Taking its cue from Ohio’s status as the “birthplace” of Superman in Cleveland, Ohio, and the state’s being home to significant historic and current comics creators, the Ohio Center for the Book adopts as one of its primary charges the promotion and advocacy of comics as an important and unique medium of expression.
In light of that, the Ohio Center for the Book and Cleveland Public Library maintain an exhibit of Superman items from the library’s permanent collection. The exhibit encompasses the entire corridor and lobby of the second floor of the historic Main Library building in downtown Cleveland and celebrates not only the Man of Steel but also pays tribute to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster who were only high school students when they created what would become one of world’s most recognizable cultural icons. On display are a variety of Superman memorabilia; autographed posters, photos, and books; a larger-than-life scale model of a statue by David Deming; one-of-a-kind treasures from the induction ceremony of Siegel and Shuster into the Jewish American Hall of Fame; and a writing desk owned by Jerry Siegel himself and generously donated to the library by his daughter, Laura Siegel Larson.
The exhibit is available to enjoy during the library’s regular open hours: Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
