Clifford G. Lantz Rotarian Denise Springer chats with Lantz. Springer is a member of the Board of Friends of Culture & History.

September 13, 2011

Clifford Lantz was speaking from a lifetime of personal experience when he told Putnam Rotarians today, "Know your history! Know your culture! And you will be enriched by it for the rest of your life. And you'll want to add to it and build upon it."

Lantz is President of the Friends of Culture & History, a support group for the state office which is responsible for the state library, the archives & history area, the arts, historic preservation, and the State Museum. And he has been active in Friends since establishment of the incorporated organization in 1992.

"I didn't know until I was involved in this how much there is to know and how truly deep it runs. You pick a domain, something that you're interested in, and you go up there and do the research. You'll never get away. And it is just -- really -- a thoroughly satisfying thing to do.

"I was a youngster at the time," he said, "and I kept going up to that room up on the fourth floor [of the east wing] of the capitol building. And we were all perspiring. There was no air conditioning. The books were just jammed together.

"I was working on a research paper on the interurban system of railways -- and later, buses -- up and down the Kanawha Valley back in the twenties.

"And they had the material -- the original stuff -- and I got to read the original records and got acquainted with the names of the people who made that railway a reality. You know, if you wanted to go to work in Charleston, you could hop on one of those [cars] that ran every half hour. Fantastic! Never knew that existed before.

"Looked across the room and there was a fellow who always showed up about the same time I did. And all that summer he was there doing work. And in time we got acquainted, struck up a conversation, and I said, 'Well, what are you doing?'

"Said, 'I'm doing my family tree.' And he said, 'I'm having a lot of trouble with it.' Said, 'I don't like some of these people.'

"You see, that's one of the risks you take when you do your family tree. And you might find a bright one here and there, and a fellow who was really outstanding.

"And we became good friends, and we always complained that there must not be enough money for this operation. They don't have enough room for the collection they had. A good deal [of material] has to be called for because it's in storage."

In time, the library and archives were moved into the West Virginia Cultural Center.

"I encourage you to treat this repository as yours," Lantz continued. "It belongs to the people. It's yours. You paid for it with your tax dollars and we have tried to make it as people-friendly as possible.

"Today you go into the archives, and you find electronic equipment that is here for you to use. You can read stuff on microfilm -- the originals may well have to be stored and kept in moisture proof and air conditioned containers, but you get to read the documents anyway. And it's easy and convenient to do.

"And guess who bought five of those wonderful readers for you to enjoy. Our little group did. And we are the ones who insisted that they get them because they didn't have those dollars in their budget. When something comes along that we see would be of great benefit, we simply went out and bought it.

County Commission President Joe Haynes greets visitors to Putnam Rotary wearing the traditional "sorting hat." The hat, provided by Dianna Casto from a Harry Potter film, is intended to spark conversation. Mike Herron wears sunglasses here to avoid recognition.

"Despite legislative appropriations and funding there is never really enough for what I like to characterize as a surprise. Sometimes the best things are done just by being prepared for the opportunities that unexpectedly come your way.

"When I was first on the organization board, an offer was made to receive some outstanding, really fine, antique furniture. Beautiful stuff. But there was nothing in the budget for that. Everything was earmarked.

"Here came the Commissioner, and he said, 'We've got to have this stuff. It is Virginia-handmade by one of the best cabinet makers in the Old Dominion.' His name was John Wilkins.

"It happens that I know something about John Wilkins. He was my mother's great-great-great grandfather' And in all the years that have gone by since the 1700s, I have only seen one really good piece of his. One of my cousins has it.

"I confess to those of you who are religious that I coveted it. I wanted it. I ain't never gonna get it. But I want it.

"That's the way the Division of Arts & History felt. Here it was. They could have it. And that's where the Friends came in.

"Within two months we raised enough to make the purchase. And it now reposes in the collections of the archives and history section of the Division of Culture & History. You own it. It's yours. It belongs to the people of the State of West Virginia.

"It's important for us to know what our fore bearers did. It was simply extraordinary. And we can teach that best by illustration.

"How many of you have been through the new State Museum? Better than describing to you how we got it, may I just recommend that you go see it? Take some time. Treat yourself to a real education.

"Look at our fine artifacts, and you'll see some furnishings in there. They change the furniture from time to time. You may see John Wilkins' work.

"Have you seen the quilting exhibits up at the great halls? Quilters turn straw into gold.

"The Friends of Culture & History has been able to purchase many of those for the Division. And, indeed, we always, every year, provide the prizes and awards when they judge first place, second place, third place, in all the varying categories of [quilting] art.

"I'm not soliciting money. I am soliciting ideas, energy, interest and concern that -- if our kids can't understand our past, I really worry about the country's future.

"I think it's terribly important that youngsters get a handle on what we're all about. And we've got the best teaching vehicle you can imagine in your Division of West Virginia Culture & History.

"Let's use it!"