Charles Burleigh Galbreath

Charles Burleigh Galbreath
Charles Burleigh Galbreath
Born	February 25, 1858(1858-02-25) Leetonia, Ohio
Died	February 23, 1934(1934-02-23) (aged 75)
Pen name	C. B. Galbreath
Occupation	Writer, Historian, State Librarian of Ohio
Nationality	American
Citizenship	United States of America
Education	BCS, BA, MA
Alma mater	Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio
Spouse(s)	Ida M. Kelly Galbreath
Children	Albert Webster Galbreath
Relative(s)	Asher A. Galbreath, State Senator

Charles Burleigh (C. B.) Galbreath (February 25, 1858 - February 23, 1934) was a writer, historian, educator, and librarian in Ohio. He was appointed as State Librarian at the State Library of Ohio from 1896–1911 and 1915-1918. He was the Secretary and Librarian at the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society [now known as Ohio Historical Society from 1920-1934.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Early life and career

Galbreath was born February 25, 1858 in Leetonia, Ohio. His parents were Edward Paxson Galbreath and Jane Minerva (Shaw) Galbreath. He attended school until the age of 13 when he was forced to leave because of the illness of his father. After two years, he returned to school and graduated from New Lisbon (Ohio) High School in 1879. After high school, Galbreath attended Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, from which he graduated with a Master of Arts in 1883.^[3][4][6][7]

Galbreath began teaching at the age of 17 and completed a course at Mount Union.^[7] Upon graduation from Mount Union, Galbreath accepted the position of superintendent of the Wilmot, Ohio school system and served there from 1883 - 1885.^[3][4][6] He left Wilmot to become the superinendent of East Palestine, Ohio schools where he served for eight years.^[3][7]

In 1893 took a position teaching at Mount Hope College in Rogers, Ohio. He later became president of the college.^[3]

Galbreath was the county school examiner for Columbiana County Schools from 1885 - 1893.^[3][7]

During the summers of 1891 and 1892, Galbreath taught at Ohio Normal University (now Ohio Northern University) in Ada, Ohio.^[6]

State librarian

The 72nd Ohio General Assembly created a library commission which, in 1896, elected Galbreath State Librarian of the State Library of Ohio.^[8] At this time, the position of State Librarian was viewed as a political 'reward' for support of the administration and, as such, the librarian was often changed with each election. An effect of this is the fact that between 1896 and 1921, the position of State Librarian went back and forth four times between John Newman, during democratic administrations, and Galbreath, during republican administrations. Galbreath served in this capacity twice, from 1896–1911 and again from 1915 - 1918.^[2]

While serving as state librarian, Galbreath instituted 'traveling libraries' to serve rural communities in Ohio.^[9] By the time of his departure from the post in 1911, there were 1200 traveling libraries with over 56,000 volumes. During the period of 1927-1928, when the state library was closed because of lack of funds, Galbreath and others volunteered to keep the traveling libraries in operation.^[2][6][10]

Galbreath was the first president of the National Association of State Librarians in 1900.^[2][11]

Ohio constitutional convention

In 1912, a constitutional convention was held in Ohio. One of the first orders of business was to elect a secretary of the convention. A. Ross Read, delegate from Akron, nominated Galbreath for the post. In the nomination, Read cited Galbreath's experience as state librarian and his familiarity with legislative procedure as well as his writings. Galbreath was elected on the second ballot. The role of the secretary included keeping the records and publishing the proceedings of the convention.^[12]

Selected publications

Throughout his life, Galbreath wrote and published a number of works. These included histories, poetry, commentary, pamphlets and essays. Here is a list of some of his works:

