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The City Club Forum audio collection, 1960-1989

Incorporated in 1912, the City Club of Cleveland is the oldest continuous free speech forum in the country, renowned for its tradition of debate and discussion. As part of its mission to "to inform, connect, and motivate citizens to take action on issues relevant to our region and beyond," the City Club has held a weekly forum series where speakers are invited to discuss major issues that affect American life.

Hundreds of distinguished personalities have presented at the City Club over the years including politicians, labor and business leaders, scientists, educators, clergy and entertainers.

The City Club Forum Audio Collection, located in Special Collections at the Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University, contains over 2,200 audiotaped recordings of these speeches, including the question and answer sessions that followed, in various formats. Thanks to a grant from the City Club of Cleveland, the Michael Schwartz Library has digitized and preserved these recordings for generations to come. Over 100 of them have been made available in streaming format.is the oldest continuous free speech forum in the country, renowned for its tradition of debate and discussion. As part of its mission to "to inform, connect, and motivate citizens to take action on issues relevant to our region and beyond," the City Club has held a weekly forum series where speakers are invited to discuss major issues that affect American life.
The Cleveland Group Plan of 1903

Linda Doll

Inspired by the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the Cleveland Group Plan was the embodiment of the City Beautiful Movement. Grounded in the ideals of Beaux Arts Architecture, the plan called for Beaux Arts style buildings with Neoclassical details* to be arranged around a central Mall.

The Group Plan Commission, consisting of Daniel H. Burnham, Arnold W. Brunner, and John M. Carrere worked together for one year in an office in New York City to come up with the final design, which they presented to Mayor Tom Johnson as The Group Plan of the Public Buildings of the City of Cleveland.

The Group Plan of Cleveland is the earliest and the most fully realized plan for a major city outside of Washington, D.C. and remains one of the best extant examples of the City Beautiful Movement.

*Per a phone conversation on April 29, 2009 with Mr. D.H. Ellison, Architect of the D.H. Ellison Co.
The Cleveland Metroparks

Sarah Inglish

Also known as the Emerald Necklace ... the Cleveland Metroparks is one of city’s highlights. Conceived by engineer William Stinchcomb back in 1917, this system of sixteen reservations encircles the city of Cleveland to create a 21,000 acre park district, the oldest in Ohio.

Residents of the Cleveland area go to the Metroparks to enjoy the many activities available including hiking, swimming, golfing, boating, horseback riding and sledding, as well as to delight in some of the most beautiful scenic views in Greater Cleveland.

Nature centers, trails and educational programs offer visitors unique opportunities to learn about the area's wildlife.

The photographs are from the Cleveland Press Collection and represent 9 of the 16 reservations in the Cleveland Metroparks system.
The Cleveland State University Archives Photo Collection

William G. Becker

Cleveland State University is a comprehensive, urban university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 as a state-assisted university to provide public higher education for citizens of greater Cleveland and northeast Ohio. In its first year, the University acquired the buildings, faculty, staff and programs of Fenn College, a private institution of 2,500 students, and in 1969 the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law became part of CSU.
The CSU Theatre History Collection

Holly Miller

Student theatrical productions at Cleveland State University have been a continuous part of student life on campus from before 1923 when the Cleveland Young Men's Christian Association education program first started offering college level courses at The Cleveland YMCA School of Technology and Fenn College, CSU's predecessor school. During the 1930’s Fenn’s student drama organization was variously called The Players of Fenn College and simply The Players, before becoming commonly known as The Fenn Players.

Early stage productions were produced in the auditorium of either the Central YMCA or the "Medical Building". Later Fenn productions were staged in Fenn Tower’s Panel Hall and Stilwell Hall auditorium. The person most responsible for developing The Fenn Players was Professor George Srail of the Speech Department. Between 1946-1965, Srail directed many of the productions as well as writing a number of original scripts for The Players. Srail was also chiefly responsible for establishing at Fenn the Kappa Zeta chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, the National Theater Honorary Society.

