Roy Ray Collection
Reference Code:
Repository: University of Akron Archival Services
Title: Roy Ray Collection
Dates: 1979-1983
Extent: 4 cubic feet
Creator: Roy Ray
Language: English
Access: Collection is open for research.
Finding Aid prepared by: Archival Services
Revised by: Richard Wisneski, July 25, 2007
Related Material:
Biographical History:
Roy Ray spent much of his career serving the City of Akron. He began his career as a research analyst at the City of Akron Service Department in 1969. He became Deputy Service Director in 1971, moved on to Public Utilities Commissioner in 1973, became Budget Director in 1975 and then Finance Director in 1977. In 1980 he launched a successful bid to become mayor of Akron, where he served until 1984.
Scope and Content:
The collection covers the years approximately 1978 to 1988. It contains material relating to Roy Ray's term as Mayor of Akron and a small amount of material related to his tenure as an Ohio State Senator.
This collection would be of value for the study of mayoral campaigns and the daily activities of the Mayor of Akron during the early 1980s.
The collection contains campaign manuals and budgets of the 1979 and 1983 mayoral campaigns. It also includes photographs of Ray campaigning, although there are many fewer for the 1983 campaign than for the 1979 campaign.
There are also photographs of Ray performing mayoral duties, such as handing out proclamations and cutting ribbons. However, many of these photographs do not include identification of the event or the people in the photograph.
The collection also includes budgets and plans for the city of Akron from 1980 projected through to 1988.
Lacking from the collection is official correspondence to and from the mayor's office. Ray's official Senate correspondence is also absent.
Arrangement:
The collection consists of campaign records, mayoral records, Ohio Senate records and miscellaneous material. The campaign records (Series 1) include correspondence, expenditure reports, speeches, news clippings and photographs. These records indicate how the race for mayor of Akron was conducted in 1979 and 1983.
The mayoral records (Series 2) include correspondence, speeches, appointment books, plans and budgets for the city, news clippings and photographs. Together, these items provide a glimpse of what Ray did on a daily basis as the mayor of Akron.
The Ohio Senate Records (Series 3) consist only of the personal correspondence of Senator Ray, most of which is from 1988.
The miscellaneous material (Series 4) includes many plaques that were presented to Mayor Ray. This series also contains a few family photographs and Christmas cards from 1983.
Container List:
SERIES A - CAMPAIGN RECORDS
Box 1
Folder
1. Campaign correspondence, 1979. Items discuss campaign strategy. Includes letters written by community members in support of Ray.
2. Campaign correspondence, 1983. Items discuss campaign strategy.
3. Appointment book, 1979.
4. Campaign expenditure reports, 1979. Ray's primary election report and advertising budget, and opponent Ray Kapper's general election campaign report.
5. Campaign expenditure report, 1981. Ray's general election report.
6. Campaign expenditure reports, 1983. Ray's primary and general election reports, advertising budgets and plans, and opponents Robert Otterman's primary and Tom Sawyer's general election reports.
7. Campaign fundraising lists [1983].
8. Roy Ray campaign speeches and press releases, 1979.
9. Roy Ray campaign speeches and debates, 1983.
10. Frances Ray campaign speeches, 1983.
11. Roy Ray appearance schedule, 1979.
12. Congratulatory letters, 1979. Letters congratulating Ray on his mayoral victory.
13. Condolence letters, 1983. Letters expressing regret on Ray's loss of the mayoral election.
14. Campaign photographs [1979] - 1. Includes photographs of Ray with various people and the "Roy Ray for Mayor" cheerleaders.
15.Campaign photographs [1979] - 2. Includes photographs of Ray with various people, including his wife.
SERIES A - CAMPAIGN RECORDS
16. Campaign photographs [1983]. Snapshots of Ray and his family and the "Roy Ray for Mayor" cheerleaders.
17. Miscellanea. Handwritten notes, news clippings, precinct maps, advertising schedules and copy, political committee lists, a volunteer list, a fundraising budget, and a list of people which may be campaign contributors.
SERIES B - MAYORAL RECORDS
18. Correspondence. Contains a very small amount of official correspondence.
19. Speeches. Includes Ray's inauguration speech and the 1983 "State of the City" address.
20. Appointment books, 1980.
21. Appointment books, 1981.
22. Appointment books, 1982.
23. Appointment book, 1983.
24. Plans and budgets for Akron - "1980 Operating Budget."
25. Plans and budgets for Akron - "Capital Investment & Community
Development Program, 1980-85."
26. Plans and budgets for Akron - "Operating Budget 1981."
27. Plans and budgets for Akron - "1981-86 Capital Investment & Community
Development Program."
Box 2
Folder
1. Plans and budgets for Akron - "1982 Operating Budget."
2. Plans and budgets for Akron - "1982-1987 Capital Investment & Community Development Program."
3. Plans and budgets for Akron - "1983 Budget Plan."
4. Plans and budgets for Akron - " Community Development/Human Resources Programs, 1983." Descriptions and progress reports of various programs.
5. Plans and budgets for Akron - "Master Plan," June 1983.
6. Plans and budgets for Akron - "1983-1988 Capital Investment & Community Development Program."
7. "City of Akron Official Statements," 1983.
8. News clippings.
9. Certificates of appreciation.
10. Photographs - 1. Photos of Ray's 1980 inauguration.
11. Photographs - 2. Miscellaneous snapshots from 1980-83.
12.Photographs - 3. Photos of the Metro campaign, Ray handing out proclamations, Ray with the Goodyear Partners in Progress award, and Ray sweeping the street. Most photos are dated from 1981-83.
