Almost 50 photographs depicting Black life in Akron in the 1930s and 1940s are on view at the Dr. Shirla R. McClain Gallery of Akron Black History and Culture.

In the gallery, the photos are a look back in time to a historic Black experience in Akron. Stepping through the entrance, viewers are transported back to the eras of the Great Depression and WWII.

The photographs that are part of “‘Our Contribution to the City:’ Black Life in Akron in the 1930s and ‘40s, as Seen through the Lens of Horace & Evelyn Stewart” were taken by the husband-wife duo, who owned Stewart’s Photo Studio at 11 1/2 N. Howard St. 

The Stewarts captured portraits of historic figures such as Akron welterweight boxer Ronald “Ronnie” Delaney, posed in a defense-ready stance, and the Rev. Herbert William McClellon from Mt. Olive Baptist Church pointing up toward heaven and down toward hell.

Rev. Herbert William McClellon was born in Smith County, Tennessee in 1876 and lived in Akron for 51 years. He founded Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Akron in 1918 and became its first pastor.
Rev. Herbert William McClellon was born in Smith County, Tennessee in 1876 and lived in Akron for 51 years. He founded Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Akron in 1918 and became its first pastor. His wife, Lillian, started Mt. Olive Sunday School. McClellon resigned November 4, 1918 to start another church on East North Street in Akron. Rev. McClellon later became pastor of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church on West North Street, which was organized in 1931. By the time of his death in 1966, at the age of 90, he had also helped organize several other churches in Akron including Mt. Lebanon, St. Thomas, and Mt. Sinai Baptist churches, as well as the Central Hope District Association Group of Baptist Churches. (Photo courtesy of The Horace and Evelyn Stewart Photographs at The University of Akron Archives and Special Collections.)

There are family portraits with coordinated outfits, Black socialites at garden parties, graduation photos in the studio and sports teams in baseball uniforms, including the Green Turtle team from 1935.

These moments make up what Black life looked like in Akron, captured from wall to wall in the gallery, surrounding viewers. 

Akron native Ronald “Ronnie” Delaney (1930-2020) started boxing in the amateur programs when he was 15 and turned pro three years later. He earned a 63-3-3 record from 1948 until his retirement in 1957, although he returned for four fights from 1964-1966. He fought nationally at Madison Square Garden and upset champion Johnny Saxton in 1955 in a non-title bout. He trained other boxers at the Good Shepherd Boxing Club and, after retirement, worked at a bank and was self-employed. He died in 2020 at the age of 90.
Akron native Ronald “Ronnie” Delaney (1930-2020) started boxing in the amateur programs when he was 15 and turned pro three years later. He earned a 63-3 3 record from 1948 until his retirement in 1957, although he returned for four fights from 1964-1966. He fought nationally at Madison Square Garden and upset champion Johnny Saxton in 1955 in a non-title bout. He trained other boxers at the Good Shepherd Boxing Club and, after retirement, worked at a bank and was self-employed. He died in 2020 at the age of 90. (Photo courtesy of The Horace and Evelyn Stewart Photographs at The University of Akron Archives and Special Collections.)

“There’s really been a push in the archives profession, in museums, cultural heritage organizations, to try to present a different side of history, to present things that weren’t always covered,” said Victor Fleischer, University of Akron archivist and head of Archives and Special Collections. “You know, things from marginalized, underrepresented communities, or African American community, women’s history, LGBTQ+ history.” 

A vibrant North Howard Street studio 

During their time in Akron, the couple created mostly studio portraits but also captured the history happening in the streets. Evelyn Stewart described North Howard Street as “deteriorated” in a 1973 Akron Beacon Journal article, “Will Historic, Rundown N. Howard Recover?.” (The article was referenced in the Green Book Cleveland project.) 

The Stewarts photographed numerous amateur and semi-professional sports teams, including the Green Turtle Baseball Team, seen here. The first mention of the Green Turtle Baseball Team is in 1916.
The Stewarts photographed numerous amateur and semi-professional sports teams, including the Green Turtle Baseball Team, seen here. The first mention of the Green Turtle Baseball Team is in 1916. The very same year, Leonard H. Foreman and Raleigh Prince opened a saloon on Furnace Street that later became the Green Turtle Hotel and Café. It was a popular destination for Akron’s Black community as it hosted numerous events, including a massive luncheon in 1938 that featured many prominent local political figures.(Photo courtesy of The Horace and Evelyn Stewart Photographs at The University of Akron Archives and Special Collections.)

The street started to see fewer white business owners and more Black renters. It was reported as “rundown” and there was crime in the area, but the Stewarts looked beyond this. Their photography studio was flourishing and created many of the photos in the gallery today. 

