For 150 years, Western Reserve Historical Society has been the repository for the history of this region. From the entrepreneurs who built the city of Cleveland to the everyday citizens who left lasting impressions on our cultural heritage; from the fans cheering in the stadium seats, to the ideas incubated in our corporate and philanthropic institutions, WRHS has been there to preserve the stories of Northeast Ohio and beyond.
Today, WRHS uses these stories and collections to provide social and economic value to Northeast Ohio through the Corporate and Philanthropic History Archives Program. The archives provide access to not only the great leaders and events in society, but also the stories that capture the human spirit — stories that inspire excellence in school children, scholars and future leaders in business, philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. As Cleveland undergoes a stunning transformation, WRHS captures the innovation, inspires pride and forges a sense of community.
Philanthropy plus
The development and history of Cleveland, and Northeast Ohio, is due to many factors, but one of the more distinctive reasons has been the unique relationship between its businesses and philanthropic endeavors. From John D. Rockefeller to the corporate campus of Parker Hannifin Corp., Cleveland’s leaders and their companies have founded and supported the social and economic development of the region through philanthropic giving. In fact, materials in the archives range from ledgers kept by early general stores and purveyors, to articles of incorporation for many of Cleveland’s most successful companies, photographs of leading businessmen, marketing materials, engineering drawings and correspondence.
In 1898 Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil, provided funds to the Cleveland Day Nursery, which eventually became Alta House, which became a full service community center. In the early years of the 20th century, a large number of Cleveland’s most successful business leaders formed the Workman’s Collateral Loan Co. to provide low interest loans to the people of Cleveland in need. Most of Cleveland’s largest corporations have also been its biggest supporters. SOHIO created grant programs for urban revitalization that focused on low-income community development.
The Corporate and Philanthropic History Archives Program is focused on documenting the stories of businesses and philanthropies of the region. Staffed by a full-time archivist with corporate experience, the program is responsible for the maintenance of more than half of all manuscript material at WRHS. Many of the region’s most important industries are represented, including LTV Steel, Pickands, Mather and Co. and Ameritrust. In addition, the program has established relationships with several Cleveland-area foundations that regularly transfer their records each year.
Preservation of records
The primary goal of the archives program is the preservation of records. And, because of its expertise in the area, WRHS is the trusted repository for documents, photographs and other donated materials. WRHS provides a safe, secure and environmentally controlled facility for long-term storage, primarily at the Cleveland History Center in University Circle.
In addition to ensuring the long-term survival of materials, WRHS is committed to making its collections available for research and educational purposes. The Cleveland History Center is also the home of the WRHS Research Library. The experienced reference staff in the library provides a variety of services including retrieving materials for research, photocopying and expertise knowledge of information sources. In addition to the reference staff, WRHS launched Digital Cleveland History, an online portal for accessing the rich history of this region.
At WRHS, we realize that some organizations are not ready to transfer their materials, but want to ensure that the history they have, and are creating, is documented and preserved. The Corporate and Philanthropic History Archives Program offers organizations in the region consultation and contract services to advise or assist in developing their internal archives.
Parker Hannifin, for example, contracted us to develop its internal archives. The company’s archive is now supporting internal operations and functions, including supplying content for the company’s upcoming 100th anniversary. According to Parker, “our association with the Historical Society has been very cooperative and seamless.” Several other companies have utilized the expertise of the WRHS corporate archivist for advice and suggestions on preserving their institutional memory.
Cleveland’s progress has been shaped by the perseverance and ingenuity of its population. This fortitude and entrepreneurial spirit, as well as the region’s philanthropic tradition, is being preserved by the WRHS Corporate and Philanthropic History Archive Program. The program’s goal is to collect those materials that tell the story of how Northeast Ohio grew and developed; what, and how, it manufactured; and how it promoted education, social change and community growth.
How to reach: Western Reserve Historical Society, (216) 721-5722 or www.wrhs.org
For more information about Western Reserve Historical Society’s Corporate and Philanthropic History Archive Program, visit www.wrhs.org or email [email protected].
