MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Since her beginning as the society’s first and only archivist, Phyllis has been diligent in her determination to create an archives department to house and document the many collections of the Middletown Historical Society.

 

The Archives began in late 1999 when AK Steel Holding acquired it’s parent company, Armco, Inc., and took over facilities in Middletown, including Armco Research where the company archives were stored.

 

The Middletown Historical Society was contacted and given over 50 boxes of materials pertaining to the company’s history, which were then put in storage until the society could find a permanent home.

 

In 2000 the society purchased the Pickwick building on South Main Street and the Armco collection was moved there.  The board then decided to look for a part-time archivist to set up a process for documenting the collection. 

 

Phyllis Ashworth had recently completed a degree in public history at Wright State University after having worked at NCR for 30 years.  Her availability was brought to the board’s attention by her brother-in-law and society Board member Sam Ashworth and Phyllis was hired for the job.

 

With the help of a dedicated group of retired Armco employees and other volunteers, Phyllis began the task of documenting, preserving and storing the Armco collection and others which quickly became available.

 

Over the past 24 years the Archives department has grown to include over 50 collections, including the Armco Collection, the Middletown Journal Collection of photographic negatives, the Chamber of Commerce Collection, the Corson family collection, the Verity family collection and many others.

 

The Middletown Historical Society Archives Department, under the guidance of Phyllis Ashworth, has provided research materials to countless requests for information regarding Middletown’s history and the society is greatly appreciative of her years of dedication to the organization.

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We are so honored to have Phyllis featured as our Membership Spotlight.