Ohio Common School Reform Bibliography

 PERIODICAL MATERIAL

Educational Journals

 

The Pestalozzian was published in Akron, Ohio published in 1838.  E.L. Sawtell and H.K. Smith were the editors.  Only nine issues were printed, all original issues are available @ Marietta College

 

The Ohio Common School Director, published Columbus, Ohio by Samuel Lewis, Ohio Superintendent of Common Schools, 1838 - on microfilm, American Periodical Series, 1800-1850 available @ Kent State University

 

The Common School Journal published in Boston, Massachusetts, edited by Horace Mann, Marsh, Capen, Lyon and Webb 1838-1851- on microfilm, American Periodical Series, 1800-1850 @ Kent State University

 

 The Free School Clarion - was published in Akron & Massillon, Ohio from 1846-1849. Dr. Bowen served as editor from 1846-1847 and Lorin Andrews and M.D. Leggett were editors in 1848-1849.  Only Volume I, No. 8 and Volume 3, No. 1-6 were located - original issues located @ Oberlin College, Marietta College and Harvard University.

 

The Ohio School Journal was published at Kirkland, Ohio in 1846 and Columbus from 1847 to 1849.  Asa D. Lord was the editor - original issues @ Ohio State University’s EHS Library

 

The Child’s Fiend and Family Magazine, edited by abolitionist Eliza Lee Follen, Cambridge Massachusetts, 1843-1858 microfilm, American Periodical Series, Kent State University Library - elementary and moral stories, for mothers and teachers.

 

Ohio Journal of Education, edited by Dr. Asa Lord, Lorin Andrews, et al, by the Ohio State Teachers’ Association, Columbus, 1852 and 1853 original issues available @ Kent State University, Marietta College and Oberlin College

 

General Newspapers

 

The Akron Beacon and Republican - Akron, Ohio a Republican newspaper a few articles from 1897 were used for this study. This paper was a direct successor of the Summit Beacon, listed below.

 

The Summit Beacon - Akron, Ohio a Whig newspaper, edited from 1844 by Laurin Dewey until 1848 when it was taken over by John Teesdale, former editor with the Ohio State Journal. Teesdale continuing until 1856. The years 1846, 1847 and 1848 are mysteriously missing from this otherwise complete collection of papers dating from 1841 to the present. Unfortunately, these are the most important years concerning the common school reform movement in Akron. However, it was common at this time for newspapers to copy articles printed in other papers. In this way a few articles originally published in the Summit Beacon, were copied in the Hudson Observer and American Democrat. These articles show somewhat of an anti-school bent and there was some antagonism between these papers. As the opposition to free schools was largely a position supported by the Whig party and the Summit Beacon being an organ of that party, this supposition seems reasonable. Yet when the citizens demonstrated their overwhelming support of the new school system, the Summit Beacon’s editorial views took a more favorable lean towards Akron’s schools. By 1851 this paper was a warm friend of education. The Akron Beacon Journal Series, of which this paper belongs, is indexed and available on microfilm at the Akron/Summit County Public Library, The University of Akron’s Bierce Library, Kent State University Library and the Ohio Historical Society, where it is also available through inter-library loan.

 

The American Balance - Akron, Ohio 1837-1839, politically independent from 1837 through 1839. Editor Horace K. Smith, with Gideon G. Galloway from 1837 through 1838 and becoming an organ of the Whig Party upon partnership with Hiram Bowen the first week of January, 1839. Closed in late February, 1839. A few months later Bowen started The Summit Beacon. The American Balance is likely the most useful newspaper printed in Akron during this period (1830s and 1840s because of its focus on local news; agricultural and industrial developments, village council meetings, covered all political parties with equal interests and gave huge amounts of space to educational issues. When Bowen took over Galloway’s interests in the partnership, it largely stopped covering local news and turned to copying articles from out of town sources. Available only through interlibrary loan from the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, Ohio.

