Marcus A. Roberto papers

Finding Aid

Prepared by Leslie Warren, April 26, 1977 and Dan H. MacLachlan, July 21, 1983; Revised by Floyd J. Csir, May 21, 1996; Last Updated: December 2020

Inclusive Dates: 1971-1980
Extent: 5 cubic feet (5 record storage boxes)
Physical Location: 11th Floor

Biographical Note: Marcus Aurelius Roberto, a Democrat, served as Ohio state representative for the 62nd District from 1971 to 1976. He then served as the Ohio state senator for the 18th District from 1977 until his death in 1986. The 18th District covers the counties of Portage, Ashtabula, Lake (partially), Geauga (partially) and Stark (partially). While serving as state senator, Roberto was chairman of the Senate Education and Health Committee. He also served on the Judiciary Committee, the Ways and Means Committee and the Elections, Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee.

"As a legislator, Mr. Roberto was known as a liberal Democrat and was particularly interested in education and environmental issues," according to the February 25, 1986 edition of The Plain Dealer. "'He has the capacity to see both sides of an argument," State Rep. Vernon F. Cook of Cuyahoga Falls said of Mr. Roberto in 1983.' "'He doesn't have blind spots for advocacy'." Former Ohio Governor Richard F. Celeste said Roberto was "respected and highly regarded by his fellow legislators on both sides of the aisle and in both houses."

Roberto was born November 26, 1930 in New Milford, Ohio. He died February 24, 1986. Roberto taught history and other classes at Ravenna High School for 13 years prior to his election to the Ohio House of Representatives. He served in the United States Air Force from 1950-1954 and was released after serving in the Eastern Air Defense Command. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1957 and a Master of Arts degree in 1960, both from Kent State University. Roberto received his law degree from the University of Akron in 1972 and was admitted to the bar the same year.

Background information was supplied from the following sources:

• The Plain Dealer. "State Sen. Marcus A. Roberto, served Portage County for 15 years." Tuesday, February 25, 1986. page 3, section B.
• Who's Who in American Politics. 1985-86. Bowker: New York.

Scope and Content: The material in the collection is contained in 5 record storage boxes. It is divided into two main areas: correspondence and subject files. The correspondence is also arranged in three sections. The first part is correspondence from 1971-1974, representing the bills and topics of the 109th and 110th General Assembly. Some correspondence dealing with appointments made by Roberto is included here.

The second part covers 1975-1976, when the 111th General Assembly met. Most of the correspondence is from Roberto's contituency and covers a variety of subjects and bills. It is arranged alphabetically by the author of the letter. In most cases, Roberto's response is attached.

The third part contains correspondence from constituents during the 112th General Assembly from 1977-1978 and the 113th General Assembly from 1979-1980.

The materials in the subject files are those topics on which there was a great deal of correspondence. Most of these are related to specific bills. They are arranged alphabetically by subject, and cover the years 1971-1976.

Contents of Box 3 deal with the 112th General Assembly. In this case the correspondence was filed by topic. A few letters are arranged by individual or institution. They are listed alphabetically.

Contents of Box 4 deal with the 113th General Assembly. Legislative topics are alphabetically grouped in the first part of the box. The remainder of the correspondence is of a general nature with answers from Roberto in short form letters. In most cases, the response from Roberto precedes the original letter. Please note that this correspondence was grouped mostly by geographic location. A few letters are by individuals or by institution. Minutes of the Senate Education and Health Committee, which Roberto chaired, are included here.

Box 5 contains correspondence during the 113th General Assembly. This series of letters is addressed mostly to individuals and is an in-depth response to a request or topic. Some letters are addressed to governmental bodies or institutions. Copies of Roberto's response precede the original letter.

Processing Information: Upon receipt of the boxes on February 11, 1981 from Roberto, the collection was found to be in good condition. Items were in file folders labeled either by letter of the alphabet or by subject according to the bill before the legislators. In processing the collection, the original contents of each folder was kept intact. Within each folder the items have been put in alphabetical order according to the word circled in pencil by Roberto's office staff.

