Browse Interviews

Lois Aaron is 91 and has lived in Shaker Tower since 1998. Lois grew up in Cleveland but spent a number of years living in New Hampshire where she worked at Dartmouth College and ran an inn with her husband. In this interview Lois talks about living in Shaker Tower and describes some of the people that she knew when she moved in. Lois also relates some of the memories she had growing up in Cleveland prior to moving to NH. Of particular interest is her involvement in League of Women Voters and…

The interview with Mary Helen Washington focuses on her childhood and early life in Cleveland, Ohio, her education, and her experiences with segregation. She describes growing up in a working-class Black family, her parents' migration to Ohio, and the importance of neighborhood-based recreation due to limited formal opportunities for Black children at the time. She discusses attending Catholic schools, where she experienced a racial and social divide between her predominantly white academic…

Rachel Abernethy joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1980. In this very short interview, she recalls several memorable hikes and reflects on how the club afforded an opportunity for members to forge deep and lasting friendships.

Maurice Abood, Vice President of Aladdin's Baking Company, explains how the business came into being in Cleveland, OH as well as his immigration to Cleveland from, Aitaneet, a village in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon. He details his transfer from working as a bartender at the local Sheraton hotel to establishing one of the most successful businesses in pita bread making and Lebanese cuisine in the heart of Cleveland.

Lena Aburaad is a Palestinian and works as an Arabic instructor at CSU. She graduated from CSU with a B.A. in Speech and Hearing and a Master in Education. She was born in Amman and grew up in the UAE. She has 2 girls and 2 boys. She came with her family to Cleveland in 1992 as a result of the First Gulf War. They chose Cleveland because her husband's brother was living in the city. Her father began a new newspaper called al-Bayan in Dubai. The challenges that Lena faced when she arrived in…

Harriet Young was born in Cleveland and attended Antioch Baptist Church since she was an infant. During her time at Antioch, she participated in many clubs and community outreach programs, including making meals for the grieving and going to assisted living homes to visit the elderly. In addition, she enjoyed teaching the Bible to the youth in Sunday school. She taught in public school as well, where she was a principal in several school for years.

Hope and Stanley Adelstein, lifelong residents of Cleveland Heights, discuss their experiences as supporters of the Shaker Lakes Nature Center. The couple describe their role in the grassroots battle to stop highway construction through the Shaker Lakes during the 1960s, which laid the groundwork for the creation of the Center. The Adelsteins were also involved with the founding of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which is discussed in some detail. Stanley Adelstein, an active member of the…

Oral history interview with Stanley Adelstein, a longtime member of the Cleveland City Club who joined in 1941 and served in various leadership roles over 63 years. Adelstein discusses the club's evolution from its original location on Vincent Avenue to its current Citizens Building headquarters, including the transition from Saturday to Friday forums and the admission of women members in the 1970s. He describes the club's distinctive traditions, including the famous Soviet Table where members…

Pat Agatisa is a newer member of the Village Garden Club in Shaker Heights. She discusses growing up in New York City, living in Pittsburgh, and moving to Shaker Heights in the early 2000s to a house on Green Lake. She discusses her leading role in overseeing the upkeep of the garden club’s Cherry Tree Grove at Horseshoe Lake. Agatisa describes how the club accepted its first male member, reflects on how the club dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic, and shares gardening tips.

Esther Kinds discusses her family, her time at Antioch Baptist Church, church activities, and her personal faith.

In this brief interview, Maria Agosto discusses coming to Cleveland State University (CSU) and pursuing a degree in Urban Affairs. She mentions how happy she is with the transformation of Euclid Avenue, and she is very impressed with the progress that CSU seems to be making. She continues by talking about other renovations within Downtown Cleveland.

