Articles
Explore Your Roots: A Visit to the Genealogy Center
Planning a trip to explore your family history can be a rewarding experience and the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Library is the perfect place to start. Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, within the Allen County Public Library: the Genealogy Center is renowned for its vast collection of genealogical resources. From local and international records to specialized archives, it provides an unmatched opportunity to discover your family heritage and here are some reasons to plan your visit now.
November 26, 2025
Articles
The Value of Historical Obituaries in Family Research
Though often somber in tone, obituaries are invaluable historical records, offering unique insights into the lives, families, and communities of those who came before us. For family historians, a well-written, detail-rich obituary can be a treasure trove??"revealing stories, connections, and facts that may never appear in any other record.
November 26, 2025
Articles
Hinckley Native Tells the Story of His Grandpa’s Arrival at Ellis Island in 1952
My paternal grandmother arrived from Finland at Ellis Island on 12 Aug 1903 with her four children after a ten-day voyage on the S.S Aurania. I have visited Ellis Island and have tried to imagine what their arrival experience might have been. But I never got a chance for a first-hand description of that experience.
November 26, 2025
Articles
My Fascination with Western Reserve Town Squares
If you live in a city, village, or township in the Western Reserve, you may be interested in a little bit of research I did on these features of our region.
November 25, 2025
Articles
When the “Flying Finns” Flew in Cleveland, March 19, 1925
The 1920’s were called the “Golden Age of Sport”. Athletes like Babe Ruth in baseball, Robert Jones in golf, Red Grange in football, Jack Dempsey in box and Paavo Nurmi in track and field dominated the sport pages. Called the “Flying Finn” he competed in three Olympics 1920, 1924 and 1928, winning 9 gold medals and 3 silver medals.
November 25, 2025
Articles
ClevelandPeople.Com Honors Ethnic Diversity
“The Cleveland area is home to 120 or so different ethnic groups - each bringing their unique customs, costumes, music, religion, art, food and so on. We believe that our community is richer because of the ethnic diversity we have and that it could be even better if we promoted and celebrated the cultures more.” That’s the opening statement of the website ClevelandPeople.com
November 25, 2025
Press Releases
Race, Place and Community-Based Healthcare c. 1957-Present
Throughout the 20th century and beyond, Black nurses and physicians in Greater Cleveland have played a vital role in advancing healthcare both locally and globally. They established hospitals, launched community clinics, and championed professional development and leadership within the medical field. The significance of their work is recorded in the histories of organizations such as the Cleveland Council of Black Nurses, Forest City Hospital, City Hospital/MetroHealth, the Glenville Health Association, Doctor’s Pharmacy, the Glenville Medical Center, and the Medical Associates Building. These entities exemplify a broader movement to improve medical education and healthcare access across the United States. These stories will unfold in the new exhibit “Race, Place, and Community-Based Healthcare in Cleveland, Ohio c. 1957 ??" Present”, sponsored by the Cleveland Council of Black Nurses.
October 18, 2025
Press Releases
Rabbis Silver: Celebrating the Legacy
Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) and The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives (AJA) are proud to announce the completion, and first presentation, of the digitized records of two of America’s most important twentieth-century rabbis, Abba Hillel Silver and Daniel Jeremy Silver. To mark the completion of the digitization project, WRHS and AJA, in cooperation with Congregation Mishkan Or, will sponsor Rabbis Silver: Celebrating the Legacy, on Sunday, November 16th, from 2 pm to 4 pm, at Congregation Mishkan Or, 26000 Shaker Boulevard, Beachwood, Ohio, 44122.
October 06, 2025
Press Releases
New Exhibit American Dream: Immigrants and the Business of Fashion
Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) is opening a new exhibit, American Dream: Immigrants and the Business of Fashion in the Chisholm Halle Costume Wing of the Cleveland History Center. This exhibit explores the lives and legacies of four Jewish Immigrant women whose bold visions and entrepreneurial spirits transformed 20th-century American Fashion. Through their groundbreaking work, visitors will discover how these women left an indelible mark on style and culture. The exhibition also highlights the local impact of their work ??" featuring stories from Clevelanders who wore their creations and the department stores and boutiques that brought their fashions to Northeast Ohio. Open October 17, 2025 through September 6, 2026, the exhibit is supported by Cindy Halle & Friends.
October 01, 2025
Press Releases
Hollywood on the Cuyahoga: Northeast Ohio and the Movies presented by PNC Bank
Hollywood on the Cuyahoga: Northeast Ohio and the Movies will debut this fall at the Western Reserve Historical Society Cleveland History Center, with a grand opening fundraiser scheduled for Sept. 25. The exhibit, sponsored by PNC Bank, showcases the region’s important contributions to the movie industry, which brings over $100 million to the local economy each year. Hollywood on the Cuyahoga: Northeast Ohio and the Movies complements “Ohio Goes to the Movies”, a statewide film festival and signature event of America 250-Ohio in 2026 that features Ohio actors, directors, writers, composers and others who bring the magic of the movies to life.
September 01, 2025
Press Releases
Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) Library Reopens to the Public for Research, April 3, 2025
WRHS will reopen the Library to the public for research on April 3, 2025 and the Library will resume its regular operating hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 am-3 pm.
March 28, 2025
Press Releases
Western Reserve Historical Society Receives Highest National Recognition
Awarded Accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums
March 28, 2025
