Description: Alfretta Ronemus and her mother took home this engraved tea set as a prize in a baby contest in 1854. It was valued at $300 in 1854, which would be equivalent to approximately $6,000 today. The set consists of eight items, four of which are included here. Many of the items bear the inscription "Presented to ___ by the Clark County Agricultural Society as Premium for being the Finest Baby shown at the Annual Fair - 1854 - ." The first image shows a teapot that measures 18 by 12 inches (46 by 30 cm). The second image shows a cream pitcher that measures 18 by 12 inches (46 by 30 cm). The third image shows a coffee urn that measures 18 by 12 inches (46 by 30 cm). The final image shows a serving tray that measures 11 by 1 inches (27 by 2.5 cm). The first baby contest in the United States took place in Springfield, Ohio at the second annual Clark County Fair on October 5, 1854. The 10-month-old winner, Alfretta Ronemus of South Vienna, Ohio, was picked out of a crowd to enter the contest. Her mother protested that Alfretta was not dressed in suitable clothes for the occasion, but the organizer insisted that she enter the child. Alfretta may have won the first prize because she was dressed in a simple white dress with a black silk jacket, while the other children were decked out in fancy "furbelows." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1490_1534010_001
Subjects: Daily Life; Arts and Entertainment; Teapots; Contests; Prizes
Places: Springfield (Ohio); Clark County (Ohio)
 

Description: This 4 by 7-inch (10.16 by 17.8 cm) ambrotype shows Alfretta Ronemus of South Vienna, Ohio at the age of three. As an infant, she was selected as the winner of the first baby contest in the United States, held at the second annual Clark County Fair on October 5, 1854. The 10-month-old Alfretta was picked out of a crowd to enter the contest. Her mother protested that Alfretta was not dressed in suitable clothes for the occasion, but the organizer insisted that she enter the child. Alfretta may have won the first prize because she was dressed in a simple white dress with a black silk jacket, while the other children were decked out in fancy "furbelows." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1361_1160368_001
Subjects: Arts and Entertainment; Daily Life; Infants; Contests
Places: South Vienna (Ohio); Clark County (Ohio)
 

Description: Phoebe Anne Mozee (also Mosey, Moses), better known as Annie Oakley, was a famous sharpshooter and women's rights advocate in the late 19th and early 20th century. Born August 13, 1860, in Darke County, Ohio, Oakley showed skill with firearms from an early age, using profits earned from the sale of wild game she killed to pay off her parents' mortgage. In 1875, she won a shooting contest against marksman Frank E. Butler in Cincinnati, Ohio, who convinced her to travel and perform with him. Oakley and Butler later married. The two performed in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show where Oakley remained until 1901, traveling across the country and to Europe with the show. She emerged as the first female American superstar and advocated women's right to join the army and serve in active combat situations. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC2787_005
Subjects: Arts and Entertainment; Circus; Contests; Cowboys; Darke County (Ohio); Entertainers; Hunting; Oakley, Annie, 1860-1926; Ohio History; Ohio Women; Shooters of firearms; Women--Ohio
 

Description: The photograph shows a young girl in a dress with a ribbon in her hair proudly holding a ribbon while a dog sits next to her. The dog has a ribbon tied around its neck. The girl's ribbon reads, "Special Prize / Greenhills / DOG / AND / PET / CLUB / 1st Annual / SHOW / 1939" A crowd of people and canines is visible in the far background. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B13F02_010_001
Subjects: Dog shows; Dogs; Awards; Contests
Places: Greenhills (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: In this photograph, children are gathered at City Hall in Columbus, Ohio, to participate in a clown contest sponsored by the Columbus Division of Recreation and Parks on June 29, 1966. The clown in the foreground is Flippo, the King of Clowns, played by comic and musician Bob Marvin. Flippo appeared on "The Early Show" that aired weekdays on the Columbus CBS affiliate, WBNS-TV. He was well-known to children in central Ohio. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06326
Subjects: Clowns; Television programs for children; Contests; Costumes
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: In this image, children are gathered at City Hall in Columbus, Ohio, to participate in a clown contest sponsored by the Columbus Division of Recreation and Parks on June 29, 1966. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06327
Subjects: Clowns; Television programs for children; Contests; Costumes
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of a pizza eating contest taking place at Central Plaza in downtown Canton, Ohio, September 1976. The two men competing appear to represent local news stations WHBC and WEWS. The image was submitted by photographer R. C. Bixler of Canton in the Professional category of the Spirit of Ohio Bicentennial Photo Contest. In August 1976, the Ohio American Revolution Bicentennial Advisory Committee (OARBAC) began the Spirit of Ohio Bicentennial Photo Contest as part of a larger effort in Ohio to celebrate the 1976 American Bicentennial. The contest was meant to document "the spirit and character of the people and places which represent Ohio during [the] bicentennial year," and to create a permanent photographic archive of the year's festivity for use by future researchers. Both professional and amateur photographers submitted over 500 photographs for consideration, all taken within the state between January 1 and December 31, 1976. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA2734AV_B02F01_02_01
Subjects: American Revolution Bicentennial (1976); Food and drink; Contests; Community events; News
Places: Canton (Ohio); Stark County (Ohio)
 

