BACK IN TIME — Top photo, Erika Grubbs, local genealogist/librarian at the Schiappa Branch of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County, looks over one of two volumes that comprise the recently completed “Nathan Stern Archives” that revisit local history through the personal collection of the late prominent Steubenville attorney and community and civic leader. The books and photos can be viewed at the Schiappa Branch and also have been digitized for access through the library’s Digital Shoebox. -- Janice Kiaski

A diamond ring from the betrothed, for example, is precious indeed.

Or rare tickets to a famous entertainer’s performance would delight any die-hard fan.

But as for pictures and scrapbooks with local history appeal?

That, in the estimation of a local library system’s representatives, is a present from the past that keeps on giving.

PROUD MOMENT -- in this July 1993 photo, Stern, center, was honored with signs naming the John Scott Highway extension to the U.S. Route 22 bypass the Nathan Stern Connector. With him are his wife, Rosenetta Stern, and then Steubenville Mayor Domenick Mucci Jr.-- Contributed

This particular “gift” to the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County involves the personal collection of the late Nathan Stern, a prominent Steubenville attorney and community and civic leader who was 89 when he died on Oct. 3, 2003.

The donation provides an opportunity for library patrons to revisit local history through the library’s Digital Shoebox or by visiting the local history and genealogy department at the library’s Schiappa Branch on Mall Drive.

Stern, who was born in 1913, worked as an attorney in Steubenville for many years. In addition to his legal profession, he was a promoter for the construction of U.S. Route 22 four-lane highway and the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Through the years of his professional career, Stern kept boxes of scrapbooks that included photographs and newspaper clippings from his law practice in the 1930s and 1940s; Steubenville political information from 1935 through 1980; and his involvement with the Chamber of Commerce in the 1960s through the 1970s.

In 2016, Nate’s son, Jim Stern, contacted former library Director Alan Hall to donate the boxes of materials. “Jim called asking if I remembered Nate Stern and thought the items might be a great addition to the local history and genealogy department,” Hall explained.

“I replied ‘yes’ and asked him to ship the boxes directly from his home (in North Carolina) to the library,” Hall added.

Hall said he sorted and separated the collection, then had it indexed by the library’s genealogist and local historian Erika Grubbs.

“The materials were digitized and uploaded to the Digital Shoebox and published in book format and titled as the ‘Nathan Stern Archives, Volume I and II.'”

Grubbs noted that there are “many wonderful photographs” as part of the collection. “The books contain a lot of history involving not only Nathan’s life but also Jefferson County. The indexes will allow users to search by name, place and subject,” she said, noting patrons can visit the library’s Digital Shoebox at digitalshoebox.org and type in Nathan Stern to view the photographs. The books will soon be available online.

“The ‘Nathan Stern Archives’ is comprised of two books as well as a photo collection,” Grubbs explained. Book one contains 517 pages; book two is 237 pages.

The photos have been digitized and are viewable on the Digital Shoebox website.

“There are about 55 photos related to Stern — there are photos of Stern himself, some dating back to his college days, along with photos related to the projects and committees he was involved in,” she noted.

Grubbs said Hall arranged the scrapbooks and then sent them to her for pagination and indexing. Both books contain a name and subject index.

“The books will be available online soon, but they are physically available for viewing in the Local History Room here at Schiappa,” Grubbs added. They can not, however, be checked out.

Volume one includes Stern’s obituary and biographical sketch; speeches that include his addresses at the Chamber of Commerce dinner in 1973, at the community recognition awards affair in 1989 and remarks on the Catch 22 Committee in 1990; a look at his early life from 1913 to 1940; local history and local politics from 1913 through 2003; the area chamber of commerce; the Jewish community; the Hub Department Store/L.S. Good & Co.; the Steubenville Country Club; golf; the Century Club, College of Steubenville; and the “Out the Run” reunion of 1993.

Book two is devoted to “transportation history — the US 22 and Veterans Memorial Bridge.”

Some points of interest about Stern’s life include:

≤ In 1936, Stern organized the Ohio State Emergency Flood Relief Committee that raised thousands of dollars and collected clothing for the victims of the Ohio Valley flood.

≤ From 1940-52, Stern was the assistant prosecuting attorney, serving as chief trial counsel. He handled the special grand jury investigating gambling and prostitution during an era when the 12 Protestant ministers organized against the underworld, resulting in convictions of known violators.

≤ He served as chairman of the Tri-County Chambers of Commerce that at the time took in Steubenville, Toronto, Wintersville, Weirton, Follansbee and Wellsburg. He was a founder of the Century Club of the University of Steubenville.

≤ In 1969, he was honored as “Boss of the Year” by the Steubenville Chapter of the National Secretaries Association.

≤ On May 25, 1979, Stern was honored with a special award at the annual dinner meeting of the Steubenville Chamber of Commerce, giving him credit for leading the fight to bring the communities of Steubenville and Weirton a new bridge and for the completion of the Washington Street Underpass Project.

≤ At the 81st-annual meeting of the Greater Steubenville/Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce held May 9, 1990, Stern was presented with a model of the Veterans Memorial Bridge for his commitment in leading the Catch 22 West Committee. Engraved plates on the model read: “Nathan Stern, ESQ., Bridge Builder, Veterans Memorial Bridge, dedicated and opened to traffic on May 4, 1990, the Bridge to Prosperity.”

≤ On March 13, 2003, he was presented with a special award by the Ohio State Bar Association recognizing him for his 65 years in the law practice.

≤ Stern was an avid golfer, storyteller and toastmaster. In 1981 he received a plaque from Williams Country Club, as “the foremost toastmaster and roastmaster in the Ohio Valley for the incisive wit and inimitable repartee of his flawless performance at the mighty tin can tournament dinner.”

Grubbs said the library system always welcomes the opportunity to receive gifts of local history interest.

“Anyone who would like to bring in photos or other items of local interest for consideration can visit me at the Schiappa Branch library,” Grubbs said. “I can usually make copies or scans of the material if anyone does not want to part with the originals.”