Social history has a special relevance for Cleveland and its state university. Its focus on ordinary people and everyday life, the effort to trace the experience of all people and their efforts to survive and grow in a complex and changing urban environment is very appropriate to an institution committed to working with and serving the community. The Project is an integral part of the History Department at Cleveland State University. It seeks to explore the heart and soul of what has made Cleveland a great city - its people - people attracted from throughout the world and creating here a rich tapestry of cultures and languages. We invite a partnership with the people of Cleveland to explore our collective past, to understand and make sense of that past and thereby to provide insights into the complex problems of the present.

The Mission of the Social History and the City Project is to:

• use the Greater Cleveland metropolitan area as a focal point for investigation, research, teaching, publications and service;
• encourage the study of other urban contexts which would enrich our understanding of social, political, economic, and cultural processes;
• invite the community to participate in the study of our common and our unique heritage;
• immerse students into that laboratory to hone their academic skills;
• provide valuable applied experience that can translate directly into expanded vocational opportunities;
• encourage the study of social history in its broadest meaning; and
• provide a forum for the interaction between the community and the university through creative and inclusive partnerships.

This site is a part of the Social History and the City Project of the Department of History, Cleveland State University , Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
It was designed by Dr. Donald Ramos. Comments should be directed to site webmaster at history.webmaster@csuohio.edu
Copyright 1999 Cleveland State University