Box 1
Folder -- Contents

1. Correspondence - A, 1971-74
2. Correspondence - B, 1971-72
3. Correspondence - B, 1973-74
4. Correspondence - C, 1971-72
5. Correspondence - C, 1973-74
6. Correspondence - D, 1971-74
7. Correspondence - E, 1971-74
8. Correspondence - F, 1971-74
9. Correspondence - Form Letters, 1971-74
10. Correspondence - G, 1971-74
11. Correspondence - H, 1971-72
12. Correspondence - H, 1973-74
13. Correspondence - I-J, 1971-74
14. Correspondence - Interoffice Memos and Miscellany, 1971-74
15. Correspondence - K, 1971-74
16. Correspondence - L, 1971-74
17. Correspondence - M, 1971-72
18. Correspondence - M, 1973-74
19. Correspondence - N-O, 1971-74
20. Correspondence - P-Q, 1971-74
21. Correspondence - R, 1971-1974
22. Correspondence - S, 1971-72
23. Correspondence - S, 1973-74
24. Correspondence - T, 1971-74
25. Correspondence - U-V, 1971-74
26. Correspondence - W, 1971-74
27. Correspondence - X-Y-Z, 1971-74
28. Correspondence - A, 1975-76
29. Correspondence - B, 1975-76
30. Correspondence - C, 1975-76
31. Correspondence - D, 1975-76
32. Correspondence - E, 1975-76
33. Correspondence - F, 1975-76
34. Correspondence - G, 1975-76
35. Correspondence - H, 1975-76

Box 2
Folder -- Contents

1. Correspondence - J, 1975-76
2. Correspondence - K, 1975-76
3. Correspondence - L, 1975-76
4. Correspondence - Ma-Mc, 1975-76
5. Correspondence - Me-My, 1975-76
6. Correspondence - N, 1975-76
7. Correspondence - O, 1975-76
8. Correspondence - P, 1975-76
9. Correspondence - Q, 1976
10. Correspondence - R, 1975-76
11. Correspondence - Sa-Sk, 1975-76
12. Correspondence - Sm-Sw, 1975-76
13. Correspondence - T, 1975-76
14. Correspondence - U-V, 1975-76
15. Correspondence - W, 1975-76
16. Correspondence - Y-Z - 1975-76
17. Subject File - Abortion Law, 1971-73
18. Subject File - Aid to Non-Public Schools, House Bill 476 and 477, 1971
19. Subject File - Auxillary Services-Correspondence Answered, 1975 (1. Aid to private religious schools. 2. Auxillary buildings)
20. Subject File - Bingo Bill, 1976
21. Subject File - Child Day Care, 1975-76
22. Subject File - Collective Bargaining-Correspondence Answered, B-R, Senate Bill 70, 1975
23. Subject File - Collective Bargaining-Correspondence Answered, S-Z and postcards (A-Y), Senate Bill 70, 1975
24. Subject File - Driver's Education Legislation, 1971
25. Subject File - Driver's Education Letters Concerned with Safety, 1973
26. Subject File - Education Bill, House Bill 527, 1975
27. Subject File - Employment and Dismissal of Teachers, Senate Bill 208, 1975-76
28. Subject File - Equal Rights Amendment, 1973
29. Subject File - Equal Rights Amendment, 1975
30. Subject File - Intangibles Tax Revision, House Bill 1091, 1972
31. Subject File - Medicaid, 1976
32. Subject File - Mourning Dove, House Bill 1023, 1975
33. Subject File - Non-Public School Tax Credit, 1972
34. Subject File - Ohio Instructional Grants, 1976
35. Subject File - Ohio Legislative Service Commission, 1975-76
36. Subject File - Reduction of Personal Property Assessment, House Bill 1092, 1974
37. Subject File - Retarded Children, House Bill 549, 1973
38. Subject File - Retired Teachers' Benefits, 1972
39. Subject File - Retirement Act, House Bill 268, 1975-76
40. Subject File - Retirement Legislation, 1972
41. Subject File - School Finance, Correspondence Answered, A-L, Senate Bill 170, 1975
42. Subject File - School Finance, Correspondence Answered, M-W, Senate Bill 170, 1975
43. Subject File - Speech and Hearing Licensure, House Bill 1281, 1974
44. Subject File - Speech and Hearing Licensure, House Bill 79, 1975
45. Subject File - Streetsboro-Unemployment Information, 1975-76
46. Subject File - Unemployment Benefits, House Bill 479, 1974
47. Subject File - Workmen's Compensation, 1975-76

