Category: Libraries and Museums

LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES, AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES In general, the development of libraries, historical agencies, and archives in the WESTERN RESERVE has followed patterns experienced throughout the Old Northwest Territory. There are some differences, in part dictated by location, population trends, wealth, and select creative individuals.

LIBRARIES, ETHNIC. The large number of immigrant groups that have come to Cleveland have had a profound effect on its libraries, requiring the major public library to evolve a noted collection of works in foreign languages and leading to the establishment of a variety of private libraries by various nationality groups.

THE LIT: CLEVELAND'S LITERARY CENTER was an organization of Cleveland-area writers with its office at the Art Craft Building, a former garment factory site at 2570 Superior Avenue. It claimed to be the oldest and largest independent literary organization in Ohio.

LUCY is more technically known as Australopithicus afarensis. Though she lived and died in Ethiopia some 3.2 million years ago, she has some strong Cleveland connections.

MORSE, ALBERT REYNOLDS (20 Oct. 1914 – 15 Aug. 2000) and his wife ELEANOR REESE MORSE (21 Oct. 1912 – 1 Jul. 2010) were Cleveland philanthropists noted for their collection of the works of Salvador Dalí, the Spanish surrealist artist. Sharing their knowledge and understanding of Dalí and his art was a lifelong mission for the couple. Until 1971, the Morses displayed their collection in their home.

THE MUSEUM OF AMERICAN PORCELAIN ART located in SOUTH EUCLID

The NORTHEASTERN OHIO INTER-MUSEUM COUNCIL was originally established as the Cleveland Inter-Museum Committee in 1942 to encourage awareness and collaboration among area museums, with a heavy emphasis on museums, libraries, and schools as cooperative educational institutions.

The SHAKER HISTORICAL SOCIETY, at 16740 South Park Blvd. in SHAKER HTS., was founded on 21 Oct. 1947 to preserve the Shaker heritage and that of the area. The society also runs the Shaker Historical Museum, which is housed at the same address. Caroline Piercy, author of The Valley of God's Pleasure, served as the catalyst in establishing the society.

The SLOVAK INSTITUTE, a resource center (archives and library) for the study of Slovak culture and literature, was founded 15 Sept. 1952 at ST. ANDREW ABBEY on East Blvd. (now Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr.) in Cleveland.

The SOLON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, founded 1 July 1968 as a nonprofit organization, is devoted to the discovery, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge about SOLON and its vicinity, especially its exploration, settlement, and development. The society was created following meetings of interested citizens and a membership drive that enlisted over 1,000 persons.

The SOUTH EUCLID HISTORICAL SOCIETY was incorporated on 2 March 1966 to preserve historical data and mementos relating to SOUTH EUCLID. In 1967 the society published an 80-page history on the community's 50th anniversary, and, in 1975-76, helped restore a schoolhouse in LYNDHURST as part of the national bicentennial activities.

The UKRAINIAN MUSEUM-ARCHIVES, INC., located at 1202 Kenilworth Ave. in TREMONT houses an important collection of material related to Ukrainian history, culture, and immigration. The collection began in 1952 when Leonid Bachynsky, a Ukrainian native living in Cleveland, began collecting almost anything related to the Ukrainian immigrant experience.

The BLOSSOM, a 20,000-mi anthropological expedition sponsored by the CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATIONAL HISTORY, was undertaken to make natural-history collections and surveys on the islands of the South Atlantic. Dr.

The WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY is Cleveland's oldest existing cultural institution. Founded 28 May 1867 as the Western Reserve & Northern Ohio Historical Society, it was initially a branch of the CLEVELAND LIBRARY ASSN.

WILLIAM G. MATHER STEAMSHIP MUSEUM. See STEAMSHIP WILLIAM G. MATHER MUSEUM.