Center for Archival Collections

Introduction | Agency History & Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

 Introduction

The Canal Society of Ohio (Betty Neidecker Papers), spanning from 1965 to 1993, consists of materials collected by Elizabeth A. “Betty” Neidecker from the Canal Society of Ohio, of which she was an active member. The donation and transfer of these records to the Center for Archival Collections was arranged through the cooperation of Betty Neidecker of Bowling Green, Ohio, in December 1988, with an addition in 2010 from her estate. No restrictions exist on the use of this collection and duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and research. The register was completed by Stephen W. Badenhop, Archival Assistant, in September 2008, with revisions in April 2010.

Agency History & Biographical Sketch

The Canal Society of Ohio (CSO), founded in 1961, is the largest canal organization in Ohio. The society’s origins began in northeast Ohio, but soon spread throughout the state resulting in various local and regional canal groups. The group is “dedicated to the study and preservation” of Ohio’s many canals. “Towpaths,” a quarterly periodical, is published by the society which explores various topics in canal history. In the spring and fall of each year the Canal Society sponsors a weekend tour of selected canal segments throughout Ohio, but have in the past also done canal tours in Indiana and Pennsylvania. The established archives of the CSO are housed at the University of Akron library.

Elizabeth A. “Betty” Neidecker was born in Port Clinton, Ottawa County, Ohio, in 1920. She was the daughter of Frederick Starr Neidecker (1892-1945) and Alpha Hennesy (1895-1965). She grew up in the Port Clinton area and became passionate about everything related to the water, where her research interests would remain throughout her life. In 1954 she joined the staff of Case Western Reserve teaching speech pathology and audiology. Six years later she became a professor of speech communication at Bowling Green State University where she taught for twenty years; retiring in June 1982. In the fall of 1983 Betty rejoined the faculty at Bowling Green as an associate professor in the library working as a part-time field representative for the Center for Archival Collections until once again retiring in December 1986. Her fascination with the water led her to join the Canal Society of Ohio in the 1960s and also publish a book The Marblehead Lighthouse: Lake Erie’s Eternal Flame in 1995.

 Scope and Content

The Canal Society of Ohio (Betty Neidecker Papers) consists of 1.3 linear feet of materials containing mostly subject files and printed materials relating to canal tours and canal related localities from 1965 to 1993. Subject files ranging from 1973 to 1993 cover the various canal tours conducted by the society and contain itineraries, histories and tourist information about the segments of the canal the group sought to explore in-depth. Scrapbook materials include pictures from the canal tours along with accompanying newsclippings discussing the history and preservation of Ohio’s many canals. Printed materials consist of booklets about the canals along with society newsletters and bulletins. There are also audio materials discussing canal histories along with a cassette containing canal songs.

 Series Description

PROCEEDINGS

CONSTITUTION/BYLAWS
1979-1988
Records of the archivist/historian, with constitution, bylaws, and amendment changes

MEMBERSHIP RECORDS
1965-1966; 1984
Arranged chronologically
Membership records from the Canal Society of Ohio

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE - EDITH McNALLY
1976-1987
Arranged chronologically
Personal correspondence from society member Edith McNally to Betty Neidecker discussing society related news and business

SUBJECT FILES

CANAL TOURS
1973-1993
Arranged chronologically
Materials related to the society's annual/biannual canal tour of various canals throughout Ohio

LITERARY PRODUCTIONS

MANUSCRIPTS
1982
Various typescript drafts of “Milan and the Milan Canal”, submitted to the Western Reserve Magazine

SCRAPBOOKS AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIALS

SCRAPBOOKS
1950s-1970s
Two scrapbooks contain newsclippings and photographs related to canal history, preservation and society canal tours; one item is wrapped.

NEWSCLIPPINGS
1960s-1990s
Newsclippings related to canal history and preservation throughout the state of Ohio

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

MAPS
1785-1909
Photocopies of various canal maps

PRINTED MATERIAL

MISCELLANEOUS
1950s-1990s
Booklets, Brochures, Flyers, Newsletters, Pamphlets and Programs related to canal tours, canal history and the Canal Society of Ohio

PHOTOHRAPHIC MATERIAL

POSITIVE PRINTS
n.d.
Photographs of members of the Canal Society of Ohio

AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDINGS

AUDIO RECORDINGS
1969-1988
Recordings of presentations given about specific canals and a cassette of canal songs