 

The American Democrat - Akron, Ohio, Edited by Horace Canfield, 1842-1848 A Democratic newspaper and warm friend of education. It published huge numbers of articles covering the activities and events of the common school reform movement, including the exhaustive citizen’s committee reports leading to the Akron School Law of 1847. Original issues available only at the Western Reserve Historical Society, not available through inter-library loan.

 

Hudson Observer - Hudson, Ohio an Independent newspaper with strong religious content. The dates used for this study were 1845-1848. Available on microfilm at the Hudson Library Archives and Historical Collections and through inter-library loan at the Ohio Historical Society.

 

Anti-Slavery Bugle - New Lisbon, Ohio: Ohio American Anti-slavery Society, 1845-1861. An anti-slaver newspaper, containing letters from Betsey Mix Cowles in 1848-1849 relating to the Massillon Union School expulsion of “colored” students and later articles on Leicester, David and Henry W. King in the 1850's. Oberlin College has original issues and the Ohio Historical Society has microfilm available through inter-library loan.

 

The Akron Eagle, The Akron Free Democrat & Free Democratic Standard - Akron, Ohio these were Democratic newspapers, with growing anti-slavery leanings, edited by Horace Canfield and later with the addition of Sidney Edgerton. Covers a period from 1848 to 1851 – a many good articles on the common school reform movement can be found in these three newspapers. They, also, cover the activities of those Akron members of the common school reform movement involved in the abolition cause, from Liberty Party men to Free Soilers. These papers were the direct successor to the American Democrat listed above. The American Eagle listed itself as an Independent, but wasn’t. It used this name from 1848-1849 when it changed its name to the Akron Free Democrat. Then it changed its name after a few months publications to the Free Democrat Standard. Each name change seems to signal a stronger anti-slavery editorial view. Complete collection of original issues, available only at the Western Reserve Historical Society.

 

Cascade Roarer - Akron, Ohio a temperance newspaper, of interest only because so many of the members of the common school reform movement were also strong temperance men. Edited by Samuel Lane 1845-1846. Complete collection of original issues available at the Western Reserve Historical Society and an incomplete collection available through inter-library loan from the Ohio Historical Society, in Columbus, Ohio.

 

Ohio State Journal - Columbus, Ohio. This newspaper gave strong coverage of the political scene in Columbus, in Ohio’s General Assembly and State offices. Issues used for this study were 1846 to 1853 available only at the Ohio Historical Society, on microfilm, available for inter-library loan.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Catalog of the Officers, Teachers and Pupils of Massillon Union Schools, Massillon, Ohio The Herold, 1849

 

Flier, Order of the Literary Exercise, Massillon Union Schools, Massillon, Ohio; The Massillon Museum. 1851

 

Flier, Weekly Course of Study in the Teachers Seminary and Boy’s School Under the Care of Dr. Diesterweg, at Berlin, in the Summer Term, 1836, Cincinnati, publisher and date unknown

 

Obituary, Marcellus F. Cowdery, (1815-1885) unknown newspaper clipping, Sandusky, Ohio, Sandusky Library

 

Petition of Thomas Blackburn, et all - Massillon, November 22, 1848 - Massillon, Ohio; Massillon Museum original in the Wales- Rotch Collection

 

School Regulations, Massillon Union Schools, Massillon, Ohio; The Massillon Museum, 1848.

 

Tuition Receipts, Massillon Union Schools, Massillon, Ohio; The Massillon Museum 1849-50

 

 

 

MANUSCRIPTS & PAPERS

 

Andrews, Lorin; Papers; Gambier, Ohio; Kenyon College

 

Andrews, Lorin; Papers, Massillon, Ohio; The Massillon Museum

 

Andrews, Lorin; Letter; Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, Princeton University

 

Audretsch, Robert W., The Salem, Ohio 1850 Women’s Rights Convention Proceedings, Betsy Mix Cowles, President of the Convention, Salem, Ohio; Salem Area Bicentennial Committee and Salem Public Library, 1988

 

