*Dr. Shirla R. McClain Gallery of Akron Black History and Culture

Dr. Shirla R. McClain collected and verified data at a time when it had not been done in Akron. Dr. McClain learned the stories, events, personalities, rituals, and myths of the community. Dr. McClain published this work as part of her doctoral dissertation, The Contribution of Blacks in Akron’s History: 1825-1975. The Gallery of Akron’s Black History opened in 1994 in the Buckingham Building at The University of Akron. Dr. Shirla R. McClain and Attorney Edward Gilbert served as co-chairs of the initial fund campaign for the gallery. Their efforts aided in creating an endowment to fund the gallery. Dr. McClain, along with the Gallery steering committee, collected artifacts and verified data to mount the first exhibit “Blacks in Education” in 1997. While working on the next years exhibit, Dr. McClain succumbs to a long battle with cancer. On January 10, 1998 the Gallery was renamed and rededicated as the Dr. Shirla R. McClain Gallery of Akron’s Black History and Culture.