Archival Services, a division of University Libraries, submitted four photographs for possible inclusion in the SOA 2015 Archives Month Poster.  After online voting was tabulated, members of the society selected two images from Archival Services to grace this year’s poster. 

The first photograph is an image of astronaut John Glenn being fitted in Akron for his space suit designed and manufactured by the B.F. Goodrich Company.  The company designed the space suits for the Project Mercury astronauts.  Glenn wore the suit on February 20, 1962 when he became the first American to orbit the Earth. 

The second image is a photograph of the Goodrich scientific team led by research chemist Dr. Waldo Semon developing synthetic rubber during World War II.  Under the threat of war and with 90% of America’s rubber imported from overseas, government and industrial leaders sought alternatives to natural rubber to maintain American war productivity.   

Archival Services collects, preserves and provides access to historic resources that primarily document the history of The University of Akron and the region. The department, which is located in Room LL10 of the Polsky Building in downtown Akron, is open to students, faculty, staff and the general public, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more, visit Archival Services’ website at www.uakron.edu/libraries/archives.

SOA 2015 Archives Month Poster link

The original films, which are part of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Records in Archival Services, were transferred from their original nitrate motion picture stock to safety film and digitized thanks to a grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation.  The films, which are now publicly available for the first time, include rare footage of the construction, christening, and operation of the U.S.S. Akron (ZRS-4), a U.S. Navy rigid airship that was once called “the largest, strongest aerial creature ever fashioned and flown by man.”  The event is free and open to the public.  Light refreshments will be served.  Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Directions and parking information. 

These and other resources on the history of lighter-than-air flight, the rubber industry, and the Akron area are available by visiting Archival Services.  The archives collects, preserves, and provides access to archival materials that primarily document the history of the university and the region.  Public hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.  For more information, please visit the department’s website at www.uakron.edu/libraries/archives.

 The first bowl game the Zips appeared in was the 1968 Grantland Rice Bowl, named after popular early 20th-century American sportswriter Grantland Rice.  The game took place on December 13, 1968 in Mufreesboro, Tennessee.   The Zips, who went 7-3-1 that year, met the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, who were also making their first bowl appearance.  

While the Zips made a valiant effort in the battle, they lost 33 to 13 as they were outgunned by a superior passing team.  The Bulldogs were led by quarterback Terry Bradshaw who later went on to win four Super Bowl titles with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League and was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Tech’s wide receiver Tommy Spinks also set two records that game when he caught 12 passes for 167 yards. 

The film footage of this historic game was digitized a few years ago by Archival Services of University Libraries.  The archives recently cataloged the film and made it available online for the first time in celebration of the Zips’ appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.   The footage can be accessed on Archival Services digital collections website at http://cdm15960.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/search/collection/p15960coll3/searchterm/moving%20image!Grantland%20Rice%20Bowl/field/type!title/mode/all!all/conn/and!and/order/date.

This and other historic film footage of University of Akron football games and other athletic contests can be viewed by visiting Archival Services located in Room LL-10 of the Polsky Building in downtown Akron.  Business hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.  For more information, please visit the department’s website at www.uakron.edu/libraries/archives.