OBERLIN COLLEGE ARCHIVES

RECORDS, 1959-1999

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SCOPE AND CONTENT

The voluminous files document the full range of archival functions carried out by the staff operating under William E. Bigglestone and Roland M. Baumann, respectively, over more than three decades.

In particular the records handsomely document the acquisition of collections, the nature and level of reference activity, the role played by the unit on the instructional front, and the unit's ongoing struggle for institutional support to keep pace with the growing demands of the campus community for archival services.

The evolution and maturation of the archival program in all of its manifestations is probably as well documented as any among liberal arts colleges.

Associated Materials:

Records of the Office of the Secretary (RG 5); the Records of the Office of the Provost (RG 4); and Papers of Donald M. Love (RG 30/91).

Subgroup I. Files Relating to the Tenure of William Bigglestone, 1959-1988 (9.4 lin. ft.)

Files in subgroup I document archival development and activities during William E. Bigglestone's twenty-year tenure as Archivist. The group contains fifteen record series: 1. Accessions Files; 2. Annual Reports; 3. Appraisal Reports and Records Survey; 4. Budget Files; 5. Committee Files; 6. Correspondence; 7. Energy Conservation Files; 8. Grant Files; 9. Historical Files; 10. Logs; 11. Personnel; 12. Policies and Procedures; 13. Security Files; 14. Special Projects/Outreach; and, 15. User Registration Records.

Series 1. Accession Files, 1966-1986 (0.03 lin. ft.)

One file containing the record of all accessions between 1966-1986 in chronological order. The records consist of the donor's name or originating office and the date of transfer. In addition, the numbering of accessions is done two different ways and is registered by the fiscal year.

Series 2. Annual Reports, 1967-1986 (0.07 lin. ft.)

Includes a file copy of each annual report of the archivist from 1967-1986 directed to the Office of the President.

Series 3. Appraisal Reports and Records Survey, 1966, n.d. (0.1 lin. ft.)

Appraisal reports of the archivist in regards to papers in the Administration Building, Secretary's Office, and History Department.

Series 4. Budget Files, 1966-1988 (0.4 lin. ft.)

Includes budget sheets, monthly expense forms, request for change in appropriation forms, and correspondence from the Controller's Office for the years 1966-1988.

Series 5. Committee Files, 1974-1983 (0.2 lin. ft.)

Consists of documentation relating to the various committees the archivist served on from 1974-1983.

Series 6. Correspondence, 1966-1986 (6.8 lin. ft.)

This series is divided into three subseries: 1. General; 2. Inter-Office; and, 3. Reference (Patron). The reference files contain correspondence from patrons seeking information from the archival holdings in the archives. Inter-office correspondence consists of memoranda from other college offices such as the Provost and the Librarian. General correspondence relates to general topics concerning the development of the archives.

Series 7. Energy Conservation Files, 1976-1982 (0.2 lin. ft.)

These files document the hygrometer readings in the archives. (The hygrometer measures temperature and humidity changes.)

Series 8. Grant Files, 1981-1983 (0.2 lin. ft.)

Business papers relating to Bigglestone's participation on the Ohio Historical Records Preservation Advisory Board.

Series 9. Historical Files, 1959-1986 (0.4 lin. ft.)

Research materials relating to the development of the archives founded in 1966. Included are files covering topics such as Phillip Mason's consultant report of 1962, the move to Mudd in 1974, and the James Anderson report from 1986.

Series 10. Logs, 1974-1987 (0.15 lin. ft.)

Record of Gertrude Jacobs' work of answering inquiries for archival information.

Series 11. Personnel, 1966-1983 (0.2 lin. ft.)

This series is divided into two subseries: 1. Full-Time and 2. Student Help. Issues and information concerning archival employees like Gertrude Jacobs, Marleen Merrill, and Monica Green are documented in this series. Bigglestone's file, however, is not.

