Massillon has a rich history of diversity. Below are just some of the people and just some of the stories of those fighting for equality in Massillon. Other resources include oral history interviews and documents.

Missing History of Massillon: Unheard African American Stories

The Missing History of Massillon: Unheard African American Stories project was launched in 2020 to address the Museum’s deficit in content related to Massillon’s African American heritage while striving to be more welcoming to diverse populations.  Your Massillon Museum continues to document the history of Massillon’s Black community, and to works maintain and integrate representation of this history into the archives, collections, and shared memory of our community. 

Listen to dozens of audio and video interviews, view hundreds of photographs and newspaper clippings, and take a virtual tour of this award-winning 2022 exhibit:
https://www.missinghistoryofmassillon.org

View the 360 tour by clicking here.

ORAL HISTORIES:

Listen to African Americans who lived here in Massillon.

DOCUMENTS:

View documents related to black history in Massillon.

For additional documents, read Thomas and Charity Rotch's letters about fugitive slaves and the Underground Railroad at the Massillon Public Library's MassillonMemory.org

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD: LOCAL IMPACT

Click here to read the overview of the local impact of the Underground Railroad, read about the people and places that served the Massillon and Kendal, Ohio stops along the Underground Railroad.