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

Introduction

The papers of Noah W. Prowant consist of approximately .25 linear ft. of manuscripts, reminiscences, and memoirs, dating from the 1940's through 1962.

The collection was purchased by the Center for Archival Collections in May, 1988, from Hugh N. Brown of Kettering, Ohio. This register was prepared by Marilyn Levinson, Curator of Manuscripts, Center for Archival Collections, March, 1990. No restrictions exist on the the use of this collection.

Biographical Sketch

Noah W. Prowant was born on January 31, 1864, five miles east of Dupont, Ohio, in Putnam County. In 1891 he married Lois Marriott, with whom he had two daughters. He graduated from Ohio Normal University (now Ohio Northern University), Ada, Ohio, in 1894, with a degree in pharmacy.

After graduation, Prowant operated pharmacies in Dupont, Oakwood, Continental, Defiance, and Cedarville. A lifelong Republican, he was also active in civic affairs, serving two terms as mayor of Continental, president of the Board of Education of Oakwood, and several years as Justice of the Peace.

Scope and Content

The Noah W. Prowant Papers consist of handwritten manuscripts, reminiscences, and memoirs, by a Putnam County, Ohio pharmacist, dating from the 1940's through 1962. Written primarily during the 1940's, when Prowant was probably in his 80's, the papers express personal opinions, religious views, and reminiscences.

The letters to the editor, written between 1941 and 1944, present views on such topics as taxation, inflation, isolation, war policies, and national politics. The reminiscences include an address intended for delivery at a family reunion, and a speech prepared on the occasion of receiving his 50-year pin from his Masonic Lodge.

The most useful part of the papers are the memoirs, which contain family history, genealogical information, and details of life in 19th and early 20th century Ohio in anecdotal form. These autobiographical chapters detail stories of the lumber trade in Ohio while the Black Swamp was being cleared, making hoops and staves, ditching, farming, the study of pharmacy at Ohio Northern University, and operating a small-town drugstore in a variety of communities.

Despite a rambling literary style, unconventional spelling, and poor handwriting, the memoirs can be understood with a minimum of interpretation. Although the author was of advanced years, there seems to be a faithful recollection of events and good attention to detail which adds to the value of the vignettes.

Series Description

LITERARY PRODUCTIONS

MANUSCRIPTS - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
1941-1944, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Letters addressed to the editors of the Toledo Blade, Lima News, and Defiance Crescent News, dealing with views on conservative politics and international affairs.

MANUSCRIPTS - OBITUARY
n.d.
Obituary submitted to the Defiance Crescent News on the death of his father, Ephraim Prowant.

MANUSCRIPTS - ESSAY
n.d.
Essay entitled, "To keep out of foreign wars."

REMINISCENCES
1946, 1948
Two speeches, one to be delivered at a Prowant family reunion, the other on fifty years as a Mason.

MEMOIRS
n.d.
Extensive autobiographical sketches dealing with family history, farm life, college at Ohio Northern University, and years as a pharmacist in a number of Northwest Ohio towns.

SCRAPBOOKS AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIALS

NEWSCLIPPINGS
January 30, 1962
Article from the Lima Citizen about Noah Prowant's 98th birthday.Center for Archival Collections

Inventory

Box 1

Folders

1. Manuscript - Letters to the Editor-Topical, 1941-1944, n.d.
2. Manuscript - Obituary of Ephraim Prowant, n.d.
3. Manuscript - To keep out of foreign wars, n.d.
4. Reminiscences - 50 years a Mason, 1946
5. Reminiscences - Prowant Family Reunion, speech, July 8, 1948
6. Memoirs - Section I: General survey of birth and family, n.d.
7. Memoirs - Section I: Myers family tradition, n.d.
8. Memoirs - Section III: Timber & river, n.d.
9. Memoirs - Section III: Timber-destruction/hoops, n.d.
10. Memoirs - Section III: Early school days, n.d.
11. Memoirs - Section III: After timber taken off land, n.d.
12. Memoirs - Section IV: The prairie or marsh, n.d.
13. Memoirs - Section IV: Teen age on farm-hunting, n.d.
14. Memoirs - Section IV: Teen years-school, n.d.
15. Memoirs - Section IV: Nickel Plate and Clover Leaf Railroad (holograph & typed), n.d.
16. Memoirs - Section IV: Teen age-Ditching, farming and road building, n.d.
17. Memoirs - Section IV: Teen years on farm and otherwise, n.d.
18. Memoirs - Section V: Farming, courtship & marriage, n.d.
19. Memoirs - Section V: Management of farm, n.d.
20. Memoirs - Bridges, n.d.
21. Memoirs - Section VI: College, n.d.
22. Memoirs - Section VIII: Dupont Drug Store, n.d.
23. Memoirs - Section VIII: Continental Drugs, n.d.
24. Memoirs - Section VIII: Continental (cont.), n.d.
25. Memoirs - Section VIII: Wyoming after Continental, n.d.
26. Memoirs - Section IX: Oakwood after Wyoming, n.d.
27. Memoirs - Cedarville after Oakwood, n.d.
28. Memoirs - Defiance after Cedarville, n.d.
29. Memoirs - Continental after Defiance, n.d.
30. Memoirs - Continental last time, n.d.
31. Newsclipping - Noah Prowant's 98th birthday, Jan. 30, 1962

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