Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections

06/07/2026

The Canaday Center holds part of Toledo’s "Glass City" history through the records of Owens-Illinois. These brown glass bottles are prototypes for the "Duraglas 1-Way Beer Bottle."

The bottle was actually in production by August 1944, but wartime restrictions meant it could only be used for beer shipped overseas to U.S. military personnel. Once those restrictions were lifted, it became available to the domestic market in June 1947. Marketed as "the lowest-priced, single-service beer container on the market," the bottle was designed to compete with the growing popularity of beer cans. Promoted through extensive national advertising, the Duraglas name, short for "durable glass", highlighted Owens-Illinois's efforts to develop lighter-weight glass packaging.
https://canadaycenter.utoledo.edu/repositories/2/resources/562

05/29/2026

Today we share a beautiful local history book from our vault. Published for the centennial of the Toledo Museum of Art, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺: 𝘛𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘰 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢 explores the rise of industrial design and its impact on modern American manufacturing, marketing, and consumer culture. Using Toledo as a case study, the book examines how companies such as Willys-Overland, Libbey-Owens-Ford, Toledo Scale Company, and Libbey Glass incorporated design into their products and business strategies, helping shape modern industry and everyday life in America.
Search our rare books here: https://www.utoledo.edu/library/canaday/

05/25/2026

05/19/2026

In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, we’re highlighting our Early Chinese Immigrants in Toledo Oral History Interviews collection, which features oral histories with members of Toledo’s Sing family—one of the first Chinese families to settle in the city. The Exclusion Act of 1882 encouraged many Chinese to return home, but during that time, the number of Chinese in Toledo actually increased. These interviews capture reflections on their lives and experiences in Toledo. Interview subjects include Doris Sing Hedler and her siblings, Ruth Sing Wong, and Edward and Albert Sing. For more details about this collection, click the link.
https://canadaycenter.utoledo.edu/repositories/2/resources/352/collection_organization

05/06/2026

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re highlighting the papers of Dr. Sripati Chandrasekhar, whose career spanned continents and disciplines.

Born in 1918 in Rajamahendravaram, Dr. Chandrasekhar became a leading voice in demography and family planning policy. He taught around the world, worked with UNESCO, served in India’s parliament, and was appointed Minister of Health and Family Planning by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

His work sparked global conversations about population, public health, and economic policy—and his papers are part of the Canaday Center’s collections.

Link to Dr. Sripati Chandrasekhar digital repository collection:
https://utdr.utoledo.edu/collections/4f34d532-8c71-4901-ba65-95238918fa46/search

05/01/2026

Posters up and records on in the UToledo dorms, 1960s–70s, capturing a little slice of campus life.

04/23/2026

This World Book Day, the Ward M. Canaday Center highlights a signed copy of The World We Live In by Helen Keller, a collection of essays originally published in Century Magazine. Her distinctive block-letter writing was pressed so firmly that it imprinted onto the following page.

04/22/2026

🌎Earth Day Spotlight:
Dr. William A. Kneller, a University of Toledo geology professor from 1961 to 1989, helped build the university’s Geology Department and establish its master’s program. He also helped found the Wilhelm Eitel Institute for Silicate Science and Ceramics Research, where he led applied research on materials and natural resources. His work included testing materials for the early space shuttle's heat-resistant tiles, developing methods to reuse industrial byproducts such as fly ash and cement kiln dust in road construction, studying sewage sludge treatment, and analyzing Ohio's coal and mineral resources. He also oversaw seismic monitoring efforts in northwest Ohio.
His career reflects the value of applying earth science to real-world challenges—an approach that remains central to environmental stewardship today. 🌱
https://canadaycenter.utoledo.edu/repositories/2/resources/344