More than eighty-five years ago one of the greatest natural disasters
in the history of the nation struck the Miami Valley. Floodwaters of the
Miami, Stillwater and Mad Rivers inundated the greater part of Dayton,
claimed more than 300 lives in Dayton and surrounding areas, and brought
more than $100,000,000 in property damage. Great fires that raged unchecked
added to the destruction and the loss of life. This collection tells the
story of this terrible flood.
The Collection, which incorporates the publications of the Miami Conservancy
District, is rich in:
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Printed material such as journals, books, pamphlets and maps published
by Dayton publishing companies and other publishers;
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Many newspapers from Dayton and other cities;
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Correspondence from people describing their experiences during the flood;
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Legal documents dealing with the organization and work of the Miami Conservancy
District, including the construction of public works on rivers and harbors
for flood control;
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Video and audio recordings;
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Photographic materials depicting the disaster, including broadsides, photos,
photo albums, and postcards;
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Scrapbooks covering the period 1866-2000.
The importance of this collection lies in the following:
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It describes the disaster brought by Mother Nature, both in general terms
and through the experiences of individuals;
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It illustrates the Miami Conservancy District's initiatives to flood prevention;
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It gives a good picture of the spirit of unity among Dayton's citizens
who put community welfare above every other consideration.
For comments on this guide write to Elli Bambakidis at:
history@daytonmetrolibrary.org
