More than 70 years' worth of photography providing apanoramic, insider's look at the people and products involved in the rise ofThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is being donated to The University ofAkron through the generosity of the rubber industry giant.
The collection, valued at more than $1.1 million, featuresmore than 83,000 photos covering 1912 to 1984. The collection provideshistoric, social and industrial documentation, featuring images of products,workshop and factory scenes, facilities, company events, company-sponsoredcelebrities and the development of the Goodyear Blimp, according to Goodyearofficials.
Collection to be available to the public and scholars
"These photographs capture the rich history of Goodyear, thetire industry and the city of Akron," says Chuck Sinclair, Goodyear's seniorvice president of global communications. "We are pleased that through TheUniversity of Akron, they will be preserved and accessible to the public fordecades to come."
Once transferred, the collection will be housed at TheUniversity of Akron Archives, a division of University Libraries, located inthe Polsky Building.
Highlights of the collection
Among the highlights of the photo collection:
- The first home for Goodyear on the banks of the Little Cuyahoga River;
- Construction of the blimp hangar;
- Baseball legend Babe Ruth on the Goodyear Blimp; and
- Images of other notable figures including President Herbert Hoover, President Richard Nixon, President Dwight Eisenhower, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.
"We're pleased that Goodyear has chosen to donate thishistoric collection to The University of Akron, enhancing our unique archivalcollections and making these images available to researchers," says UAPresident Luis M. Proenza.
Seven decades of photos
Moving the collection to the University will help ensurescholarly access to photos that offer a vivid glimpse into the fabric ofAmerican social life over a 72-year period through the lens of Goodyearemployees and events. The collection, which reflects the work of severalphotographers, was started in 1912 by Goodyear founder Frank Seiberling andstands as one of the first corporate photograph collections everestablished.
"This magnificent collection adds extensive pictorialdocumentation to our archival holdings on Akron's rubber industry," says CherylKern-Simirenko, dean of University Libraries. "We are especially pleased tohave this rich resource in conjunction with Goodyear's company records, whichwere previously donated."