Bowen, Dr. William; Papers; Massillon, Ohio The Massillon Museum

 

Braden, James A., The Life of Simon Perkins Founder of Akron, manuscript of an address delivered on the occasion of the opening of the John Brown Historical Museum, Akron, June 25, 1944. Akron Public Library

 

Cowles, Betsey Mix;  Papers;  Kent, Ohio; American History Research Center, Kent State University Library

 

Cowles, Betsey Mix; Papers; Massillon; The Massillon Museum

 

DeBlasio, Donna M. Phd., Nomination of Betsey Mix Cowles to the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame, Columbus, Ohio; Ohio Historical Society, 1988

 

Henry W. King; Alumni Records; Hartford, Connecticut, Trinity College

 

Leggett, Mortimer D.; Records, Crystal City, Virginia; US Patent & Trademark Office

 

Leggett, Mortimer D.; Papers, Manuscript Collection, Western Reserve Historical Society

 

Lewis, Samuel; Papers; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cincinnati Historical Society Library

 

Lord, Asa Dearborn; Letters; Manuscript Collection, Western Reserve Historical Society

 

McGuffey, William H.;  Papers.  Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

 

Perkins, George T.; Alumni Records; Marietta, Ohio; Marietta College

 

Perkins, Simon Junior, Letters, Simon Perkins Papers, (Box 28) Manuscript Collection, Western Reserve Historical Society

 

Stowe, Calvin E.; Papers; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cincinnati Historical Society Library

 

Teaching Staff Bulletin FC-28, History and Memories of Early Warren High Schools; Warren, Ohio; Warren City Schools, April - 1957

 

PUBLIC DOCUMENTS

Massachusetts, Laws of the State of, January Session, 1827 CXLIII, SEC 21.

 

The Ohio Laws

 

Ohio Executive Documents, 1839-1850

 

ADVANCE \d4Ohio General. Assembly., Journal of the 35th General Assembly of the Ohio House of Representatives ...1837

 

O.G.A.,  Journal of the 37th General Assembly of the Ohio House of Representatives... 1839

O.G.A.,  Journal of the 38th General Assembly of the Ohio House of Representatives... 1840

O.G.A.,  Journal of the 39th General Assembly of the Ohio House of Representatives... 1841

O.G.A.,  Journal of the 45th General Assembly of the Ohio House of Representatives... 1847

O.G.A.,  Journal of the 46th General Assembly of the Ohio House of Representatives... 1848

O.G.A.,  Journal of the 47th General Assembly of the Ohio House of Representatives... 1849

 

O.G.A.,  Journal of the Senate of the state of Ohio, first session of the legislature ..........1839

O.G.A.,  Journal of the Senate of the state of Ohio, second session of the legislature .... 1840

O.G.A.,  Journal of the Senate of the state of Ohio, first session of the legislature ......... 1841

O.G.A.,  Journal of the Senate of the state of Ohio, first session of the legislature ......... 1847

O.G.A.,  Journal of the Senate of the state of Ohio, second session of the legislature .... 1848

O.G.A.,  Journal of the Senate of the state of Ohio, first session of the legislature ........ 1849

 

Ohio General Assembly, Report on the Standing Committee on Common Schools with the Accompanying Bill; Presented by Mr. Van Hook, February 9, 1838

 

Portage County, Ohio , Enumeration of Youth and Partial Census for School Districts in Portage County, Ohio 1832-1838, complied by William C. Johnson, Kent, Ohio; American History Research Center, Kent State University Library, 1982

 

Summit County “Red Book” land / tax records 1846

 

The United States Census Reports, 1840 and 1850 for Portage Township, microfilm, Akron / Summit County Public Library

 

GOVERNMENT REPORTS & SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS

 

Ohio Constitutional Convention (1850-1851) Report of the Debates and Proceedings of the Convention for the Revision of the Constitution of the State of Ohio, 1850-1851; Columbus, Ohio S. Medary, printer to the Convention, 1851

 

