History of the Treasurer's Office

Proudly serving Ohio for more than 200 Years

Before Ohio became a state there was a public official managing the public's money.  John Armstrong of Marietta served as Treasurer-General for the Northwest Territory from 1796 to 1803.

Armstrong was appointed to the post by Congress, a role taken over by the Ohio Legislature in 1803. The legislature relinquished that power in 1851, when the treasurer became an elected official. Just like today, the treasurer back then was responsible for collecting and safeguarding most of Ohio's taxes and fees and managing state investments.

Although the role of the treasurer has remained the same, the scale of the office has increased dramatically since the mid-19th century. The Ohio Treasury handled only about $6 million in total public funds in the late 19th century. As of Fiscal Year 2023, the office was custodian for more than $249 billion in financial assets, and managed an investment portfolio that exceeds $30 billion.

The Treasury was located in the Ohio statehouse from 1861 until 1974, when it was moved to its current location in the Rhodes Office Tower in downtown Columbus. Records show that it took a day and a half and 180 trips to move about $9 billion in securities from statehouse vaults to the Treasury's new offices.

The original office, located just inside the west entrance of the statehouse, was restored to its 19th-century appearance during the capital building's recent renovation. It is still used for ceremonial Treasury events.

Past Treasurers:

 

Treasurer of State Robert Sprague 2019-present
Robert Sprague

2019-Present 
 Former Treasurer Josh Mandel 2011-2019
Josh Mandel

2011-2019
 Former Treasurer Kevin Boyce 2009-2011
Kevin L. Boyce

2009-2011
Former Treasurer Richard Cordray 2007-2009
Richard Cordray

2007-2009 
    
Former Treasurer Jeanette Bradley 2005-2007
Jennette B. Bradley

2005-2007 
Former Treasurer Joseph T. Deters 1999-2005
Joseph T. Deters

1999-2005
Former Treasurer Kenneth Blackwell 1994-1999
J. Kenneth Blackwell

1994-1999
Former Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow 1983-1994
Mary Ellen Withrow

1983-1994
    
Former Treasurer Gertrude W. Donahey 1971-1983
Gertrude W. Donahey

1971-1983 
Former Treasurer John D. Herbert 1963-1971
John D. Herbert

1963-1971
Former Treasurer Joseph T. Ferguson 1959-1963
Joseph T. Ferguson

1959-1963 
Former Treasurer Roger W. Tracy 1951-1959
Roger W. Tracy

1951-1959 
    
Former Treasurer Don H. Ebright 1939-1951
Don H. Ebright

1939-1951
Former Treasurer Clarence H. Knisley 1937-1939
Clarence Knisley

1937-1939
Former Treasurer Harry S. Day 1931-1937
Harry S. Day

1931-1937 (Second Term)
Former Treasurer Edwin A. Todd 1930-1931
Edwin A. Todd

1930-1931 
    
Former Treasurer H. Ross Ake 1929-1930
H. Ross Ake

1929-1930
Former Treasurer Burt Buckley 1927-1929
Bert B. Buckley

1927-1929
Former Treasurer Harry S. Day 1923-1927
Harry S. Day

1923-1927 (1st Term) 
Former Treasurer Rudolph W. Archer 1919-1923
Rudolph W. Archer

1919-1923 (Second Term)
    
Former Treasurer Chester E. Bryan 1917-1919
Chester E. Bryan

1917-1919
Former Treasurer Rudolph W. Archer 1915-1917
Rudolph W. Archer

1915-1917 (First Term)
Former Treasurer John P. Brennan 1913-1915
John P. Brennan

1913-1915
Former Treasurer David S. Creamer 1909-1913
David S. Creamer

1909-1913
    
Former Treasurer Charles C. Green 1908-1909
Charles C. Green

1908-1909
Former Treasurer William S. McKinnon 1904-1908
William S. McKinnon

1904-1908
Former Treasurer Isaac B. Cameron 1900-1904
Issac B. Cameron

1900-1904
Former Treasurer Samuel B. Campbell 1896-1900
Samuel B. Campbell

1896-1900
    
Former Treasurer William T. Cope 1892-1896
William T. Cope

1892-1896
Former Treasurer John C. Brown 1886-1892
John C. Brown

1886-1892
Former Treasurer Peter Brady 1884-1886
Peter Brady

1884-1886
Former Treasurer Joseph Turney 1880-1884
Joseph Turney

1880-1884
    
Former Treasurer Anthony Howells 1878-1880
Anthony Howells

1878-1880
Former Treasurer John M. Millikin 1876-1878
John M. Millikin

1876-1878
Former Treasurer Leroy Welsh 1875-1876
Leroy Welsh

1875-1876
Former Treasurer Isaac Welsh 1872-1875
Isaac Welsh

1872-1875
    
Former Treasurer S.S. Warner 1866-1872
S.S. Warner

1866-1872
Former Treasurer William Hooper 1865-1866
William Hooper

1865-1866
Former Treasurer G.V. Dorsey 1862-1865
G.V. Dorsey

1862-1865
Former Treasurer A.P. Stone 1857-1862
A.P. Stone

1857-1862
    
Former Treasurer William H. Gibson 1856-1857
William H. Gibson

1856-1857
Former Treasurer John G. Breslin 1852-1856
John G. Breslin

1852-1856
Former Treasurer Albert A. Bliss 1847-1852
Albert A. Bliss

1847-1852
Former Treasurer Joseph Whitehall 1835-1847
Joseph Whitehall

1835-1847
    
Former Treasurer Henry Brown 1823-1835
Henry Brown

1823-1835
Former Treasurer Samuel Sullivan 1820-1823
Samuel Sullivan

1820-1823
Former Treasurer Hirma M. Curry 1817-1820
Hiram M. Curry

1817-1820
Former Treasurer William McFarland 1803-1817
William McFarland

1803-1817
    
Former Treasurer John Armstron 1796-1803
John Armstrong

1796-1803