Toledo Library Observes Presidents Day
(Released February 15, 2012) – The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library will observe the Presidents’ Day holiday with a special exhibit titled, Press Pass: Photographing Candidates and Presidents visiting Northwest Ohio, a collection of photos and commentary by Tom Waniewski and Jim Nowak. Press Pass is on view now through the end of March 2012. Presidents’ Day is observed this year on Monday, February 20.
The exhibit of about 20 photographs, located in the display windows on the first floor of Main Library’s Central Court, were taken by Tom Waniewski and Jim Nowak. Waniewski, a Toledo City Councilman in District 5, was a former political reporter at WTVG 13abc, where his access to candidates gave him the opportunity to take close pictures of many political leaders before they became United States Presidents.
Waniewski’s long-time friend Jim Nowak, both former University of Toledo students together, also worked at Channel 13 as a camera-operator.
“(Jim Nowak) and I enjoy still photography. . . Jim and I covered many stories together, and he too carried his still camera gear with him on our stories. It allowed us to collect some photos that, 30 years later, are quite historical,” said Waniewski, who approached the Library about debuting the Press Pass exhibit in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The exhibit contains photographs of Jimmy Carter, George H. Bush and George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and current President Barack Obama. Waniewski and Nowak did not photograph Obama during his visit to Main Library in 2008, but it was appropriately included in the Press Pass display in honor of Presidents’ Day.
“It seemed too selfish to keep this brief glimpse of Toledo history sandwiched in photo albums on a shelf in my basement,” explained Waniewski.
Press Release Contact Name: Rhonda Sewell
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 419.259.5381
Organization Name: Toledo Library
Organization Address: Toledo, OH