“I think it’s preserving the history of the African American community,” said Dr. Sheldon Wrice, special assistant to the provost at the university. “That was the purpose of what was even developed, was created.”

Fleischer hopes to exhibit another gallery show with more digitized photos from the thousands being stored online in digital archives and uncovered — and shared — by others who were photographed by the Stewarts in past decades.

With funding from The Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives: Amplifying Unheard Voices grant, the university launched the digitization process for the photos. Out of almost 7,000 photographs from the decade featured in the gallery, curatorial gallery staff selected “unique” and “historically significant” images to display.

Jessica Kirk (née Brazil) was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mathew Brazil. She graduated from West High School in Akron and received one of the first Knight Memorial Educational Fund Scholarships established by Akron Beacon Journal editor John S. Knight in 1940 for Blacks to attend college. Brazil majored in music at Wilberforce University, received a voice scholarship to New York City, and attended the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1940. While studying there, she sang at a reception for singer Marian Anderson. Brazil served as soloist, choir director, and pianist at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Akron. She achieved fame in Broadway's Carmen Jones as Frankie and was added to the University of Michigan's "Collection of Black Artists" in 1973 for the role. She also recorded for Decca and appeared on the NBC Radio Hall of Fame.
Jessica Kirk (née Brazil) was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mathew Brazil. She graduated from West High School in Akron and received one of the first Knight Memorial Educational Fund Scholarships established by Akron Beacon Journal editor John S. Knight in 1940 for Blacks to attend college. Brazil majored in music at Wilberforce University, received a voice scholarship to New York City, and attended the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1940. While studying there, she sang at a reception for singer Marian Anderson. Brazil served as soloist, choir director, and pianist at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Akron. She achieved fame in Broadway’s Carmen Jones as Frankie and was added to the University of Michigan’s “Collection of Black Artists” in 1973 for the role. She also recorded for Decca and appeared on the NBC Radio Hall of Fame. (Photo courtesy of The Horace and Evelyn Stewart Photographs at The University of Akron Archives and Special Collections.)

If you go

(Editor’s note: The gallery hours have been updated from the original version of this article.)

The gallery is open this Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon. Additional viewing hours are available by appointment by contacting Dr. Sheldon Wrice at swrice1@uakron.edu. The gallery’s hours for the spring semester will be posted soon.

The Dr. Shirla R. McClain Gallery of Akron Black History and Culture is at 220 Wolf Ledges Pkwy. and the exhibit should be up for a full year.

