John Holly founded the Future Outlook League in Cleveland in 1935 to help obtain jobs for black residents. The League was ahead of its time in using picket lines and economic boycotts to secure its objectives. This 1952 mural commemorates the League's struggle for equality.
Gesturing with his left hand, forefinger raised to a group of African American travelers group to the left. With the left hand he points towards a group of buildings representing downtown Cleveland. An arch bridge and river occupy the middle ground. The male figure stands on a carved stone on which are the words "Militancy, Courage"and partially "Equal Economic Opportunity". Two African American figures in the lower right are depicted carving the stone. Across the top is a title ribbon "The Future Outlook League." The painting is on a thin panel mounted to a second panel and is cased in a plexiglas and wood display case., Featured in the "Cleveland Starts Here" Exhibit
Transparency of portrait painting of a young girl about 5 or 6 years old. Rosy purple skirt, white blouse with floral designs on a yellow neckerchief draped over shoulders. Curly hair. 3/4 length portrait, seated on a bench. From the Frick Art Reference Library - April 16, 1961 in a letter to Mrs. Todd: Freeman Willis Simmons was born in Fredonia, Pa. in 1859 and died in 1926. He studied with William Merrit Chase, and in Paris with Lefebvre and Constant. He was a member of The American Art Association of Paris and the Cleveland Society of Artists. One of his works, a portrait, is owned by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Color: reds, yellows, brown, flesh, MUS64.72.9
The Superior was the second steam-powered vessel to operate on the Great Lakes. It was built with the engine of the first steam vessel, Walk-in-the-Water, which sank in 1821. Like her predecessor she combined steam-powered sidewheels and sails. On May 28, 1822, the Cleveland Herald reported, "the new steamship Superior arrived here on May 23 from Black Rock (near Buffalo) on its first trip to Detroit...headwinds may cause some delay so that she may no leave Buffalo on her next trip quite as soon as advertised." Cleveland became a way port for sidewheel steamers running between Buffalo and Detroit. The painting is executed in the British-American tradition of ship portraiture and is both detailed and realistic. Note the passengers at the stern holding parasols and seated on Windsor chairs and the crew members in the rigging., MUS 83.54.1. Featured in the "Cleveland Starts Here" Exhibit