Archival Services, a division of University Libraries, recently partnered with the Summit County Historical Society, the City of Akron, and the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau to curate an exhibit on Ray C. Bliss and past Republication National Conventions. Bliss, University of Akron alumnus and namesake of the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, was Ohio state and national chairman of the Republican Party for many years. He is best known for helping to rebuild the party after the failed Barry Goldwater campaign of 1964 and getting Richard Nixon elected president in 1968.
Ray Bliss at the Republican National Committee Podium
The exhibit, titled “Mr. Chairman: Ray C. Bliss and the RNC,” uses historic photographs, documents, and artifacts to recount the life and legacy of Ray Bliss. It also showcases a variety of interesting memorabilia from past Republican National Conventions selected from the Ray Bliss Papers in Archival Services, including signed documents by Nixon, Eisenhower, and other party leaders. It coincides with the 2016 Republican National Convention, which will be held in Cleveland this summer. The exhibit will be on display now through the election on the fourth floor of the Ohio Building at 175 S. Main St. (now King James Way) in downtown Akron. It is free and open to the public during the building’s normal business hours, which are Monday thru Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Ray C. Bliss Papers and other resources on local and regional history are available by visiting Archival Services located in Room LL-10 of the Polsky Building. Public hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.
For more information please visit our website at http://www.uakron.edu/libraries/archives.