Stewart, Horace and Evelyn, Photograph Collection

Range: 1897 - 1978 Size: 37 Record Group: $content.recordGroup

Horace St. John Stewart and Evelyn Poole Stewart (later McNeil) were a husband-and-wife team of professional Black photographers who owned and operated Stewart’s Photo Studio on N. Howard Street in Akron, Ohio. Their photographs visually document the rich history of the Black community in Akron, northeast Ohio, and beyond, from 1897 to 1978. The collection consists of approximately 46,000 historic black and white and color photographic prints and negatives taken or collected by the Stewarts that capture Black personalities and families; religious, social, and cultural organizations; and civil rights.

McClain, Dr. Shirla R., Collection

Range: 1918 - 1998 Size: 2.0 Record Group: 99/255

The Dr. Shirla R. McClain Collection includes the writings and research materials of Dr. McClain, a University of Akron alumna who was a public school educator and a Kent State University professor of education. McClain published over 45 academic papers during her career, but is still best known for her doctoral dissertation The Contributions of Blacks in Akron, 1825-1975, which was the first comprehensive history of Akron’s black community.

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Fort, W. Howard, Scrapbooks

Range: 1947 - 1999 Size: 4.0 Record Group: 99/260

W. Howard Fort (1915-2009) was a prominent Black attorney in Akron, Ohio who served on the boards of numerous local business and community organizations including The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron Area Chamber of Commerce, Urban League, and The University of Akron.  The W. Howard Fort Scrapbooks consist of 18 scrapbooks and one photograph album assembled by Fort that include newspaper clippings, photographs, documents, and ephemera that document his life and work.

Evans, Opie, Papers

Range: ca. 1940 - 1990 Size: 32 Record Group: 99/246

Opie Evans (1906-2000) was an African-American photographer, reporter, broadcaster, publisher, and businessman in Akron, Ohio who accomplished many firsts for African-Americans in the city.  His papers consist of correspondence, photographic prints and negatives, newspapers and publications, and sound recordings that document the life and work of Evans in addition to the African-American community in the Akron area.

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Davidson, Dr. Herbert A., Papers

Range: 1927 - 1974 Size: 1 cubic foot Record Group: 99/112

Herbert A. Davidson (1900-1974) was an African-American physician in Barberton, Ohio.  Active in numerous community organizations, he worked for justice and equality for all people throughout his lifetime. His papers consist of scrapbooks, meeting minutes, correspondence, financial records, and reports of numerous businesses and organizations he founded or directed including the American Welfare Workers Club, the Carver Thrift Club, and the Dunbar and Supreme Life Insurance companies.

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Arnold, Helen E., Papers

Range: 1965 - 1975 Size: 0.5 cubic feet Record Group: 99/240

Helen E. Arnold (1924-2001) was a City of Akron employee who fought for education reform and equal rights for women and African-Americans in the Akron/Summit County area. She was the first African-American woman to serve on the Akron Board of Education and served in various capacities on numerous boards and organizations, including President of the Akron Branch of the NAACP. Her papers include speeches, writings, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and subject files that document her life and work and the organizations on which she served.

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