In 1965 Fenn College was taken over by the State of Ohio and became The Cleveland State University, The Fenn Players became the CSU Players, and Joseph Garry was hired and took over direction of student drama productions. Under Garry there was a major production by the CSU Players each quarter that ran for at least two weekends. From 1965-1969 CSU Players' productions continued to be staged in Fenn Tower's Panel Hall or Stilwell Hall auditorium.

On November 21, 1969 the Theater Department open it's presentation of The Connection by Jack Gelber, and directed by Garry, at its new Factory Theatre in the Theater Arts Building, a converted former warehouse. The production also marked the discontinuation of the name CSU Players. In November 1970 Garry directed a production of Aristophanes' The Birds, which debut of the CSU Dance Company. In March the production was invited to perform at the College Theater Festival at George Washington University Centre.

The production of Jose Rivera's Marisol, directed By Holly Holsinger, opened in the Allen Theatre Complex's Second Stage on February 23, 2012. It was the Department's first production in its new home in the Middough Building in Cleveland's Playhouse Square where a $30 million reconfiguration offers CSU students three state-of-the art performance venues in the nation's largest theatre district west of Broadway in New York City.
The Cuyahoga County Fair Collection

Donna Stewart and Vern Morrison

Held each summer at the County Fairgrounds in Berea, the Cuyahoga County Fair has been a source of excitement and fun for Greater Clevelanders since 1893. Each year thousands of families come to the fair; some to enjoy the carnival rides and food, some to enter their livestock and produce in the competitions in hopes of winning a prize.

The Cuyahoga County Fair Collection consists of 120 photographs from the Cleveland Press Collection, taken from the 1920s to the 1980s. The photos depict fair activities and fairgoers of all kinds, from prize-winning cattle to children competing in races.

Another part of the Fair Collection is a 28-minute 1970 documentary titled County Fair, U.S.A., which provides a nostalgic look back at the Fair as it was a generation ago.

Also included are photos and audio interviews taken at the Memories of Cleveland Exhibit at the 2006 Cuyahoga County Fair, which was hosted by the Michael Schwartz Library, Cleveland State University. The exhibit featured many memorable photographs from the library's special collections of people, places, and events from Cleveland's past.
The Cuyahoga County Public Library Collection

Peter Jennings and Jennifer Pflaum

In 1921, the State Legislature of Ohio passed a law which enabled the establishment of a county district library for any area not served by a free public library, subject to a vote of the people. A referendum was placed on the November 7, 1922, general election ballot authorizing a county library district. The issue passed by more than two to one, making Cuyahoga County Public Library the first county library in Ohio to be organized under the new law.

The original petition called for the inclusion of all of Cuyahoga County not then served by an existing public library. In 1922, only eight communities had tax-supported library service and only a few other communities had libraries supported by private funds.
The Darius Milhaud Society Collection

Sarah Boyle and Kyra Mihalski

Darius Milhaud (1892-1974) was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six (also known as The Group of Six) and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. A modernist composer, his compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality.

The rise of Nazi Germany and invasion of France forced the Milhauds to emigrate to the United States in 1940. Because of his Jewish background, Milhaud could not return to his native country until after the war concluded. He secured a teaching post at Mills College in Oakland, California, where he composed and collaborated with other composers during the war years.

From 1947 to 1971, he taught alternate years at Mills and the Paris Conservatoire, until poor health compelled him to retire. He died in Geneva at the age of 81, and he was buried in the Saint-Pierre Cemetery in Aix-en-Provence.

During his tenure at Mills College, Darius Milhaud became acquainted with one of his students, Katharine Warne. Warne studied composition with Milhaud during her undergraduate career at Mills College and completed compositions, sketches, and homework during her time as a student with him. Upon graduating from Mills College in 1945, Katharine Warne maintained contact with Darius and Madeleine Milhaud (Darius' wife), often attending Milhaud's birthday celebrations at Mills College.

