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