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<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">SOA Members,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Each year, the Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board (OHRAB) offers
<a href="https://www.ohiohistory.org/education/ohio-history-day/">Ohio History Day</a> awards for papers, websites, and documentaries that demonstrate exceptional use of Ohio primary sources. In the past few years, we’ve noticed a significant drop off in students’
use of primary sources from Ohio’s archives and libraries. To encourage students to explore archival collections in Ohio, both in person and online, OHRAB is reaching out to you to ask if you have collections that exemplify the 2026 History Day Theme of
<b>Revolution, Reform, Reaction in History</b>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">If you could send us the name of your institution and the name of the collection that you believe a student could use to develop a great project, we would very much appreciate it. These submissions will
be incorporated into the theme materials and resources that the Ohio History Day Program Coordinators at the Ohio History Connection share with educators around the state.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">To up the ante a bit, we are offering a prize to the institution that submits a short paragraph describing why its collection best exemplifies the theme of
<b>Revolution, Reform, Reaction in History</b>. For example, I work for a county government. As you can imagine, we aren’t too keen on revolution. But even I could find a collection that would fit the theme:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Montgomery County Board of County Commissioners, Paula McIlwaine Papers: Paula McIlwaine was the first elected woman to the Montgomery County Board of County Commissioners. Her
election led to a <b>revolution</b> in the advancement of women within county government. Commissioner McIlwaine went on to
<b>reform</b> county government, bringing efficiency and professionalism to county administration. The
<b>reaction</b> to Commissioner McIlWaine’s efforts continue to this day as Montgomery County aims to honor the legacy she left.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">All submission are due August 15, 2025.</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Consider this to be a late summer brain teaser. To get those little gray cells working, see the
<a href="https://nhd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/NHD_2026_ThemeBook_online_052225.pdf">
National History Day Theme Book</a> for ideas. Morgan McQueen from the Ohio History Connection has a great article offering the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks as a topic.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">As we celebrate America250 in 2026, let’s help students learn what makes their communities unique by introducing them to the archives and libraries that make their communities special.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Tina Ratcliff</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">OHRAB, Chair</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Tina S. Ratcliff</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Montgomery County Records & Information Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Montgomery County Records Center & Archives<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">117 S. Main St.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">PO Box 972<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Dayton OH 45422<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">(937) 496-6932<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="mailto:ratclifft@mcohio.org">ratclifft@mcohio.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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