The Pioneer and Historical Society of Muskingum County

The Pioneer and Historical Society of Muskingum County is an organization located in Zanesville, Ohio, which is operated with the intention of preserving the history of the Zanesville and Muskingum County region of Ohio. It is a non-profit entity which operates several important historic sites in and around the Zanesville, Ohio, area including the Dr. Increase Mathews House, built in 1805 by a founder of the town ["Historical society to hold open house at museum site." The Times Recorder, Zanesville, Ohio, November 15, 1970, page 12. Via Newspaperarchive.com (subscription). Retrieved August 26, 2008.] and the Stone Academy, erected 1809 as a possible state capitol, which was a meeting place for Abolitionist societies, [ [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/underground/oh13.htm] NPS.gov, "Aboard the underground railroad." Retrieved August 26, 2008.] and once the home of writer Elizabeth Robins, and which she wrote about. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=ZNAOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA251&dq=%22The+Pioneer+and+Historical+Society+of+Muskingum+County%22&lr=&as_brr=0&sig=ACfU3U1NnQS7KZzYSfhtrwmv4UnRenrE0g#PPA17,M1] John, Angela V. "Elizabeth Robins: Staging a Life, 1862-1952" Routledge, 1995ISBN 0415061121, 9780415061124. The Stone Academy is discussed on pages 16-17 and the Pioneer and Historical Society's role in restoring it is mentioned on page 251. Retrieved August 26, 2008.] The Pioneer and Historical Society of Muskingum County received a Preservation Merit Award from the Ohio Historic Preservation Office Award in 1993 for its work restoring and preserving the Stone Academy. [ [http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/histpres/programs/ard/ard-01.html#PM1993] Ohio Historic Preservation award. Retrieved August 26, 2008.]

It is one of the oldest historical societies in the state, chartered March 4, 1890, as the successor organization to the Muskingum County Pioneer Association and the Old Settlers Association. [Schneider, Norris F., "Pioneer Society Museum is oldest house in county." The Times Recorder, Zanesville, Ohio, August 19, 1973, page 8 ff. Via Newspaperarchive.com (subscription). Retrieved August 26, 2008.] It was reorganized in 1924, and exhibitions were re-opened to the public in Memorial Hall. [ The Zanesville Signal, May 9, 1924, reprinted in "Historical sketches" by Norris F. Schneider, The Zanesville Signal, August 27, 1954, page 4. Via Newspaperarchive.com (subscription). Retrieved August 26, 2008.]

The Society maintains a vast number of historical documents ["Possessions of society to be cataloged." The Zanesville Signal (Ohio), November 19, 1955, page 3. Via Newspaperarchive.com (subscription). Retrieved August 26, 2008.] as well which may be reviewed by contacting them directly by telephone at 740-454-9500. Among these are the journal and papers of Dr. Mathews, a pioneer who first explored the area in 1798. The papers were presented to the Society in 1943 by a descendant. [Schneider, Norris F. "Dr. Increase Matthews' home serves as Zanesville museum." The Times Recorder, Zanesville, Ohio, August 5, 1973, page 18. Mathews' diary was published in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register in 1932. Via Newspaperarchive.com (subscription). Retrieved August 26, 2008.] The society also has the papers of Thomas Merritt (born 1759), a New Englander who was commissioned to serve in the loyalist Queen's Rangers in 1782 in the American Revolution, and who served as a Major of Canadian forces in the War of 1812. [Schneider, Norris F., "Order signed by Gen. Brock owned by Historical Society." The Times Recorder, Zanesville, Ohio, August 14, 1966, page 42. The Society's collection includes 25 Merritt documents, including a commission signed by Gen. Isaac Brock. The Toronto Historical Board in the 1960's exchanged a picture of Brock for copies of the Society's documents related to Brock and Merritt. Via Newspaperarchive.com (subscription). Retrieved August 26, 2008.] The Society owns documents such as land grants or military commissions signed by George Washington , John Adams , Thomas Jefferson , James Monroe and Abraham Lincoln. [Schneider, Norris F. "Pioneer Society prepares bicentennial exhibit." The Times Recorder, Zanesville, Ohio, May 26, 1974, page 18. Via Newspaperarchive.com (subscription). Retrieved August 26, 2008.]

The world's "largest and most representative collection" of Weller art pottery was donated to the Society in 1958. Weller operated in Zanesville until 1948. ["Pottery to Pioneer Society." The Times Recorder, Zanesville, Ohio, August 25, 1958, page 20. Via Newspaperarchive.com (subscription). Retrieved August 26, 2008.]

Source: The G. W. Adams Educational Center, Inc.

References

External links

* [http://www.zanesville.com/zhs/ Official Website]