• The First Newspaper of the Northwest Territory. in Ohio Archaeological and Historical Publications, Volume 13. (Fred J. Heer, 1901)
• Lafayette's Visit to Ohio Valley States. In Ohio History Sketches, Pearson, F., & Harlor, J., Ed. (F. J. Heer, 1903)
• Song Writers of Ohio. Ohio archaeological and historical quarterly, Volume 13. Published for the Society by A.H. Smythe, 1904
• Daniel Decatur Emmet: Author of "Dixie"; (Kessinger Publishing, 1904); ISBN 9780548764183
• Benjamin Russel Hanby: Author of "Darling Nelly Gray"; (Columbus, OH: Fred J. Heer, 1905; ISBN 9781175461018
• Alexander Coffman Ross: Author of "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too"; (Columbus, OH: Fred J. Heer, 1905; ISBN 9781149895191
• Shall the State Kill?, The Ohio History Magazine, Volume 2, Number 1, January 1907
• Historical Work of the State Library. in Proceedings of the Ohio Valley Historical Association. Meeting. (Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, 1908)
• The Battle of Lake Erie in Ballad and History. Ohio Archaeological and Historical Publications, xx (1911), 415-456
• Initiative and Referendum: Published for the Constitutional Convention of 1912; (Nabu Press, 1912); ISBN 1144033519
• The Constitution of the United States and the constitutions of Ohio: constitutional conventions of Ohio and their work; (F.J. Heer Print. Co., 1912)
• The Ballad of James Bird. Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, January, 1917, xxvi, 52-57
• This crimson flower: In Flanders fields, an answer, and other verse; (Columbus, OH: Stoneman Press, 1919; ISBN 9781140318996
• The Logan Elm and the Dunmore War (Columbus, OH: Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, 1924)
• History of Ohio (5 volumes); (Reprint Services Corp., 1925) ISBN 9780781253673

References

1. ^ Lincove, David (1999). American National Biography. Oxford University Press. pp. 8: 627–28. ISBN 0195127811. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} "State Librarians of Ohio". State Library of Ohio. http://www.library.ohio.gov/StateLibrarian/aboutus/history/statelibrarians. Retrieved 5 March 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Taylor, William Alexander (1909). Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio. 2. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.. pp. 487–489. http://books.google.com/books?id=RzoVAAAAYAAJ&dq=Mount+Hope+College+Galbreath&source=gbs_navlinks_s. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Who's Who in the World, 1912. The International Who's Who Publishing Company. 1911. pp. 486. http://books.google.com/books?id=I-wRAAAAYAAJ&dq=galbreath+ohio+senator&source=gbs_navlinks_s. 
5. ^ Warner, Landon (January 1952). "Ohio's Constitutional Convention of 1912". Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly 61 (1): 11–31. http://devel-drupal.law.csuohio.edu/lawlibrary/resources/lawpubs/ohioconlaw/documents/Warner.pdf. Retrieved 5 March 2011. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d} "Charles Burleigh Galbreath". Museum Echoes 7 (4): 15–16. April 1934. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d} Vallandigham, C. N.; Mercer, James Kazerta (1896). Representative men of Ohio, 1896-97. Mercer & Vallandigham. http://books.google.com/books?id=nIwvHWJxc08C&dq=galbreath+ohio+senator&source=gbs_navlinks_s. Retrieved 7 March 2011. 
8. ^ Burns, James Jesse (1905). Educational history of Ohio: a history of its progress since the formation of the state, together with the portraits and biographies of past and present state officials. Historical Pub. Co.. pp. 512. http://books.google.com/books?id=A6oAAAAAYAAJ&dq=reveille+Palestine,+Ohio&source=gbs_navlinks_s. 
9. ^ The Traveling library was not a Bookmobile, but rather a library by mail. Scobey, F E; Doty, E W (1905). The Biographical Annals of Ohio. Springfield, Ohio: Springfield Publishing Company. pp. 603–604. http://books.google.com/books?id=k2g1AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA603.  states
   "A traveling library is a collection of from twenty-five to thirty-five books sent out by the State Library to a reading club, an association of citizens, a board of education or a public library, to be kept for three months, with privilege of renewal.
   The objects of the Department are : 1. To furnish good literature to patrons. 2. To strengthen small libraries. 3. To create an interest in the establishment of new libraries.
   On receipt of a request on the forms furnished by the State Library, properly filled out and signed by the members of the club, the officers of a free public library, board of education, or other associations, the books will be shipped. The parties receiving the books must pay transportation both ways."
10. ^ Goodman, Rebecca (June 20, 2003). "State Library was first in Northwest Territory". The Cincinnati Enquirer. http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/06/20/loc_ohiodate0620.html. Retrieved 8 March 2011. 
11. ^ "Among Those Present (Five Portraits)". The Ohio Magazine 2 (1). January 1907. 
12. ^ Galbreath, C. B. (1913). Proceedings and Debates of the Constitutional Convention of the State of Ohio. F. J. Herr Printing, Co.. pp. 33–34. http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/LawLibrary/resources/1912Convention.asp. 

Persondata
Name	Galbreath, Charles Burleigh
Alternative names	Galbreath, C. B.
Short description	American author, historian, librarian
Date of birth	February 25, 1858
Place of birth	Leetonia, Ohio
Date of death	February 23, 1934
Place of death