Maria Agosto explains how the Hispanic community on the Near West Side, specifically in the Metro West neighborhood, is affected by various social and economic issues, including impending gentrification, the lack of a strong Hispanic professional culture, and the inadequate awareness of helpful community programs and services. Much of Agosto's professional career has focused on the empowerment of young professionals. She suggests that the neighborhood will be strengthened through an investment…

This interview was conducted as part of Cleveland State University's 50th Anniversary Comemmoration effort. Monte Ahuja, currently the CEO of Mura Holdings and founder of the Transtar automotive distribution company, was born in India and emigrated to the United States in 1968 after recieving a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering. He emigrated in order to pursue a masters degree in mechanical engineering at The Ohio State University. After he completed his degree at OSU he entered the PhD…

Isam al-Zaem is a Syrian. He arrived in Cleveland in 1974 and worked for many years as a pharmacist. Now he is retired. He is married and has one daughter. He is now active in CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations) and the Islamic center in Parma. He is involved in interfaith dialogues to promote mutual understanding and build cultural and religious bridges between people. He urges fellow Americans to not rely only on media to learn about Islam, rather through close and direct connection…

Albert Albano, Executive Director of the Intermuseum Conservation Association (ICA), describes the mission and operations of the ICA and its involvement in the preservation of WPA art. Albano goes into detail about regional styles of art and specific pieces of important WPA art in Cleveland.

Theresa Alessi discusses her memories of shopping downtown with her mother as a child and riding the Dinky. She also discusses swimming in the West Creek that runs through Parma, Ohio and how the area where she grew up has changed.

Todd Alexander recently moved to Cleveland in the Ohio City neighborhood. He is working on establishing a market garden called Central Roots in Ohio City with the hopes of providing fresh produce for the local neighborhood. Todd Alexander majored in sustainability at Baldwin Wallace and has been active in other sustainability programs with the city of Cleveland. Todd discusses the phenomenon of “food deserts” and the hope that Central Roots will become an asset to the neighborhood.

This interview with Cleveland Zoo Director, Steve Taylor, includes a brief history of CLE Zoo, focusing on future and continued conservation and public involvement.

Cleveland area personal injury attorney speaks about his maternal grandfather's involvement with Terminal Tower construction as a bricklayer who was killed in an accident on site, his maternal grandmother taking him to see the tower and telling him about his grandfather, and the law offices he eventually opened there. Also speaks to Rapid Transit Authority lawsuit.

Sherlynn Allen-Harris discusses John Hay High School. She gives a short recap of its history, but concentrates especially on the environment and programs at the school since it was reopened after the renovations in 2006.

Cynthia Harris-Allen was born in 1946 and grew up in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood on Cleveland's East Side. She discusses her father's work as a bricklayer and how he was among the first African Americans in the Bricklayers & Masons Local 5 union; racial discrimination faced by Black builders and building tradesmen; her father's jazz band; the racial makeup and businesses of her neighborhood growing up in the mid-20th century; hanging out at Shaker Square and trick or treating at Halloween in…

Doris Allen was originally born in Shelby, Alabama, and moved to Cleveland when she was two years old. She had a very established great uncle living in Cleveland, Robert Hardy, who was the first African American to own property east of East 55th Street in Cleveland. Her father was drafted into the Army when she was 9, and their family moved back to the South for one year while he served. She returned to Cleveland, moved into the Glenville neighborhood. She enjoyed her education in Glenville,…

Walter Allen, an artist and active participant in West Creek preservation, details his life and work as a designer for the organization. Born in the 1920s, Allen's story highlights not only his work with West Creek and carreer as an artist, it highlights the historical impact of national events on the city of Cleveland. Allen, a product of the GI bill and graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art, details this and other elements of history in relation to the greater Cleveland area.

Abdullah Almualem is the director of AACCESS-Ohio, an organization that at one time in Cleveland was thriving and helping Arab immigrants settle into the area. The organization is located on Cleveland's west side, near West 117th and Lorain Ave., an area designated by the city of Cleveland as 'Little Arabia'. Abdullah explains why he immigrated from Aleppo, Syria in 1994 to Cleveland and why he believes Aaccess to be integral to a prosperous immigrant population seeking to assimilate into…

This oral history interview with Mollie Alstott provides a detailed account of her childhood and early adulthood experiences in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. Alstott discusses the close-knit and diverse community in which she grew up, highlighting the various nationalities that coexisted and the importance of church and social activities in her life. She reflects on the impact of the Great Depression on her family and community, noting how her father's confectionery store played a role…

