RECORDS, 1903-1994
The records of the Office of Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences date from the inception of the position in 1903, and document divisional activities over the next eight decades. The bulk of the records represent the time period 1950-1975. Except for a significant documentation gap during the tenure of Dean Wittke (1937-48), the divisional files are essentially complete and offer a rich picture of the evolving role of the Dean as the chief academic officer for the College of Arts and Sciences. Valuable insight into the operation and administration of the largest single unit of Oberlin College is made possible through the historical perspective of the documentation which underscores the increasingly complex nature of higher education. The records reflect the wide ranging areas of responsibility held by the Dean, namely faculty recruitment, personnel evaluations, curriculum changes, College governance, and remaining abreast of matters affecting the academic affairs of the College of Arts and Sciences.
The records are particularly useful in terms of illuminating the struggle of the faculty to sustain participation in the government of the College. The relatively complete files of governmental bodies and committees attest to the uniquely democratic system of faculty governance at Oberlin. Particularly rich are the minutes of the College Faculty and College Faculty Council (CFC). Reporting relationships are highlighted in the files of communication between the Dean and the President, and the Dean and the Arts and Sciences Faculty.
The extensive personnel records highlight the efforts to achieve diversity through the recruitment and retention of women and minority faculty members. Increased academic specialization is evident in the personnel records, particularly in the recruitment files and records generated in leave and tenure decisions. The competition among colleges and universities to hire young and talented faculty members can also be assessed from the available documentation.
The College's response to increasing student pluralism are evident in the changes and innovations in the curriculum in general, and in course offerings in particular. These curricular changes are present in the records of academic departments and programs as well as from the committees responsible for educational policy, such as the Educational Plans and Policies Committee (EPPC). The records chronicle the rise of new sciences and cross-disciplinary studies. Changing student demographics and interests are evidenced in the development of new programs and areas of academic study. The restructuring of graduation requirements to allow students greater flexibility further illustrate this point.
This collection, which includes minutes, correspondence, annual reports, budgetary and fiscal data, personnel files and general files, is arranged in terms of a general functional analysis. The record group is organized into eight subgroups indicative of areas of responsibility and administrative functions. The subgroups are: I. Administrative Records of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (Governance Files); II. Administrative Records of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (General); III. Personnel Records; IV. College of Arts and Science Academic Programs; V. Committee Files; VI. Fellowships, Foundations, and Grants; VII. Organizations and Associations (External); and VIII. Student Academic Affairs.
The first two subgroups reflect the Dean's main areas of administration, the governance of the College, and the more general activity of supervising the division of the College of Arts and Sciences as a whole. The files of the various governing bodies indicate the hierarchy in place at Oberlin College. The records of the governing bodies contain minutes, agendas, memoranda, and background material relating to the operation and function of the faculties and councils as well as the Board of Trustees.
Subgroup II consists of records illustrating the daily administration of the College of Arts and Sciences. Organized into eight series, the subgroup contains correspondence, files of other administrative offices, budgetary and fiscal records and general and subject files. These records offer further evidence of the wide supervisory scope exercised by the Office of the Dean. Correspondence found in this subgroup consists of correspondence files separately maintained from the general correspondence. (The latter is dispersed throughout the record group as part of the general filing system maintained by the Dean's Office staff). The separately maintained correspondence consists of incoming and outgoing letters to students, parents, faculty members, and other colleges and agencies.
The Dean's responsibility for the teaching faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences is evident in the personnel records which comprise the third subgroup. In particular, these records document the Dean's role in recruiting candidates, recommending faculty reappointments, tenure decisions, and advances in rank and salary. The subgroup's ten series include files on labor, academic leaves, tenure decisions, and equal employment opportunity cases. Archived files of inactive personnel highlight the Dean's activity in personnel matters. These files, which contain records of date of appointment, promotion, record of salary, and other related documents and memoranda, are a rich source for measuring the high caliber of Oberlin's professorate.
The fourth subgroup and the remaining subgroups are organized on the basis of particular functions performed by the Dean's Office. In subgroup IV, consisting of records of the various academic departments and programs administered under the College of Arts and Sciences, are located the files of both current and defunct departments and programs. This record offers valuable documentation on the ever-changing curriculum. The proliferation of off-campus programs provides testimony to the efforts of the College to tailor the curriculum to meet student needs. Program review records and visiting committee reports offer internal and external evaluations of departments and programs within the College of Arts and Sciences. These files are particularly valuable in assessing goals and priorities in the curriculum.
Committee files further illuminate the democratization of faculty participation at Oberlin. Comprised of three series representing College Faculty committees, General Faculty committees, and administrative and special committees, these files report on the thoroughness with which problems facing the College were addressed and solutions advanced. Committee records reflect the governance and decision making process within the College, particularly the Educational Plans and Policy Committee (EPPC) and the defunct College Planning Committee. Many of these committees supplement the records found in the Faculty and Council records in subgroup I.
