On Exhibit in Special Collections

Traitor or Hero: Summit County’s John Brown

One hundred and fifty years after he led the raid on Harpers Ferry, John Brown continues to stimulate controversy. Although some consider him a hero, while others a traitor, one thing is certain – John Brown was a man of passion and conviction. He dedicated his life to ridding the country of slavery by any means.

Visit Special Collections to see our John Brown exhibit- small glimpses into all the different time periods in his life: moving to Hudson, Ohio as a young boy, his own life as husband and father, business failures, the infamous raid at Harpers Ferry and finally his hanging as a traitor in 1859. Akron’s response to John Brown’s death was to lower flags to half staff while several leading citizens spoke in praise of him and his unwavering fight to abolish slavery.