Charles F. Horn Papers (MS-629)

This collection focuses on the political career and life of Charles Horn, as well as containing many useful documents pertaining to the history and political environment of the cities of Kettering and Dayton. Finally, as Horn was very interested in bringing Wright-Patterson Air Force Base’s technological research to broader, civilian purposes in Ohio, many of the documents in this collection pertain to Wright-Patterson technology and research and even more generally, technological advancements in Dayton.

Series I, Personal Life, contains records pertaining to Horn’s personal life, including familial correspondence, report cards from college and high school, household expenditure records, and other non-career related documents. This series is dated from 1942 to 1995, though the vast majority of records within this series are dated 1944-1950.

Series II, Kettering City Council, contains records pertaining to Horn’s service on the Kettering city council. The series includes documents pertaining to various city projects the council worked on while Horn was on the council. This series also includes a copy of the Kettering City Charter, which details the various duties of the council and inner-workings of Kettering city-government. Also within this series are the campaign materials Horn used while running for a seat on city council. Finally, the series also includes news articles on Horn’s work as a councilman. Although Horn served as a councilman from 1963 to 1969, the materials within this collection are dated from 1957 to 1975, as some of the later records which were created after Horn was elected Mayor still pertain to council projects, rather than mayoral projects.

Series III, Kettering Mayor, includes records pertaining to Horn’s service as mayor of Kettering. This series contains records pertaining to the numerous special projects Horn worked on while mayor, such as the “Camp for Kids Who Can’t” program, the Kettering beautification and marigold-planting initiative, the Sister Cities international program, cable TV projects, and various technology initiatives. Additionally, this series includes correspondence exchanged while Horn served as mayor and campaign materials for Horn’s original campaign for the title of mayor and for subsequent re-elections. Also within this series are news articles written about the city of Kettering while Horn was mayor and about Horn himself. Finally, there are oversize materials within this series, including various awards and recognitions given awarded to mayor Horn. Materials within this series are dated from 1966 to 1986. While Horn’s term as mayor lasted from 1969-1980, some of the projects included in this series out-lasted Horn’s mayoral term, so they are included here as well.

Series IV, Montgomery County Commissioner, is made of records pertaining to Horn’s service as Montgomery county commissioner. These records include general county government documents and projects, Horn’s campaign materials, as well as news articles pertaining to Horn’s term as county commissioner. These documents are dated from 1979 to 1984.

Series V, Ohio Senator, contains documents used, created during, and pertaining to Horn’s service as an Ohio senator. The bulk of this series includes documents pertaining to Senator Horn’s projects involving technology and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The series also contains records pertaining to Senator Horn’s state economy projects, international programs, and documents pertaining to the development of the city of Dayton. This series also includes correspondence written while Horn served as a senator and news articles written on Senator Horn and his initiatives. Records within this series are dated from 1984 to 2011. Though Horn’s senatorial term ended in 2000, many of the projects he spearheaded were still being developed by others into 2011 and records from those longer-lasting projects are included within this series.

Series VI, Photographs, Videos, and Audio, includes photographs, videos, and audio from Horn’s career and personal life. The photographs included range in date from Horn’s early life until the end of his senatorial career in 2000. Many of the photographs were taken during Horn’s various international political trips, during campaigning, and other special events. The majority of the videos and audio within this series were generally recorded during senatorial meetings or during discussions of senatorial projects.