Vince hangs up hat as WRA archivist, leaving rich history-keeping legacy

by Mary McKenna

Tom Vince is someone who sure likes libraries, and it’s easy to see why.

From the time he was just a boy, working as a page in the Nottingham branch of the Cleveland Public library, he felt at home in its quiet sanctuary. Here, a hushed history lingers, and artifacts – like old friends – are known and loved for their backstories, which Vince is more than happy to share.

The day I joined him at Western Reserve Academy’s John D. Ong library, Vince, 84, donned his signature chapeau perched atop a mind brimming with a remarkable archive of historical dates, people and places. He immediately directed my attention to a table purchased in 1906 by James W. Ellsworth of Hudson, who acquired it alongside Switzerland’s oldest hilltop castle, the Schloss Lenzberg.

Looking back on a lifetime dedicated to preserving Hudson’s institutional memory, spanning nearly 55 years as a library director, historian and archivist, Vince credits his passion for surpassing expectations in “library work” to pivotal encouragement he received as a teenager.

“I never thought about being an archivist,” said Vince. “I didn’t even know what one was! But I remember a librarian saying, ‘Tom, you have it in you to be the best page down at main library,’ and that’s what I did.”

After graduating from John Carroll University with an English major and minors in history and speech, Vince pursued a master’s degree in English from Ohio State University and a library degree from Case Western Reserve University.

Remarkably, when Vince first joined as director of the Hudson Library and Historical Society, John Ong, for whom the WRA library is named, served on its board of directors. According to Vince, Ong was fond of telling others, “One of the things I did was bring Tom Vince to Hudson!”

His arrival proved pivotal, as Vince played a crucial role in modernizing the library, including the introduction of the CLEVENET online computer system in 1986, revolutionizing how books were accessed and managed.

Upon retiring from his position as library director in 1996, Vince said he wasn’t certain about his next steps, but thought “something might turn up.” His interest was piqued when approached to speak to a group of WRA Pioneer Women. As he recounted the gripping tale of a 19th-century murder near the Pierce house that interested them, his storytelling captivated WRA headmaster Skip Flanagan.

Flanagan invited Vince to explore the WRA archives then housed in the attic of the theater building. He also entrusted Vince with a special mission: “Promote the history of this school,” Flanagan urged, setting Vince on a new career path of archival exploration and historical advocacy at Western Reserve Academy.

One of Vince’s most memorable discoveries during his career as WRA archivist was identifying Samuel Harrison as the school’s first African American student who arrived in the 1830s.

“Someone contacted me from North Adams, Massachusetts. They were doing an exhibit on notable African Americans from the Berkshire region,” said Vince. He later learned that Harrison graduated from WRA in 1839, became ordained in the Congregational Church, and served as chaplain for the 54th Massachusetts Regiment during the Civil War.

“I told Skip, ‘One of our alumni was the chaplain to the 54th Massachusetts regimen,’ and he said, ‘You should make a documentary about that,’ which I did,” Vince recounted. Collaborating with Mike Kirk, who handled filming for the school, they spent two years producing the documentary that aired on PBS in 2005.

Throughout his career, Vince has been actively engaged in television programming. He voluntarily produced other documentaries featuring Ohio writer Louis Bromfield, Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Cy Young, and U.S. President James A. Garfield for Hudson Community Television. He also curated a series of historical segments for the “Good Day in Hudson” program.

Vince has consistently championed the community of Hudson and especially what sets it apart – the preservation of its buildings and how it “knows its own history” and values it – he said. His leadership roles as president of both the Hudson Heritage Association and the Hudson Rotary Club speak to this commitment. In 2009, Vince’s efforts were recognized when he was honored for his contributions as Citizen of the Year by the Hudson Chamber of Commerce.

As he concludes his 28-year tenure as WRA’s historian and archivist, Vince reflects on the significant part he played there, especially cherishing his opportunity to have been the go-to person for alumni inquiries all these years.

“I’ll miss having those little history projects,” he confessed.

Hudson Mayor Jeffrey Anzevino was one of hundreds of WRA guests who gathered at a May 31 celebration of Vince’s retirement. Anzevino said two things that “always stand out” during interactions with Vince are his “warm smile” and “willingness to share his incredibly extensive knowledge on Hudson’s amazing history.”

“Mr. Vince has given back to the greater Hudson community in countless ways, many of which have and will continue to leave his mark on not only the Western Reserve Academy but also Township 4, Range 10 [a.k.a. Hudson],” the mayor said. ∞

In late May, Hudson Mayor Jeffrey Anzevino (r) joined Western
Reserve Academy administrators and alumni to celebrate Tom
Vince’s retirement. Photo by Andrew Jordan.

On our cover (photo): Tom Vince, standing in front of a portrait of John D. Ong, recently retired after 27 years as archivist for Western Reserve Academy. Vince’s impact on Hudson, however, extends well beyond the WRA gates. The longtime resident also served as director of the Hudson Library and Historical Society, was active in several community organizations and won favor as the de-facto Hudson historian. On Aug. 6, Hudson Mayor Jeffrey Anzevino will present Vince with an honorary resolution commemorating his rich legacy of community service. Photo by M. McKenna.