Center for Archival Collections

Introduction | Agency History | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

The records of the Sandusky County Cooperative Extension Office - 4-H Clubs were donated and transferred to the Center for Archival Collections through the cooperation of Mervin Hall on October 30, 1996. The collection contains six linear feet of material related to the history and activities of the various Sandusky County 4-H Clubs from 1923 to 2008. No restrictions exist on the use of this collection and duplication is permitted for research purposes. This collection was arranged and described by Alexandra Hutchings, student intern, and Stephen W. Badenhop, archival assistant, in July 2008.

Agency History

4-H is a non-formal educational, youth development program offered to individuals from age five to nineteen to encourage hands-on, experiential learning that allows learning by doing. This youth development program began in 1902 when Albert Belmont Graham, superintendent of Springfield Township Schools, in Clark County, Ohio, organized a youth program to further agricultural learning through applied involvement. The group became known as the "Boy's and Girl's Agricultural Club." Graham's program quickly spread to other counties through the influence and cooperation of the Ohio State University. In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act placed the agricultural clubs under the control of the Ohio State University Extension Office. Two years later in 1916 the organization formally became known as 4-H.

Sandusky County 4-H Clubs began operating in 1923, making it one of the earlier organizations to form in the state, when fourteen clubs were organized with 29 advisors and 124 members. In 1922 the state of Ohio only had 4-H groups in eighteen counties. Some of the first clubs in the county from 1924 included the following:

• Blue Bird Sewing Circle - Rice Township
• Busy Bee - Clyde
• Busy Bee - Rollersville Rural
• Busy Bee - Rollersville School
• Busy Bees - York Township
• Green Creek Food Club - Clyde
• Green Spring Junior - Green Springs
• Jackson Township Calf Club - Jackson Township
• Jackson Township Pig Club - Jackson Township
• Lafalot Sewing Club - Jackson Township
• Princes Pat - York Township
• Pure Blood Pig Club - Green Springs
• Rice Township Willing Workers Club - Rice Township
• S.E.W. - Green Springs
• The Pride of Ball Clothing Club - Ball School
• The Willing Workers - Ladd Ridge
• Willing Workers - Lindsey
• Willing Workers - Woodville

From its meager beginnings in the early 1920s the 4-H program blossomed in Sandusky County, as it did on the state level. In 1952, the county organization had 65 clubs with 148 advisors and 981 members. Presently, in 2008 there are forty-four 4-H Clubs throughout Sandusky County.

Sandusky County 4-H members have been very active. Youths have participated in 4-H camp since 1923 to the present day. In 1928, Sandusky County sent its first representatives to the 4-H Club Congress at the Ohio State University. Delegates to this first annual event included:

• Norman Hasselbach - Rice Township
• Wilda Price - Ballville Township
• Haldon Sabroske - Ballville Township
• Irene Smith - York Township
• Guilia Wertz - Scott Township
• Marie Pember (Advisor) - Scott Township

4-H has sponsored a variety of community events ranging from tree plantings to chicken barbecues. Members have been energetic participants in the Sandusky County Fair displaying livestock and home economics projects, while also operating diary bar facilities at the fairgrounds in the early 1970s. Other past activities have included soybean growing contests in 1965 and 1966 and certain members attended vegetable growing tours in California, Florida, New Jersey and New York. All of these efforts of the Sandusky County 4-H Clubs have helped realize the 4-H goal of fostering "a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills."

Scope and Content

The records of the Sandusky County Cooperative Extension Office 4-H Clubs contain membership records, subject files, reports, printed material and photographic material. The collection of six linear feet ranging from 1923 to 2008, with some gaps in the 1930s, 1940s and 1990s.

There is extensive information about memberships, including lists of members, junior leaders, advisors, adult volunteers and clubs. Many of the subject files deal with 4-H projects, reports, score sheets, banquets and 4-H camp. Large groups of the subject files deal with both agriculture and home economics. Sugar beets, corn, and vegetables in general are some of the subject files dealing with agriculture. While the home economics subject files mainly deal with upcoming events, trips, irrigation workshops, electric programs, and even "how to" pamphlets designed specifically for young women to learn more about electricity (1957). There is also an extensive list of both boy and girl winners from the years 1962 to 1974, from the Sandusky County Fair. Another extensive group of subject files on clubs deals with their congress, facts, score sheets, and their history. Many clubs were mainly centered on the subjects of agriculture and home economics. Their club names including Blue Bird Sewing Circle (1924) and the Jolly Livestock 4-H Club (1929) are centered on what they do. Although the Sandusky County 4-H subject files vary from topic to topic, they are generally centered on agriculture and home economics.

