Category: Immigration and Ethnicity

ISHIMAYA, TOARU

ISHIMAYA, TOARU (1921? - 15 August 2001) was a Japanese American psychologist and professor at CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY. His work in psychology and advocacy for Japanese American mental health led to the Civil Liberties Act of 1987, a bill for reparations to victims of WWII internment camps. 

ITALIANS

ITALIANS. Although Italian names can be found in Cleveland city directories from the late 1850s, not until the Civil War did an Italian community begin forming in the city. The 1870 census listed 35 Italians in Cleveland; during the following 50 years, more than 20,000 Italian immigrants came to the city.

IVANUSCH, JOHN

IVANUSCH, JOHN (30 Sept. 1879-1 Sept. 1973), SLOVENIAN composer, music teacher, and musical director, was born in Slovenia to John and Mary (Heinrich) Ivanusch. He began his musical education at 7 and later served in the Yugoslav Navy under bandmaster Franz Lehar, composer of the opera The Merry Widow.

JAPANESE

JAPANESE. Cleveland's Japanese-American community began after World War II, when significant numbers began settling in the area. Prior to this, only a few Japanese called Cleveland home (18 in 1940). Most Japanese immigrated to the Pacific Coast between 1890-1924, developing "Little Tokyos" in West Coast communities. The Japanese Exclusion Act of 1924 halted further immigration.

JEWS & JUDAISM

JEWS & JUDAISM.  The beginning of the Jewish community in Cleveland is easy enough to date. A group of fifteen Jews from Unsleben, Bavaria, arrived in the city in July 1839.

JICHA, JOSEPH W.

JICHA, JOSEPH W. (1901-30 Aug. 1960), commercial artist and watercolorist, was born in Austria-Hungary to Rudolph and Helen (Remesch) Jicha, came to Cleveland with his family as an infant. His father was a skilled coppersmith who worked decorations for the CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF ART.

JIROUCH, FRANK L.

JIROUCH, FRANK L. (3 Mar. 1878-2 May 1970), sculptor known mainly for his work in Cleveland's Cultural Gardens, was born of a Czech father, Austin Jirouch, and German mother, Mary (Girgur) Jirouch, in Cleveland. Little is known of his early life, but at the turn of the century he and Geo. Fischer worked together as woodcarvers on the Prudential Bldg. in New York City.

JOHN GILL & SONS CO.

The JOHN GILL & SONS CO. was one of Cleveland's most important families of builders. The first John Gill immigrated to the U.S. from the Isle of Man in 1854 to become one of the early masonry contractors in Cleveland. The first major structure undertaken by him was the Northern Ohio Lunatic Asylum (1875, demolished 1977). His son John T.

JOSEPH, MORITZ

JOSEPH, MORITZ (9 Sept. 1834-7 June 1917), responsible for making JOSEPH & FEISS CO. one of the country's largest manufacturers of men's clothing, was born in Gauersheim, Rheinpfalz, Germany, son of Simon and Hannah Joseph. He left school at 16 to work as a clerk in a cloth business in Mainz. Joseph immigrated to the U.S.

JOYCE, TERRY

JOYCE, TERRY (February 12, 1929 - October 28, 2009) was a prominent Cleveland labor leader and Irish community leader who was a driving force behind the move of the West Side Irish American Club to Olmsted Township.  Born in Mewillian in Achill Parish, County Mayo, Ireland, to Michael and Mary (Gallagher) Joyce, Joyce was one of eight children and maintained close family ties in Achill Parish all his life.

KAHL, JACK

KAHL, JACK (September 20, 1940 - December 30, 2018) was a philanthropist and business entrepreneur who founded Manco, manufacturer of the Duck Brand Tapes.

KAIM, JAMIL (JAMES)

KAIM, JAMIL (JAMES) (1892-21 Sept. 1971), businessman and leader in Lebanese-American affairs, was born in Aitaneet, Lebanon, graduated from American University in Beirut, and served with the American Red Cross 2 years before coming to Cleveland in 1920 and opening a confectionery.

