II. Letters

A. Oberlin Students, 1835-1999

(Folders in this group have been individually numbered and chronologically arranged.)

Box 1

Henry O. Brown, 1835-36

Consists of letters (4) of Henry O. Brown (enr. prep 1834-35; enr. College, 1835-36). Three of the letters were written to S.A, Hitchcock of Marshall, Oneida County, New York (4 July 1835; 4 August 1836; 24 September 1836), The fourth letter was addressed to Mr. P.B. Glaven (?) of Langerfield, Oneida County, New York, (3 June 1835). Henry O. Brown wrote about his experience as a student at the Oberlin Collegiate Institute. (originals and photocopies)

Rebecca A. Child, 1836

Letter to her grandmother and aunt telling of her trip from New York to Oberlin and of her illness and medical care for six weeks to the time of her writing on January 6, 1836.

Samuel Sedgwick, 1836

Samuel Sedgwick (A.B. 1840) to Esteemed friend, August 19, 1836. Letter describes his residence of more than a year in Oberlin and teaching in Sullivan in the winter. Photostat and typescript copies, 2 pp.

Ann Eliza Gillett, 1838

Letter from Ann Eliza Gillett (enrolled 1832-42 Oberlin Collegiate Institute, Preparatory Department) to Charlotte E. Fenner, dated 5 January and 15 January 1838. Gillett wrote about her student days at Oberlin, and events near Niagara, New York, in 1838 [4 pages, folded]. Also included is a transcription of the letter [4 pages]. Original stored in 420 A – locked cabinet.

Elizabeth R. Lord, 1839-1900 (2f)

Materials of Mrs. Elizabeth R. Lord, student, 1837-38, 1840-42, and staff member in the Oberlin College Women’s Department, 1884-1900. Consists of seven letters, 1839-1876, and miscellany, including information concerning Alice Welch Cowles, fugitive slaves and the Norton case, 1842, Giles W. Surtleff raising money for salaries, 1876-1881, and the Ladies’ Hall fire, 1886. See list of materials in folder one. [Acc. 80]

Lory Andrew Barnes, 1840 - Oversize Box 1

Letter from Lory Andrews Barnes (enr. 1839-40, 1843-45, Lit. from Keesville, NY; d. Austin, Minnesota, April 20, 1897) to her aunt, Miss Irenah H. Andrews, describing her life in Oberlin. Original encapsulated and accompanied by photocopy. Acc. 1992/34. Gift of Karl Augenbaugh (A.B. 1924)

Rev. William Patterson Russell, 1841

Letter written by Rev. William Patterson Russell (1812-1880) to his brother-in-law Daniel Rockwell (b. ca. 1806) in Saratoga Springs. Dated 10 January 1841. The letter concerns a death in the family and other family matters, and Russell’s work as missionary for the American Missionary Association.

Frances Lord Church, 1841-65, 1890-91, 1943

Records collected by Frances Lord Church (OC 1863). Includes correspondence 1841 (typed copy), 1865, 1943; student expenses 1865, 1890-91; and Spencerian Commercial Institute, 1859.

John Todd, 1842

John Todd, of Oberlin, to Mrs. Margaret Strohm, February 21, 1842. Todd (A.B. 1841, Sem. 1844) writes mainly about the anti-slavery movement and why it must go on, explaining his ideas in passionate terms. ("If to clothe the naked, feed the hungry...and deliver the poor from the hands of the oppressor be 'Conspiracy', I glory in such conspiracy.") Excellent example of the emotion of the issue. Gift of Henry L. Lieske, March, 1981.

Sarah Jane Willard, 1842

Letter from Sarah Jane Willard [Mrs. Sereno Wright Streeter] (enr. 1842-44 lit.) of Oberlin, OH, to her father, John Willard of Wilton, ME, dated 7 July 1842. [Acc. 1993/082]

Charlotte Hickox, 1843

Charlotte Hickox, Oberlin, to "My dear niece," November 12, 1843. Student's letter tells of devoutness of Oberlin, the Graham system for good health, that C. G. Finney is a "harum-scarum fellow," and other information about the school. Original and typed copy plus correspondence with donor.

Lucy Stone, 1846

Copies of items by Stone received from various sources. Includes a composition given before the Ladies Literary Society and several letters.

David Todd, 1846-47, 1864 Reference Use Only – Do Not Copy

Letters between David Todd (oc 1843; d. 1874) and Charlotte Farnsworth (enr. 1846-47; d. 1847). Correspondence concerned classes, family, politics, and Farnsworth’s health. [These are photocopies of letters and transcriptions received from John Hoffman, Illinois Historical Survey, University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The original letters are filed in the Todd-Farnsworth Collection at the University of Illinois.]