Ohio General Assembly.  A History of Education in the State of Ohio.  Columbus: The Gazette Printing House 1876 available @ Kent State University Library

 

Ohio General Assembly. Ohio School Laws, Blank Forms and Opinions of Commissioners, Second Edition, Columbus, Ohio Richard Nevin, State Printer, 1858

 

Ohio Annual School Reports by Samuel Lewis, State Superintendent of Common Schools 1837, 1838, 1839 - Cincinnati Historical Society

Ohio Annual School Reports by Secretary of State, Samuel Gallway, 1846, 1847 - Marietta College, Special Collections

Ohio Annual School Reports by Secretary of State, Henry W. King, 1850, 1851 - Oberlin College, Special Collections

 

Stowe, Calvin E., Report on Elementary Public Instruction In Europe made to the Thirty-sixth General Assembly, State of Ohio, Columbus; Samuel Medary, Printer to the State, 1837

 

United States, Census Office, 7^th Census, 1850, Abstract of the Population of Ohio for the Year 1850, Complied from the Returns of the Seventh Census Under a Resolution of the Ohio Constitutional Convention by Secretary of State (Henry W. King); Columbus, Ohio S. Medary, Printer to the Convention, 1851

 

EDUCATIONAL ADDRESSES, REPORTS & SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS

 

Galloway, Samuel, Address, Delivered Before the Graduates of the Union Literary Society of Miami University, Springfield, Ohio; Harrison & Williamson, Pioneer Office, 1838 - American History Research Center, Kent State University

 

Lewsi, Samuel, Esq., Remarks on Common Schools, Appendix,  The Prussian System of Public Instruction, and its Applicability to the Unites States. Cincinnati; Truman and Smith, 1836 - Cincinnati Historical Center

 

Lewis, Samuel, Report on the Best Method of Establishing and Forming Common Schools in the West, Transaction of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Western Literary Institute and College of Professional Teachers, Held in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 1835, Cincinnati, Ohio; Published by the Executive Committee, 1836 - Cincinnati Historical Center

Lewis, Samuel, The Expediency of Adopting Common School Education to the Entire Wants of the Community, Transaction of the Sixth Annual Meeting of the Western Literary Institute and College of Professional Teachers, Cincinnati, Ohio; Published by the Executive Committee, 1837 - Cincinnati Historical Center

 

Ohio State Teachers’ Association, Proceedings of the Ohio State Teachers’ Association from it Formation in 1847: with a List of its Officers and Members, Columbus, Ohio; Scott & Bascom, 1851 - American History Resource Center, Kent State University

 

Stowe, Calvin E., The Prussian System of Public Instruction, and its Applicability to the Unites States. Cincinnati; Truman and Smith, 1836 - Cincinnati Historical Center

 

Stowe, Calvin E., D.D., Professor of Biblical Literature, Report, on the Course of Instruction in the Common Schools of Prussia and Wirtemberg. Lane Seminary , 1836 - Cincinnati Historical Center

 

Stowe, Calvin E., Professor, Address, College of Teachers, Emigrants’ Friend Society, Together with the Constitution and List of Officers, Cincinnati, N.S. Johnson, Printer, October, 1835 - Cincinnati Historical Society

 

COLLEGE THESIS

 

Folck, Linda L. A Biography of Betsey Mix Cowles - Kent, Ohio : Kent State University, 1979

 

Young, Howard S., Historical Study of Ohio High Schools, Kent, Ohio Kent State University, 1941

 

Wertheim, Sally E., Backgrounds to Action, A study of Ohio Legislators in the Thirty-fifth Session of the Ohio House of Representatives in Regard to Their Vote on Educational Legislation, Thesis (Masters) , 1968

ADVANCE \d4Wertheim, Sally E., Educational periodicals : propaganda sheets for Ohio common schools Thesis (Ph. D.)--Case Western Reserve University, 1970

 

SECONDARY SOURCES

 

Akron Public Schools corp author, The restoration of the Old Stone School / a project of the Akron Public Schools, Akron, Ohio: Akron Public Schools 1967 Bierce Library U of A

 

Barnard, Henry H., Educational Biography; Memoirs of Teachers, Educators, and Promoters, American Education Series, New York, Arno Press, 1969   (Used photos of Lewis and Stowe from this book to make drawings.)

