Former Head, Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University Library

Dawne provided help to identifying the sources that students would use in writing this history.  Dawne provided much needed help by facilitating the students access to records at Wright State.

Heidi Gauder, who is a Professor; Coordinator of Research & Instruction, helped the research project in many ways.  She and her staff gave the student’s tutorials on research and aided them when they encountered trouble gaining access to materials. 

John Gower has long been a vital component of urban development plans in the City of Dayton. A student of the University of Cincinnati’s School of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning, John has worked as Dayton’s downtown planner, director of community development, and urban design coordinator. In recent years he has led the “Living City Project” revitalizing downtown housing. He spearheaded efforts to preserve architecture, pass Historic District zoning, and served as a member of the Landmarks Commission. Now retired John continues his efforts to save the cities architectural heritage and improve the life of Daytonians with his work on the Arcade, a building he has sought to preserve since the 1970s. For years John spent weekends cleaning the gutters of a building that many had given up on.  Thanks John.

Some of the research undertaken on this site was made easier by the previous investigations of the mysterious “Jeffrey Guest.” An online researcher who posted his findings on Urbanohio.com, Jeffrey, as he called himself, accumulated data on the type of shops in the Arcade at various points.  His also produced colorful maps of the interior.  Inspired by his work we examined the Sanborn Insurance maps and the City Directories. We found Jeffrey’s work to be accurate at nearly every turn.  Who ever you are, thanks for pointing us the right direction.

Deputy Executive Director, Dayton Metro Library

Rachel stepped in and helped the class move forward after plan for audio equipment fell through at the last minute. Thanks to her and others associated with the Dayton Metro Library we were able to borrow additional sets of equipment without which the oral history dimension of this project would have been much harder.

Nancy Horlacher is a archivist and librarian at the Dayton Metro Library where she aids researchers who examine the archival materials held by the library. Nancy and other staff members at the Metro Library went out of their way to aid in introducing students to the collections. She organized a wonderful introduction session which the students found to be extremely helpful.  Without the dedicated efforts and knowledge of Nancy and other Metro Staff members, conducting local research would be very difficult.

Business Operations Coordinator

Monti Moyer provided important logistical help for the class.  When we needed supplies, Monti helped us get what we needed and as fast as possible.  Thanks Monti. 

Director of Business Development for the Downtown Dayton Partnership 

A 2001 University of Dayton graduate Scott started out as a mechanical engineer after graduating only to give that up to become the director of business development for the Downtown Dayton Partnership a non-profit community service organization. Scott helped set this project in motion by welcoming the faculty and students to become part of the ongoing efforts to rebuild the Arcade.  Megan Cooper, Scott’s wife and a fellow UD grad who works as the Dayton Metro Library’s External Relations Specialist, provided valuable assistance in helping to arrange our use of audio recording equipment from the Metro Library.

Professor; Associate Dean for Interdisciplinary Research and Experiential Initiatives; Acting Head, Hanley Sustainability Institute:

Don provided important institutional support for the project as it began to extend beyond the first semester.  His office provided an indispensible financial assistance in the form of a “College of Arts and Sciences Experimental Learning Grant” for the History Departments “Dayton Arena History and Department of History Integrating Experiential and Community-Based Learning Curriculum Initiative.”  This grant provided the resources needed to carry on summer work that tied the two-semester project together. Without that support the project might never have been completed.

Jamie McQuinn is the head of the Dayton Metro Library special collections and archives. Mr. McQuinn’s has gone out of his way to provide help to the researchers by providing access to materials and facilitating research in other ways. Mr. McQuinn and other staff members at the Metro Library went out of their way to aid in introducing students to the collections. Without the dedicated efforts and knowledge of Mr. McQuinn and other Metro Staff members, conducting local research would be very difficult.

Jocelyn Robinson is a Yellow Springs, Ohio-based educator, independent media producer and radio preservationist. Her work produced for WYSO can be found at https://www.wyso.org/people/jocelyn-robinson.

Associate Professor; Former Chair of Department of History:

Large teaching projects do not get done without greater leadership. The faculty and students of this endeavor were fortunate to have Juan, the Chair of the History Department, helping them jump the main hurdles they confronted. Juan also insured that the History Department generously provided financial support needed in order to see the project through.

President of the University of Dayton:

We would like to thank President Spina for renewing efforts of the University of Dayton to contribute to the revitalization of the City of Dayton. 

Librarian, Special Collection and Archives, Wright State University Libraries

When the students began this project, Bill volunteered to stay after work one evening to introduce the students to the collections they would be using.  Thanks Bill for going out of your way to do that.

Director of Experiential Learning:

Thanks for being an advocate of Experiential Learning Karen.

The support of the faculty of the UD Department of History made it possible for the students to write this history of the Arcade and build the webpage. We want to thank them for backing our efforts.  Thank Drs. Juan Santamarina, Christopher Agnew, Julius A. Amin, Karen Barley, Janet Bednarek, Dorian Borbonus, Una Cadegan, Marybeth Carlson, Michael. S. Carter, Ellen Fleischmann, Miguel Gomez, John Heitmann, Laura Hunt Hume, Tracey Jaffe, Caroline Merithew, Haimanti Roy, Mary Sanderson, Laura Sextro, Bobbi Sutherland, Bill Trollinger, and Versalle Washington.

The Dayton Metro Library and its staff provide invaluable assistance in conducting research on the Arcade. The library generously provided access to the special collections related to Dayton and the Arcade’s history.  The library has also generously allowed the reproduction of some of their materials on the website. Finally, the library played an important role in helping us conduct the oral history interviews by providing equipment and advise on how to proceed.  The faculty, staff and students of UD would like to thank them for all they have done.

The University of Dayton Library and Special Collections, and its staff, provided invaluable assistance in conducting research on the Arcade. The library generously provided access to the special collections related to Dayton and the Arcade’s history.  The library and university has also generously allowed the reproduction of some of their materials on the website. Finally, the library played an important role in helping us conduct the oral history interviews by providing equipment and advise on how to proceed.  The faculty, staff and students of UD would like to thank them for all they have done.

The Wright State University Special Collections and Archives and its staff provided invaluable assistance in conducting research on the Arcade. The library generously provided access to the special collections related to Dayton and the Arcade’s history. The library has also generously allowed the reproduction of some of their materials on the website.  The faculty, staff and students of UD would like to thank them for all they have done.