The papers of Harold S. Wood mainly document his activities as Vice President from 1944 to 1948. Included is documentation on his involvement in the fund-raising campaigns to finance new campus buildings and scholarships for students.

This collection consists of four record series: 1. Annual Reports of the Vice-President; 2. Correspondence (Donor Files); 3. Oberlin College Buildings and Grounds; and 4. Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association. These files though not significant in terms of quantity, report on role Wood played, along with other administrators, in the development of Oberlin College in the post-World War II era.

The single annual report outlines Wood's accomplishments one year while he served as Vice President. Wood’s annotations are written on one copy of the report. Summary documents are complimented by his correspondence.

Wood’s correspondence files, which offer detail on his activities in particular and Oberlin College’s development efforts in general, under Presidents Ernest Hatch Wilkins and William E. Stevenson. The series is divided into two subseries: 1. Name Files and 2. Subject Files. The name files comprise a much larger volume of the material. Included are letters from Oberlin friends, faculty and alumni, such as Arthur Vining Davis, Lucien C. Warner, Hope Hibbard, and Mary Gerrish Sieberling relating to donations made to the college. The subject files, though modest, contain important correspondence documenting the many scholarships, grants and other funds established at Oberlin College. Several noteworthy files found here include the Glen Gray Scholarship, Harry N. Holmes Prize Fund, Seaman Scholarship Fund and the Orville Wright donation.

Historical materials that document the planning and financing of many new campus buildings are located in series 3. The research material is modest in scope and size, but the files help to document changes to the physical plant initiated under President Stevenson (1946-59) and carried forward by President Robert K. Carr (1960-70).

Wood’s role on the Board of Trustees of the Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association is documented in the last series which contains various historical documents from meetings and activities relating to the Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association.

Series I. Annual Reports of the Vice-President, 1946-1947, (0.1 lin. ft.)

One folder containing the file copy and an annotated version of the annual report of the Vice-President for 1946-47.

Series II. Correspondence (Donor Files), 1944-48, (1.3 lin. ft.)

Includes correspondence, arranged alphabetically, from Oberlin alumni, faculty and friends concerning fund-raising for new dormitories and scholarships. The record series is divided into two subseries: 1. Name Files and 2. Subject Files. The name files differ from the subject files in that each folder contains correspondence on various subjects that relate to the creator while the subject files each contain a discussion of only one subject (which is identified on the folder).

Series III. Oberlin College Buildings and Grounds, 1944-1948, (0.2 lin. ft.)

Documentation relating to the construction of new campus buildings and other structures such as the athletic field gate and new dormitories.

Series IV. Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association, 1944-1948, (0.4 lin. ft.)

Includes minutes and research materials used by Wood as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association.