 

Barnard, Henry H., School Architecture, Norton, New York, B. Charles, 1854

 

Burns, James Educational History of Ohio  Columbus: Historical Publishing Co. 1905

available @ KentStateUniversity

 

Colopy, Michele    Living History, Dying Art: The History of Glendale Cemetery 1991

 

Conlin, Mary Lou, Simon Perkins of the Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio; The Western Reserve Historical Society, 1968

 

Curoe, Philip R.V., History of Education, New York, Globe Book Company 1921

 

Grismer, Karl H., Akron and Summit County, Akron, Ohio; The Summit county Historical Society, 195?

 

Hansen, Helen, From the Widow's Walk : A View of Sandusky; Sandusky, Ohio; Follett House Museum, Branch of Sandusky Library, 1991

 

Jackson, James S. and Margot Y., At Home On The Hill, The Perkins Family of Akron, Akron, Ohio; The Summit County Historical Society, 1983

 

Lane, Samuel,  Fifty Years and Over, The History of Summit County, Beacon Job Department, 1892

 

Massachusetts state printers, Abstract of the Massachusetts school returns, Boston : Dutton and Wentworth, state printers, [18 ]-1846

 

Massillon, Ohio Public Schools, corp author, A Century of Education, Massillon, Ohio 1947

 

McGovern, Frances: Written on the Hills, The Making of Akron Landscapes, The University of Akron Press, Akron, Ohio 1996

 

Miller, Edward A. The History of Education Legislation in Ohio from 1803 to 1850, American Education Series, New York, Arno Press, 1969

 

Minnich, Harvey C. Centennial history of Ohio Education Association. Akron Decemeber 30-31, 1847 - Columbus, December 29-31, 1947. Columbus, Ohio Education Association, 1947

 

ADVANCE \d4Paschen, Stephen H., Order in the court : the courts and the practice of law in Akron, Ohio 1787-1945 Akron, Ohio: Summit County Historical Society, 1997

 

ADVANCE \d4Perrin, William Henry, History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio; Chicago, Baskin & Battey, 1881

 

Quine, C.R., Old Akron’s One Room Schoolhouses; Akron, Ohio, Summit County Historical Society, 1959

 

Reisner, Edward H., The Evolution of the Common School, New York, MacMillan Co. 1930

 

Reisner, Edward H., Nationalism and Education Since 1789, A social and Political History of Modern Education, New York, MacMillan Co. 1925

 

Sloane, J. Sec. Of State. The School Officers Guide for the State of Ohio  Columbus, Samuel Medary, State Printer 1842 @ Kent State University, American History Research Center

 

Upton, Harriet Taylor, History of the Western Reserve; H. G. Cutler and a staff of leading citizens collaborated on the counties and biographies; Chicago, New York, Lewis Pub. Co., 1910

 

Upton, Harriet Taylor, A Twentieth Century History of Trumbull County, Ohio: a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests ; Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1909 @ at Warren Public Schools, Warren, Ohio

 

White, Emerson School Systems of Ohio.  Columbus: Gazette Printing House, 1876

 

ADVANCE \d4

 

 

 

Articles

 

Bossing, Nelson.  “History of Educational Legislation in Ohio.”  Ohio Archeological and Hisotrical Publications, XXXIX (1930), 218-219; 223-399

 

“System of Common Schools in Ohio.” American Journal of Education, VI (1859), 85-103

available@UofA & Kent

 

Cohen, Jesse. “Early Education in Ohio.” Magazine of Western History, III (1886), 217-23

available@UofA & Kent

 

Hinsdale, B.A.  “The History of Popular Education on the Western Reserve.”  Ohio Historical Quarterly, I   1898