Katharine Warne created the Darius Milhaud Society in 1984, 10 years after Milhaud's death, with the purpose of preserving and promoting his works and legacy. As founder and president of the society, Warne maintained a personal and professional relationship with Madeleine Milhaud, who performed in concerts and provided information about Darius for the society.
The Dobama Collection

Carolyn Solis

The Dobama Theatre was founded by idealistic theater students, Don and Marilyn Bianchi, Barry Silverman and Mark Silverberg as their way of presenting free quality theater for the people of Cleveland. Dobama started as a very small production company that managed to present its first production during the week of May 17, 1960. Barry and Mark left Dobama shortly afterwards, while the Bianchis remained to nurture the theatre on Don’s often proclaimed foundation of Love and Respect, and to develop it into an acclaimed, innovative, and award-winning (if not entirely free) theater. Read more...

The Dobama Collection is a collaborative digital project between The Michael Schwartz Library, Cleveland State University and the Cleveland Public Library. Forty three Dobama playbills lent to us for digitization by the Cleveland Public Library Literature Department, publicity stills from the Cleveland Press Collection, as well as a chronological listing of Dobama productions through July 2007 compiled by Laura R. Dempsey were all cataloged and indexed in Cleveland Memory to provide this montage of the Dobama's contributions to Cleveland's vibrant theatrical scene.
The Early History of The Cleveland Play House (1915-1984)

Thomas Kubat

The Cleveland Play House was first conceived in 1915 at the home of Charles and Minerva Brooks. The first productions were performed at the Ammon house on the estate of Francis Drury and, for a brief period, in a barn behind the house. In 1917 The Play House found a new home in an old Lutheran Church at E. 73rd and Cedar Avenue. This would remain their home for 10 years until they finally relocated to their present location at Euclid and E. 86th Street.

From its modest beginnings on the estate of Francis Drury The Cleveland Play House has grown to become one of the largest regional theaters in the United States. It is the “nation’s oldest continuously running resident theater company” (Oldenburg, 1985).

The Cleveland Play House, though, is more than just the sum of its buildings. In particular, it is the vision of its founders, managers and artistic directors, and the legacy of those who treaded the boards, some of whom went on to national fame, that best define The Play House and will follow the company no matter the venue.

This Web site, a collaborative effort between The Cleveland Play House and the Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University, contains images of the theatres, prominent figures and future luminaries of the stage as well as the productions that comprise the history of The Cleveland Play House from its inception in 1915 to 1983-84, when the new complex was unveiled.
The Federal Reserve Bank Building of Cleveland,Ohio Digital Photogrpah Collection: Construction

Connie S. Evans

Originally located at the Williamson Building on Public Square in Cleveland, Ohio, since 1914, the Fourth District Federal Reserve Bank soon outgrew its space. Starting in 1919, the architectural firm of Walker and Weeks, in consultation with bank officials, began drawing up plans for a new stand-alone building to be sited at the corner of Superior Avenue and East Sixth Street. In following the early twentieth century American Renaissance style, the building mimicked the architectural design of the adjacent Group Plan (1903), which is comprised of the city's major public edifices.

In 1921, the firm of John Gill & Sons, contractors, began work on the building. Sitting on a foundation of pink granite, and clad in pinkish Georgia marble, the thirteen-story, 203-foot tall structure is reflective of the Art Deco sensibilities of the renowned sculptors and decorators who worked on its exteriors and interiors. Designed to reflect both safety and security, the building was also constructed to hold the world's largest bank vault door, which weighs one hundred short tons. Dedicated on August 23, 1923, the bank has since been accorded a designation on the National Register of Historic Places.

This photograph collection documents the construction of the building from the excavation of the site in 1921 to the completion of the structure in 1923; the pictures also provide intriguing snapshots of life in Cleveland in the early 1920s.
The Gerald E. Brookins Collection

The Gerald E. Brookins Collection is the archive of his Trolleyville, U.S.A. (also known as the Gerald E. Brookins Museum of Electric Railways) streetcar operation in Olmsted Township, Ohio, and related materials on urban transportation history. Included are materials he had acquired, including the Morris Stone model streetcar collection and many photographs reported to be by transit historian Harry Christiansen. Read more about Trolleyville, U.S.A. from the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.