The Howard Street neighborhood in Akron was referred to as “Little Harlem.” Every few years, an honorary mayor of Harlem was elected. In 1941, the year this photograph was taken, Charles “Buddy” Morton, a sports enthusiast and socialite, was elected the “Mayor of Harlem.” He later served as proprietor and manager of the Dunbar Restaurant in Mansfield, Ohio, a popular location for socialites.
The Howard Street neighborhood in Akron was referred to as “Little Harlem.” Every few years, an honorary mayor of Harlem was elected. In 1941, the year this photograph was taken, Charles “Buddy” Morton, a sports enthusiast and socialite, was elected the “Mayor of Harlem.” He later served as proprietor and manager of the Dunbar Restaurant in Mansfield, Ohio, a popular location for socialites. (Photo courtesy of The Horace and Evelyn Stewart Photographs at The University of Akron Archives and Special Collections.)
Some of the most charming photographs taken by Horace and Evelyn Stewart were pictures of children. Many of their images depict children in costumes, including this adorable image of a Mrs. Robinson’s boy dressed as a cowboy. During World War II, the Stewarts also photographed children dressed as soldiers and sailors as part of Soldier Day, where children learned more about what life was like in the military.
Some of the most charming photographs taken by Horace and Evelyn Stewart were pictures of children. Many of their images depict children in costumes, including this adorable image of a Mrs. Robinson’s boy dressed as a cowboy. During World War II, the Stewarts also photographed children dressed as soldiers and sailors as part of Soldier Day, where children learned more about what life was like in the military. (Photo courtesy of The Horace and Evelyn Stewart Photographs at The University of Akron Archives and Special Collections.)
This image by the Stewarts depicts a private in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during World War II. The WAC was the women’s branch of the United States Army. It was established in 1942 to give women official military status in noncombat roles such as secretaries, photographers, and cartographers. The WAC was segregated, with the 6888th Central Post Directory Battalion being the only Black and Latina WAC unit to serve overseas. After the war, the Women's Armed Services Integration Act, which was passed in 1948, enabled women to permanently become members of the Army. The WAC was disbanded when President Jimmy Carter signed Public Law 95-485 in 1978, integrating women into the Army.
This image by the Stewarts depicts a private in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during World War II. The WAC was the women’s branch of the United
States Army. It was established in 1942 to give women official military status in noncombat roles such as secretaries, photographers, and cartographers.
The WAC was segregated, with the 6888th Central Post Directory Battalion being the only Black and Latina WAC unit to serve overseas. After the war, the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, which was passed in 1948, enabled women to permanently become members of the Army. The WAC was disbanded when President Jimmy Carter signed Public Law 95-485 in 1978, integrating women into the Army. (Photo courtesy of The Horace and Evelyn Stewart Photographs at The University of Akron Archives and Special Collections.)
This image shows musicians performing at the Musical Bar, which was located at the intersection of South Main and South Howard streets in Akron. Local jazz legend Jimmy Adcock often played here, and Ray Charles and Jackie Wilson are also rumored to have performed here. The club also sponsored an all-Black, Class A softball team that won many city and regional championships. Later, in the 1950s, the establishment was purchased by Joe Gould of Cleveland and turned into a burlesque club. It was gutted by fire in 1958.
This image shows musicians performing at the Musical Bar, which was located at the intersection of South Main and South Howard streets in Akron. Local jazz legend Jimmy Adcock often played here, and Ray Charles and Jackie Wilson are also rumored to have performed here. The club also sponsored an all-Black, Class A softball team that won many city and regional championships. Later, in the 1950s, the establishment was purchased by Joe Gould of Cleveland and turned into a burlesque club. It was gutted by fire in 1958. (Photo courtesy of The Horace and Evelyn Stewart Photographs at The University of Akron Archives and Special Collections.)
The Stewarts captured many scenes of men and women stateside during World War II, including this image of Black nurses handing out Clark candy bars to new African American recruits from Akron. Clark bars were part of a soldier’s day-to-day life, with 1.5 million Clark bars sent overseas daily. They were so important that when labor strikes led to production shortages, the federal government stepped in, deeming the candy an "essential." Known as the first American “combination” candy bar to achieve nationwide success, the Clark bar was first introduced in 1917 to be sent to troops serving overseas during World War I and was popular during and after both world wars.
The Stewarts captured many scenes of men and women stateside during World War II, including this image of Black nurses handing out Clark candy bars to new African American recruits from Akron. Clark bars were part of a soldier’s day-to-day life, with 1.5 million Clark bars sent overseas daily. They were so important that when labor strikes led to production shortages, the federal government stepped in, deeming the candy an “essential.” Known as the first American “combination” candy bar to achieve nationwide success, the Clark bar was first introduced in 1917 to be sent to troops serving overseas during World War I and was popular during and after both world wars. (Photo courtesy of The Horace and Evelyn Stewart Photographs at The University of Akron Archives and Special Collections.)
Garden parties were very popular social events for both white and Black society in the middle of the 20th century. Most were held by social, cultural, fraternal, and religious organizations and often featured food, drinks, games and prizes. Daisy L. Strawbridge (pictured here, standing) was the recording secretary for the Daughter Elks, where she received the degree of Past Daughter Ruler, as well as a member of the Narcissus, a social club. She graduated from the Knox Institute of Athens, Georgia. She was married to Dr. Fred H. Strawbridge, who had an office on North Howard Street. He was the Exalted Ruler of Delta Lodge 149 of the Improved and Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World (IBPOEW) and an officer of the Frontiers Club.
Garden parties were very popular social events for both white and Black society in the middle of the 20th century. Most were held by social, cultural, fraternal, and religious organizations and often featured food, drinks, games and prizes. Daisy L. Strawbridge (pictured here, standing) was the recording secretary for the Daughter Elks, where she received the degree of Past Daughter Ruler, as well as a member of the Narcissus, a social club. She graduated from the Knox Institute of Athens, Georgia. She was married to Dr. Fred H. Strawbridge, who had an office on North Howard Street. He was the Exalted Ruler of Delta Lodge 149 of the Improved and Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World (IBPOEW) and an officer of the Frontiers Club. (Photo courtesy of The Horace and Evelyn Stewart Photographs at The University of Akron Archives and Special Collections.)

Culture and Arts Reporter (she/her)
Kelsei centers arts and culture, food and identity in her storytelling. She uses her professional experience and editorial skills to focus a community-first mindset and a strategic approach to her reporting. Kelsei’s previous reporting experiences include food, community and culture coverage at 225 Magazine in her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Kelsei is a recent alumna of Northwestern University and a 2023 graduate of Jackson State University.