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| Historical Society of Summit County | |
|---|---|
| Name | Historical Society of Summit County |
| Formation | 1920 |
| Type | Historical society |
| Headquarters | Akron, Ohio |
| Location | Summit County, Ohio |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
Historical Society of Summit County The Historical Society of Summit County is a regional cultural institution based in Akron, Ohio, preserving artifacts, documents, and built heritage from Summit County and northeastern Ohio. The organization engages with local governments, philanthropic foundations, and academic institutions to maintain collections, operate museums, and deliver public programs that connect communities to the histories of Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Barberton, Tallmadge, Springfield Township, and surrounding municipalities.
Founded in the early 20th century, the Society emerged during a period of civic institutional growth alongside organizations such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, Akron Public Library, Ohio Historical Society, Smithsonian Institution, and Library of Congress. Its development paralleled industrial and civic entities including Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, B.F. Goodrich Company, Republic Steel, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, and National Inventors Hall of Fame. Early boards included figures connected to University of Akron, Akron Beacon Journal, Summit County Court, Ohio State University, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Throughout the 20th century the Society navigated preservation debates like those involving Urban Renewal, National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Historic American Buildings Survey, and local zoning boards, while collaborating with preservationists associated with National Trust for Historic Preservation and scholars from Case Western Reserve University.
The Society's holdings encompass manuscript collections, photographs, maps, business records, and ephemera tied to local industries, families, and institutions. Notable provenance includes materials related to Goodyear, Firestone, B.F. Goodrich, Cleveland-Cliffs, Akron Rubber Bowl, Akron Symphony Orchestra, Akron Civic Theatre, Howard Hanson, and municipal records from City of Akron and Summit County Courthouse. The photograph archive documents events such as National Guard mobilizations, Great Depression, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and local labor disputes involving unions like the United Rubber Workers and the United Steelworkers. The manuscript collections contain correspondence tied to families with surnames associated with local landmarks and institutions such as John S. Knight, E. J. Salomon, David L. Buchtel, F. A. Seiberling, Stephen M. Young, and Paul F. Blanchard. Cartographic and architectural drawings include plans referencing Hudson Historic District, Tallmadge Circle, Akron Municipal Building, Summit County Courthouse, and regional transportation corridors such as Ohio State Route 8 and Interstate 76.
Programming ranges from public lectures and walking tours to school curricula and teacher workshops developed in partnership with institutions including Akron Public Schools, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, Kent State University, University of Akron School of Law, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park educational outreach. Lecture series have featured scholars affiliated with Case Western Reserve University, Ohio State University, Bowling Green State University, and guest curators from Smithsonian Institution and National Archives and Records Administration. Youth programs connect students to local history through partnerships with Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, Junior League of Akron, and Akron Civic Theatre camps, while adult learning includes collaborations with Akron-Summit County Public Library, Summit Metro Parks, Akron Art Museum, and Summit County Historical Records Commission.
The Society operates museum spaces and stewards historic properties reflecting architectural styles and community narratives tied to neighborhoods such as Highland Square, Glenmont, Goodyear Heights, Sandy Valley, and Ellet. Exhibits have showcased artifacts from industrial collections associated with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, and local manufacturers like Barberton Citizens Hospital suppliers, alongside cultural displays connecting to Polish Village, Italian-American Club of Akron, African-American Community Center, and religious landmarks including St. Bernard Church and Temple Israel. The management of historic houses and public sites has required coordination with agencies such as the Ohio Historical Society, National Park Service, and local preservation commissions, with outreach to heritage tourism partners like Akron-Canton Regional Airport visitor services and Visit Akron.
Research services provide access to genealogical records, property deeds, probate files, city directories, and oral histories useful to patrons linked to institutions such as FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, National Archives, Mahoning Valley Historical Society, Cuyahoga County Archives, and university special collections. Staff assist researchers probing topics including labor history tied to United Rubber Workers Local 45, industrial innovation connected to inventors listed in the National Inventors Hall of Fame, migration patterns related to Great Migration (African American), and urban planning documents associated with projects like Interstate 77 and Ohio Turnpike. The oral history program includes interviews with veterans of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War, local civic leaders, and figures from the arts linked to Akron Symphony Orchestra and Goodyear Polymer Institute.
Governance is conducted by a volunteer board of trustees drawn from civic leaders, business executives, and scholars with ties to Akron Community Foundation, Hudson Community Foundation, Kenmore Community Council, Summit County Fiscal Office, Akron Beacon Journal, and corporate philanthropy units of Goodyear, FirstEnergy, PNC Financial Services, KeyBank, BP America, and Macy's Foundation. Funding streams include membership dues, earned revenue from admissions and rentals, grants from National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute of Museum and Library Services, state arts agencies such as the Ohio Arts Council, and private foundation support from entities like Knight Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Cleveland Foundation, and Akron Community Foundation.
The Society partners with neighborhood associations, educational institutions, religious congregations, labor unions, and cultural organizations to promote heritage tourism, historic preservation, and civic engagement. Collaborations include joint programming with Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, conservation projects with Summit Metro Parks, exhibition exchanges with Akron Art Museum and Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and research initiatives with Case Western Reserve University Department of History and Kent State University Special Collections. Through internships and volunteer projects the organization connects with students from University of Akron, Kent State University, Hiram College, and workforce programs administered by OhioMeansJobs Summit County. The Society's role in community revitalization has intersected with urban initiatives like Hartford Avenue Revitalization efforts, neighborhood preservation campaigns, and civic commemorations coordinated with Summit County Executive and municipal leaders.
Category:Historical societies in Ohio Category:Museums in Akron, Ohio