Readers' Guide

Although it is entitled The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, this work encompasses Cuyahoga County; the entries herein relate to organizations, events, and subjects which, in the opinion of the senior editors, have been central to understanding the region's development. The editors were assisted in their selection of entries by an editorial advisory committee and the general community. Final responsibility for selection remains, however, with the senior editors.

Since the compilation of this edition took place during the period 1993-1995, the most recent information contained in a particular article will generally date from these years.

There are two categories of articles in the Encyclopedia, general entries and interpretive essays. General entries are short articles (200 to 500 words) that provide detailed information about events that occurred and organizations that exist or have existed in Cuyahoga County. Interpretive essays are longer articles (500 to 4000 words) that explore major topics in local history. These generally have been structured to provide the reader with a theoretical explanation of the overall development of an area of local history rather than a simple factual review. Given this degree of personal interpretation each essay is followed by the full name of the author.

There are no biographical entries in the second edition of the Encyclopedia. These are contained in the companion volume, The Dictionary of Cleveland Biography.

All entries are presented in alphabetical order. In most instances, organizations have been entered under their current (1995) name. Exceptions to this rule have been made when the editors felt that an earlier name would be a more likely access point for researchers. "See" notations have been inserted under the new name in such instances and also in cases where the editors have felt researchers might search for an entry under an alternate or previous name. In instances where a current organization represents a consolidation of several older entities, separate entries have been prepared for each of the major constituent parts. This is particularly the case in entries relating to the banking and railroad industries in Cuyahoga County where major consolidations have taken place in the past several decades.

Maps, charts, tables, photographs, and other illustrations have been included with or near to the articles to which they most closely pertain.

Bibliographic citations follow many of the entries. These citations do not necessarily indicate the source of information for the article, but rather are provided to direct the reader to additional information concerning the topic. Usually, the citations are for works or archival collections that relate specifically to the subject at hand. General histories of the city or of a particular subject, such as architecture or music, are usually not cited. Readers wishing to pursue particular areas of inquiry in such works are directed to the essay entitled HISTORIES OF CLEVELAND for a selected listing of titles.

Most of the citations in this work have been given in short title form in order to save space. Several abbreviations have been routinely used: CPL (Cleveland Public Library), CWRU (Case Western Reserve University), CSU (Cleveland State University), and WRHS (Western Reserve Historical Society). The citation of any work in this volume does not constitute an editorial endorsement of its accuracy or scholarship.

Indices and Cross Referencing

Three basic methods are used to cross-reference information within this volume as well as to information in its companion volume, the Dictionary of Cleveland Biography.

Capitalization of names of organizations and individuals within the body of an article indicates that an article under that title can be found elsewhere in the Encyclopedia or, when followed by a "dagger" (+), the Dictionary of Cleveland Biography. This typographical device replaces the more usual "q.v." notation.

"See also" references are included after a number of articles (particularly interpretive essays) to direct the reader to related entries.

The two indices in this volume provide the best tools for full access to the information it contains. The first index, the Subject Guide, groups individual articles by the primary subjects to which they pertain. The second lists the names of individuals, organizations, and places that appear within the body of the articles or which constitute the titles of articles.

Several variations from standard style have been made in order to save space. These include the use of the European form of date citation; extensive abbreviation (including abbreviation of given individual names); and use of ordinals for numbers.