Dayton (Ohio) -- History -- 20th century

The collection consists of an oral history interview audio recording with Leo Lucas, a member of the Dayton City School Board during the battle over busing students for desegregation. The interview was conducted in the summer of 1975 by high school student Mark Benbow.

The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), Branch 182 was organized in Dayton, Ohio in 1891. The branch has also been referred to as the “Gem City Branch” of NALC and serves to protect the labor rights of letter carriers in Dayton. The collection includes membership meeting minutes, membership records, correspondence, photographs, and miscellaneous materials.

A native of Sharonville, Ohio, Patricia O'Brien was a successful singer and actress in New York City during the early part of this century. She returned to Dayton in 1917 and became manager of the Dayton Symphony Association. She also worked as a promoter of local theatrical events. Her papers include correspondence, photographs, diaries, and miscellaneous items.

The Public Opinion Center Records contains surveys conducted in the Dayton area between 1970 and 1975. The breadth of the surveys is wide covering topics on schools, government, housing, health, and a number of other social, political, and economic issues. Some surveys contain the full raw dataset while others in the collection are summaries compiled by the center for public release.

The Elizabeth Beck Rehling Papers consist of correspondence, research notes, and photographs related to her research on the relationship between her mother, Agnes Osborn Beck and Katharine Wright, sister of the Wright Brothers. It also includes her unpublished manuscript, The Third Wright Brother, about Katharine Wright, based on her memories as told to her by her mother Agnes and her own research.

Records of a prominent Dayton, Ohio funeral home which serviced many from the Hungarian and other ethnic groups of the early 20th century. Funeral record and ledger books give a daily account of funerals, and contain information and vital statistics about people buried by the Riesinger Funeral Home in Dayton, Ohio. Also included are financial record books for 1931-1956, and a few photographs.

Consists of correspondence, reports, clippings, speeches, memorandums, photographs and printed materials reflecting Thompson's wide ranging interest in education, politics, environmental and social problems, historic preservation and journalism. Also includes an oral history with Sam Zehrung about his life and great gardens of Dayton, Ohio.