The oral history interview with Mollie Alstott covers her childhood experiences growing up in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, during the early to mid-20th century. Mollie recounts her family's immigration from Austria-Hungary before World War I and their settlement in Tremont, where they became active members of the Ukrainian community. She describes her upbringing, which included attending Ukrainian school, participating in cultural and religious activities, and experiencing the…

Sister Alvarado and Jose Feliciano are both active in the Hispanic community. She was only a junior in High School when she worked in a storefront campaign office to help Carl Stokes run for Mayor. He made history by becoming Cleveland's first Hispanic chief prosecuting attorney. This 2017 interview was collected as part of a yearlong, community-wide commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Carl Stokes' election as mayor of Cleveland.

This oral history interview with Sister Corita Ambro covers her extensive work at St. Augustine's Church in Cleveland, beginning with her arrival in 1970. Sister Corita discusses her role in pastoral care, particularly her work with the deaf, blind, mentally ill, and physically disabled communities. She describes the transformation of the church into a hub for these marginalized groups and the development of a vibrant Hunger Center that provides meals and services daily. The interview highlights…

In this 2025 interview, Barbara Anderson discusses her early life growing up in a foster family on E. 151st and Bartlett in the 1950s. She describes how growing up in a foster family and in a neighborhood with many ethnicities prepared her for her organizing work later in life. She details being the first Black family to move into the Slavic Village neighborhood in the 1980s and the racism and hostility that her family experienced. She describes how losing her house due to predatory lending…

Donita Anderson is the executive director of the North Union Farmers Market in Shaker Heights. A biologist and chef, Anderson discusses her journey in bringing local farm markets to the Cleveland area and expresses her concern regarding environmental issues that may affect local agriculture's near future. Additionally, she shares her historical knowledge of the religious community that established the Shaker area, and emphasizes the contributions of women in the community.

Pricilla Treska discusses her nearly three decades of living in Tremont, focusing on her experiences raising a large family in the neighborhood. She reflects on the decision to move to Tremont, influenced by the diversity and community at St. Augustine Church, and describes her initial concerns about safety, which eased over time. Treska shares her family's involvement in local schools, recreational activities, and church-sponsored events. She also comments on the changes in Tremont,…

This oral history interview explores Karl Anderson's experiences and memories connected to the Tremont area during the mid-20th century. Karl discusses his involvement in the community, particularly through experiences at Lincoln Park and his participation in local clubs at Merrick House. He reflects on the diverse ethnic backgrounds of Tremont residents, the social dynamics, and the neighborhood's evolution over time. The interview also touches on his experiences in sports, his observations on…

The oral history interview with Agnes Kasper reveals her deep connection to the Tremont neighborhood in Cleveland, where she has lived for many years. Kasper discusses her efforts to improve and restore properties in the area, her involvement in community activities, and the changes she has witnessed over time, including the influx of new residents and businesses. She shares her experiences with neighborhood safety, the impact of gang activities, and her commitment to creating a supportive and…

Annette Bailey has worked at the Karamu House since 1970, when she was hired as its secretary to the executive director. In this interview she recounts various productions that Karamu has put on over the years and her view on how things have changed over time.

A lifelong Clevelander discusses his memories of the Short Vincent area in downtown Cleveland and a few of the establishments throughout the surrounding area. From his earliest memories of visiting the Roxy Burlesque House in his teens to his final memories of the area, the life of Short Vincent and its decline are discussed. Among the establishments referenced are the 730 Lounge, the Roxy, and Jean's Fun house.

This is an interview conducted with Father Andras Antal, Pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary and Robert Purgert, Parish Council Chairman. A little background is given about Father Antal and then the history of St. Elizabeth since the 1890s and the founding pastor Father Karolyn Boehm . The church was built in 1893. Construction of a school followed and had an enrollment of 1114 students by 1918. St. Elizabeth was the first Hungarian church in the United States. The next part of the interview…

St. Elizabeth's of Hungary was formed in 1892. The parish acted as not only a place for the members of the congregation to seek spiritual guidance, but also acted a place for people to socialize. St. Elizabeth's of Hungary also had a school that opened in the 1920s, but was eventually closed in 1961.

