PRUDDEN FAMILY (1816-1910)

PAPERS, 1836-1839

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SCOPE AND CONTENT

The papers of the Prudden family contain correspondence. Written mostly to George Prudden between 1836 and 1838 from his siblings Nancy and Davis, these letters provide a fascinating and rare view of early daily life, studies, traveling, and socializing in Oberlin, Ohio. Most significant are six letters written by Nancy to her brother George. Written both from Oberlin while she was a student and from her home in Lockport, New York, these letters discuss her loneliness for family and family affairs; her intense pride about the state of religious feelings at Oberlin, including references to the work of Professors Charles Grandison Finney and John P. Morgan; and her views on the literary societies and coeducation. Seven 1836 letters from George and Davis Prudden to their parents are also noteworthy, in that they describe the life of male students in Oberlin. A July 18, 1836, letter reported on jobs both George and Davis held as part of Oberlin's tradition of "learning and labor." George complained of hoeing rows for mulberry trees, while Davis earned five cents an hour to watch cows. Many of these letters were used heavily in Robert Fletcher's 1943 work A History of Oberlin College: From Its Foundation Through the Civil War.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series 1. Correspondence (incoming and outgoing) of George and J. Davis Prudden, 1836-1837 (0.1 linear feet)

Consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence of George and J. Davis Prudden. Most significant here are 22 letters addressed to George dated between 1836 and 1837. In rich detail, fourteen letters (five each from Nancy and Davis, four written together) report on daily life and studies at Oberlin College. Included also are copies seven letters (dated July-October 1836) written by George and Davis while students together at Oberlin College in 1835 to 1836. Correspondence donated to the archives in 1989 (#1989/167) contain transcripts and photocopies. and are arranged chronologically by individual letter. Letters acquired in 1930 by the Oberlin College Library are arranged chronologically in one folder. Transcriptions of these letters, along with the correspondence (copies) from George and Davis to their parents, are in series two.

Series 2. Correspondence (incoming and outgoing) of George Peter and J. Davis Prudden (transcriptions)

This series contains 21 transcripts of incoming and outgoing correspondence of George and Davis Prudden in series one (1). These transcriptions include the eleven manuscript letters (dated 1836-1837) sent to George Prudden from Nancy and Davis, as well as the seven 1836 letters (copies) from George and Davis to their parents in Lockport, New York. In addition, three transcripts (dated April 8-17, 1837, July 4, 1837, and April 22, 1839) are of letters not in the collection. Arranged chronologically.

PROVENANCE

The papers of the Prudden family were acquired in three lots. Eleven letters were donated to the library by Harriet Prudden in 1930. In addition, seven photostats were produced of letters in the possession of Mrs. Lee Allen and deposited in the library. The originals were returned. In 1972, these letters were transfered to the Archives (#166). Twelve additional letters were donated to the Archives (#1989/167) under deed of gift by Prudence H. Lamb.

Further Information

• Title Page
• Biography/Administrative History
• Inventory

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Last updated: 5 November 1997