There is a large section of newspaper clippings, ranging from 1950 to 1980. The newspaper clippings include articles dealing with 4-H winners at the Sandusky County Fair; along with other articles dealing with up coming events that different 4-H clubs were hosting. The collection also has numerous reports dealing with enrollment status, fair premiums, project tally and statistics (1970-1980), which reflect how big 4-H had come to be in Sandusky County. Printed material includes manuals, booklets and programs, which discuss 4-H related activities and programs. Positive prints and slides make up the photographic material in this collection. The photographs are of various 4-H related events and activities, mainly the Sandusky County Fair. The slides highlight 4-H activities, meetings, programs, 4-H Camp, along with agricultural, livestock and home economic projects. Together the large quantity of membership lists and subject files reflect what 4-H has been and is in Sandusky County.

Series Description

PROCEEDINGS

MEMBERSHIP RECORDS
1924-1985
Arranged chronologically
Membership and advisor enrollment records from the various 4-H Clubs in Sandusky County, Ohio; some items are oversized

SUBJECT FILES

SUBJECT FILES - MISCELLANEOUS
1927-1985
Arranged alphabetically
Subject files containing information about projects, programs, 4-H Camp, livestock shows and sales and agricultural issues

REPORTS

REPORTS
1923-1985
Arranged alphabetically
Various statistical reports including enrollment status reports, fair premium reports and club statistic reports; some items are oversized

SCRAPBOOK MATERIALS

NEWSCLIPPINGS
1950-1980
Arranged chronologically
4-H related newclippings taken mostly from the Fremont News-Messenger about county 4-H activities and programs

PRINTED MATERIAL

PRINTED MATERIAL - MISCELLANEOUS
1935-2008
Arranged alphabetically
Miscellaneous printed material including manuals, booklets and programs discussing 4-H related activities and programs

PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL

POSITIVE PRINTS
Miscellaneous photographs of various 4-H related events including the Sandusky County Fair and other group activities

SLIDES
1954-1973
Original order
Slides highlighting 4-H activities, meetings, programs, 4-H Camp, along with agricultural, livestock and home economic projects

Inventory

Box 1

Folders

1. Membership Records, 1924
2. Membership Records, 1927
3. Membership Records, 1929
4. Membership Records, 1930
5. Membership Records, 1931
6. Membership Records, 1932
7. Membership Records, 1933
8. Membership Records, 1934
9. Membership Records, 1935
10. Membership Records, 1936
11. Membership Records, 1937
12. Membership Records, 1938
13. Membership Records, 1939
14. Membership Records, 1940
15. Membership Records, 1941
16. Membership Records, 1942
17. Membership Records, 1943

Box 2

1. Membership Records, 1944
2. Membership Records, 1945
3. Membership Records, 1946
4. Membership Records, 1947
5. Membership Records, 1948
6. Membership Records, 1949
7. Membership Records, 1950
8. Membership Records, 1951
9. Membership Records, 1952
10. Membership Records, 1953

Box 3

1. Membership Records, 1954
2. Membership Records, 1955
3. Membership Records, 1956
4. Membership Records, 1957
5. Membership Records, 1958
6. Membership Records, 1959
7. Membership Records, 1960
8. Membership Records, 1961

Box 4

1. Membership Records, 1962
2. Membership Records, 1963
3. Membership Records, 1964
4. Membership Records, 1965
5. Membership Records, 1966
6. Membership Records, 1967

Box 5

1. Membership Records, 1968
2. Membership Records, 1969
3. Membership Records, 1970
4. Membership Records, 1971
5. Membership Records, 1972
6. Membership Records, 1973

