William E. Peters Papers

The collection is an extensive compilation of his original and biographical research.

Series 1 integrates genealogical materials Peters compiled. Perhaps the most extensively used sources in Peters Collection are the Range Books. These books include historical sites, historical information, and most importantly, cemetery inscriptions of 254 cemeteries in Athens County. Peters also assembled wills, affidavits, photographs, and biographical sketches of various Athens County habitants to complete his Genealogy Volumes. Also included in this series is a book of funeral notices that Lucy A. Brown (1880- 1898), widow of John Dean Brown of Amesville, compiled along with death certificates of diverse Athenians.

Series 2 includes historical information regarding Athens County. Peters wrote Athens County, Ohio in 1947. In the volume, Peters discusses the determination of the location of the city of Athens at the present location instead of The Plains, the canal celebration in Athens, first settlers of Athens and various other historical facts regarding Athens County. Peters includes the history of early mills in the Hocking Valley. Peters also wrote Athens County Business, volume 1 and 2, a history on the "Athens State Hospital'', ''Churches'', and ''Bonds-Public''.

Series 3 is an engaging collection of Ohio historical facts. It includes a history of the construction cf the Miami-Erie Canal System, and in his notebook (Range 5), Peters compiled pamphlets concerning Marietta, Ohio, the most historic city west of the 13 colonies and the Campus Martius Historical Museum, including two issues of the Museum Echoes from 1949 and 1950. This notebook even incorporates a fascinating history on John Chapman, otherwise known to all as "Johnny Appleseed. Peter also compiled Ohio Lands and Their History in 1917. The book gives a detailed description of how Ohio was subdivided and sold to various land companies. Other titles in series 3 are Ohio History, An Abbreviated History of the Legal Title of the Ohio Company to Land in Southeastern Ohio, "Roads-Railroads" (mainly roads, linking Athens with other towns) and ''Evolution of Counties in Ohio''.

Series 4 comprises a myriad of information on American historical events. Peters wrote an interesting history on the Revolutionary War regarding battles, financing the war, and personal accounts of some who were affected by the war. He bound in a pamphlet and map pertaining to the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg.

Series 5, Miscellany, is precisely what the title alleges. There are a few volwnes of assorted postcards and photographs of an apparent journey Peters took along the New England coast and Nova Scotia. He also bound 2 volumes that contain historical information on such places as Sunday Creek Valley, Valley Possibilities (Volume 46), the Laws of Ohio, and the Historical Memorandum (Volume 47). Series 5 also includes 25 volumes entitled the Peters Notebooks. The Notebooks contain historical information Peters used in a variety of his publications. There are photographs of Peters and various relatives and also articles recognizing his achievements and accomplishments on his personal and family history.

Series 6 includes hundreds of photographs. There are photographs of books from Peters personal library, such as Maritime Law and Laws of Pennsylvania, and photographs of the Athens County Courthouse, at various dates, and of Cutler Hall on Ohio University's College Green. There are also photographs of the B & 0 Southwest train the "Cincinnatian" at the Athens Depot in 1947, West State street Cemetery (in 1934), and the Stewart House in Stewart, Ohio. There are many photographs of books in Peters personal library. Located in the vault, are framed photographs of the Ohio National Guard (the assembling of two battalions) and the McGuffey Residence (1839-1843).

Series 7 is a collection of artifact materials. There are dolls made from cornhusks, walnuts, and various other natural materials and a small brown stoneware jug made in the 1850's. Peters has collected original nails from the original construction of Cutler Hall and nails used in the 1882 rebuilding of Cutler Hall. Also, in the collection is a framed photograph of Peters and his nameplate, once at the site of his law office.

The inventory also includes appendices which provide more detailed information on the contents of certain sections of the collection. Appendix A gives an index to the 26 volume Range Books for Athens County. Appendix B lists the names in the 10 volumes on genealogy. The names are not strictly alphabetized within each alphabetical letter. Appendix C lists the topics of information in the Peters Notebooks. Appendices D and E list the contents of two oversize scrapbooks, "Volume 18" and "volume 19" respectively.