VIDEOTAPE
1988
Interview conducted by Todd Greenberg with Betty Neidecker about the history of canals (VHS)

 Inventory

Box 1

Folders

1. Constitution/bylaws/amendments (archivist/historian), 1979-1988
2. CSO Membership Records, 1965-1966;1985
3. Edith McNally Correspondence, 1981-1987
4. CSO Spring/Fall Tour (Miami & Erie Canal), 1973; 1975
5. CSO Spring Tour (Lockborne-Carroll), 1974
6. CSO Spring Tour (Cleveland-Peninsula), 1975
7. CSO Fall Tour (St. Marys-Lockington), 1976
8. CSO Spring Tour (Everett-Massillon), 1977
9. CSO Fall Tour (Dayton-Cincinnati), 1977
10. CSO Spring Tour (Roscoe Village), 1978
11. CSO Spring Tour (Carroll-Hebron), 1979
12. CSO Fall Tour (Sandy & Beaver Canal), 1979
13. CSO Spring Tour (Scioto Valley), 1980
14. CSO Fall Tour (Great Miami River), 1980
15. CSO Spring Tour (Muskingum River), 1981
16. CSO Fall Tour (Milan Canal), 1982

Box 2

Folders

1. CSO Fall Tour (Hocking Canal), 1983
2. CSO Fall Tour (Muskingum River), 1984
3. CSO Fall Tour (Hocking-Lancaster), 1985
4. CSO Spring Tour (Roscoe-Dresden), 1986
5. CSO Fall Tour (Maumee), 1986
6. CSO Spring Tour (Chillicothe), 1987
7. CSO Fall Tour (Portage Lakes System), 1987
8. CSO Spring Tour (Newark), 1988
9. CSO Spring Tour (Southwestern Ohio), 1989
10. CSO Spring Tour (Akron), 1990
11. CSO Fall Tour (New Bremen-Delphos), 1990
12. CSO Spring Tour (Sandy & Beaver Canal), 1991
13. CSO Fall Tour (Chillicothe-Waverly), 1992
14. CSO Spring Tour (Miami Extension Canal), 1993
15. CSO Fall Tour (Ohio & Erie Canal), 1993

Box 3

Folders

1. Canal Songs, n.d.
2. Indiana Canals, 1981
3. Monongahela Navigation Tour, 1978
4. Ohio Canal Sesquicentennial, 1977
5. Pennsylvania Canals, 1968; 1976
6. Ward Canal, 1979-1989
7. Photo Album of Ohio’s Canal Era, 1825-1913, Publication, 1985
8. Research Notes, 1960s-1970s
9. William F. Gilmore Article, 1983-1985
10. Milan and the Milan Canal drafts, 1982
11. Canal Scrapbook, 1950s-1970s
12. Canal Newsclippings, 1960s-1970s

Box 4

Folders

1. Canal Newsclippings, 1980s-1990s
2. Canal Newsclippings, n.d.
3. Canal Maps, 1785-1909
4. Canal Booklets, 1952-1985
5. CSO Annual Meeting Notices, 1960s-1980s
6. CSO Bulletin, 1973-1974
7. CSO Newsletter, 1965-1971
8. CSO “Towpaths” Contents Index, 1972
9. Miscellaneous, 1960s-1990s
10. Postcards, n.d.

Box 5

Folders

1. CSO Members Photograph, n.d.
2. Program slides (transferred from metal boxes), 1970-1987, n.d.
3. Program slides (transferred from slide carousel), 1962-1988, n.d.
4. Canal Presentations, 1980-1988
5. Canal Songs, 1969-1971
6. Videotaped interview with Betty Neidecker, 1988

Wrapped

Items

1. Canal Scrapbook, 1970s-1980s
2. Canal Scrapbook, 1970-1980

Transfers

Books

1. Bohning, Ernst. Hooray, We're Going to America. Stanford, CA: Jill Knuth, 1987.
2. Campbell, William W. Life and Writings of DeWitt Clinton. New York, NY: Baker & Scribner, 1849.
3. Gilmore, W.F. Over Ohio Hills in a Canal Boat: A History of the Old Sandy-Beaver Canal. Canton, OH: Gilmore, [193-?].
4. Porter, Burton P. Old Canal Days. Columbus, OH: Heer, 1942.

Maps

1. Ohio Wall Map. Dayton, OH: Champion Map Corporation, [195-?].

Manuscripts by Subject |  Miscellaneous Collections