Montgomery County Historical Society (Ohio)

Although the Dayton Historical Society is known to have been formed in 1897, organized interest in Dayton history goes back twenty years earlier to "The Pioneer Association of Dayton," which was formed Nov. 25, 1867 and lasted until 1888. After the first Centennial, on Sept. 30, 1896 the Dayton Historical Society was formed through the efforts of James O. Arnold. The meetings were taking place at Newcom Tavern (the first building to be erected in 1796), which was in the possession of the Historical Society until 1964. The Dayton Historical Society changed its name to the Montgomery County Historical Society in the late 1960s to reflect the expanded scope of the Society. The Society is still active, governed by a Board of Directors and staffed by professional museum personnel and still focuses on information about local history with exhibits, library, artifacts and other events in the Miami Valley.

From these records the widespread activities of Daytonians to transform the wilderness into a civilized and modern industrial city are well represented. The records include: 1) The minutes of both the Pioneer Association of Dayton and the Dayton Historical Society from 1867-present. 2) The Scrapbooks of James Oliver Arnold, first secretary of the Society from 1867-1905, who wrote several newspaper articles on local history and preserved many important artifacts such as 19th century currency and coins, photos and original legal documents. 3) The correspondence of prominent Daytonians, showing the efforts to preserve the Newcom Tavern, Dayton's earliest permanent dwelling, as well as the Old Court House, where President Abraham Lincoln addressed Daytonians during his 1859 presidential campaign.

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