Browse Interviews

Stan Jaffe, a native of Queens New York, and former CFO at Judson Manor, recounts the history of Judson and the unique concentration of cultural institutions within University Circle. He briefly discusses some of the negative perceptions of University Circle that may affect patronage of the area. He describes some of the direct effects that the loss of manufacturing has had on the Cleveland area, such as the deterioration of commercial districts including; downtown, Shaker Square and East 105th…

Ted Sande, former Exectutive Director of Western Reserve Historical Society (1981-1993) and Board Member at University Circle Incorporated, discusses his experiences with Cleveland's east side cultural district. Sande describes his work at the Western Reserve Historical Society, including institutional history, various projects and artifacts, details on strategic and financial planning initiatives, and infrastructure improvement. He describes changes in grant distribution and fund raising in the…

Andrew Gilham, lifelong Cleveland resident, talks about growing up in the Cedar/Central and Glenville neighborhoods. Topics include the vibrant communities of the 1930's and 40's, changes in racial makeup of population, and the presence of Jewish and African-American owned businesses. Gilham also relates the importance of public transportation, and the shift to automobile use. He talks briefly about the destruction of property during the Hough and Glenville riots, and the reasons for the riots,…

Allen Ford, current resident of Judson Manor, relates his experiences growing up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, during the 1930's and 40's. Topics covered include the effects of World War II on daily life, the importance of the Rapid Transit system, and downtown shopping. Ford recalls the opening of the Colony Movie Theater at Shaker Square and describes its Art Deco interior. He describes the operations and function of Pickands Mather Company, and the decline of the steel industry in the United…

Larry Rivers, lifelong resident of Glenville, discusses growing up in Glenville during the 1950's and 1960's. He describes the self-contained nature of Glenville and the importance of churches to the community. Rivers relates the change in racial make-up of the neighborhood, the gradual shift towards an all African-American population and the decline of neighborhood businesses. He notes the change in African-American attitudes following the Hough and Glenville riots. This change contributed…

James Mancino, born in South Euclid in 1939, was chief legal council for the city of Cleveland during the Glenville riots of 1968. He gives a first hand account of the riots, the civic responses, and his role as legal council. Mancino was also involved in defending the city during legal battles over urban renewal, and describes lessons learned from the urban renewal process. As legal council for the city, Mancino worked closely with Mayor Carl Stokes, who he describes as "a rare individual."…

Virgil E. Brown Sr., resident of Cleveland Heights, moved to Cleveland in 1929 at age twelve. Brown relates his experiences growing up during the Depression, including local schools, baseball games and the availability of part time jobs. Schools and ball teams were racially and ethnically mixed, and he does not remember much racial tension at that time. Brown discusses the changes in shopping habits; the shift from local shops and downtown stores to malls and big box stores, and the loss of…

John Anthony Boyd, a Cleveland-born social worker and political activist, discusses changes in the Central neighborhood since the late 1950s. Boyd was honored by the 5th Disctrict Police Department (Cleveland, Ohio) with the award for Dedication to Citizens. Interview is cut short at about 9 minutes.

Eugene and Emma Ross, residents of Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood since 1965, discuss racism in Cleveland. Eugene explains his work as a housing court enforcer for the neighborhood and the need for residents to recognize the laws. Eugene remembers the Hough and Glenville riots, and the discriminatory practices of the police at that time in regards to looting. Other topics include changes in attitude towards discipline by parents and youth.

