Meetings and Minutes in the Ida Rupp GLH Collection - Susan Dress

Meetings and Minutes in the Ida Rupp Genealogy & Local History (GLH) collection

Reading minutes and meeting records can be an interesting window on daily life in times past. Following are a few books found in our collection:

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Records of the Thursday Study club give us a look at social life in Port Clinton, between the Great wars.

G&LH 305.406 THURSDAY 1923-1929

Thursday Study Club Minutes 1923 Thru 1929 Roll Call Roster 1923-1929 Early Constitution and By-Laws

G&LH 305.406 THURSDAY 1930-1939

Thursday Study Club Port Clinton, Ohio Minutes 1930 Thru 1939 Roll Call members Roster 1930-1939

At the first meeting of the Literary Club, it was decided that the purpose of the organization would be the study of finer arts, literature, and civics. At the third meeting, it was discussed and decided that the club would focus their attention on literary, philanthropic, and social pursuits. Meetings through the years give us a snapshot of who the social leaders of Port Clinton were, and what they were reading and studying.

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Meeting minutes of the Friends of the Library give us a glimpse of the work that goes into providing library programs and materials.

G&LH 027.0771 FRIENDS 1978-1999

Friends of the Ida Rupp Public Library Meeting Minutes 1978-1999

Reading these minutes is a trip through time and changes at the library, as the Friends members discuss library expenditures through the years. Purchases for the library in 1978 included a toy chest and puppet show for Children’s and microfilming of newspapers. Profits from the 1979 used book sale were $102.52. Discussion was held about pricing for used books, and it was decided to collect 5 cents for children's books, 10 cents for paperbacks and 25 cents for hard bound.

In 1987 the Friends agreed to donate $1,000 towards the purchase of a computer, printer, and software for library staff, allowing staff to automate many office tasks. Total cost was estimated at $3,000. In March of 1989 library director Pat Losinski asked the Friends to consider the purchase of a Dial-A-Story system. They agreed, the system was installed, and within 8 months had received 5,608 calls. In November of 1989, the library director asked the Friends for assistance with another computer project for the library, as part of the conversion of the card catalog to electronic format.

In May of 1990, the Friends discussed passage of the library levy which funded expansion, renovation, and computerization of the building at 310 Madison St., work which was completed in 1991.

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The Matthews Boat Owners Association books give us a history of those who built the boats and the people that love them.

G&LH 623.82 CON

Matthews Boat Owners Association, Inc. Constitution and Matthews Company Chronological Milestones

This book contains highlights from the Matthews Boat Company history, from its founding in the 1880’s through its closure in 1974 and sale of the building in 1976.

G&LH 623.8231 MBO 1983/03-1992/01

Matthews Boat Owners Association Logs

Bound newsletters of the Association include travel stories, bits of boat history, and tons of advice on how to care for your Matthews Boat. Oh, and recipes geared for onboard cooking.

G&LH 623.8231 SCR

Matthews Boat Owners Association Scrapbook Quips

The Scrapbook Quips newsletters bound here give narrative style accounts of the Matthews Boat Company history and of power boating in general, and detailed stories of individual boats built by Matthews. The January 1986 issue tells the story of the Romar, built in 1916 for Charles E Ringling, one of the Ringling Brothers circus family. This was the 5th Matthews boat purchased by Charles, and the 8th to be purchased by the Ringling family.

The April 1988 issue is devoted to the Matthews company 75th anniversary, in 1965; a year that saw major changes to the company. Controlling interest in the company had passed for the first time from the Matthews family, and the new owner introduced the 53-footer, and a new 45-footer, available in 6 models.

So come take a cruise down memory lane in our local history collection.