Box 6

1. Membership Records, 1974
2. Membership Records, 1975
3. Membership Records, 1976
4. Membership Records (Advisors), 1982
5. Membership Records (Clubs), 1982
6. Membership Records (Members), 1982
7. Membership Records (Advisors), 1983
8. Membership Records (Clubs), 1983
9. Membership Records (Members), 1983
10. Membership Records (Advisors), 1984
11. Membership Records (Clubs), 1984
12. Membership Records (Members), 1984

Box 7

1. 4-H 75th Anniversary Plate Sales, 1977
2. 4-H Camp, 1972
3. 4-H Camp, 1973
4. 4-H Camp, 1974
5. 4-H Camp, 1974
6. Advisor's Banquet, 1970-1977
7. Agriculture & Home Economics, 1968-1976
8. Area Tomato School, 1975
9. Bicentennial Tree planting, 1975-1976
10. Boys Winners & Awards, 1962-1966
11. Boys winners & Awards, 1967-1974
12. Chicken Barbeque, 1973-1974
13. Club Congress, 1928-1975
14. Club Facts, 1948
15. Club Histories, 1958-1977
16. Club score Sheets, 1971

Box 8

1. Corn, 1969-1974
2. Corn Blight Booklets, 1970-1971
3. Electric Program, 1952-1957
4. Evaluation Sheets, 1979
5. Girls Winners & Awards, 1962-1966
6. Girls Winners & Awards, 1967-1974
7. Glen Geib Recognition, 1974
8. Honors Club Score Sheets, 1965-1972
9. Honors Club Score Sheets, 1973-1974
10. Irrigation Workshop, 1975
11. Junior Leadership Club, 1960-1974

Box 9

1. Junior Leadership Dairy Bar, 1971
2. Junior Leadership Dairy Bar, 1972
3. Junior Leadership Dairy Bar, 1973
4. Junior Leadership Dairy Bar, 1974
5. Legislators' Tour, 1975
6. Livestock Judging Sheets, 1970-1975
7. Livestock Score Sheets, 1928
8. Livestock Show & Sale, 1970
9. Livestock Show & Sale, 1971
10. Livestock Show & Sale, 1973
11. Livestock Show & Sale, 1974
12. Miscellaneous Materials, 1945
13. Miscellaneous Materials, 1964
14. Miscellaneous Materials, 1972
15. Miscellaneous Materials, 1973
16. Miscellaneous Materials, 1974
17. Miscellaneous Materials, 1976
18. Miscellaneous Materials, 1977
19. Miscellaneous Materials, 1981
20. Miscellaneous Materials, 1985
21. Miscellaneous Materials, n.d.

Box 10

1. News Subscription List, 1973-1974
2. Nomination Forms, 1972-1974
3. Ohio National 4-H Foundation Fund, 1970-1973
4. Ohio State Fair, 1948-1965
5. Patrick Perry - Work Study Employee, 1970-1971
6. Poultry Schools, 1968
7. Prize Winners in Food Clubs, 1927
8. Sandusky County Fair Trophy Awards, 1951-1959
9. Sandusky County 4-H Horse Awards Banquet, 1974
10. Sandusky County Junior Fair, 1947
11. Sandusky County Junior Fair Trophy & Ribbon Orders, 1971-1976
12. Score Sheets, 1972-1974
13. Soybeans, 1973-1975
14. Soybean Growing Contest, 1965
15. Soybean Growing Contest, 1966
16. Soybean Referendum, 1973-1975
17. Soybean Test Plots, 1971-1972
18. Steer Enrollment, 1973-1976
19. Sugar Beets (1), 1968-1975

Box 11

1. Sugar Beets (2), 1968-1975
2. Vegetables, 1961-1975
3. Vegetable Growers' Tour - Brighton, N. J., 1968
4. Vegetable Growers' Tour - California, 1971
5. Vegetable Growers' Tour - California & Hawaii, 1972
6. Vegetable Growers' Tour - Florida, 1968
7. Vegetable Growers' Tour - New York, 1969
8. Wild Life Conservation, 1960-1963

