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I. Genealogical Records/Family Histories, c. 1823-1991
Published and unpublished family histories provide accounts of
the daily lives of families with some connection to Oberlin College
or to the town of Oberlin.
Generally, accounts are recent reminiscences on the part of descendants.
Materials are arranged alphabetically by family name.
II. Letters By Oberlin Students, By Former Staff, and Others
Original manuscript letters and copies of letters written by
Oberlin students to their families and friends. The documents
are arranged
chronologically
in order to provide a consecutive account of student life at Oberlin
from 1836
to ca. 1940. Letters are largely written at the time of a student’s
attendance at Oberlin College, or from the missionary fields of China
(Susan Rowena Bird,
1900), India (Margaret Hammaker, 1925-47, Thornton and Charlotte Penfield,
1866-71) and Japan (Edith E. Husted, 1931-38). Student letters discuss
matters of import
to the writers, such as academic subjects, Bible reading, dress, family
activities, living arrangements, sickness, social events, and weather.
Letters by former Oberlin staff members and the spouses of Oberlin
staff members. Several of the documents were written by former
Oberlin students
from the Civil
War fields of battle (James McCleery, 1861, 1863, 1864; Edward N. Upton,
1864-65; and James D. Cook, 1864-65). A letter by Mrs. Thomas L. Nelson
describes an 1878
lecture-demonstration of the telephone given at Oberlin's First Congregational
Church.
Section C contains letters of individuals with no direct affiliation
with Oberlin. Included here is a letter of John Brown, dated
16 February 1857,
in which he
explains his intentions to his “brother & sister Adair.”
III. Lectures and Addresses
Included are typescript drafts of baccalaureate addresses, speeches,
talks, and other like presentations made at Oberlin College or in the
town of
Oberlin. In
general, these documents relate to some aspect of Oberlin history.
Files are arranged alphabetically by author.
IV. College and Non-College Miscellany
Miscellaneous materials, arranged alphabetically, are subdivided
into "College" and "Non-College" miscellany.
College Miscellany includes items holding some relationship to Oberlin College,
either through their creator or through their subject matter, such as documenting
student-life activities. "Non-college" miscellany includes
materials relating often to the town of Oberlin. For example, the
files of Cassie Chadwick
document the 1904-05 Oberlin National Bank, record scandal, the business
cards of local merchants, and account for the World War II ration
books used by Oberlin
residents. Several files relate to John Frederick Oberlin and the
250th anniversary of his birth. V. Newspapers and Periodicals
Includes originals and copies of newspapers and Periodicals containing
articles about Oberlin. Several miscellaneous papers printed in Oberlin
are included
among these titles. One newspaper, The Ohio Seventh, was published
by Oberlinians in
the 7th Regiment, Ohio Volunteers, at Weston, Virginia. It is in
mint condition. Newspapers and periodicals are separated and files
are arranged
alphabetically
by title and not by place of publication.
VI. Deeds and other legal documents
Deeds and legal documents are filed chronologically. Materials
include deeds of sale, mortgage notes, petitions, and other records
relating
to the early
history of Oberlin College. Included is the original Covenant of
the Oberlin Colony (1833);
the deed of the 1836 sale by which Street and Hughes transferred
property to Oberlin College (Collegiate Institute before 1850; and
a field survey
of Oberlin
(1834).
VII. Writings By Oberlinians
Writings by Oberlinians are divided into published and unpublished
historical materials. The authors are either Oberlin faculty and
staff or Oberlin
students after they have graduated. Classroom papers written by
students are to be
found under Student Papers (19/5). Within each category, writings
are filed alphabetically
by author's surname and is defined as a former Oberlin student,
degree recipient, or Oberlin resident. Writings include articles,
essays,
and plays on numerous
subjects, all of which relate to Oberlin College or the town. The
earliest such piece is an 1855 graduation essay by Mary Lamberton.
VIII. Writings About Oberlin
Writings about Oberlin, written by those without a direct Oberlin
connection, include both published and unpublished articles,
reports, plays, and
several theses and dissertation manuscripts. Topics addressed
include quilting
in Oberlin, orientation days at the college, racial relations
in Oberlin, black
baseball
player Moses Fleetwood Walker, the "Oberlin Settlement" in
Dakota Territory, and the Rev. Potto Brown, an English friend
of Charles Grandison,
Finney. Writings
are arranged alphabetically by author's surname.
IX. Account Books
Account books include examples of financial record keeping. The
subjects of the accounts include daily college expenses of
students, education
expenses compiled
by parents, and family ledgers.
X. Diaries, Scrapbooks, and Albums
Diaries, Scrapbooks and Albums are divided into three subseries.
Autograph Albums include guest books, memory books, and
other albums where the
volume primarily
contained names and/or sayings of contemporary individuals.
Diaries include journals, diaries, and other collections
of written happenings
in the
life of one person.
Scrapbooks include collections of newspaper clippings,
photographs, printed materials, and other mementos relating to
the experiences
of one person
or a group of people.
Many individuals who compiled items in this series have
connections with Oberlin either as students or townspeople. Users
consulting
this series
should also examine
items in the Student Life series Scrapbooks and Diaries
(RG 19/4).
XI. Handbills, Circulars, and Advertisements
This series contains handbills, circulars, and advertisements
relating to a variety of events and movements. Included
here are a notice
announcing sermons given
by Charles G. Finney, a handbill announcing the release
of the Oberlin-Wellington rescuers from jail, and items
relating
to
the topic of race on campus,
among
others.
XII. Songs, Music, and Lyrics
Songs, Music, and Lyrics are divided into those relating
to Oberlin and non-Oberlin subseries. Oberlin College
songs include
several
items used
as alma mater
songs along with others used at commencement or
sporting events. Non-Oberlin songs
include songs and lyrics written by individuals
who may have been connected with Oberlin, but whose work
here
has no connection
with
the institution.
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