Speakers Bureau

The director of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society will share anecdotes and historical interpretations of the images from the Historical Society’s archives included in the book Mahoning Memories. Published in 1995 in advance of the bicentennial of Youngstown and sesquicentennial of Mahoning County, this book explores the Valley’s history using images left to us by the people who made this region what it was and is today. (slideshow)

Downtown Youngstown Walking Tour

H. William Lawson, Executive Director

Explore the architecture and history of Youngstown’s Central Square on this informative walking tour. Photographs used during the tour to show historical perspective. Offered May-October only.

History of Downtown Youngstown Development

H. William Lawson, Executive Director

Explore the architecture and history of Youngstown’s Central Square in a slideshow presentation and photographs used to show historical perspective.

An Arts & Crafts Connection:

Youngstown and Pasadena, California

H. William Lawson, Executive Director

What do two Mahoning Valley sisters, a famous Southern California architectural firm and the widow and son of a late U.S. President have in common? The Arts & Crafts movement of the early 20th century! Learn through historical and current day images about how this cast of characters worked directly and indirectly to bring Arts & Crafts philosophies and designs to life in three magnificent homes: one in Youngstown and two in Pasadena.

Iron and Steel in the Mahoning Valley

H. William Lawson, Executive Director

Many breathtaking images from the MVHS collections tell the story of why this industry took hold in the Valley. What were the socio-economic effects of iron and steelmaking on the community, and why it collapsed around 1980?

Bill Lawson is the Director of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society in Youngstown, Ohio, serving in that position since 1991. He has been employed by MVHS in a variety of capacities since 1987.

Lawson holds B. A. and M. A. Degrees in History from Youngstown State University. He served as a Trustee of the Ohio Museums Association from 1993 to 1995. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums from 1997 to 2005, and was President of this Association from 2002-2003.

Lawson is a graduate of the Leadership Mahoning Valley community leadership program. His community service also includes the Board of Trustees for First Night Youngstown, and annual alcohol-free, family oriented New Year’s Eve event in downtown, the Board of Trustees of Wick Neighbors, Inc., a non-profit development corporation spearheading new development initiatives in the Wick Avenue cultural district and Smoky Hollow neighborhood, working as a volunteer youth minister at his parish, St. Patrick Church of Youngstown, and involvement in the Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods (ACTION), a faith-based community organizing initiative. He has two children and lives in Youngstown.

The Mahoning Valley Historical Society educates and promotes an interest in the history of the Mahoning Valley by collecting, preserving, and developing material representative of the people who have inhabited the region.

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