Code,500049
Subject,William C. Barrow
Date,10/22/14
Interviewer,Joseph Wickens
Abstract,"This interview was conducted as part of Cleveland State UniversityÕs 50th Anniversary Commemoration effort. William Barrow is currently the Special Collections librarian at Cleveland State University. Barrow was born in University Circle and grew up in ClevelandÕs eastern suburb of Mentor. After high school he went on to attend Bowling Green State University where he was active in the schoolÕs chapter of Students For a Democratic Society. Barrow left BGSU before graduating to work construction and ended up becoming an animal warden, working in Bowling Green, Arizona, and Kentucky. He enrolled at CSU where he completed his degree and earned a MA in history. During the same time he pursued a MLS at Kent State and following the completion of that degree he was hired on as the Special Collections librarian at CSU. While at CSU Barrow has worked extensively with the Cleveland Union Terminal Collection, The Cleveland Press Collection, and has been instrumental in the awarding-winning Cleveland Memory Project. Of Particular interest in this interview are BarrowÕs accounts of his involvement in the SDS, his description of his coursework at CSU, and the process of making Cleveland Memory a viable online resource."
Special Notes,
Minutes,
0,Introduction. Born in University Circle in 1946. Moved to Mentor as a child. Barrow relates he did stuff that most kids were into during that time. Gives examples.
1,"Went off to college at Bowling Green. Launches into a brief synopsis of his career path. Mentions how he became interested in history, particularly land use and ownership. Wasnêt considering any other school besides Bowling Green."
2,"Knew he was going to go to college but had no clue. Girl he was dating was a year older and went to BG, Barrow followed her and initially majored in chemistry. Gradually became interested in activism. ""Trying to make sense out of society."" Was a member of SDS."
3,Big Goldwater supporter in college. Mentions reading an article in Playboy that really spelled out the circumstances surrounding the Vietnam War for him. Continued to become more involved in activism. Was one of the people who formed the SDS chapter at BG.
4,"Describes how he feels his involvement with SDS fit into the bigger picture of the 1960s. ""I didnêt burn anything down."" Barrow relates how he supported new left issues. Relates story of running BG's president for Governor. "
5,"Tried to get the national SDS convention to be held at BG. It was just a spoof. Relates how he one time crashed a press conference being held by Richard Nixon, got to meet him and shake his hand."
6,Later that evening he also crashed a dinner that Nixon was attending. Relates the scene at BG following the Kent State shootings. 
7,"Story of Kent State shooting continued. ""It was very peaceful."" Sheriffs were all dressed in their riot gear even though it wasnêt necessary."
8,Didnêt go to Woodstock. When it was put on it wasnêt expected to be the major event that it ultimately began. Wife was having surgery and he was watching the house.
9,Met his wife when he was lifeguarding at her apartment complex. Worked for her father in construction.
10,Mentions some of the projects he worked on in Toledo during that period of time. When work dried up he got a job from his former ROTC commandant.
11,"His commandant and mayor decided they needed an animal warden and gave him the job. Worked there for about a year before relocating to Tucson, AZ. Had a friend that was living there and went out to visit, ended up staying for 17 years. Describes the work he did there as an animal warden."
12,Liked AZ but never actually finished his degree and decided to move back to Cleveland. Was working in the Hanna Building downtown and felt he should finish his degree. Went to CSU because it was right across the street from the Hanna Building. 
13,Describes the trajectory of his studies at CSU. Got a job working on the Cleveland Press Collection as a graduate student. Also worked on the Union Terminal Collection. 
14,"Added a library degree from KSU during that time. ""I like being at a library."" Missed that during the 1970s when he worked as an animal warden. "
15,"Was working for Bill Becker at first. Was hired back to work on Terminal Project. Worked with the map collection at WRHS. ""Im a big believer in networking."""
16,Cleveland Press Collection has been a part of his life for better than 20 years. Relates how it was the premier source newspaper research before similar collections started to be made accessible online.
17,"""It still has other uses."" Cleveland Press vs. Plain Dealer. Everybody would use the Press Collection up until just recently. Relates some of the people and what they did. Media outlets would use the collection."
18,Would often know news before it was in print. Description of Walter Leedy Jr. 
19,"Background/description of Leedy continued. ""He was always accessible."" Barrow relates that he knew the historical facts about subjects and often the backstory as well. ""He was an incurable gossip."" Barrow and Leedy were early users of Ebay and would follow people who were seeking Cleveland memorabilia."
