Building Ohio State tells the story of the unique connections and history shared between The Ohio State University and Ohio’s forests.


The Ohio State University Libraries presents the exhibition Building Ohio State: From Forest to the Renovation of the Thompson Library. Building Ohio State tells the story of the unique connections and history shared between The Ohio State University and Ohio’s forests. From OSU's beginnings as a land-grant institution to the renovation of the Thompson Library, the University has been instrumental in promoting forest research and education and demonstrating sound management of Ohio’s forests. The exhibition examines the past, present, and future of Ohio’s timber resources. From near-complete removal at the beginning of the 20th century, Ohio’s forests made a comeback thanks to The Ohio State University’s many contributions to forestry research, acquisitions of forest land, and sustainable forest management. Building Ohio State celebrates the 10th anniversary of the renovation of the Thompson Library with white oak (Quercus alba) harvested from Ohio’s Zaleski State Forest. The exhibition highlights sustainable forest management and its continuing role in education, sustainability, and economic development in the state of Ohio. (Above photos courtesy of Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station Forestry Image Collection)

Chapter One: Restoring the Vision

Chapter 3: The History of Forestry in Ohio

This online exhibit is an adaptation of the original Building Ohio State: From Forest to the Renovation of the Thompson Library exhibition on display in the Thompson Library Gallery from February to May 2017.

Building Ohio State is organized by The Ohio State University Libraries and the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences in collaboration with the Ohio Society of American Foresters, the Ohio Forestry Association, the Ohio Tree Farm Committee, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry.

Created by:

Florian Diekmann, The Ohio State University, Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Library & Student Success Center

Paurava Thakore, Kathy L. Smith, Jeffery A Hattey, and Matthew E. Monteith, The Ohio State University, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, School of Environment and Natural Resources

Mark S. Ervin, Ohio Society of American Foresters

John E. Dorka and Adam M. Conway, Ohio Forestry Association Inc.

Georgia Drost, The Ohio State University, College of Arts and Sciences

Special thanks to:

Phoenix Bats
Speyside Bourbon Cooperage
Superior Hardwoods of Ohio
Yoder Lumber
American Wood Fibers

Ohio Forestry Association
Ohio Society of American Foresters
Ohio Tree Farm Committee

Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
Northern Research Station, Delaware OH

Marietta College, Library
University of Maryland, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

The Ohio State University
College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership
Marketing and Communications
Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center Library
Ohio State University Extension
School of Environment and Natural Resources

Museum of Biological Diversity
Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics
Herbarium
Tetrapods Collection