Description: Children take part in a foot race during a Fourth of July celebration in Ohio Village at the Ohio History Center in Columbus, Ohio. The image was submitted by photographer Barbara Cheeseman of Columbus in the Amateur category of the Spirit of Ohio Bicentennial Photo Contest. In August 1976, the Ohio American Revolution Bicentennial Advisory Committee (OARBAC) began the Spirit of Ohio Bicentennial Photo Contest as part of a larger effort in Ohio to celebrate the 1976 American Bicentennial. The contest was meant to document "the spirit and character of the people and places which represent Ohio during [the] bicentennial year," and to create a permanent photographic archive of the year's festivity for use by future researchers. Both professional and amateur photographers submitted over 500 photographs for consideration, all taken within the state between January 1 and December 31, 1976. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA2734AV_B02F48_01_01
Subjects: American Revolution Bicentennial (1976); Fourth of July celebrations; Ohio Village (Ohio History Connection); Racing; Children; Contests
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of a pizza eating contest taking place at Central Plaza in downtown Canton, Ohio, September 1976. The two women competing appear to represent local news stations WJAN and WHLQ. Name tags identify them as Cheryl Toney (left, WJAN) and Mary Elliot (WHLQ). The image was submitted by photographer R. C. Bixler of Canton in the Professional category of the Spirit of Ohio Bicentennial Photo Contest. In August 1976, the Ohio American Revolution Bicentennial Advisory Committee (OARBAC) began the Spirit of Ohio Bicentennial Photo Contest as part of a larger effort in Ohio to celebrate the 1976 American Bicentennial. The contest was meant to document "the spirit and character of the people and places which represent Ohio during [the] bicentennial year," and to create a permanent photographic archive of the year's festivity for use by future researchers. Both professional and amateur photographers submitted over 500 photographs for consideration, all taken within the state between January 1 and December 31, 1976. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA2734AV_B02F01_03_01
Subjects: American Revolution Bicentennial (1976); Food and drink; Contests; Community events; News
Places: Canton (Ohio); Stark County (Ohio)
 

Description: A young boy clings to a greased pole as onlookers watch during a climbing contest at the American Legion Bicentennial Ox Roast in Roseville, Ohio, July 4, 1976. The building in the background with patriotic murals is a part of McCoy's Pottery. The image was submitted by photographer Carol Campbell of Zanesville, Ohio, in the Amateur category of the Spirit of Ohio Bicentennial Photo Contest. In August 1976, the Ohio American Revolution Bicentennial Advisory Committee (OARBAC) began the Spirit of Ohio Bicentennial Photo Contest as part of a larger effort in Ohio to celebrate the 1976 American Bicentennial. The contest was meant to document "the spirit and character of the people and places which represent Ohio during [the] bicentennial year," and to create a permanent photographic archive of the year's festivity for use by future researchers. Both professional and amateur photographers submitted over 500 photographs for consideration, all taken within the state between January 1 and December 31, 1976. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA2734AV_B02F47_01_01
Subjects: American Revolution Bicentennial (1976); Fourth of July celebrations; Contests; Public art;
Places: Roseville (Ohio); Muskingum County (Ohio); Perry County (Ohio)
 

Description: Four photographs document the Big Bend Regatta, held June 23-25, 1965 in Meigs County, Ohio. The first photograph shows the spectators preparing for the frog-jumping contest. The second photograph shows Senator Collins at the event. Two other photographs show boat races that gave the event its name. The photographs measure 2.75" x 2.75" (6.99 x 6.99 cm). View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3033_3645119_001
Subjects: Transportation; Sports; Plants and Animals; Geography and Natural Resources; Frogs; Contests; Boats; Lakes & ponds; Regattas; Racing
Places: Pomeroy (Ohio); Middleport (Ohio); Meigs County (Ohio)