MS-079

MS-79

 

RAYNER COLLECTION

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Rayner Collection was accessioned into the Flesh Public Library Archives in January, 2001.  It fills two Hollinger boxes and thirty-nine file folders.  The collection includes materials from 1817 to 1926.  There are no known restrictions on the use of this collection.

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

The Rayner Collection is divided into eight Series:

 

SERIES I:                    Photographs

 

SERIES II:                  Schools

 

SERIES III:     Documents

 

SERIES IV:     Prohibition

 

SERIES V:                  Newspaper Clippings

 

SERIES VI:     Elections

 

SERIES VII:    Hardy Material

 

SERIES VIII:  Miscellaneous

 

HISTORY

 

John A. Rayner (born 8 December, 1864; died 18 October, 1919) was a prominent Piqua resident best known for his avid interest in archaeology and local history.  He amassed a large collection of prehistoric artifacts, wrote articles, and also published The First Century of Piqua  in 1917.  He was also a farmer, plumber, and township clerk.

 

The Rayner Collection comprises an eclectic assortment of materials, the majority of which are numerous newspaper clippings on various activities of Piqua interest including Prohibition, schools, elections, the library, and Piqua’s conversion to a city manager form of government.  Also included are a few glass plate negatives, stereo cards, and printed documents such as local ballots, city charters, and “wet” and “dry” flyers.  Also included are materials relating to Frank Hardy’s Civil War service.

 

CONTAINER LISTING

 

SERIES I           PHOTOGRAPHS

BOX 1

File      1          Orr Flesh Building

            2          Militia Unit 1881

            3          Stephen Johnston

            4          Notes

            5          Courthouse War

            6          Stereo Cards

                        Inc. Pickawillany

 

SERIES II          SCHOOLS

 

File      7          School Documents

            8          Newspaper Clippings, 1894 -1920

 

SERIES III         DOCUMENTS, PRINTED

 

File      9          Western Ohio Fair Association Program -1875

            10        Piqua Charter Incorporation: 1856 -1929

            11        Conservancy District

            12        1880 Census –local information

            13        Piqua Events

            14        Echo Lake development

 

SERIES IV         PROHIBITION

 

File      15        Domestic letters & flyers -1912 -1922

            16        Mayor Lorimer’s statements -1915

            17        O.W. Wirard information -1914

            18        Newspaper clippings -1908 -1923

           

SERIES V          NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS, GENERAL

 

File      19        Municipal Utilities

            20        Randolph Slaves          1901 -1917

            21        Public Library  1891 -1919

            22        Postmaster Will J. Prince

            23        Miscellaneous 1915 -1920

BOX 2

File      1          Traffic/Street Dept.

            2          City Manager System -1926

 

SERIES VI         ELECTIONS

BOX 2

File      3          Sample Ballots

            4          Flyers

            5          Newspaper Clippings

 

SERIES VII        HARDY MATERIAL

 

File      6          Official Army documents -1860’s

            7          Drafts, Notes for Reinstatement -1863

            8          Diaries –Civil War

            9          GAR information

            10        Miscellaneous

 

SERIES VIII       MISCELLANEOUS

 

File      11        Pickawillany

            12        Chappell Correspondence

            13        Throp documents –early 1800’s

            14        Huntersville, city officials -1879

            15        Zimmerlin Case -1873

            16        Miscellaneous

            17        Artifact Notebook

                        Archaeological discovery of prehistoric people