John Meyer, 1847

Three letters (copies) written by John Meyer (A.B. 1853) while a student at Oberlin in 1847-48. In a portion of each letter, Meyer relates a bit about the College in a manner that allows his enthusiasm for life to show through. Gift of Charles M. Snyder, 55 Maple Street, Mifflinburg, PA 17844.

Phillips Sisters, 1847-56 (2f)

Phillips sisters: Edith, Hannah, Philena, and Sallie (or Sally) Phillips were enrolled in various departments in Oberlin between 1852 and 1855. Letters written by them from Oberlin, 1851-53, give vivid descriptions of their travels from their home in the East to Oberlin, of their living arrangements in Oberlin, of friends and faculty and student life in Oberlin. A number of letters written by some of them, not from Oberlin, cover dates from 1847 to 1856. There is also a folder of Essays and Orations, dated 1852, 1854, n.d., chiefly by Philena. At least one was spoken before the Ladies Literary Society. A folder of correspondence with Mrs. Pratt, donor of the letters and grand niece of the writers, provides information about the Phillips sisters and their family.

Helen Cook, 1848

Helen Cook (Lit. 1846), Oberlin, to Lucy Stone, October 30, 1848 (photo and typed copies): tells of her troubles with the Principal of the Women's Department, Mary Ann Adams; of her complaint brought before the Faculty, and news of others. A disjointed letter by one not then enrolled. Copied from microfilm Roll 66 of the Blackwell Family Papers, Library of Congress. Gift of Marlene Merrill, 3/14/1984.

John B. Upton., 1851-58

Expense book kept by student John B. Upton, 1851, and seven items mainly regarding his honorable dismissal from Oberlin College, 1852-58. Acc. 1978/4.

W.D. Patterson, 1853

W.D. Patterson (Oberlin) to William Patterson, original handwritten letter, 31 January 1853. Portions of the letter concern John Langston and former slaves boarding at Oberlin.

Edgar Ward, 1853-54

Eleven letters of Edgar Ward (typescript copies), 1853-54, who was probably a student in the Winter School. They describe living at the J. P. Bardwells, Oberlin in general, school work, blacks, and the like. Acc #285.

Sarah M. Merion, 1858-65

Merion Letters, 1858-65. Fifteen letters, written by Sarah Maretta Merion (Mrs. Vincent) and her sisters, Lydia A., Hannah Rebekah, and Mina R., to their family, reporting the trip from home (1858) to Oberlin, studies, living arrangements and regulations; of S.M.V.'s search in 1861 for a teaching position and of her return to school in 1862 in Oberlin and the departure of Oberlin men for military service. She also writes her sisters about fashions in clothing, about illness in Oberlin, and about expenses. The 1865 letter tells of the marriage of "the President and Mrs. Rayle" and of Mrs. Dascomb's disapproval. Six of these letters were received by the College prior to 1967.

Box 2

Thornton B. and Sarah Ingraham Penfield, 1858-1866

Transcriptions of “Letters from Jamaica, 1858-1866: Thornton Bigelow Penfield and Sarah Ingraham Penfield, Missionaries of The American Missionary Association,” compiled by Charles G. Gosselink, October 2004.  (Typescript, 161 pages) [2004/085] Published version, 2005 (225 pages); 2 CD-ROMs [2005/069]

Thornton B. and Charlotte Penfield, 1866-1871

The Missionary’s call: The Correspondence of Thornton and Charlotte Penfield, edited by Susan C. Davis (A paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Kalmazoo College, Winter 1983).  Consists of transcribed letters of Thornton Penfield (Oberlin College, A.B. 1856) and his wife Charlotte, during their missionary work in India from 1866 to 1871 (typescript, 587 pages). Includes acknowledgement and introduction.

“ Fanny,” 1862

“Fanny” to “Dear Sister,” original handwritten letter concerning her sister’s bithday and war news, Oberlin, Ohio, September 10, 1862. [Acc. 1999/100]

George W. Keyes, 1863

George W. Keyes (A.B. 1864) to Friend Clark, August 28, 1863. Keyes arrived here June 1, 1862. He describes the Commencement of 1863; tells of making picture frames for an income and of being a member of a volunteer militia company. ALS and typescript copy.

Ruth and Juliza Taylor, 1863-85

Letters connected with Ruth S. Taylor (1863-66 Prep.) and her sister Juliza E. Taylor (1866-68 Prep.), 1863-85, n.d. (c. 36 items). At least 8 letters were written from Oberlin and tell of family affairs, burials in Westwood Cemetery, and some school matters. The family was from North Rose, N.Y., so most information concerns that area. There are some Civil War related letters, particularly one from Virginia, 7/1/1865. For list see folder. NOTE: Ruth became Mrs. William L. Brown and Juliza Mrs. John Gordon Reed. See RG 28/1 Alumni Files, Boxes 33 and 211 respectively. [Acc. 1978/21]