Box 3
Folder -- Contents

1. Correspondence - Ashtabula County-Kingsville Library Boundary, 1977
2. Correspondence - Ashtabula Juvenile Grant, 1978
3. Correspondence - Aurora Westerly Sewer Project, 1977-78
4. Correspondence - Brady Lake Water Problem, 1977
5. Correspondence - Business machine purchases, 1977-78
6. Correspondence - Conneaut Steel Plant, 1977
7. Correspondence - Deerfield Waste Disposal, 1978
8. Correspondence - Geneva Park Marina Project, 1978
9. Correspondence - Gran Signora Senior Citizens Development, 1978
10. Correspondence - Hattie Larlham Foundation, 1977-78
11. Correspondence - Huth, Daniel (waste water), 1977
12. Correspondence - Kent State University, 1977
13. Correspondence - North Kingville Police Frequency, 1978-79
14. Correspondence - Ohio Legislative Service Commission, 1977-78
15. Correspondence - Paris Township (Portage County) Road Damage, 1978
16. Correspondence - Streetsboro Fire Protection Program, 1977
17. Correspondence - Streetsboro License/Registration Fees, 1977
18. Correspondence - Toledo Office Building, 1978
19. Correspondence - Windham (Portage County) Wastewater, 1976-77
20. Correspondence - A-C, 1977-78
21. Correspondence - D-K, 1977-78
22. Correspondence - L-Z, 1977-78
23. Subject File - Aurora Village Green, undated
24. Subject File - Mental Health Education Project of Portage County, 1977
25. Subject File - Problems and opportunities on a very interdependent planet, 1974