Box 12

1. Club Membership Statistics Report, 1923-1952
2. Enrollment Status Report, 1982
3. Enrollment Status Report, 1983
4. Enrollment Status Report, 1984
5. Fair Premium Club Report, 1969
6. Fair Premium Club Report, 1973
7. Fair Premium Club Report, 1975
8. Fair Premium Club Report, 1982
9. Fair Premium Club Report, 1983
10. Fair Premium Club Report, 1984
11. Fair Premium Project Report, 1972
12. Fair Premium Project Report, 1973
13. Fair Premium Project Report, 1974
14. Fair Premium Project Report, 1975
15. Fair Premium Project Report, 1982
16. Years in Club Work Report, 1982

Box 13

1. 4-H News Clippings, 1950
2. 4-H News Clippings, 1959
3. 4-H News Clippings, 1964
4. 4-H News Clippings, 1965
5. 4-H News Clippings, 1966
6. 4-H News Clippings, 1968
7. 4-H News Clippings, 1969
8. 4-H News Clippings, 1970
9. 4-H News Clippings, 1971
10. 4-H News Clippings, 1972
11. 4-H News Clippings, 1973
12. 4-H News Clippings, 1974
13. 4-H News Clippings, 1980
14. 4-H News Clippings, n.d.
15. 4-H Symbol, 1973
16. Achievement Programs, 1961-1976
17. Advisors' Recognition Luncheon, 1973
18. Beet Sugar Association Monthly Reports, 1973
19. Beet Sugar Association Monthly Reports, 1974
20. Beet Sugar Association Monthly Reports, 1975
21. Fremont Area Work Study Results, 1972
22. Greenhouse Vegetable Research, 1973-1975
23. land Use Legislation Analysis, 1978

Box 14

1. Ohio 4-H Project Reports, 1976-1982
2. Ohio 4-H Statistical Reports, 1935-1974
3. Ohio Beekeeping Notebook, 1975
4. Ohio Forage Crop Evaluation Tests, 1964-1974
5. Outdoor Vegetable Crop Research, 1972-1975
6. Poultry Management Manual, 1972-1973
7. Poultry Task Force Report, 1970
8. Quality Assurance Test - Out List, c.2007
9. Sandusky County 4-H Activities Summary, 1963
10. Sandusky County 4-H Activities Summary, 1964
11. Sandusky County 4-H Guidelines, 1983
12. Sandusky County 4-H Handbook, 1966
13. Sandusky County 4-H Home Economics Committee Flyer, 2008
14. Sandusky County 4-H Handbook, 1985
15. Sandusky County 4-H Newsletter Family, 2007-2008
16. Skillathon Test - Out List, c.2007
17. Turkey Research Summary, 1972-1974

Box 15

1. Photographs, n.d
2. Slides - Activities, 1967-1973
3. Slides - Projects, 1959-1973
4. Slides - Home Economics & 4-H Camp, 1954-1973

Oversize - Box 16

1. Membership Records (Advisors), 1976
2. Membership Records (Junior Leaders), 1976
3. Membership Records (Members), 1976
4. Membership Records (Advisors), 1977
5. Membership Records (Clubs), 1977
6. Membership Records (Junior Leaders), 1977
7. Membership Records (Members), 1977
8. Membership Records (Advisors), 1978
9. Membership Records (Clubs), 1978
10. Membership Records (Junior Leaders), 1978
11. Membership Records (Members), 1978
12. Membership Records (Advisors), 1979
13. Membership Records (Clubs), 1979
14. Membership Records (Junior Leaders), 1979
15. Membership Records (Members), 1979
16. Membership Records (Clubs), 1980
17. Membership Records (Junior Leaders), 1980
18. Membership Records (Clubs), 1981
19. Membership Records (Members), 1981
20. Membership Records (Adult Volunteers), 1985
21. Membership Records (Members), 1985
22. Enrollment Status Report, 1980
23. Enrollment Status Report, 1981
24. Fair Premium Club Report, 1977
25. Fair Premium Club Report, 1980
26. Fair Premium Club Report, 1981
27. Fair Premium Club Report, 1985
28. Fair Premium Project Report, 1976
29. Fair Premium Project Report, 1979
30. Fair Premium Project Report, 1980
31. Project Report, 1980
32. Project Tally Report, 1976
33. Project Tally Report, 1977
34. Statistics Report, 1976
35. Statistics Report, 1977
36. Years in Club Work Report, 1981

Manuscripts by Subject | Agriculture Collections | Miscellaneous Collections