Series 12. Policies and Procedures, c. 1970s-1980s (0.05 lin. ft.)

Official policies and procedures of the archives are recorded in this series. Topics include the purpose of the archives, donation policies, grievance procedures, and long range planning.

Series 13. Security Files, 1966-1987 (0.4 lin. ft.)

Contains security copies of the box listings of the collections in the archives and other important descriptive media like the preliminary finding guide.

Series 14. Special Projects/Outreach, c. 1970s-1980s, n.d. (0.15 lin. ft.)

Exhibits, displays, and programs put on by the archives to introduce the public to its holdings and the history of Oberlin, such as the Aluminum Celebration, microfilming projects, and the Silhouette Exhibit.

Series 15. User Registration Records, c. 1980s (0.05 lin. ft.)

Information sheets (3 x 5 cards) completed by patrons who used the archives for research purposes.

Subgroup II. Files Relating to the Tenure of Roland Baumann, 1966-1999 (30.6 lin. ft.)

Files in subgroup II document archival development and activities during the tenure of Roland Baumann, College Archivist. The group contains twenty-four series: 1. Administrative Files Relating to the Reporting Relationship; 2. Accessions and Acquisitions Files; 3. Annual Reports; 4. Budget Files; 5. Committee Files; 6. Continuing Education Workshops Offered By; 7. Contracts, Agreements, Leases Files; 8. Correspondence; 9. Datebooks and Logs; 10. Descriptive Media Related Files; 11. Document Preservation Related Files; 12. Donor Files (cultural gifts & financial); 13. Endowed Program Files; 14. External Support Related Files (incls. Grants); 15. Exhibition Files (various); 16. Historical Files; 17. Personnel; 18. Policies and Procedures Files; 19. Publications and Special Projects; 20. Special Research Patron Files; 21. Publicity and Public Relations Files; 22. Subject Files; 23. User Registration Files; and, 24. Files Relating to Space Management/Planning.

Series 1. Administrative Files Relating to the Reporting Relationship, 1987- (0.6 lin. ft.)

This series is divided into three subseries: 1. To the Office of the Provost; 2. To the Dean's Office of Arts & Sciences; and 3. To Other Senior Staff Offices. These files document the Archivist's role in program development and in constituent building.

Series 2. Accessions and Acquisitions Files, 1987- (2.0 lin. ft.)

This series is divided into four subseries: 1. Accession Registers; 2. Acquisitions Files (Donor Correspondence); 3. Collection Management Projects (Archives); and 4. Collection Management Projects (Rejected). Documented are the collection management efforts of the program over time. The accession sheets (8 1/2 x 11), which record all records transfers to or collections obtained by the archives between 1987-1999, provide annualized snapshots. They are divided by calendar year in separate files. A machine-readable record exists for the years 1993 to present.

Series 3. Annual Reports, 1986- (1.0 lin. ft.)

Contains the file copies of the annual reports from 1986-1999. Not only do the reports focus on the respective functional areas of archival administration, but also chart graphically the growth and use of the holdings.

Series 4. Budget Files, 1986- (2.4 lin. ft.)

Final budget reports for the archives between 1987-1999. Included are budget submissions and the final budget report for each fiscal year.

Series 5. Committee Files, 1985- (0.4 lin. ft.)

Files include agenda and minutes, reports, etc. of committee and staff meetings held or attended by an archival representative(s) including the Archives Advisory Committee.

Series 6. Continuing Education Workshops, Offered by, 1992- (0.8 lin. ft.)

This series is divided into two subseries: 1) Records Management Activities (by office units), and 2) Records Management Activities (campus-wide workshops). Files include records management consultations given to various Oberlin College offices, along with campus-wide workshops given regarding files administration and electronic records management.

Series 7. Contracts, Agreements, Leases Files (0.0 lin. ft.)

Contracts, agreements, etc. for services, facilities and equipment for the College Archives.

Series 8. Correspondence, 1987- (8.8 lin. ft.)