Documentation found in the subgroup Fellowships, Foundations and Grants details the rise of outside funding to support a more specialized curriculum which occurred in the years following World War II. Among these records are proposals for research, curriculum revision or innovation, and support for new programs. Characteristic of these records are the files relating to the National Science Foundation's support to purchase the first computer (An IBM 1600 computer in 1964). Other programs which resulted as a direct outcome of funding include East Asian Studies, and the now defunct Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program. The records, which reflect the College's grantsmanship, are arranged in three series: Fellowships, Foundations, and Grants and Granting Agencies.
Records of External Organizations and Associations attest to the numerous special interest groups and profession organizations to which the College holds a membership or has an interest in. The bulk of this subgroup is comprised of records of the Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA) which is a consortium of liberal arts colleges in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. Records of the GLCA are indicative of cooperative ventures resulting in greater opportunity for off-campus study. The GLCA files also offer a ruler with which to measure Oberlin in comparison to other colleges.
The final subgroup reports the Dean's involvement with student academic affairs. What began as simple supervision of academic performance grew to encompass the separate offices of Developmental Services and Student Academic Affairs. The records found here represent only a small portion of the responsibility held by the Dean's Office for monitoring program houses, off-campus study (Study Away) and academic advising. Early records include lists of students on academic suspension or probation. The files of the Board of Advisors represent one of the first attempts to provide academic advising to incoming students. Later records reflect the participation of students in campus decision making processes.
The Records are arranged in the following subgroups and series:
Subgroup I. Administrative Records of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (Governance Files) Series 1. Board of Trustees Series 2. President's Council (Cabinet) Series 3. College Faculty Council (CFC) Series 4. College Faculty Series 5. General Faculty Council Series 6. General Faculty Subgroup II. Administrative Records of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (General) Series 1. Annual Reports Series 2. Budgetary and Fiscal Records Series 3. Correspondence Series 4. Files of Other Administrative Units Series 5. General File Series 6. State Approving Agencies Series 7. Publications File Series 8. Subject Files Subgroup III. Personnel Records Series 1. Faculty Recruitment Files Series 2. Faculty Research Status and Leaves Series 3. Faculty Reappointment and Tenure Records Series 4. Faculty Salaries and Benefits Series 5. Faculty Topical Files Series 6. Organized Employee Groups Series 7. Administrative and Professional Staff Series 8. Searches (Faculty and Staff) Series 9. Equal Employment Opportunity Cases Series 10. Inactive Personnel Files Series 11. Inactive Personnel Files, Accretion [1999/56] Subgroup IV. College of Arts and Sciences Academic Departments and Programs Series 1. Academic Departments Series 2. Academic Programs Series 3. Program Review Files Series 4. Visiting Committees (External Reviews) Series 5. Graduate Study Subgroup V. Committee Files Series 1. College Faculty Committees Series 2. General Faculty Committees Series 3. Administrative and Other Committees Subgroup VI. Fellowships, Foundations and Grants Series 1. Fellowships Series 2. Foundations Series 3. Grants and Granting Agencies Series 4. Files Relating to the Sloan Foundation Subgroup VII. Organizations and Associations (External) Series 1. Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA) Series 2. Other National, State and Regional Organizations Subgroup VIII. Student Academic Affairs Series 1. Academic Advising Series 2. Dormitories and Program Houses Series 3. Study Away/Off-Campus Study Series 4. Topical File Series 5. Student Appeals Files*See also 2000/010 for agendas, meeting minutes, reports, and supporting documents concerning the College Faculty Council, 1975-90; and Department and Program files, Art Dept - Women's Studies, 1974-93. See also 2000/035 for Dean's Office minutes, correspondence, and supporting documents of CFC, 1984-90; and salary committee minutes correspondence and reports, 1989-91. See also 2000/083 for Dean's Office budgets, correspondence, faculty/staff search and promotion files, various committee minutes, and various subject files.
Subgroup I. Administrative Records of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (Governance Files), 1948-81 (8.25 lin. ft)
Consisting of six series, this subgroup reflects the administrative governance of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The series are comprised of records from the governmental bodies on which the Dean serves or reports to. The Dean serves as executive officer and vice-chairman for divisional faculty. Largely consisting of minutes, agendas, and supporting documentation, the subgroup reveals the reporting relationship of the Dean as well as the Dean's administrative oversight for the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences. The series are: 1. Board of Trustees; 2. President's Council; 3. College Faculty Council; 4. College Faculty; 5. General Faculty Council; and 6. General Faculty.
Consisting of the Dean's administrative records relating to actions with the Board of Trustees (e.g., divisional policies, appointments and promotions), the documentation in this series includes memoranda, meeting agendas, personnel actions, and background material pertinent to the Board of Trustees meetings. The records are chronologically arranged.
