Celebrating the people who made Akron the “Rubber Capital of the World.”
Akron Stories is a grassroots initiative to collect, preserve, and share the stories of Akron’s rubber workers and their descendants.
Since 2019, we have conducted more than 135 interviews, capturing thousands of stories, and produced more than 100 mini-documentary films bringing each one to life with family photos and archival film.
Making History
The Rubber Worker Statue & Stories initiative was launched in 2016 by Miriam Ray, a resident of Tallmadge (OH), who tirelessly advocated for a memorial dedicated to the everyday people who worked in the rubber industry.
Miriam worked with Craig Thompson (architect), Beth Becker (media), and Alan Cottrill (sculptor), and Mac Love (Art x Love) to bring this vision to life. In 2019, the City of Akron commissioned the statue for installation. Akron Stories was created to manage commemorative brick sales, which funded the oral history project.
In 2021, the City of Akron and Akron Stories hosted a dedication ceremony to celebrate and honor the people who made Akron the “Rubber Capital of the World.”
We are also grateful to these Akron Stories Champions for bringing this project to life:
Rhonda Aguilar • Karen Armour • Tim Bartlebaugh • Mark Clark • SFC. Johnnie R. Downs • Brigitte Falkenstein • Lisa Perri • John Saros • Lorena Starcher • Larry Templeton • Summit County Historical Society • Thomarios • Nicole Tomayko • David Topliff • William Vaughn • John Wilson