This collection was donated to Special Collections at the Michael Schwartz Library, Cleveland State University by the Lake Shore Electric Railway Association, the successor to Trolleyville, and by Brookins' son, Gary Brookins, as a tribute to his mother and father.
The Glenville Shootout (July, 23, 1968)

O. Lauren Felder

On the evening of July 23, 1968 violence erupted between police and a black militant group led by Fred (Ahmed) Evans within Cleveland's 6 square mile Glenville neighborhood. When order was finally restored three days later on July 28 by the National Guard, 7 people lay dead , 15 were wounded.

While the Glenville neighborhood was left torn apart by rioters, looters and arsonists, Cleveland was left torn apart by the ensuing controversy. Carl B. Stokes, the mayor of Cleveland at the time, would later write in his autobiography, Promises of Power, "The aftermath of that night was to haunt and color every aspect of my administration for the next three years."
The Glory Days of the Cleveland Browns

Matthew B. Long

Over 200 photos from 1946-64, when the Cleveland Browns were one of the best teams in football. These are the years of Paul Brown, Otto Graham, and Jim Brown, when the Browns won eight league championships. Coach Paul Brown completely revolutionized the game of football. Otto Graham brought the Browns to ten straight championship games. And Jim Brown is considered by many to be the greatest football players to ever play the game.
The Greater Cleveland Ethnographic Museum

Kiffany Francis and Caroline Bruno

The Greater Cleveland Ethnographic Museum was established in 1975 to preserve the traditions and histories of Cleveland ethnic communities. Although the museum closed in 1981, it was able to capture and document the experiences of immigrants by recording and transcribing oral histories, taking pictures of festivals and traditions, recording the music and dances of ethnic communities, and by displaying exhibits at their downtown gallery at The Arcade. The museum grew out of a Bicentennial Heritage Committee which focused on recording individuals' narratives, and collecting and cataloging cultural objects.

This digital collection seeks to highlight the museum as well as some of its artifacts, both created and collected through the efforts of the museum.
The Great Lakes Exposition

Maya Shumyatcher and Vern Morrison

Held in the summers of 1936 and 1937, the Great Lakes Exposition was sprawled over 135 acres of land near Cleveland's lakefront from W. 3rd St. to E. 20th St.

Organized to celebrate the centennial year of the corporation of the city of Cleveland, the Great Lakes Exposition sought to highlight “the material, social and cultural progress which has been achieved in the Great Lakes Region in the past 100 year” and to “indicate the paths of progress for the future.”1

The Exposition featured hundreds of attractions, including rides, sideshows, botanical gardens, cafes, and more. In 1937, the Expo added an aquacade with water ballet shows featuring celebrities Johnny Weissmuller and Eleanor Holm.

Some of the Cleveland/Northeast Ohio industries represented at the Expo included the White Motor Company, the Standard Oil Company, Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Sherwin Williams, not to mention appearances by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s ever-popular blimp.

The Special Collections Department of the Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University makes available a variety of resources that document the history and events of the Exposition. Many of the materials, including 150+ photographs and color postcards have been digitized and are available for viewing online.

So take a step back in time and enjoy the sights of what was, without question, one of the most remarkable and beloved events in Cleveland history… line.

1Great Lakes Exposition Official Souvenir Guide, 1936.
The James A. Garfield Collection at Hiram College

Hiram College Archives

James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States, was born in Orange Township, Cuyahoga County, Ohio on November 19, 1831 to Eliza (Ballou) and Abram Garfield. Abram died of lung congestion following a forest fire when James was 2 years old. He attended the Geauga Seminary for one year, taught some classes there, then advanced to the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College), working as a janitor to pay his tuition. He also taught classes at the Institute. He finished at the Eclectic in 1854 and went on to Williams College in Massachusetts receiving a Bachelor's degree two years later. He returned to Hiram as a full instructor, became Head of the faculty and later Principal. In November 1858, Garfield married Lucretia Rudolph, daughter of Zeb and Arabella Rudolph. The wedding was in Hiram Village at the Rudolph home.

