Campbell, Thomas F.

Thomas F. Campbell was a professor and cofounder of CSU's Institute of Urban Studies in 1967, which is now known as the Maxine Goodman Levine College of Urban Affairs. He was a part of numerous clubs, organizations, and charities. He was especially involved in societies for Irish immigrants since he was an Irishman. He died on November 23, 2003 and was survived by his wife Marguerite "Peggy," son Thomas F. III, two grandchildren and a brother

From the guide to the Thomas F. Campbell Papers, 1965-1985, (Cleveland State University)

Thomas F. Campbell (1924-2003) was born in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, one of the six counties that comprise Northern Ireland. As a child attending school, he suffered from poor eye sight, a problem that would not be rectified until later years. As a result, he did not perform well at academics. He left school after the sixth grade to become an apprentice baker, a trade he followed for seventeen years. Before immigrating to the United States and settling in Cleveland, Ohio, he made his mark in Northern Ireland as a member of the Labour Party, and a marathon champion in 1949. Upon refused entry to New Zealand in 1949, Campbell volunteered intermittently with the Friends Ambulance Unit (Quakers) in England and building refugee shelters in post-war Germany. This opportunity to view the Marshall Plan in Germany later influenced his interest in developing a University resource to help rebuild the city. In 1953 he was invited by the American Friends Service Committee to volunteer for a summer in the slums of Washington, D.C., to work with poor African Americans; and for the following year to build a road and establish health clinics in rural Mexico. In 1955 Campbell immigrated to the United States. When he arrived in Philadelphia he obtained employment, first at a mental hospital, and later as a baker at Horn & Hardart, where he participated in an attempt to form a union and spent six months on a picket line. Meanwhile, attending Temple University High School at night, he earned a high school equivalency degree by passing an examination offered by the State of Pennsylvania. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1955 and was admitted to Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve University) where he earned his bachelor's, master's and post doctoral degrees in History, while working as a gardener in Cleveland Heights. Campbell's teaching career began as a teaching assistant and lecturer at Case Western Reserve University. In 1963 he became an assistant professor in the History Department at Ohio State University. He joined Cleveland State University in 1966, one year after it's creation. At this university he was a member of the History Department until his retirement in 1993. He was a major force in creating the interdisciplinary Institute of Urban Studies (Maxine Levin College of Urban Affairs) at the university and served as its director from 1969 until 1975. Campbell was responsible for securing a major Gund Foundation grant to launch the Institute as well as for initiating many programs of university-community interaction. Campbell penned several books related to the history of Cleveland including Daniel E. Morgan, 1877-1949: The Good Citizen in Politics, and SASS: Fifty Years of Social Work Education - A History of the School of Applied Social Sciences and Freedom's Forum: The City Club of Cleveland. He co-edited The Birth of Modern Cleveland 1865-1930 and wrote chapters in Snowbelt Cities edited by Richard Bernard in Introduction to Urban Studies edited by Roberta Steinbacher and Virginia Benson, and an article The Irish in Ohio in The Encyclopedia of the Irish in America. He was responsible for a number of biographies published in Dictionary of American Mayors and The Dictionary of Cleveland Biography edited by David Van Tassel and John Grabowski. He wrote other articles and delivered a number of major speeches during his career. Campbell was a well known and recognizable figure in Cleveland's social and political community. A highly respected individual, he served as president of the City Club of Cleveland, and was instrumental in the club's opening its doors to women. He directed and co-authored the proposal to establish the Cleveland Heritage Program for Cleveland Public Library. Campbell ran for mayor for the city of Cleveland in 1977. He served as chairman of the Governor's Judicial Nominating Council for the Eighth Court of Appeals District. Campbell's Irish roots never strayed too far from his life and, as such, he founded the Irish American Archives Society which is responsible for the preservation of Irish history for Cleveland and northeast Ohio. Detailed information about his civic involvement can be found throughout this finding aid. Campbell's involvement in Cleveland's community and his contributions to the city of Cleveland were recognized by his receiving several awards in honor of such work. These include several certificates including Fellow for Life of the Western Reserve Historical Society plus the Walks of Life Award from the Irish American Archives Society. In 1996 he was awarded Doctor of Humane Letters honorisis caua from Cleveland State University. He was also elected to the City Club Hall of Fame.

From the guide to the Thomas F. Campbell Papers, 1897-2004, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

Author, community leader, and professor and university administrator who co-founded the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University and served as its director. Campbell served as president of the City Club of Cleveland, and was instrumental in opening its doors to women. He directed the Cleveland Heritage Program for Cleveland Public Library. He ran for mayor of Cleveland in 1977. He founded the Irish American Archives Society and was deeply involved in the Irish American community of Cleveland, as well as numerous other groups in the Cleveland area.

From the description of Thomas F. Campbell papers, 1897-2004. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 277634615