20,Leedy ultimately died of leukemia. Leedy was very interested in the Van Sweringens and Cleveland Hts. The Cleveland Union Terminal collection came to CSU because of Leedy. Relates story of how Leedy procured the collection.
21,"Story continued. ""Thatês his story, I donêt know. Its good."" "
22,Barrow begins to describe the Terminal collection. Collection is organized by the originating office. 
23,"The Cleveland Press collection was taking place in the current special collections room in the library. Mentions some of the places that he was working at as a student at CSU. County Archives, WRHS, title office. "
24,Discussion shifts to his graduate thesis. Describes how his thesis developed and progressed. Mentions the faculty that were on his thesis committee. 
25,Further discussion about development of thesis. 
26,"Thesis was done in the form of a ""palimpset."" Describes what a palimpset is. ""The committee bought it."" "
27,Mentions that he has had lunch with two of the people on his committee this week. Barrow relates how the nature of the field often introduces people to one another late in life. Hired originally as a GIS Specialist.
28,"""The reason I was hired is that I was one of the only people on the staff that could spell GIS."" They wanted him to explore the possibility of implementing GIS at CSU. Heard that he was hired to work on the Cleveland Union Terminal collection is that he had worked on high-rise construction previously."
29,Barrow mentions the impact of the emergence of the internet in the mid-90s. Describes the things that he was looking into at this time. 
30,Learned HTML code from a person in IT. He was given access to the university's server. Started making websites on The Press Collection and Union Terminal collection.
31,Discusses some of the early work he did in moving content to the web. Describes how his experience made him the best candidate for the position he was hired into as Special Collections Librarian.
32,Discussion turns to Cleveland Memory. Barrow relates how Cleveland Memory started. 
33,"Story of Cleveland Memory continued. A team was assembled to work the project, lists the people involved. The team purposely chose popular subjects to post first. "
34,Cleveland Memory gradually started to grow. The team decided to open of the format to other organizations/institutions.
35,"Mentions some of the partners that have contributed to Cleveland Memory. In the mid-90s they had a lot of fun checking the web reports to see the number of visitors to the site. ""When is it going to stop? Its crazy."""
36,*RECORDING STOPS MOMENTARILY* Barrow describes some of the ways that large digital projects like Cleveland Memory. The first route described involves all the planning taking place upfront. The Cleveland Memory team did not have the patience for that.
37,"Another model is sort ""do it as you go along"" which is what Cleveland Memory followed. "
38,"Barrow doesnêt know ""what will stick."" Relates that if they can finish getting out of the start up mode with some of the original people still on board that they would be doing well."
39,"""If its seen as a task that doesnêt need to be done anymore than it wont be."" Mentions a few of the possibilities as to why Cleveland Memory could be discontinued. Barrow relates that he sponsors practicums in Special Collections."
40,Discussion of practicums continued. Have done around 70 practicums at this point. Describes how they work. 
41,"""We want them to be doing curatorial work on a smaller scale."" Mentions some of the ways that sponsoring practicums have benefitted Cleveland Memory."
42,Barrow discusses how he was awarded the Clay Herrick Award from the Early Settlers' Association. Ceremony was held at Public Square. 
43,Barrow relates how Herrick had donated his slide collection to CSU before he died. 
44,Barrow had never really thought about the connection between Herrick's collection being housed by CSU and his winning of the award. Barrow continues and mentions some of the other awards that Cleveland Memory has received. 
45,"Mention of awards continued. ""Its nice to be recognized for the work youre doing."" Barrow notes that the accolades come in bursts, some years theres a lot and others not so much."
46,Barrow mentions that the chief project that is being worked on is retiring the Cleveland Press Collection. Relates why this decision has been made.
47,The process of retiring the Press Collection involves digitizing it so that it is still accessible to the public while not putting the material at unneccessary risk.
48,At this point Barrow relates how the order of digitization is determined. 
49,Discussion of digitizing the Cleveland Press Collection continued. 
50,Interview shifts to campus interactions/usage of Special Collections. Barrow relates how different departments/classes utilize Special Collections.
51,Discussion of Special Collections usage continued. 
52,Barrow hasnêt really had to pull much material for the 50th anniversary. Bill Becker has been but Barrow really hasnêt. 
53,"In summation. ""Its been a great place to be."" Barrow notes that he has passed on other potential job opportunities because he likes being at CSU. Itês a better working environment than what many of his collegues at other institutions work in."
54,*END OF INTERVIEW*