He studied law in 1859 and, while still Principal at Hiram, was admitted to the Cleveland Bar. The voters of Summit and Portage Counties elected him to the Ohio State Senate shortly thereafter. He helped to recruit the 42nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was its colonel during the Civil War. He was later made Brigadier General for heroic service in Kentucky and West Virginia, and was ultimately transferred to a post as Chief of Staff for the Army of the Cumberland. In 1863 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio, where he served for 17 years. At this time, he formally left his position as Principal of the Eclectic Institute, but he remained a member of the board of trustees until his death.

Garfield was drafted as the Republican nominee for President of the United States at the Republican National Convention of 1880 and elected President that same year. He had served as President for only four months when a disgruntled office-seeker named Charles Guiteau shot him in the back in Washington, D.C. on July 2, 1881. The ultimate cause of his death was a combination of aneurysm and a form of blood poisoning caused by the presence in his body of the bullet, which doctors were unable to remove. Garfield lingered between life and death for two and a half months, finally dying on September 19, 1881, at the age of 49 years.
The Lewis Turco Collection

Matthew Cook and Nathan Miller

On April 14, 1962 poet and English instructor Lewis Turco announced the founding of the Poetry Center at Fenn College. As the director of the center, over the next two years Turco would propel the program forward to achieve great success and a lasting legacy in the Cleveland community.

In those two years, the poetry center would attract such prominent and legendary authors such as William Golding, author of Lord of the Flies, Kenyon College critic John Crowe Ransom, and Paris Review poetry editor X. J. Kennedy.

Under Turco’s direction, the center demonstrated its dedication to sponsoring and promoting local Cleveland literature programs as well as playing host to numerous Ohio programs in writing and literature, such as the Ohio Versewriters' Conference...
The Life & Times of Ralph J. Perk

Richard Klein

Cleveland’s economic transformation from heavy manufacturing to health-related industries has not been easy. Many leaders are still discussing what course of action to follow. Studying successful policies from past politicians may afford new insight into how to handle this transition.

Effective politicians have always worked well with others; established achievable goals; and advanced community objectives. Mayor Ralph J. Perk was no exception. He initiated many broad-based programs while never forgetting the needs of the electorate.

A Web site dedicated to his life and work is intended to shed some new light on his political mastery during a very turbulent time in our city’s history. Many of his policies worked well then, perhaps they can be successfully replicated in today’s world.
The Maple Sugar Industry in Northeast Ohio

Carolyn L. Hufford and Jonathan Herr

Native Americans and then early settlers tapped sugar maple trees for the sap that was then boiled down to a sweet syrup consistency. About forty gallons of sap are required to produce one gallon of maple syrup. The harvest season for maple sap is in late winter/early spring when the "sap is running." Sap is collected until the buds on the tree begin to swell.

In northeast Ohio, the first Maple Festival was officially held in Chardon in 1926. In 1931, the City of Burton erected the "first municipal maple house in the country." The proclaimed "Log Cabin Sugar Camp" was located in Burton Park.

Local promoters saw the opportunity to create an event that would attract people longing to get out of the house after a long winter indoors. The idea was to serve a breakfast feast of pancakes, sausage and maple syrup to crowds of people.

About the Collection:

This collection of photographs was largely taken from the Cleveland Press "Maple Sirup" aka "Syrup" file. The Cleveland Press collection of photographs was donated to the Cleveland State University in 1984, after the Cleveland Press stopped production. The pictures represented here date from the 1920’s through the 1970’s, showing various aspects of maple sugaring production from throughout northeast Ohio, notably Burton, Chardon, and Geauga County.
The Medina, Ohio Collection

Rochelle LeMaster

Medina, Ohio was founded in 1816 and incorporated as a village in 1835. The city is well known for the Victorian architecture on its picturesque square that has been restored to make its residents feel as if they’re stepping back in time. The city has a population of approximately 26,380 people and is the county seat of Medina County. In the summer, the city enjoys band concerts, festivals and art shows, and in the winter, an ice carving festival.