Series 2. President's Council, 1966-75, (0.2 linear feet)
Consisting of the Dean's files relating to business conducted by the President's Council, topics covered include personnel issues, enrollment planning, College-town relations, goals and objectives, and long range planning. Records consist of meeting agendas, memoranda, and records from Council retreats. The files are arranged chronologically.
Series 3. College Faculty Council (CFC), 1948-82, (3.75 lin. ft.)
The Dean, along with the College President, are ex-officio members of the College Faculty Council. (The executive governing body of the College Faculty includes eight other members elected at large from the Arts and Science Faculty). Established in 1949, following an administrative reorganization, the CFC is an outgrowth of the Appointments and Budget Committee. (for records, see Subgroup IV. Committee Files). The records series documents the Dean's administrative function as chairman for this executive body, which is subordinate to the General Faculty Council and General Faculty, respectively. As chairman, the Dean prepares the agenda, initiates most actions, collects and prepares background information on personnel and policies to be considered, takes the minutes of Council actions, and carries out policies of the Council. Files include the minutes of CFC both the official indexed copy as well as the handwritten notes, and background material used to compile the minutes. The CFC minutes are the only minutes not taken by the College Secretary, although a copy of the minutes is filed in the Office of the Secretary. Additional files consist of agendas, actions, and background material collected by the Dean. The records are organized in six subseries moving from most specific (minutes) to least specific (background material). The subseries are: 1. Minutes (loose); 2. Minutes (bound and indexed); 3. Minutes (rough draft and notes); 4. CFC Actions; 5. CFC Agendas; and 6. CFC Backup. Additional records pertinent to personnel decisions may be found in Subgroup VII. Personnel Records.
Series 4. College Faculty, 1948-80, (0.6 linear feet)
Membership in this divisional faculty body includes all persons holding an appointment in the College of Arts and Sciences--instructors through full professors. Lecturers are observers but do not vote. The President and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences are permanent chairman and vice-chairman, respectively. The College Faculty is subordinate to the General Faculty Council and General Faculty. The records in this series consist of minutes and supporting documentation. The minutes date from 1948 to 1980, although several significant gaps appear in the minutes, most notably between 1970 and 1972. The minutes are arranged chronologically. The minutes of the College Faculty are taken and retained by the Office of the Secretary. For records of the numerous College Faculty committees, see Subgroup IV. Committee Files, Series 1. College Faculty Committees.
Series 5. General Faculty Council (GFC), 1949-80, (1.0 lin. ft)
The General Faculty Council, the executive committee of the General Faculty, consists of the President, Vice-President and Provost, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dean of the Conservatory, and six elected members. The GFC, an outgrowth of the General Appointments and Budget Committee, was established in 1949 following an administrative reorganization. The records are organized into three subseries: 1. Minutes; 2. Agendas; and 3. Backup. Each of the subseries is arranged chronologically. The original minutes are taken and retained by the Office of the Secretary.
Series 6. General Faculty, 1949-71, (0.2 linear feet)
The General Faculty, which is comprised of all voting members of the teaching staff and select administrators, is entrusted with the management of internal affairs of the College, but must obtain the concurrence of the Trustees in order to introduce any important change affecting the established methods or principles of administration. The President is permanent chairman; an elected vice-chairman is customarily one of the Deans. The documentation within this series consists of the Dean's copy of minutes and supporting documentation. The official set of General Faculty minutes are retained by the Office of the Secretary. The minutes, 1949-71, are arranged chronologically by year. Coverage is relatively complete although some minutes appear to be missing. Additional documentation may be found in Subgroup IV. Committee Files, Series 2. General Faculty Committees.
Subgroup II documents the Dean's functional responsibilities as the chief academic officer of the College of Arts and Sciences. The divisional responsibilities as outlined here constitute the day to day administrative areas of responsibilities apart from the governance chronicled in subgroup I. Included in this subgroup are records series relating to the budget for the Arts and Sciences as a whole and the Dean's Office. Among the substantial correspondence files is to be found correspondence with students, departmental chairmen and directors, and external persons and entities. Records of certification agencies and subject files round out the subgroup. The series are: 1. Annual Reports; 2. Budgetary and Fiscal Records; 3. Correspondence; 4. Files of Other Administrative Units; 5. General File; 6. State Approving Agencies; 7. Publications File; and 8. Subject Files.
Included here are annual reports both received and reported by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The Dean's annual reports to the President are extant from 1953 to 1980, although the run is incomplete. Annual reports from the Assistant and Associate Deans to the Dean are to be found here as are annual reports submitted to the Dean from Department Chairmen and Program Directors between 1971 and 1980, although these again appear to be incomplete. The series is arranged into three subseries indicative of the source of the reports: 1. Annual Reports to the President; 2. Annual Reports of Assistant and Associate Deans; and 3. Annual Reports Received (Chairmen and Directors). The reports are arranged chronologically within the subseries.