13. Photographs - 4. UNDC House, July 16, 1980.
14. Photographs - 5. Martha Ave. Dedication, November 1980.
15. Photographs - 6. Vietnam Veterans Office, April 14, 1982.
16. Photographs - 7. Baseball tournament, July 22, 1982.
17. Photographs - 8. [Mayor's Breakfast, February 3, 1983].
18. Photographs - 9. Lock 2 Dedication, October 26, 1983.
19. Photographs - 10. Miscellaneous snapshots.
20. Photographs - 11. Miscellaneous snapshots. The photos that are dated are from 1981-83.
Box 2 (cont.) SERIES C - OHIO SENATE RECORDS
21. Correspondence. Items relate to personal matters, including many thank you letters.
SERIES D - MISCELLANEA
22. Correspondence.
23. Appointment book, 1978.
24. Christmas cards, 1983.
25. Photographs. Includes a few family pictures.
26. Miscellanea. Handwritten notes, city of Akron statistics, description of the industrial incubator.
Box 3
1. Diploma - 1, 14"x11." "Fairleigh Dickinson University-Upon the recommendation of the Faculty and by authority of the Board of Trustees hereby confers upon Frances M. Jordan the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto. In Witness Whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures and the Seal of the University at Rutherford in the State of New Jersey, this tenth day of June, nineteen hundred and sixty-seven."
2. Diploma - 2. 14"x11." "Francis I. duPont & Co. Members New York Stock Exchange - This is to certify that Roy L. Ray has successfully completed our Account Executive Sales Training Program. This achievement is hereby acknowledged and in recognition, the undersigned have affixed their signatures this 17th Day of April 1968."
3. Framed political cartoon by Chuck Ayers from the Akron Beacon Journal, 1979, 15 1/2"x12." Roy Ray and Ray Kapper fighting for the mayor's office.
4. Framed political cartoon by Chuck Ayers from the Akron Beacon Journal, 1979, 15 1/2"x12." Roy Ray climbing an elephant to the Mayor's office as John Ballard descends from the office.
Box 3 (cont.) SERIES D - MISCELLANEA
5.Framed political cartoon by Chuck Ayers from the Akron Beacon Journal, [Jan.] 1980, 15 1/2"x12." Portrays passing of power from John Ballard to Roy Ray.
6. Plaque - 1, 7"x9." "Omicron Delta Kappa-This certifies that in recognition of conspicuous attainments and service in collegiate activities the Omicron Delta Kappa Society has on this day conferred membership on Roy L. Ray through its Circle at the University of Akron, May 5, 1980."
7. Plaque - 2, 9"x12." "Presented to the Honorable Roy Ray, Mayor, City of Akron in appreciation for his help in making the 1980 Rubber City Air Show a Success."
8. Certificate of Appreciation - 1, framed 10"x8." "May it be known that Mayor Roy Ray Was the Guest Speaker at the Akron "Host" Lions Cub on July 8th 1980. As an Expression of Appreciation for Courtesies extended to this Club, we hereby present this Certificate."
9. Plaque - 3, 9"x12." "1980 Award of Merit, Akron, Ohio, among cities with 200,000 to 500,000 population, presented by the American Automobile Association."
10. Certificate of Appreciation - 2, 9 1/2"x11 1/2." "Delta Nu Alpha Transportation Fraternity, Inc. Certificate of Appreciation, Roy L. Ray for your significant contributions to the Fraternity in its continuing program of transportation."
11. Framed political cartoon, by Chuck Ayers, from the Akron Beacon Journal, 1981, 15 1/2"x12." Shows the lowering of the bond rating, symbolized by a bridge, for Summit County and Akron, with John Morgan and Roy Ray rowing canoes towards the lowering bridge.
12. Framed political cartoon, by Chuck Ayers, from the Akron Beacon Journal, 1982, 15 1/2"x12." Mayor Ray is attempting to burn an issue 9 sign and a member of the Akron Firefighters Union is rushing to put out the fire.
13. Plaque - 4, 10"x8." "In celebration of our 50,000th subscriber Warner Amex Cable Communications, Inc., Akron, Ohio, September 1982."
Box 4 SERIES D - MISCELLANEA
1. Plaque - 5, 12"x14 1/2." "We thank you for your gracious participation on March 23, 1983, And welcome you to the club as its first Honorary Member, Mayor Roy L. Ray, Commerce Club of Akron."
2. Plaque - 6, 6"x6." "Dedication of the Carl Packrandt Visitor Center, Sept. 24, 1983."
3. Resolution, 10 1/2"x16." "Resolution 1992-121. Offered by Mayor Kostoff and all of City Council. A resolution extending gratitude and thanks to state senator Roy L. Ray for his efforts in assisting in the construction of Fort Island Park."
4. Plaque - 7, 10"x8." "Presented to Senator Roy L. Ray in recognition of his work on behalf of the citizens of Ohio and in establishing the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. Presented by the Ohio Chapter National Assoc. of Social Workers (NASW), Oct. 1994."
5. Highpoint Award, 14 1/2"x12." "In Recognition of Ohio State Senator Roy Ray Receiving the Public Official of Year Award from the National Association of Social Workers, Ohio Chapter, Region 2, March 15, 1995."
6. "Republican Senate Campaign Committee, Roy Ray," videocassette, VHS, 11/12/86. Contains six thirty-second commercials made by SOS Productions for Ray's 1986 Ohio Senate Campaign.
7. City of Akron employee badge, 1980.