MS 813 - Willard W. Schaller Papers
MLA Citation
Tags
| Title | MS 813 - Willard W. Schaller Papers |
|---|---|
| Subject | BGSU Centennial History |
| Introduction | The Willard W. Schaller Papers include correspondence, meeting minutes, publications, clippings, drawings, and photos collected by him. Mr. Schaller was an educator and coach before serving in the navy during WWII. He later became involved in the farm drainage business, before returning to education as president of the school board in Monclova Township. The first donation was made by Willard W. Schaller himself in 2001, a year before he died. The second and subsequent gifts were made by his daughter, Kay Sergent, beginning in 2012. Later additions to the collection include mostly financial documents, photos, and printed material belonging to Willard as well as to his wife Helen. |
| Biographical Sketch | Willard W. Schaller was born on December 25th, 1912 in Monclova Township, where he lived for most of his life. He graduated from Monclova High school in 1930, then attended Bowling Green State University and graduated in 1934 with a major in physical education. He was active in sports on campus, lettering in track and football. During his senior year as captain of the football team, Schaller helped organize the Varsity BG Club, which is an association for former BGSU athletes. After graduation he taught and coached in Columbus Grove and Lyons, Ohio. In 1937 he married Helen Thomas. During WWII he served in the Navy, in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. In 1946 he was discharged as a lieutenant and returned home to Ohio. He then went into the farm drainage business, following in the footsteps of his father. He made his fortune working in the farm drainage business for 25 years. He made several innovations in the business, most significantly using an auger to close drainage ditches. He also served as President of the Ohio and National Land Improvement Contractors of America. Still active after retirement, he sold aluminum pipes for several years and fixed machinery as a hobby. Schaller was also involved in the consolidation of the school boards of Watervillle, Whitehouse, and Monclova Township. The schools came together as one district in 1950. The consolidation was no easy task, as the board members faced some public opposition. Things eventually came together and in 1953 the district was renamed Anthony Wayne Local School District. Schaller was on the first board and later would serve as its president. He also donated to the school. He and his siblings donated $10,000 in 1957 to help the school district repay a debt for its high school stadium, and it is thus named Schaller Memorial Stadium, in honor of his parents. In 1999, the Anthony Wayne Alumni Association named him an honorary member due to his contributions and dedication to the district. He was active in clubs throughout his life, serving as past commander of the former Monclova American Legion Post and a member of the Masonic Lodge in Columbus Grove, the BGSU Falcon Club, and the First Presbyterian Church of Maumee. He died of lung cancer on February 22nd, 2002. |
| Scope and Content | This collection contains documents related to the development and activity of farm drainage systems. It includes papers regarding the Advanced Drainage Systems Company, including its charter and board meeting minutes. The bulk of this collection is correspondence concerning various types of draining tiles, tubing - such as clay, plastic, aluminum, or fiberglass – and various drainage techniques. Information about Mr. Schaller and his family’s involvement with the Anthony Wayne Schools is included in the collection along with documentation about his wife, Helen Thomas Schaller. Researchers interested in the social activities of Mrs. Schaller may also wish to consult MMS-2026, a scrapbook presented to her from the Columbus Grove, Ohio Eastern Star Chapter in the late 1930’s. |
| Series Description | CORRESPONDENCE BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE USDA CORRESPONDENCE ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS (ADS) CORRESPONDENCE BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY (BGSU) CORRESPONDENCE SUBJECT FILES ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS (ADS) LAND IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR’S ASSOCIATION (LICA) LICA STATE AFFILIATIONS LICA STATE AFFILIATIONS ANTHONY WAYNE SCHOOLS Includes reports, correspondence, and news clippings pertinent to the Schaller Family’s involvement with the Anthony Wayne Schools. HELEN THOMAS SCHALLER School papers, obituary, photograph, and items documenting Mrs. Schaller’s life. REPORTS LAND APPRAISAL REPORT LEGAL DOCUMENTS DEEDS AND LEGAL DOCUMENTS FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS ACCOUNT LEDGERS Account book for Schaller’s General Merchandise Store belonging to Harry Phillips Schaller (1910) MAPS AND DRAWINGS MAPS AND DRAWINGS PRINTED MATERIAL MISCELLANEOUS MAGAZINES MISCELLANEOUS MAGAZINE AND NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS MISCELLANEOUS PRINTED MATERIAL 1967, 2003 Includes a 2003 Bowling Green State University College of Education and Human Development Honors and Awards program and a 1966 history of the Rufus Putnam Lodge #364 of Columbus Grove, Ohio. PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS Circa 1914, 1918 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS PHOTOCOPIES |
| Inventory | Box 1 Folder
Box 2 Folder
Box 3 Folder
Box 4 Folder
|