Series 2. Budgetary and Fiscal Records, 1930-80 (1.0 lin. ft)
Although far from complete, this records series documents the dual budgetary areas in which the Dean exerts supervision; the Arts and Sciences budget and the internal budget for the Dean's Office. College-wide budgetary records offer only a glimpse into the workings of the budgetary process. Files exist from 1930-49, and from 1975-80. The records between 1950 and 1975 have apparently been destroyed, although much of this information is available in the records in the Office of the Comptroller. Likewise, the Dean's Office budget is only partially represented in the extant records, covering the years 1935-58, and 1976-79. The series is divided into two subseries: 1. College-wide Budget and 2. Dean's Office Budget.
Series 3. Correspondence, 1914-81 (10.80 linear feet)
The Dean's correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, is largely filed according to a general filing scheme; thus, correspondence is filed throughout the various series of the record group. The correspondence represented here, however, consists of significant bodies of correspondence maintained separately from the general files. Nearly half of the correspondence documents the tenure of Dean C.N. Cole from 1914 to 1935. Cole's correspondence, consisting of over 4.0 linear feet, is arranged alphabetically and includes correspondence with faculty members, students, parents, and other colleges. The most voluminous correspondence is with faculty members and much of this deals with their employment; most student and parent correspondence is about disciplinary problems. Among Cole's more significant correspondents are: Dan F. Bradley (1857-1939); Walter G. Fiske (1872-1945); Florence Fitch (1875-1951); Robert S. Fletcher (1900-59); Karl F. Geiser (1869-1951); Charles Martin Hall (1863-1914); Harry N. Holmes (1879-1958); William James Hutchins (1871-1958); Henry Churchill King (1858-1934); Fred E. Leonard (1866-1922); Gertrude Moulton (1880-1964); Lloyd W. Taylor (1893-1948); Mary Church Terrell (1863-1954); and Ernest Hatch Wilkins (1880-1966).
The files were weeded of requests for transcripts and of routine letters of recommendation, and correspondence of persons applying for faculty positions who were not hired. Correspondence with students from 1937 to 1965 is arranged in two separate alphabetical runs. The bulk of this correspondence concerns poor academic work, student placement and recommendations (e.g., Nancy Hays Teeters (b. 1930, A.B. 1952). Correspondence between the Dean and departmental chairmen and program directors constitutes a significant and growing subseries. The series is arranged in three subseries: 1. Chairman and Program Directors Correspondence; 2. Correspondence of Dean C.N. Cole; and 3. Student Correspondence. A chronological correspondence file is maintained by the Dean, but presently is being destroyed by the Dean's Office according to an internal schedule.
Series 4. Files of Other Administrative Units, 1931-87 (2.30 l.f.)
These files, which represent general informational files maintained by the Dean's Office, report on the programming and operations of various administrative entities throughout the College. Most of these offices and units perform an integral support function germane to the College of Arts and Sciences. The series is arrange alphabetically by title of the office or unit. Stenographic services, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Dean's supervision, is included here.
Series 5. General File, 1835-92 (20.0 linear feet)
The general file is an alphabetical file consisting primarily of correspondence. Illustrative of the filing system employed within the Dean's Office, these files, consist of alphabetical folders A to Z, which were at the beginning of each letter of the overall general file. (For example, the A file began A-General, thus the A-General folder will be found here). No attempt was made to reorganize this material, which delves into numerous different categories and dates from 1935.
Subseries 2. General File A-Z, 1858-92 [1999/062]
See detailed inventory.
Series 6. State Approving Agencies, 1926-80 (0.2 linear ft)
Included here are the files of the State of Ohio Department of Education, 1926-40, 1962-63, and the Veteran's Administration, each of which served as a State approving agency in 1944-45, and 1976-80 respectively. Although these files reveal little about the institution, they do serve to document the efforts required for state certification.
Series 7. Publications File, 1907-71 (1.25 linear feet)
The publications series is comprised of announcements of courses for the College of Arts and Sciences. These catalogs date from 1907/08 to 1970/71. The catalogs offer insight into the curriculum and the workings of the College of Arts and Sciences. The publications are arranged chronologically.
Series 8. Subject Files, 1909-81 (4.60 linear feet)
The final series within the Administrative subgroup, consists of an alphabetical subject file. The subject files illustrate the broad range of administrative functions performed by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The subjects include issues such as academic freedom, the Buckley Amendment, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Equal Rights Amendment, and issues as mundane as parking violations. The majority of the subject files are from 1950 and later. Files relating to campus buildings and other colleges are located here along with records of various studies undertaken by Oberlin College or pertaining to Oberlin College.