KALISH, MAX

KALISH, MAX (1 Mar. 1891-18 Mar. 1945), sculptor, was born Max Kalichik in Valozin, Lithuania, son of Joel and Hannah (Levinson) Kalichik. He immigrated with his family to Cleveland in 1898 and was given an Orthodox Jewish education. He won a scholarship to the CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF ART, graduating at 19 and winning first prize for life modeling.

KELLEY, SR. MARAGRET ANN

KELLEY, SR. MARGARET ANN (November 29, 1931-January 21, 2013) was a Catholic nun, teacher, and administrator who worked to transform the schools she led by encouraging strong community participation. She was the youngest of four children born to John Joseph and Ellen (Hayes) Kelley.

KETTERINGHAM, GEORGE H.

KETTERINGHAM, GEORGE H. (11 Feb. 1876-29 Dec. 1954) was a developer of technical instruments manufactured by Cleveland industry. His innovations included the harvesting of spider web for use as cross hairs in optical equipment and perfection of electro-pezioid crystal for electrical devices.

KLONOWSKI, STANLEY J.

KLONOWSKI, STANLEY J. (29 May 1883-3 Feb. 1973), prominent businessman and banker, was born in Poland, graduated from the University of Poland at Warsaw, and was fluent in Russian, French, and English as well as Polish. After working as a postal clerk, telegraph operator, and serving in the Russian army, he came to the U.S. in 1904, working in several cities before settling in Cleveland in 1912.

KNIOLA, MICHAEL P.

KNIOLA, MICHAEL P. (16 Sept. 1859-17 Sept. 1944), prominent businessman in Cleveland's Polish community, was born in Samostrzel, Poland, to Peter and Anna Nowakowski Kniola. He immigrated to Spotswood, N.J. in 1873 and moved to Cleveland in 1880, working at Cleveland Rolling Mill Co. He continued his education at Broadway Night School, and eventually became a mill foreman.

KOBRAK, HERBERT L.

KOBRAK, HERBERT L. (16 Dec. 1890-22 July 1943) became involved in Cleveland's extensive foreign-language publishing field between the 2 world wars, until financial reverses led to his murder of the publisher of the PLAIN DEALER. He was born and educated in Hungary, immigrating to the U.S. in 1908.

KOHANYI, TIHAMER

KOHANYI, TIHAMER (1863-10 March 1913), founder of SZABADSAG (Liberty), the largest Hungarian daily newspaper in the U.S., was born in Saros, Hungary and came to America at 27 after an unsuccessful attempt to practice law in Hungary.

KOREAN-AMERICAN ASSN. OF GREATER CLEVELAND

The KOREAN-AMERICAN ASSN. OF GREATER CLEVELAND, a cultural association organized in 1966, serves the Korean-American community in the northeastern Ohio region (see IMMIGRATION AND MIGRATION). It sponsors Korean Day Festivals to celebrate and publicize Korean culture.

KOREANS

KOREANS. Korean immigration to Cleveland largely stems from the end of the KOREAN WAR. Some South Koreans left their homeland to escape the harsh aftermath of war, and others to escape the military regime that took over the government of South Korea. Some came to the U.S. for education, while others hoped to find economic prosperity.

KULHANEK, JAMES CHARLES

KULHANEK, JAMES CHARLES (23 April 1908-1 April 1990) a noted regional artist, was born in Cleveland the son of Anna (Veleba) and Vaclav Kulhanek who settled in Cleveland in the early 1900’s from their native Bohemia. 

KUNDTZ, THEODOR

KUNDTZ, THEODOR (1 July 1852-14 Sept. 1937) was an inventor, manufacturer, financier, philanthropist, and patriarch of the Hungarian community.

KURDZIEL, AUGUST JOSEPH

KURDZIEL, AUGUST JOSEPH "GUS" (2 Aug. 1902-30 April 1993) was active in Cleveland's Polish-American Community as publisher of THE POLISH DAILY NEWS (Wiadomosci Codzienne). He was also the youngest person to serve as Cleveland's director of public parks and properties.

L'ARALDO

L'ARALDO (The Herald) gave Cleveland's Italian community its second newspaper when it began publication on 1 July 1938. A tabloid printed in both Italian and English, the weekly was put out by the L'Araldo Publishing Co. on Mayfield Rd. in LITTLE ITALY. Attorney Joseph H. Taddeo served as president and editor.