Myers, George A., 1859-1930

George A. Myers (1859-1930) was a Black Republican political leader in Cleveland, Ohio and a barber.

From the description of George A. Myers papers, 1890-1929 (inclusive), [microform]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122512773

Ohio African-American politician, owner of Holledon Hotel barber shop in Cleveland, Ohio, and member of the Ohio Republican State Executive Committee.

From the description of Papers, 1890-1929. (Ohio Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 39543578

From the description of Papers [microform], 1890-1929. (Ohio Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 39543528

Owner of the Hollenden Barber Shop, which became his steppingstone into Republican politics in the 1890s, Myers became an influential black politician and civic leader in Cleveland, Ohio, and a close ally to Marcus Hanna. Myers was a delegate to the Republican Natl. Convention in 1892, 1896, and 1900 and was instrumental in the development of the McKinley-Hanna organization and in the election of Hanna to the U.S. Senate. During the 1920s, Myers adopted a new tone of militancy in racial matters.

From the description of Correspondence, 1912-1923. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 22469987

Public official and shopkeeper.

From the description of Papers of George A. Myers, 1890-1929. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71061455

George A. Myers (1859-1930) was the owner of the Hollenden Barber Shop, which became his steppingstone into Republican politics in the 1890s. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1879 and began work as a barber at the Weddell House Barber Shop. He opened the barber shop at the Hollenden Hotel in 1888 with the financial backing of Liberty Holden and James Rhodes. By 1920, his barber shop employed 17 barbers, 6 manicurists, 5 porters, 3 hairdressers, and 2 podiatrists. Myers became an influential African American politician and civic leader in Cleveland, Ohio, and a close ally to Marcus Hanna. Myers was a delegate to the Republican Natl. Convention in 1892, 1896, and 1900 and was instrumental in the development of the McKinley-Hanna organization and in the election of Hanna to the U.S. Senate. Myers was offered several political appointments but declined them all, instead securing 4 appointments for other African Americans.

During the 1920s, Myers adopted a new tone of militancy in racial matters, possibly due to the fact that the Hollenden Hotel replaced all of its African American barbers with white barbers after Myers retired in 1923. He lobbied local newspapers to capitalize the word Negro and stop using offensive words. He also persuaded guards at the Woodland Hills municipal swimming pool to stop threatened violence against African Americans.

View the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for George A. Myers

From the guide to the George A. Myers Correspondence, 1912-1923, (Western Reserve Historical Society)