Cyberspace has been buzzing over the last week as Ohioans react online to the Ohio Senate’s passage of a version of the biennial budget that calls for dramatic cuts in funding for the Ohio Historical Society.

Everyone knows that the dire economic times call for dramatic action. What is proposed for the Society, however, is nothing short of a gutting of vital programming that will have far-reaching impact over multiple years. The list of lost programs is staggering, and includes the following, according to the Society’s website:
  • Elimination of teacher training and educational programs that leverage federal funding
  • Elimination of National History Day in Ohio, a national program which originated in Ohio
  • Elimination of the Local History Office that serves 800 local history organizations
  • Elimination of the Civil War Sesquicentennial (2011-2015) initiative
  • Elimination of the Ohio Historical Markers program
  • Severe restrictions for OHS services throughout the state
  • Reduced ability to generate non-state revenues (i.e., federal grants, private revenue)
    Reduced access to historic sites and museums
  • Reduced ability to recruit local organizations to manage sites
  • Reduced assistance and resources to sites management organizations
Your help is needed as we collectively respond to the potential of these cuts. Here are links to additional information:
Please join OHS and friends of history from across Ohio at noon this Thursday as they RALLY FOR HISTORY! on the grounds of the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus (I-71 at 17th Avenue). Participants will also be able to board busses after the event for meetings with legislators at the Ohio Statehouse. For more information on the rally, please click here.

Photo: crazyanman.history/Creative Commons License