 1925, 1938
Includes two photographs of Dr. Kohl.

Inventory

Box 1

1. Correspondence and other documents regarding Dr. Kohl's death and donation of his papers, 1938-1939, 1968-1970
2. Correspondence of Ivan (Doc) Lake-memoralizing Dr. Kohl for Five Brothers Fraternity (SAE), n.d.
3. Correspondence-Wood County Citizenship Council (Wood County Farm and Home Protective Committee), 1933
4. Address delivered at Dr. Kohl's memorial service by Grove Patterson, November 30, 1938
5. Memorial Tributes for Dr. Kohl, 1938-1939
6. American Ideals (speech outlines), n.d.
7. The American Question in England from 1763-1773, n.d.
8. Bismarck's Work for Germany from 1862-1866, July 1903
9. The Boundaries of School Education, n.d.
10. Claims as a Cause of the Mexican War (doctoral thesis), 1914
11. Congress of the United States from 1783-1787, n.d.
12. The Congressional Story of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, December 17, 1900
13. The County Boy and Education, February 15, 1905
14. County Government in Ohio (two copies), c. 1930
15. Educational Folkways (outline), n.d.
16. Educational Theory vs. Integrity of the Social Studies (published article in The Historical Outlook), November 1930
17. The Enemies of Good Studentship (BG News article and copy), November 20, 1920
18. The Great Needs of the Youth of To-day, n.d.
19. Health Education and the Physician (published article in The Ohio State Medical Journal), August 1, 1930
20. The High School and the Citizen, n.d.
21. History, n.d.
22. The History of Mankind (notes on a book by Friederich Ratzel), n.d.
23. Horace Mann, n.d.
24. Institute Lectures (briefs), n.d.
25. Invention in Teaching (outline), n.d.
26. The Kind of Study History Is (chapter 1), n.d.
27. Men of the Stone Age (summary of a book by Henry Fairfield Osborn), n.d.
28. More Participating Citizens-The Nation's Need, n.d.
29. Needed Research in Method (published article in Journal of Educational Psychology), April 1912
30. Notes (manuscript)
31. Notes (typed)
32. Notes on American Revolution-lectures and reference reading-course by Professor Brown, New York University, 1907-1908
33. Notes on Froebel's Life, n.d.
34. Notes on the Life of John Locke, n.d.
35. Notes on Pestalozzi as a Man and Reformer, n.d.
36. Notes on Philip Melanchthon the Protestant Preceptor of Germany, 1497-1560 by James William Richard, 1902

Box 2

1. Opposition to the War of 1812 (Bachelor's thesis), June 1901
2. Our Pilgrim Fathers (written for high school admission), May 1893
3. Outline of a brief lecture on Rousseau to Serve as an Introduction to the Study of "Emile", n.d.
4. Outline of the Life of Comenius, n.d.
5. The Outlook for American Youth (commencement address-Bowling Green High School), June 2, 1932
6. Plato, n.d.
7. Power of Aristotle at the Close of the Sixteenth Century, n.d.
8. The Problem of Relief (written for Wood County News), August 16, 1932
9. The Psychology of Saving, n.d.
10. Purpose of a parent- teacher association, n.d.
11. Qualities of a good state legislator (from the Ohio Woman Voter), August 1926
12. The Qualities of a Good Student, n.d.
13. Russia in Revolution, n.d.
14. The Shortcomings of American History Teaching in the Elementary Schools, n.d.
15. Shortcomings of Elementary History Teaching, n.d.
16. Slavery in Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, n.d.
17. The Social Conception of Education: A Preliminary View, n.d.
18. Social Education, n.d.
19. The Social Science Course of Study in the First Three Grades, July 16, 1924
20. The Social Sciences and the Present Crisis, April 7, 1933
21. The Social Sciences in a Liberal Education (printed in the Bee Gee News), April 19, 1933
22. Socrates, n.d.
23. Some Aspects of the Psychology of Personal Relationships, n.d.
24. Some Problems Relating to the Establishment of a Year of Graduate Instruction at BGSU (with statistics), November 6, 1935
25. The Struggle Over the Governor's Salary During the Colonial Period, January 1909
26. The Study of Human Nature in Its Relation to Morals and Religion, n.d.
27. Outline of The Ancient Regime, by H.A Taine, n.d.
28. A Teacher and Student of History (published in Educational Foundations), April 1909
29. The Teaching of History in Elementary Schools (New York University), 1915-1916
30. The Teaching of Method, n.d.
31. The Town and Gown Club, n.d.
32. The Value of the Study of History, April 1903
33. The Veto Power of the President, March 1909
34. The War and the Civics Teacher (Scott High School), October 15, 1917
35. Washington's Legacy to American Citizenship (speech to Toledo Club), February 22, 1933
36. The Weaknesses of High School Instruction, n.d.
37. What Is A University? (given at BGSU Chapel), October 16, 1935
38. Why Emphasize the Social Purpose of Education? n.d.
39. The Work Faith of the Teacher, n.d.
40. The Traveler's Guardian Angel by Lois Hodge (Traveler's Aid Society of Toledo), n.d.
41. Mifflin Township of Wyandot County, Ohio (student paper), n.d.
42. The Philosophy of Journalism-written for Town and Gown by S. A. Canary, January 12, 1925
43. An Economic Review of America-written for Town and Gown by S.A. Canary, February 12, 1923
44. News clippings and articles for reference, 1921-1933 (scattered)
45. News clippings and articles regarding public welfare and BGSU, 1933-1934
46. News clippings regarding Dr. Koh's death and memorial, 1938-1930
47. Regional Conference Speakers and Program (from Michigan Education Journal), September 1938
48. Commencement Program-Ohio State University 1901
49. Draft of Constitution and bylaws for First Presbyterian Church, Bowling Green and list from Young People's Society, n.d.
50. Photographs of Dr. Kohl, c. 1925, November 1938

Manuscripts by Subject | Education Collections