As the chief academic officer of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Dean is responsible for personnel and personnel policies of the College faculty. The Dean's activities include recruiting able candidates for faculty positions, and recommending new appointments to the faculty. The ten series in this subgroup reflect the Dean's responsibilities in personnel matters. The ten series are: 1. Faculty Recruitment Files; 2. Faculty Research Status and Leaves; 3. Faculty Reappointment and Tenure Records; 4. Faculty salaries and Benefits; 5. Faculty Topical Files; 6. Organized Employee Groups; 7. Professional and Administrative Staff; 8. Searches (Faculty and Staff); 9. Equal Employment Opportunity Cases; and 10. Inactive Faculty Files. The series organization is intended to characterize the general hierarchical relationship among the series within the subgroup.
Faculty recruitment files document the Dean's functions in terms of recruiting candidates for faculty positions, and recommending new appointments to the faculty. Consisting of general files documenting issues of recruiting and retention, this records series largely supplements the more specific documentation found within the College Faculty and College Faculty Council records. Arranged alphabetically.
Series 2. Faculty Research Status and Leaves, 1949-81 (0.80 linear feet)
Files relate to the Dean's responsibility to collect information and make recommendations on faculty sabbatical leaves, and requests for research status. Research status afforded primarily concerns members of the hard sciences who are relieved of their teaching obligations in order to pursue scientific research for a semester or academic year. The records augment the documentation to be found in the College Faculty Council records. Records are arranged alphabetically within two subseries: 1. Academic Leaves, and 2. Research Status.
Series 3. Faculty Reappointment and Tenure Records, 1954-80 (0.40 lin. ft)
Reappointment and tenure records embody one of the Dean's main areas of responsibility, mainly collecting information from departmental chairmen and program directors regarding tenure decisions, advancement in rank, and reappointment. Documentation consists of yearly appraisal forms from departmental chairmen for each person to be considered for advancement or reappointment, and records of past actions. These records are an extension of the activity of the College Faculty Council which participates in the review process. Records are arranged alphabetically. Access to these files is RESTRICTED and requires the permission of the Archivist.
Series 4. Faculty Salaries and Benefits, 1903-87 (1.70 l.f.)
Documented within this records series are records of faculty salaries from 1916-35, and 1974-80. Included with the salaries are files on related benefits, including pensions, tuition remission and unemployment compensation. The records are arranged with salary records (arranged chronologically) coming first, followed by the various benefits (arranged alphabetically).
Series 5. Faculty Topical Files, 1944-80 (1.25 linear feet)
This series, which is comprised of topical files pertaining primarily to faculty and personnel matters, includes a study of the baccalaureate origins of Oberlin's faculty c. 1955, faculty development, retirement, and selective service status of faculty members during World War II. The files are arranged alphabetically.
Series 6. Organized Employee Groups, 1941-82 (0.60 lin. ft)
Records of organized labor at Oberlin characterize the degree to which the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences is involved in personnel issues within the college community. Records of labor and unions document various unions which have flourished at Oberlin along with periodic attempts by the faculty to unionize. Alphabetically arranged.
Series 7. Administrative and Professional Staff, 1966-80 (0.60 linear feet)
Records in this series pertain to administrative and professional staff issues dealt with by the Dean's Office. Included are classifications of administrative and professional staff members, the status of curators and librarians, and evaluations of administrative staff in the Dean's Office. The files also are indicative of several of the Dean's functions regarding personnel, such as assisting new faculty with housing, and distributing the faculty guidebook and regulations.
Series 8. Search Files, 1966-84 (0.80 linear feet)
These files represent the Dean's records of various administrative and faculty searches, ranging from the search for an athletic director (1974) to presidential searches (1970, 1973-74). The files primarily consist of correspondence and evaluations of potential candidates. The Dean's Office holds the responsibility of arranging appointments for candidates with members of the College Faculty Council, including lodging and transportation. Additionally, files contain reimbursement forms relating to candidate expenses. The records are arranged alphabetically by search title.
Series 9. Equal Employment Opportunity Cases, 1974-78 (1.25 linear feet)
Mainly consisting of documentation generated by faculty members whom filed appeals regarding tenure and reappointment considerations, this records series contains files from judicial panel cases and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. These sensitive files include correspondence, memoranda, and testimony regarding decisions not to grant tenure or reappointment. Records are arranged alphabetically by case. Access to these records is RESTRICTED and requires the permission of the Archivist.
Series 10. Inactive Faculty Files, 1935-85 (23.75 lin. ft.)
Personnel files of individuals who have left the employ of Oberlin College prior to 1980 comprise this series, although some files of personnel who left as late as 1985 are included. Dating mostly from the 1950s and 1960s, the files include records of initial appointment, promotion and tenure actions as well as salary records. Correspondence regarding departmental affairs is often to be found in this series. The records are arranged alphabetically. Active personnel files are maintained by the Dean's Office.
Series 11. Inactive Personnel Files Accretion, 1958-1994 [1999/56]
Personnel files, primarily faculty members, who were employed by Oberlin from 1958 to 1994. The bulk of the appointments/departures are dated in the 1970s-1980s. Their accretion was filed in a separate series in the collection to maintain its integrity.
