Memorabilia from the Ohio band DEVO, the latest addition to the Ohio Historical Society collections, is now on display at the Ohio Historical Center through August. Named for the iconic New Wave band’s first album, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are DEVO!, the exhibit includes a small collection of costumes, T-shirts and vintage stickers.

“This collection has strong link to state history,” says Elizabeth Higgins, OHS curator of History. “The band’s musical voice was developed in Ohio and their early career developed here. Four of the remaining members, including lead singer Mark Mothersbaugh, grew up in Akron, and eventually met while attending Kent State University.”

The group’s name is based on the idea that the human race is in a process of devolution, a concept that members first read about in the 1924 pamphlet Jocko Homo Heavenbound. Later editions (2nd -5th) editions of this anti-Darwinism pamphlet were published in Ashtabula, birthplace of Clarence Darrow. A copy of the 5th edition is in the collections of the Ohio Historical Society and is on display with the DEVO Collection.

While DEVO has achieved international fame with popular songs such as Whip It, the band's roots are firmly centered in their home state, Ohio. An annual convention, DEVOtional, is held in Cleveland and draws fans from around the world.

DEVO has released nine albums, received international acclaim and has embedded themselves in the American psyche as a pop-culture icon. The band recently performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and are preparing to release a new album.

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are DEVO! can be seen Thursdays from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Archives-Library. Visit www.ohiohistory.org for more information.