Archives
In January 2000 the Middletown Historical Society board announced that the society had purchased the historic Pickwick Building to serve as a headquarters for the organization. Precipitating the purchase was the recent donation of 40 boxes of artifacts from the archives of Armco Steel. And thus began the Historical Society Archives.
Soon a dedicated group of retired Armco employees began the task of accessioning the Armco collection, under the guidance of Archivist Phyllis Ashworth. Gradually, the Society acquired additional collections including a large number of negatives from the Middletown Journal, and more volunteers signed on to help.
In 2012, the Society was gifted the Shartle House by the Middletown Community Foundation and moved its headquarters, however, the number of collections in the archives had increased dramatically and additional space was needed. At that time the old Barnitz Bank building was being renovated as The Windamere and space was made available for the archives on the lower level.
Today the Middletown Historical Society Archives houses over 50 separate collections of various sizes pertaining to a variety of Middletown historical subject matter. These collections provide important resources for scholars, authors and local citizens conducting research on Middletown area history. And the work continues, as more important collections and artifacts are added to the archives each month.
Collections
Below features a partial list of collections housed within the Middletown Historical Society's vast archives. Don't see what you are looking for? Use the contact us link to see if we have what you are looking for.
Armco
This large collection includes documents, photographs, annual reports, newsletters, paintings and clothing. Some items in this collection featured at the Shartle House.
Beta Sigma Phi Soroity
This collection contains documents, objects and scrapbooks.
Boy Scouts of America
The BSA collection is a large collection. Most of this collection has not been accessioned. The collection features objects, photographs and clothing.
Bank One: MS-011
The Bank One collection features documents, photographs, objects, annual reports and blueprints.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
The Bethlehem Lutheran Church collection features documents, photographs and scrapbooks.
Chamber of Commerce:
MS-042
The collection from the Middletown Chamber of Commerce includes documents, photographs and slides.
Benjamin Harwitz
The collection from Benjamin Hawitz includes documents, photographs and objects.
Black Clawson
The Black Clawson collection includes booklets, photographs and documents.
Charles R. Hook
The Charles R. Hook collection received includes documents and scrapbook provided by the family.
City of Middletown: MS-023
The City of Middletown collection features 65 ledgers provided from the city.
Don Lawrence: MS-057
The Don Lawrence collection includes items from Armco as well as photographs.
Everett Sherron: MS-053
The collection from longtime volunteer, Everett Sherron includes items from the Boy Scouts, documents, photographs, and cameras.
Herbert Fall
The Herbert Fall collection includes multiple paintings, drawings and prints from this artist in addition to objects and photographs.
Jo Miller: MS-069
This collection contains a grouping of documents.
Loyal Van Buskirk: MS-082
The Buskirk collection contains documents and photographs.
Middletown Area Federation of Women's Clubs: MS-019
This collection includes objects, materials from the Charity Balls, clothing, documents and photographs.
Middletown School for Nurses
This collection includes documents, photographs, objects and uniforms.
Middletown Symphony Orchestra: MS-060
Corson Family: MS-017
The collection from the Corson family features documents, photographs, objects, letters and military papers.
Don Stokes
Items from this collection include photographs and objects.
Faith United Methodist Church: MS-035
The collection from the church includes photographs, objects, film, video and recordings.
James E. Bales
The James E. Bales Collection incudes military documents, objects and photographs.
Junior Achievement: MS-080
The collection from Junior Achievement contains documents, photographs, objects, scrapbooks, films and tapes.
McCalley Family: MS-003
The McCalley collection features documents and phot0graphs.
Middletown High School Films
The collection includes a lot of films from football and basketball games of Middletown High School
Middletown Journal
The Journal collection is a large collection containing documents, photographs, photo negatives and microfiche that was used by the Middletown Journal.
Norm & Pat Hayes: MS-029
Crystal Tissue
This collection from Crystal Tissue Company includes documents and films from the company.
Dr. Mabel Gardner: MS-038
Items from this collection include photographs and objects from the family of Dr. Gardner.
Frank Simon: MS-038
The Frank Simon collection includes recordings, documents photographs and objects.
Janice E. Schulz - Estate:
MS-042
Items from this estate collection include Roosevelt School newsletters, documents, photographs and objects.
Lee McGee
The collection from Lee McGee has objects donated to the Society.
Merle C. Rhodes
In this collection, Armco documents, photographs and objects are featured.
Middletown High School - Yearbooks
This collection features the Optimist and other yearbooks from Middletown High School. One set is located at archives and one set at the Shartle House Museum.
Middletown Music Club
Middletown Music Club's collection includes documents, photographs and scrapbooks.
Richard D. Hopper: MS-066 & MS-072
The MSO collection includes documents, photographs and recordings.
Roberta Daly: MS-079
The collection from Norm and Pat Hayes contains documents, photographs and objects.
Roger Miller: MS-046
The collection from Richard Hopper includes school documents and sports photographs.
Roosevelt Orator: MS-007
The Daly collection includes documents, Hook family photographs and Armco photographs.
Russ Beckner
The Roger Miller collection features documents, photographs, objects, blueprints and prints.
Sebald Brewery & Realty
This is the collection from Roosevelt School featuring the school newsletters.
Sondra Ross Associates
The collection from Russ Beckner contains videotapes that were donated to the society.
Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band
The Sebald collection contains documents, deeds and ledgers that were received by the Society.
Teachers Club (Alpha Delta Kappa): MS-022
In this collection from Sondra Ross Associates are featured documents, photographs and brochures.
TV Middletown
The SOS Band collection features documents, photographs, posters, programs, tape and cd recordings.
The collection from the Teachers Club houses documents and scrapbooks donated to the Society
The large collection from TV Middletown features VHS tapes and dvds from programs featured by this organization.
Verity Family: MS-086
WPFB
The Verity Family collection houses documents, photographs, objects and scrapbooks donated by the family.
The collection from WPFB showcases photographs and objects from this Middletown station.