Academic Departments and Academic programs represent the essence of the Dean's oversight, supervising educational policy and curriculum. As the chief academic officer in the College of Arts and Sciences the Dean supervises the faculty as well as the departments and programs. In conjunction with chairmen and directors, the Dean works out budgets, personnel issues, and matters that affect the academic affairs of the College. The records within this subgroup document the academic departments and programs under the administrative umbrella of the Dean. Included within this context are files relating to graduate study at Oberlin, another area in which the Dean has administrative oversight. Academic programs includes both on-campus and off-programs. The subgroup is organized around five series: 1. Academic Departments; 2. Academic Programs; 3. Program Review Records; 4. Visiting Committees (External Reviews); and 5. Graduate Study.
The series academic departments is comprised of departmental files arranged alphabetically by department title. Documentation includes requests for additional staffing, leave and sabbatical requests, curricular development and course offerings, budgetary allocations, and reviews of programs. The bulk of the material are from 1965-75, although material as early as 1928 and as late as 1980 are present.
Series 2. Academic Programs, 1935-80 (12.90 linear feet)
Records of academic programs contain similar documentation to that found in Series 1. Academic Departments. Academic programs are further subdivided into three subseries: 1. Campus Programs; 2. Off-campus Programs; and 3. Summer Programs. Campus programs contain records of current and non-current programs. Among the current programs are Creative Writing, East Asian Studies, and Women's Studies. Non-current programs include the Peace Corps, Navy V-12 program, and Public Service Studies Program. Off-campus programs files are diverse, highlighting the wide ranging exchange and foreign semester programs. Additional off-campus program files may be found in Subgroup VI. under GLCA. Summer programs reflect the numerous although now mostly defunct summer programs offered by or through Oberlin College.
Series 3. Program Review Records, 1968-87 (3.75 linear feet)
Mainly files generated during program reviews conducted by the Educational Plans and Policies Committee (EPPC), the review files contain written statements from chairmen and directors, lists of curricular changes, statements of departmental or programmatic objectives, and assessments of the effectiveness of the program or department. The files are maintained alphabetically by department name or program name beginning with the African-American Community and Student Development Program (AACSDP), subsequently renamed as Black Studies, and culminating with Theater and Dance. These program reviews offer a rich source of departmental history and change over time. For additional context, the research is also advised to consult the EPPC files in Subgroup IV. Committee Files. See also accession 1999/56 and 2000/10.
Series 4. Visiting Committees, 1968-77 (0.80 linear feet)
Similar in scope and coverage to the records found in Series 6. Program Review Records, the records of visiting committees provide another rich source of departmental and program history. Visiting committees, comprised of external reviewers, study particular departments and programs and offer a critique of strengths and weaknesses, along with suggestions for new directions. The material submitted to the visiting committees consists of comprehensive narrative and statistical reports compiled by the chairman or director. The visiting committees final reports are particularly revealing in terms of evaluating departmental and programmatic effectiveness.
Series 5. Graduate Study, 1924-80 (1.25 linear feet)
Records of graduate study include records detailing the numerous Masters programs offered at Oberlin College. The bulk of the records relate to the Master of Arts in Teaching program (MAT) established in 1960, but included are general files on graduate study and graduate students. Noticeably lacking are records of other M.A. programs throughout the College. The scope of graduate study has been greatly curtailed by the closing of the Graduate School of Theology in 1965, and the dissolution of the Department of Education and its MAT program.
Contains committee records of the College Faculty, General Faculty, as well as administrative and special committees. While the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences did not directly serve on many of the committees represented here, the work of the committees influenced policies and procedures or provided useful background for other administrative issues. Among the committees directly served by the Dean are: Affirmative Action Advisory Committee, Honorary Degrees Committee, Committee on Nominations of General Faculty, Educational Plans and Policies Committee, Winter Term Committee and various ad hoc committees. Generally the documentation is comprised of minutes, memoranda and correspondence, reports, and background material. The subgroup is arranged in three series: 1. College Faculty Committees; 2. General Faculty Committees; and 3. Administrative and Other Committees.
The bulk of the Dean's committee work, which is devoted to committees of the College Faculty, represents the committees appointed by or supervised by either the College Faculty or the College Faculty Council. The committees are arranged alphabetically, and include several key committees; among them is the Appointments and Budget Committee, which was the precursor of the present Faculty Councils. Other significant committees are the Educational Plans and Policies Committee (EPPC) and its predecessor, the Educational Policy Committee (EPC), which was abolished in 1962. The EPPC files include records of joint meetings with the College Faculty Council. The bulk of the committees date from the period 1950-80, although files as early as 1928 are present.
