On the occasion of its 75th anniversary, the Shaker Historical Society (SHS) is refining its mission. Documenting Shaker Heights’ ongoing story and engaging with the Shaker Heights community are at the heart of that mission. Decades before the City of Shaker Heights was founded, this area was home to a community of Shakers, a utopian Christian sect. The Shakers lived in, cultivated, and developed the area (including building the dams that formed Lower Shaker Lake and Horseshoe Lake) from 1822 until they disbanded in 1889. SHS was founded in 1947 with a focus on teaching schoolchildren about the history of the Shaker settlement. At that time, there were still older residents who had known and been neighbors of the Shakers, so the time was ripe – but passing quickly – to preserve and pass on that firsthand knowledge. Since the founding of SHS, 75 more years of history have been created. Its task now, as expressed in its mission statement, is to “link the past with the present to inspire the future.” That means documenting the Shaker settlement heritage, but also allowing space for more stories, ones that tell of the evolution of this place and the people, challenges, and successes that make Shaker Heights what it is. That narrative includes harder parts of our history – for example, the imperfect path, still under construction, toward racial equity in the City. Not all of that story can or should be told by Shaker Historical Society staff, says Brianna Treleven, executive director of SHS. If, for example, the story of the integration of the Ludlow neighborhood were being told, the people from that community who lived through it, or had relatives who lived through it, are better positioned to tell that story. SHS’s role, says Treleven, is to facilitate that by inviting those voices to be part of SHS. Collaborative partnerships with other organizations are a key part of that broadening of storytelling, and SHS has partnered with about 25 organizations over the past year. One of the most significant collaborations has been with Shaker African American Mothers Support (SAMS). That partnership resulted in “I Come as One,” an exhibit on the pandemic experience of single Black mothers. Another SAMS exhibit is planned for 2023. SAMS provides a creative vision and subject matter knowledge, and SHS provides exhibit space, materials, and curating expertise. Together, they create something that neither could do alone. While permanent exhibits on the Shakers and the Van Sweringen brothers’ development work in Shaker Heights and Cleveland occupy most of the museum space at SHS, rotating exhibit space on the first floor allows the organization to vary and expand the museum’s narrative. That’s where the SAMS exhibits are located. SHS has also partnered with the Warrensville Heights-based African American Quilt and Doll Guild to host a quilt show this summer in the first-floor exhibit space. In addition to bringing more stories into the museum, SHS is also working to expand its presence in the community – a Century House Birthday Party for houses in Shaker Heights turning 100 was held last fall at the Van Aken District. SHS has also recently been involved in the restoration of the historic Warrensville Cemetery near Shaker Towne Center. Dated, stale, dusty? Nope – history is happening right now. 66 SUMMER 2022 | WWW.SHAKER.LIFE
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