Western Reserve Historical Society
Northeast Ohio's historical archives, museums, and research center.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
* | $15.0k | Grant | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
The Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS), founded on May 28, 1867, is Cleveland's oldest cultural institution. It was established as a branch of the Cleveland Library Association by prominent citizens, including its first president, Charles Whittlesey, to preserve materials related to the history of Cleveland, the Western Reserve, Ohio, and the American West. Initially located on Public Square, the society became an independent not-for-profit on March 7, 1892, and moved to the University Circle area, its current home, in the late 1930s.
WRHS operates as a private, membership-based nonprofit, funded through grants, sponsorships, bequests, admissions, and public funding from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. The institution's mission is to inspire people to discover the American experience by exploring the tangible history of Northeast Ohio. It serves a broad audience, from the general public and families to researchers, scholars, and corporations through its Heritage Management Program.
The society manages a network of properties, including the Cleveland History Center in University Circle, which houses the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum and the Hay-McKinney Mansion. It also operates Hale Farm and Village, a living history museum depicting 19th-century life. The society's extensive collections are a primary asset, featuring over 14 million manuscripts, 3 million photographs, and one of the nation's largest genealogical sources. Significant holdings include the world's largest collection of Shaker materials, comprehensive Civil War records, and archives documenting the region's diverse ethnic communities, such as its African American, Jewish, and Italian populations.
Keywords: Northeast Ohio history, Cleveland cultural institution, historical preservation, genealogical research, museum, archives, living history, American history, Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, Hale Farm and Village, Shaker artifacts, Civil War records, community history, cultural heritage, historic sites, University Circle, family history, artifact collection, historical documents, Cleveland History Center