Series 2. General Faculty Committees, 1927-84 (6.70 lin. ft)
Included in this series are records of committees on which the Dean served, the Graduate Study Committee, Honorary Degrees Committee and Long Range Planning Committee. The most significant committee in terms of quantity and coverage is the Winter Term Committee, which is administered by the Dean's Office. Winter Term files date from the inception of Winter Term in 1967 to 1984. Other committee files include the Four-Year Master of Arts Committee, Committee to Review Minority Programs, and Committee on the Status of Women. The committees are alphabetically arranged.
Series 3. Administrative and Other Committees, 1952-83 (2.50 linear feet)
The third series, consisting of committees which have no direct affiliation with either the College Faculty or General Faculty, are classified as administrative and other committees. The majority of these committees are specialized, designed to service a temporary need such as planning the new library or responding to change such as the Affirmative Action Committee. The Affirmative Action Committee is the main administrative committee on which the Dean serves. The committees are alphabetically arranged.
This subgroup consists of the records of sources for financial support in the form of fellowships, foundations, and grants. Administratively the Dean holds responsibility for providing summary reports for several of the foundations and granting agencies which Oberlin relies on for program support. The records contain proposals for new programs and equipment, complete with narrative and budgetary information. The subgroup is organized into three series: 1. Fellowships; 2. Foundations; and 3. Grants and Granting Agencies.
The Graduate Study Committee, which awards graduate scholarships and fellowships (Haskell, Aelioian, and Adelia A. Field Johnston fellowships), is directed by the Dean of Arts and Sciences. In addition to transactional files, the series includes records of curriculum development fellowships awarded to faculty members to enrich course offerings, and to improve instruction.
Series 2. Foundations, 1949-85 (5.40 linear feet)
The Office of the Dean is responsible for annual reports to several foundations from which the College receives financial support. As such, this series includes summary reports as well as background information relating to several foundations, most notably the Dupont Foundation, Carnegie Foundation, and the Ford Foundation. Files of other significant foundations include the National Science Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and the Sloan Foundation. Records are arranged alphabetically.
Series 3. Grants and Granting Agencies, 1949-84 (2.50 lin ft)
Consists of documentation to and from grants and granting agencies which supply funds to Oberlin College. Included is correspondence, proposals, and reports. Among the granting bodies are local and national organization. The McCandless Curriculum grants offer a local source of support for improving instruction. National agencies include the Fulbright, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Health Education and Welfare (Office of Education) grants. Records are arranged alphabetically.
Series 4. Files Relating to the Sloan Foundation, 1973-90 (3.00 lin ft)
Correspondence, meeting minutes, memoranda, name files and other printed matter document the reciept, oversight and use of a Sloan Foundation grant by Oberlin College. Arrangement is alphabetical by folder title. (Acc. 1994/4)
This subgroup is comprised of records of the numerous educational affiliations which are held by Oberlin College. The records consist of both national, state, and regional organizations, associations, and consortiums. The first series, Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA), contains the administrative files of a key regional affiliation. Through joint action among its affiliates, GLCA offers a variety of programs and workshops. The second series includes the records of other national, state, and regional educational affiliations. The record units are arranged alphabetically.
Organized to preserve and strengthen its member institutions as private colleges of liberal arts and sciences, the GLCA seeks, through joint action, to improve programs and instruction among its constituent groups. The series is organized into four subseries: 1. GLCA Dean's Council; 2. GLCA Administrative Files; 3. GLCA Programs; and 4. GLCA Off-campus Programs. The series is arranged alphabetically.
Series 2. Other National, State & Regional Organizations, 1933-88 (2.50 linear feet)
Records in this series include documentation on the numerous professional associations and organizations to which the College holds membership. The Dean's Office is responsible for approving expenditures to sustain membership in these educational affiliations, and maintains many of these files as an administrative function. Arranged alphabetically.
Documenting the activity of the Dean in interpreting College policies to students and providing support for the educational programs, the records contained in this subgroup primarily report on the work of the assistant dean of the College who operates in the arena of student academic advising and off-campus study advising. Material relating to this functional activity (Office of Student Academic Affairs) may also be found in committee files (particularly Winter Term Committee), and in academic programs (off-campus). The subgroup is arranged in four series designed to reflect the main areas of student support: 1. Academic Advising; 2. Dormitories and Program Houses; 3. Study Away/Off-campus Study; and 4. Topical Files.
This series consists of documentation embodying the Dean's Office function of providing academic advising to students. Generally, these records were not received directly from Student Academic Affairs, and therefore offer only a partial representation of the activities performed in this area. The bulk of the records series corresponds to earlier advising arrangements, most notably the Board of Advisors (1937-49), which operated on a committee basis. Documentation includes academic suspension and probation lists (1918-65), and intelligence and psychological test scores (1919-45). The aforementioned records are sensitive, correlating student names with scores and grades, and as such access to these files is RESTRICTED and requires the permission of the Archivist. Advanced placement records exist from 1952 to 1981, when this responsibility was turned over to the Registrar. Alphabetically arranged.
