Cleveland Before Country

Join Siegal Lifelong Learning for this upcoming lecture with John Skrtic, Chief of Special Projects and Collections, Cleveland Public Library Step into the rich history of Cleveland at Cleveland Before Country, a celebration of storytelling, memory, and community heritage. Join John Skrtic, who has spent over 35 years with the Library overseeing its 12 million items and archiving the people and places of the region. He will explore how Cleveland is a city of neighborhoods, families, and change, where every resident carries a unique piece of its story. Discover what it takes to build a community archive that captures real lives, overlooked narratives, and everyday histories. Learn how these local stories connect to Cleveland's broader history and the Library's vast archival collections. Experience how the city's people, places, and moments come together to create a living, shared story that belongs to everyone. John Skrtic is a regular contributor to Cleveland Magazine. --- Event Details: