It’s been said that William Holmes McGuffey’s Eclectic Readers have been used by more Americans than any book besides The Bible and Webster’s Dictionary.

Those educational books taught American schoolchildren for more than a century from 1836 until the mid- 20th century. McGuffey (1800-1873) got his education in the Mahoning Valley, growing up in Coitsville and teaching briefly in Poland before becoming a professor at Miami University and president at Cincinnati College (now the University of Cincinnati) and Ohio University.

The William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society continues to work to make sure his legacy is remembered in the Mahoning Valley. The local chapter celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2021, and it is the last remaining chapter of an organization that once had 100,000 members belonging to chapters nationwide.

“My proudest achievement is keeping the McGuffey name alive,” Richard Scarsella, chairman of the WHMHS board and a retired educator, said.

Since its formation in 1961, the society purchased the McGuffey homestead, 78 acres on McGuffey Road in Coitsville; acquired National Historic Landmark status for the property; and transferred the land (now known as the McGuffey Wildlife Preserve) to Mill Creek MetroParks and donated $15,000 to the metroparks for the land’s maintenance.

The society also was instrumental in getting several landmarks named after McGuffey, including McGuffey Elementary School in Youngstown, the McGuffey Memorial Bridge on McGuffey Road and a section of Interstate 680 that’s designated the William Holmes McGuffey Memorial Highway.

The society’s president, Shirley Eckley, is a descendant of McGuffey. Her great-great-grandmother was McGuffey’s sister, Anna. Eckley became involved with the society after retiring from a 38-year teaching career, mostly in Hubbard.

“I loved every minute of it (teaching),” she said. “I hope I made my great-great-uncle proud, but we had big shoes to fill … When I was in school, I remember in fourth-grade Ohio history we always had a big chapter about McGuffey and what he did for education. That’s when I got to be a celebrity.

“That (teaching) kind of faded. I really give Richard a lot of credit for the fact that we’ve been able to build public interest in McGuffey and what he did for education.”

The organization continues to support McGuffey (the group recently donated a sign for the McGuffey family well on the nature preserve property) and donates to other local charities and cultural institutions. However, one of the greatest ways it continues its namesake’s legacy is through its monthly lecture series.

The series evolved out of the society’s annual dinner. While the dinner itself became less popular, Scarsella said, people always enjoyed the speakers it featured. Scarsella, who also is a local historian, organized a speaker series with the Ethnic Heritage Society and the now-closed Brier Hill Cultural Center before making it part of the McGuffey Society’s programming.

“Ironically, I think the monthly programs have made us better known and become a symbol of who and what we are,” Scarsella said. “Older audiences — baby boomers and older — still care very much about local and national history.”

Depending on the topic, Scarsella occasionally has to limit reservations, and interest continued even when the series resumed at limited capacity last year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The series was halted after its host location, Kravitz Deli in Liberty, closed for indoor dining, but it will resume this month with a program by Jackie Marino, author of “Car Bombs to Cookie Tables.” She will discuss the Mahoning Valley’s organized crime past, and its social and cultural traditions.

Last year “was the first year our membership has declined in quite a few years, and I think that was because fewer people could get into the programs,” Scarsella said. “Those who come to the programs once or twice usually become members … I fully expect it to rebound. Until 2020, membership was increasing.”