About Our Founder: Bill Barrow
William C. Barrow: stuff and things about Our Hero
BA, History 1992; MA, History, 1997, Cleveland State University. MLS, Kent State University, 1998.Bill Barrow began at the University Library in 1994 as a project archivist under a two-year part-time contract position for the physical processing of the Cleveland Union Terminal Tower Collection. Next hired on a full-time temporary contract as the Data/GIS Specialist/Special Collections Specialist, he finally joined the library staff full time in the newly-created position of Special Collections Librarian in 1999. He served in that capacity for 22 years, retiring in 2021 as Head of Special Collections.
Long-time Michael Schwartz Library Director Glenda Thornton often said that in Bill she had hired the perfect first Special Collections librarian. Building Special Collections from a handful of scattered collections into a comprehensive and widely respected research center for our students and for all of greater Cleveland, Bill’s collaborative spirit, innovative mindset and visionary leadership attracted attention, good-will, and respect to CSU almost from the beginning of his remarkable tenure, particularly as lead co-founder of the groundbreaking Cleveland Memory Project, launched in 2002.
The rapid growth of Cleveland Memory was due in large part to Bill’s gift for making connections, and to his insistence upon collaboration as a baseline expectation. He has forged partnerships with schools, libraries, museums, historical societies and local businesses, and has been frequently profiled in local media. Over 70 librarians across the U.S began their careers as interns here, and Bill has twice been named Graduate of the Year by Kent State’s Library School for his commitment to mentoring and inspiring these young professionals, who look back upon Cleveland Memory and Cleveland State with affection and pride.
A few of Bill’s other noteworthy accomplishments include a major exhibition on the Terminal Tower at the Galleries at CSU, numerous smaller campus exhibits, two AHA! Festivals on Playhouse Square, and larger displays for Hopkins International Airport and the Cuyahoga County Fair, where Special Collections staff collected oral histories live and on the spot.
Beyond Cleveland State University and the Cleveland Memory Project, Bill's community service has been characteristically broad-ranging, and his dedication of time and expertise has contributed to the betterment of the community. He has garnered awards from many professional and community organizations, including the prestigious Clay Herrick Award, and groups ranging from the Early Settler’s Association to the Cleveland Sculpture Center to the Press Club all claim Bill as one of their own.