Subseries 2. Individual Interdisciplinary Majorsą Program, 1970-94 (2.00 l.f.)
Series consists of annual reports, committee files, correspondence, course proposals, graduate lists, student withdrawals, and other miscellaneous material. File are arranged alphabetically by folder title, and chronologically thereunder. (Acc. 1996/83)
Series 2. Dormitories and Program Houses, 1917-79 (0.60 l.f.)
Records of dormitories and program houses document another aspect of functional responsibility of the Dean's Office, as outlined in the administrative flow chart. This records series is modest in size, but the files do offer insight into the system of program houses at Oberlin College. Records include reports of house directors. Special note: certain records pertaining to the Hebrew House are located within the Winter Term Committee records, as the Hebrew House was originally conceived as a program house during Winter Term of 1968-69. Records are arranged alphabetically.
Series 3. Study Away/Off-Campus Study, 1970-88 (0.40 l.f.)
This series supplements the extensive records of off-campus programs found in subgroup III, Academic Departments and Programs under the series Programs (Off-campus), and information on off-campus study opportunities found in the subgroup Organizations and Associations (External). The programs offered through the auspices of the Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA) are the most notable. The records mainly record the basic administrative information pertinent to off-campus study. Records include files on student leaves, residency requirement waivers, and off-campus tuition and credit. Records are arranged alphabetically.
Series 4. Topical File, 1912-82 (2.10 linear feet)
This series is comprised of files of a general nature, which pertain to various topics of student life and student academic affairs. Topics include information on minority students, student regulations, student organizations, and student participation in campus decision making processes. Also included are records of the Student Honors' Committee which receives final approval on decisions from the Dean's Office. All records are arranged alphabetically.
Series 5. Student Appeals Files
This series, started under Michael Zimmerman, is currently being processed. No description or listing available.
The records of the Dean's Office of the College of Arts and Sciences were received by the Oberlin College Archives in seventeen separate accessions between 1967 and 1991. Many of the records were transferred from storage facilities in the Cox Administration Building, other records were transferred directly from the Dean's Office. The records pertaining to Dean Carl Wittke were received in 1967, along with the records of his predecessor, Charles Nelson Cole. Inactive faculty records and departmental files were transferred in three large lots in 1969 and 1970. Records preceding 1970 were received in eight accessions between 1971 and 1986, the largest accession totaling 20 linear feet. In 1988, 30 linear feet of records covering the period 1970-79 were received in one lot. Two additional lots of records not received in 1988, were transferred as a result of records management initiatives made during the 1991 processing and rearrangement of the records of the Dean's Office.
| ACC # | Description | Date rec'd | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Dean Wittke Files, 1935-51 | 2/20/1967 | 3.5 lf |
| 12 | C.N. Cole Records, 1914-35 | 7/6/1967 | - |
| 81 | Inactive Faculty Files, & Gen. | 9/4/1969 | 8.0 lf |
| 90 | łOld Files" from Storage | 12/24/1969 | 16.0 lf |
| 93 | Departmental Files | 1/28/1970 | 2.0 lf |
| 141 | Dean of A&S Files | 7/29/1971 | 6.0 lf |
| 169 | Dean of A&S Files | 8/25/1972 | - |
| 205 | Academic Suspension Lists | 7/2/1973 | 0.1 lf |
| 224 | Don Reich EPC Files | 12/17/1973 | - |
| 272 | Inactive Faculty Files | 7/15/1975 | 4.0 lf |
| 1983/12 | Inactive Faculty Files | 5/10/1983 | 20.0 lf |
| 1984/12 | Wm. F. McNaughton Files | 3/30/1984 | 0.4 lf |
| 1986/5 | General Files | 1/13/1986 | 3.0 lf |
| 1988/39 | Women's Studies, 1970s | 6/23/1988 | 3.5 lf |
| 1988/132 | Alphabetical General, 1970-79 | 11/18/1988 | 30.0 lf |
| 1991/149 | Program Review Files, 1960-80 | 10/2/1991 | 3.0 lf |
| 1991/156 | CFC Minutes, 1968/69-75/76 | 11/11/1991 | 0.8 lf |
| 1994/4 | Sloan Foundations Files, 1973-90 | 3.0 lf | |
| 1996/83 | Individual Majors Program Files, 1970-94 | 6/5/1996 | 2.0 lf |
| 1999/56 | Inactive Personnel Files, Program Reviews | 5/26/1999 | 20.0 lf |
| 1999/62 | General Files | 6/4/1999 | 20.0 lf |
| 2000/10 | Faculty Council, Dept. & Program Files | 1/31/2000 | 8.10 lf |
| 2000/35 | Dean of A&S Files | 3/28/2000 | .40 lf |
| 2000/83 | Dean of A&S Files | 9/18/2000 | 22.5 lf |
See "A Changing World, A Changing Curriculum," Oberlin Alumni Magazine, Fall 1998.
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