Donna Pratt, raised in Shaker Heights, and property manager on Hessler Rd. since 1964, relates the importance of the cultural institutions in University Circle to the students in the Shaker Heights schools in the 1950's, in particular the Music School Settlement. Pratt describes how the creation of University Circle has improved the area, and allowed for cooperation between the institutions, although there has been some tension between them at times. Pratt views periods of tension as…

Fred Johnson and Anna Marie, long time Cleveland residents discuss growing up in Cleveland as African-Americans. Fred, a former Cleveland policeman, discusses racial discrimination faced by African-American policemen from the 1950's through the 1970's, the Black Shield Officer's Association and National Black Police Association. Anna Marie describes the Cedar Central neighborhood, shopping and movies, streetcars, and layout of neighborhood now known as Fairfax. Other topics include the positive…

Emily Peck, retired school principal, born and raised in Memphis, came to Cleveland in 1950. She relates her experiences as an African-American woman living in Cleveland in the 1950's. Race relations in the 1950's were not overtly troubled, but Peck describes the rise of resentment as African-Americans attempted to move into immigrant neighborhoods. Peck notes lack of opportunity for African-Americans, the emphasis on education amongst middle-class blacks, and their perseverance to create and…

Dr. John Grabowski, professor of history at Case Western Reserve University, and historian at Western Reserve Historical Society, details the changes that have occurred in the University Circle since his undergraduate days in the late 1960's; the rise of the medical centers, new housing and the new immigration to the area. As a history major at Western Reserve University in 1969, he describes life as a commuter student during the late 1960's and early 1970's, including anti-war activities, and…

John Pavelich, Chief of University Circle Police Department, has worked for the department since the 1970's. He describes how private police departments are organized, and specifically talks about the history, funding, procedures, and concerns of the UCI police, as well as their working relationship with the Cleveland Police Department. UCI police, act as "ambassadors," to the public in the University Circle area, reducing crime by educating the public in safety issues. He describes the police…

Harvey Buchanan, Case Western Reserve professor emeritus of art history, is the Director of the John and Mildred Putnam Sculpture Collection which consists of over 30 pieces of art scattered around University Circle, mostly on the Case Western Reserve University campus. The Collection began in 1981 with the establishment of a permanent endowment at the university funded by Mildred Putnam and her son Peter Putnam. In this 2009 interview, Buchanan discusses the creation of the endowment and his…

S. Sterling McMillan III, whose grandfather was industrialist Samuel Livingston Mather, describes in this 2009 interview his memories of growing up in Cleveland during the 1940s and 1950s, focusing on the time he spent living on Magnolia Lane in University Circle, a street that was home to many of Cleveland's leading families during this time. McMillan also discusses what he sees as the Mather family's core business principles and concludes the interview with a brief description of the crucial…

John Goddard has worked as private contractor providing maintenance of University Circle property since 1963. He describes land acquisitions by UCI land bank, and changes to the portion of Euclid Avenue included in the University Circle area. Until the late 1960's Euclid Avenue was "mixed use," including retail, restaurants, bars and hotels. Goddard relates the history and purpose of the UCI land bank and the poor conditions of many properties obtained by UCI. He describes some of the buildings…

Pat Holland, resident of Hessler Street since the early 1970's, relates the history of Hessler Street. As a college student in the late 1960's Holland recalls the vibrant jazz and folk music scene in the University Circle area, and the night life in the area of Euclid and 105th Street. He describes some of the prominent musical acts that appeared at local venues, such as LaCave and Nighttown, the drug-scene, and late night parties. As a Hessler Street resident he became involved in the Hessler…

Bob Reeves discusses his involvement with the Cleveland Corporation and University Circle Inc. As Projects Director for the Cleveland Corporation he was involved in a Master Plan for Public Square, including a pedestrian mall which did not materialize. Reeves states several reasons for the eventual rejection of a pedestrian mall and the problems between the Cleveland Corporation and Mayor Dennis Kucinich. He describes the evolving role of UCI as a community development corporation, the decision…

Abdul Qahar, a political activist who has worked with prisoners, urban youth and community development organizations, discusses social and economic issues facing African Americans in Cleveland and in the US broadly. Qahar discusses his work with the Black Panther Party and describes the history and impact of the Black Nationalist movement. He relays some of the problems affecting Cleveland's neighborhoods, including drugs, foreclosures, corporate development, and the ongoing power of white…