Marilyn Anthony, a lifetime citizen of the west side of Cleveland discusses Cleveland's past and future. Marilyn recalls her experiences in Cleveland and describes her present role as a member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Group. Finally, she addresses current projects in Cleveland and the priorities of the city.

Marilyn Anthony was born in Cleveland and describes growing up in Ohio City. She remembers the various European enclaves that were present in the area, specifically mentioning Hungarians and Gypsies. She shares her experiences of walking to the West Side Market, bakeries, butchers, and other local shops. Anthony also mentions her relationship to the multitude of ethnic Catholic churches in the area. Finally, Anthony discusses the changes in the neighborhood and how it impacted residents.

In this 2006 interview, Anthony Anzalone, a long time resident of the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood, talks about his life experiences in this west side neighborhood of Cleveland. Mr. Anzalone grew up in the neighborhood in the 1950s and recounts memories of his Italian grandfather, who played a trumpet in a local band, playing at the Lady of Mount Carmel annual festival and parade. Mr. Anzalone also talks about Our Lady of Mount Carmel as an anchor of the community, and about Father Marino who…

Barb Appel joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1985. After returning from a hike on her own at Mount Washington, she did a 10-mile hike with the club at the North Chagrin Reservation, and was hooked. She recalls favorite people, hikes and trips, including 16 Ridges and her five 40-mile hikes, and trips to England, Alaska, Washington, New Mexico, and Tennessee, as well as weekend trips.

Ghanaian-American artist Ewuresi Archer shares her experiences as she navigates the various aspects of her career. As a public artist, Archer explains how she uses art to inspire, engage, and educate her community while actively exploring and embracing her own identity.

John Tate was born in 1947 in Youngstown and moved to Cleveland in 1970. In this 2009 interview, Tate discusses his childhood and young adulthood, focusing in particular on music and race relations. Tate describes the rock and roll and R & B music he listened to as a youngster and its significance to his life. The issue of race relations enters in to the discussion of his development to adulthood, and he describes some instances of racism he experienced while working different jobs early on…

Jean Cotton was born in Cleveland in 1946. Much of this 2009 interview centers around Cotton's experiences growing up in Cleveland and Ravenna, Ohio under the guidance of her strict, minister father. Against his wishes, she listened to a good deal of rock and R & B music, the content and meaning of which she describes in great detail. She left home at age twenty, and music remained an important part of her life as she married and eventually had children of her own. Cotton also shares her…

Mike Olszewski is a newscaster for WKSU-FM and a professor of communications at Kent State University and the University of Akron, as well as the author of several books. He was born in Cleveland in 1953. The interview discusses his childhood, racial issues, music, and the media.

Sheila Blecman is the owner of Coventry Cats. She was born in Elyria in 1946, and later went to Ohio State University before finding a teaching job in LA. She moved back to Cleveland in the 1980s and opened Coventry Cats. The interview is about her childhood in Elyria where she worked in her father's grocery store, race relations in the 50s and 60s, and her love of music.

Jamilah Zand was born in Cleveland in 1954. This 2009 interview discusses her childhood, racial issues, and the music she grew up with. Zand, who grew up on Cleveland's east side, shares memories of attending concerts, listening to the radio, and sampling new music from her different relatives' record collections. She also comments on the music being released today and how its message is often different from the music she grew up with. Race and race relations in Cleveland are another topic…

John Wilson is a musician and music industry veteran who was born in Cleveland in 1949. In this 2009 interview he discusses growing up on Cleveland's east side, his life long involvement with rock and roll music, and the issue of racism, both within the music industry and in Cleveland. As his family was one of the first black families in his east side neighborhood, Wilson experienced racism at a very young age. He also developed a love for rock and roll as a child, and he describes this as well,…

Bill Spoon was born in Alabama in 1942 and came to Cleveland in 1960, becoming involved in the city's music scene. He is the founder of The Soul Notes singing group. This 2009 interview discusses his childhood in Alabama and his life in Cleveland, focusing on the community of African-American musicians in Cleveland in the 1960s and 1970s that he was a part of. He ties in his discussion of these artists and their music with the broader issue of racism, which African-Americans in the city faced…

Linda Shisila was born in Cleveland in 1950 and grew up in Parma, a suburb on Cleveland's west side. This 2010 interview discusses her childhood, focusing on the music she listened to throughout it. Shisila was an avid fan of rock and roll and saw it as a great form of fun and entertainment. Comparing the music from her childhood to that of today, she laments the negative messages found in much of the latter, preferring the happier songs that she remembers growing up with.