In July of 2009, Money Magazine recognized Medina as one of the "Best Places to Live" in their list of best small towns. In spite of the city growing at a rapid rate over the last 20 years, it has managed to maintain much of its historical character and small town charm through strong community effort and commitment to keeping the city beautiful.

This collection is made up of mostly photographic images and a small number of manuscripts that bring together the small town feel of Medina and illustrate its simplistic appeal. The collection documents, at present range in date from the 1840s to the 1960s. The materials originate from Special Collections at the Michael Schwartz Library, Cleveland State University, from the Medina County District Library repository, and from the Medina County Historical Society repository. In attempts to chronicle the history of Medina, Ohio, the site will be a work in progress, always evolving and growing as a work.
The Oberlin, Ohio Project

Jonathan Herr

Oberlin, Ohio showcases a wealth of history, embodied in notable sites and famed edifices, as recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, the National Historical Landmarks program and even the National Historic Chemical Landmark program.

Founded in 1833, concurrently with Oberlin College, the city played an important role in the prohibition and abolitionist movements, and was a part of the Underground Railroad. This rich history is graciously remembered and proudly celebrated in the present.

The Oberlin, Ohio Project was started in January of 2011. The project incorporated many of the photographs within the Cleveland Press Photograph Collection of the Special Collections Department in the Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University. This work was completed by Kent State University School of Library and Information School graduate student and Oberlin Heritage Center member Jonathan D. Herr as part of a culminating practicum experience.

A brief overview of the city, its attractions, and history can be viewed through the pictures and narrative represented on this site by following the links provided. Further, utilizing the above search box or simply browsing the collection will offer more surprises.
The Parma, Ohio Project

Michael Ross

The area 7 miles southwest of Cleveland now known as Parma, Ohio, was first settled in 1816 by Benajah Fay, his wife Ruth, and their children, who came from New York state. Parma was once part of Parma Township along with Parma Heights, but Parma Heights separated from the township in 1911. Parma was then incorporated as a village in 1924 and later as a city in 1931.

Parma is the home of Cuyahoga Community College West campus, Parma Community General Hospital, German Central Farm, and Parmatown Mall. It was once the home of a Nike missile site and Crile General Hospital, which was a hospital for soldiers and military veterans from 1943-1964. Parma's school district is shared with Parma Heights, and Seven Hills. The area's rich ethnic heritage is derived from the largest segments of its population, the Germans, Poles, Italians, Slovaks, and Irish, who have chosen to make Parma their home over the years.

The majority of photos included in the Parma, Ohio Collection come from the Cleveland Press Collection in the Michael Schwartz Library's Special Collections at Cleveland State University. They depict landmarks and events in the city and a few photos offer glimpses of neighboring towns, Parma Heights and Seven Hills. Landmarks include such prominent buildings as the Crile General Hospital, Cuyahoga Community College West campus, and Parmatown Mall.
The Photograph Albums of Glenallen

Melanie Wilson

Like the other Severance estates that lined Taylor and Mayfield Roads in Cleveland Heights in the early 20th century, the life of Glenallen, the estate of Elisabeth Severance Allen Prentiss, was also short lived. This collection of 116 professional photographs spotlights the unique interior and exterior features of this historic estate. The digitized images are from a rare twin-volume book of hand-mounted photographs by photographer, Clifford Norton, recently acquired by Special Collections at Cleveland State University Library.
The Roy Grove Cartoon Collection

Cecilia Hartman

From 1917 through the mid-1920s, Roy Grove was a cartoonist with the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), one of the first newspaper syndicates. During World War I he traveled to Great Britain, France, Switzerland and Italy, supplying the NEA with cartoons and art, many appearing in The Cleveland Press. Read more about Roy Grove.Read more about Roy Grove.

The Roy Grove Cartoon Collection contains some of Grove's World War I cartoons, as well as some of his sports cartoons. The collection was donated to Cleveland State University Library Special Collections Department by the Gardner Family, neighbors to the Grove family in Cleveland Heights.