diff --git a/src/sbml/SBase.cpp b/src/sbml/SBase.cpp
index e28212f82d..48c45ee316 100644
--- a/src/sbml/SBase.cpp
+++ b/src/sbml/SBase.cpp
@@ -2361,11 +2361,8 @@ SBase::setCreatedDate(Date* date)
   }
   else
   {
-    ModelHistory* mh = new ModelHistory();
-    // we want to set it regardless of content
-    mHistory = static_cast<ModelHistory*>(mh->clone());
+    mHistory = new ModelHistory();
     mHistoryChanged = true;
-    delete mh;
 
     return mHistory->setCreatedDate(date);
 
@@ -2381,11 +2378,8 @@ SBase::addModifiedDate(Date* date)
   }
   else
   {
-    ModelHistory* mh = new ModelHistory();
-    // we want to set it regardless of content
-    mHistory = static_cast<ModelHistory*>(mh->clone());
+    mHistory = new ModelHistory();
     mHistoryChanged = true;
-    delete mh;
 
     return mHistory->addModifiedDate(date);
 
@@ -2979,7 +2973,7 @@ SBase::unsetCreatedDate()
   if (mHistory != NULL && mHistory->isSetCreatedDate())
   {
     mHistoryChanged = true;
-  }
+  }
   else
   {
     return LIBSBML_UNEXPECTED_ATTRIBUTE;
@@ -3014,7 +3008,7 @@ SBase::unsetModifiedDates()
   if (mHistory != NULL && mHistory->isSetModifiedDate())
   {
     mHistoryChanged = true;
-  }
+  }
   else
   {
     return LIBSBML_UNEXPECTED_ATTRIBUTE;