George Hendricks was born in Alabama in 1942 and moved to Cleveland at the age of 7. He is a singer with The Hesitations and has been performing music since he was a teenager. This 2009 interview discusses his long career as a professional R & B musician in Cleveland, describing the bands and the places in which he played, his struggles to make money playing music, and how he feels the nature of both the musicians and the music industry as a whole have changed since the 1960s. A recurrent theme…

Lynn Tolliver was born in Cleveland in 1950. He started working in radio at age 18 and is still in the music industry as a radio announcer and song writer; he is also an author. The interview discusses his childhood, family, race issues and music.

Lou Ragland is a musician, singer, and record industry veteran. He was born in 1942 in Cleveland. The interview covers his childhood in segregated Cleveland and his life in music.

Joan and James Orosz were born in Cleveland in 1942 and grew up on the city's east side. This 2009 interview with the husband and wife deals with the the music they listened to growing up as well as race relations. The two remember listening to the ethnic music their parents favored before developing a liking for rock and roll and R & B. Joan and James also talk about their experiences growing up in Cleveland, describing the schools they went to, the neighborhoods they lived in, and the kinds…

Charm Warren-Celestine was born in Cleveland in 1950 and grew up in the Wade Park neighborhood. Her parents owned several record stores from the 1960s through the 1990s, Dean's House of Jazz. She worked for her parents and continued her love of music with a career in radio sales and artist promotions. This 2009 interview opens Warren-Celestine sharing childhood memories of her parents' store, the radio stations she listened to, and the venues around Cleveland at which she saw concerts. She…

Mr. Arneson and Ms. Schafer traced the history of the congregation from East 82nd. and Euclid Avenue to three independent Unitarian congregations in Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, and Rocky River. Details of Unitarian history dating back to the pilgrims were noted as well as Cleveland's churches beginning in the mid-1800's. The church focuses upon this world initiatives and multi-culture inclusion and acceptance. The social justice perspective drives their art activities within the…

Cleveland portrait artist Anna Arnold discusses her love of drawing and painting as a child, encouragement from her parents and teachers, and her ambitions to attend the Cleveland Institute of Art and become a "famous Cleveland artist." She found inspiration at the Cleveland Museum of Art, especially in the work of the Impressionists. Influential CIA teachers included Mo Brooker, Joseph Cintron, and Van Duser. Arnold discusses the importance of bright colors in her work, and the support of…

Mr. Arnold tells of the Anshe Chesed congregation in Cleveland from its' beginnings in the 1800's and original temple in the Market District (Progressive Field). Later, the congregation built a temple on Scovill Avenue and later at Euclid Avenue and East 82nd Street (the current Liberty Hill Baptist Church). By the 1950's much of Cleveland's Jewish population moved to the heights and congregations sought new temple locations near their home. The Anshe Chesed congregation purchased land in…

Robert H. Arnold born in Massachusetts, but made his mark in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Arnold begins his story by discussing his time during World War Two, and he mentions several harrowing experiences he had abroad, and challenging experiences he had once he came back state-side. After his time in the war, Arnold had several offers. He could have studied law at Yale or became part of an executive training program at General Electric, a program that he had begun before the war. instead of these…

Originally from Massachusetts, Robert Arnold discusses growing up during the Depression. He moved to Cleveland to be closer to his wife's family, who were longtime Clevelanders. Arnold actively served in World War II and explains in detail his involvement in the war. After the war Arnold became involved in the real estate business. He speaks to the integration of Cleveland neighborhoods. He enjoyed being involved in the local government and was elected Mayor of Cleveland Heights.