Correspondence is divided into three subseries: 1. Reference (Patron); 2. Inter-Office; and 3. Student Research Related Files. Reference correspondence relates to inquiries made by patrons about information housed in the archives. Inter-office memoranda come from offices throughout the college concerning a variety of topics which relate to the archives.

Series 9. Datebooks and Logs, 1987- (0.8 lin. ft.)

The datebooks list the scheduled appointments of the archivist and the logs document the time spent, largely since 1990, working on archival projects.

Series 10. Descriptive Media Related Files (0.0 lin. ft.)

Security or back-up files of finding aids and other descriptive media which report on the materials in the Oberlin College Archives.

Series 11. Document Preservation Related Files, 1993- (0.2 lin. ft.)

Files related to three preservation projects initiated by the College Archives; including the Westwood Cemetery Map restoration project (1994-1996), the copying of nitrate negatives to safety negatives (1993-1997), and the proposal for the restoration of the First Church architectural plans (1995, not completed).

Series 12. Donor Files (cultural gifts & financial), 1966- (0.2 lin. ft.)

Materials relating to donations and gifts to the archives, both monetary or documentary in form, from 1966 to the present.

Series 13. Endowed Program Files, 1988- (1.2 lin. ft.)

This series is divided into three subseries: 1. Frederick B. Artz Summer Research Program; 2. Gertrude F. Jacob Publication Program; and 3. Oral History Program.

Series 14. External Support Related Files (incls. Grants), 1989-1996 (1.8 lin. ft.)

Concerns grants awarded to and administered by the College Archives.

Series 15. Exhibition Files (various), 1990- (0.4 lin. ft.)

This series is divided into two subseries: 1. Oberlin Related Files, and 2. Non-Oberlin Related Files (loan-outs).

Series 16. Historical Files, 1987- (0.2 lin. ft.)

These files document the work of the Archivist and the archival program over time.

Series 17. Personnel, 1986- (2.6 lin. ft.)

Divided into five subseries: 1. Administrative Files (General); 2. Administrative Employee Files; 3. Internship Program Files; 4. Student Employee Files; and 5. Volunteer Files. Files contain information about people employed, alphabetically arranged. Information concerning participants in the archives internship program most of whom were drawn from library science programs from the Upper Midwest.

Series 18. Policies and Procedures Files (0.0 lin. ft.)

A listing of the current policies and procedures of the archives under Roland Baumann.

Series 19. Publications and Special Projects, 1987- (4.2 lin. ft.)

This series is divided into three subseries: 1. Publications; 2. Special ProjectsãInternal; and 3. Special ProjectsãExternal. Contains drafts of the publication, Guide to the Women's History Sources of the Oberlin College Archives, Guide to the Architectural Records in the Oberlin College Archives, and information on exhibits and displays designed by the archives to advance humanities themes and educate the public as to its holdings.

Series 20. Special Research Patron Files, 1988- (1.4 lin. ft.)

Contains documentation related to extensive scholarly research conducted at the College Archives. Arranged alphabetically by individual.

Series 21. Publicity and Public Relations Files (0.0 lin ft.)

Materials that describe archival services and programs. Includes brochures, leaflets, newspaper clippings and other related records. Letters of appreciation or public relations purposes also comprise this series.

Series 22. Subject Files, 1987- (0.4 lin. ft.)

Files are alphabetically arranged.

Series 23. User Registration Files, 1987- (1.0 lin. ft.)

Information sheets filled out by patrons using the archives to register their visit.

Series 24. Files Relating to Space Management/Planning, 1987- (0.2 lin. Ft.)

Materials concerning utilization of the Oberlin College Archives space, including shelving, space design and layout, and records storage options (external). Detailed information on the four-phased project to install compact mobile shelving within the College Archives is also included.

 

Further Information

• Title Page
• Biography/Administrative History
• Inventory

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Last updated: 21 May 1999