The Mission of the Kent Historical Society is to be the primary Kent history resource and reference center, leading the community in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of Kent's heritage through exhibitions, educational programs, and activities.
Join with us. Volunteer.
You are our strength.

Sandy Halem
President, Board of Trustees

This documentary produced by the KHS is a short historical overview depicting the building blocks of the Kent community, from its Franklin Mills origins to the eventual renaming of the city to Kent. The video illustrates the importance of the Cuyahoga River and the economic impact it had on the city. We get a brief view of the individuals that built the industries, mills, the canal and eventually the railroad. We find out that John Brown lived and briefly worked in Kent and that Kent was a stop on the underground railroad. The video brings us up to date with the businesses of today and ending with the growth of the Kent Normal School into what eventually became Kent State University.