MANSFIELD — The new Women in Industry exhibit at the North Central Ohio Industrial Museum celebrates trailblazing women who powered industry and households.
“Those women were the future and impressive,” said Cathy Goldman, daughter of JoAnn Dutton, founder of the Tribute to Women in Industry. “They were in a male-dominated time.”
The TWIN Award, presented to women who have made significant contributions to the industry, is highlighted in the exhibit.
The Women in Industry exhibit is part of the NCOIM, located inside the Ohio State Reformatory.
JoAnn Dutton established the TWIN Award in 1985. The award celebrated women who rose to leadership positions in business, industry, education, social services and nonprofit work. It recognized their professional impact, community contributions and the companies that created equal opportunities for women to excel.
Dutton, who served as executive director of the Young Women’s Christian Association, was seeking more funding for her initiatives. Goldman said in those days, women didn’t have the same access to corporate donations as men.
“You could only do so many bake sales,” Goldman said.
The TWIN Awards quickly gained recognition in the corporate world, showcasing women’s success in the industry.
Goldman said the award began as a way to identify women in the industry and highlight leaders or up-and-coming women.
She said her own experience related when she was returning home in 1981. After earning her law degree, she said she noticed she was the only female attorney in the area.
While the TWIN Award is no longer presented, the ATHENA Award hosted by the Richland Area Chamber took its place in 2016.
The Athena Leadership Award honors women who excel in business and the professional community. The recipients are women who offer endless support, demonstrate excellence in their fields and provide valuable service to their profession and community.
The Women in Industry exhibit not only reflects on women’s influence in manufacturing, but also sets the stage for a national Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame, which is currently in development at the museum.
Whether working outside the home or selling products, the display illustrates how women consistently supported their families while fueling economic growth.
The exhibit emphasizes their impact during wartime. When men left factory jobs to serve in the military during the First World War, women stepped into those positions, keeping production moving forward.
The exhibit states how the Industrial Revolution provided women with gainful employment in factory settings with better wages and steady employment.
This led to employers recognizing the dependability and work ethic of women in the workforce.
Looking ahead, NCOIM plans to serve as the home of the national Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame, further cementing its role in honoring the achievements and influence of women in industry.
Museum helps visitors travel through time
The museum takes guests on a journey through more than 150 years of innovation, showing how advancements in product design and labor relations help improve American living standards.
The museum emphasizes that the industry continues to thrive in the region because of the groundwork laid by earlier generations.
Throughout the exhibit, visitors can encounter familiar names such as Gorman-Rupp, Mansfield Plating Company and Westinghouse. Each display explains how these companies helped shape the industry and strengthen the local economy.
One section highlights Mansfield Plating Company’s growth, including its 1939 move to the heart of the city’s industrial district beside the railroad tracks.
Another display focuses on the age of electricity, showing a photo of Main Street in 1898. The exhibit notes that Mansfield had an electric streetcar line as early as 1887. The display states that during that time, many people were wary of this invention.
More exhibits planned at museum
Since its opening, the museum has drawn between 30,000 and 35,000 visitors annually. Its success is fueled by hundreds of donors, including the Richland County Foundation, the Higher Foundation, the Connor Foundation and many more, NCOIM President Jerry Miller said.
Miller said the team plans to add four more indoor exhibits within the next year, continuing the mission to connect Mansfield’s industrial past with its future.
Part of this includes developing a Hall of Fame display, which will honor past and present leaders of North Central Ohio’s industrial legacy.
(Pictures from the NCOIM museum. Picture credit: Hannah Martin)