Box 4
Folder -- Contents

1. Correspondence - Abortion rider to budget bill, 1979
2. Correspondence - Bill requests, 1980
3. Correspondence - Bottle bill, House Bill 139, 1979
4. Correspondence - Capital punishment, House Bill 74, 1979-80
5. Correspondence - Collective bargaining, House Bill 475, 1979
6. Correspondence - County fair-roving vendors, House Bill 585, 1980
7. Correspondence - Deerfield dump, 1979
8. Correspondence - Gasoline tax, House Bill 656, 1979
9. Correspondence - Homestead exemption bills, Senate Bills 6 and 32, 1979
10. Correspondence - 7% property tax increase, Senate Bill 59, 1979
11. Correspondence - Legislative Service Commission (requests for draft legislation), 1979-80
12. Correspondence - Legislators, 1979-80
13. Correspondence - Licensure of counselors and social workers, House Bill 808, 1980
14. Correspondence - Measured telephone rates, Senate Bill 133, 1979
15. Correspondence - Non-certified public school employees, Senate Bill 166, 1979-80
16. Correspondence - Nuclear power/nuclear waste, 1979
17. Correspondence - Ohio instructional grants, 1979
18. Correspondence - Item pricing, House Bill 7, 1979
19. Correspondence - Pay raise, Senate Bill 545, 1978-79
20. Correspondence - Physicians assistants, House Bill 16, 1979
21. Correspondence - Prevent bankruptcy act exemptions, House Bill 674, 1979
22. Correspondence - Product liability, Senate Bill 67, 1979
23. Correspondence - Property tax increase, House Joint Resolution 39, House Bill 680, 1979
24. Correspondence - Public employees pay raise, House Bill 239, 1979
25. Correspondence - Public retirees cost of living factor, House Bill 368 and 369, 1979
26. Correspondence - PUFFS, Senate Bill 59, 1977-80
27. Correspondence - Railroad caboose, Senate Bill 77, 1979
28. Correspondence - Religious TV, 1979
29. Correspondence - Retail divorcement-oil industry, Senate Bill 345, 1980
30. Correspondence - Retirement systems, 1978-79
31. Correspondence - Unlicensed campgrounds, Senate Bill 102, 1979
32. Correspondence - Volunteer trustees...boards of charitable organizations, House Bill 689, 1979
33. Correspondence - W.I.C. program, 1978
34. Correspondence - A, 1979-80
35. Correspondence - B, 1979-80
36. Correspondence - Brooks, Keith H., Senate Clerk, 1979-80
37. Correspondence - C, 1979-80
38. Correspondence - Cincinnati, 1979-80
39. Correspondence - Cleveland, 1979-80
40. Correspondence - Columbus, 1979-80
41. Correspondence - D, 1979-80
42. Correspondence - E, 1979-80
43. Correspondence - F, 1979-80
44. Correspondence - G, 1979-80
45. Correspondence - H, 1979-80
46. Correspondence - I, 1979
47. Correspondence - K, 1979-80
48. Correspondence - L, 1979-80
49. Correspondence - M, 1979-80
50. Correspondence - N, 1979-80
51. Correspondence - O, 1979-80
52. Correspondence - P, 1979-80
53. Correspondence - R, 1979-80
54. Correspondence - S, 1979-80
55. Correspondence - T, 1979-80
56. Correspondence - U, 1979
57. Correspondence - V, 1979
58. Correspondence - W, 1979-80
59. Correspondence - X, Y, Z, 1979-80
60. Correspondence - Miscellaneous, 1979-80
61. Minutes - Senate Education Health Committee, 113th General Assembly, February-May 1979
62. Minutes - Senate Education Health Committee, 113th General Assembly, June-December 1979
63. Minutes - Senate Education Health Committee, 113th General Assembly, 1980

Box 5
Folder -- Contents

1. Correspondence - A, 1979-80
2. Correspondence - B-Bo, 1979-80
3. Correspondence - Br-Bu, 1979-80
4. Correspondence - C-Cl, 1979-80
5. Correspondence - Cu-Cy, 1979-80
6. Correspondence - D, 1979-80
7. Correspondence - E, 1979-80
8. Correspondence - F, 1979-80
9. Correspondence - G, 1979-80
10. Correspondence - Ha-Hi, 1979-80
11. Correspondence - Ho-Hu, 1979-80
12. Correspondence - Hattie Larlham Foundation, Inc., (Dr. Paul S. Kurtz, Ph.D.), 1979-80
13. Correspondence - I, 1980
14. Correspondence - J, 1979-80
15. Correspondence - K, 1979-80
16. Correspondence - Kent, City of, 1979-80
17. Correspondence - Kent State University, 1979-80
18. Correspondence - L, 1979-80
19. Correspondence - Lazzaro, Joseph C1 #481019-22, 1977-79
20. Correspondence - M-Mik, 1979-80
21. Correspondence - Mil-Mye, 1979-80
22. Correspondence - Mc, 1979-80
23. Correspondence - N, 1979-80
24. Correspondence - O, 1979-80
25. Correspondence - P, 1979-80
26. Correspondence - Portage, County of, 1979-80
27. Correspondence - Q, 1978-79
28. Correspondence - R, 1979-80
29. Correspondence - S-Sil, 1979-80
30. Correspondence - Sim-Spr, 1979-80
31. Correspondence - Sta-Sym, 1979-80
32. Correspondence - T, 1979-80
33. Correspondence - U, 1979-80
34. Correspondence - United States Congress, 1978-80
35. Correspondence - V, 1979-80
36. Correspondence - W, 1979-80
37. Correspondence - Y-Z, 1979-80