The materials in this collection document the life and scholarly work of Professor Frank Hugh Foster. His distinguished career, which spanned forty-eight years, began and ended at Oberlin. The collection consists almost entirely of written materials and manuscripts, some of which appear in bound volumes. Frank H. Foster’s interests covered a variety of theological topics as evidenced by the titles in this collection. Also included are over a hundred letters of received correspondence. The collection provides little documentation of the teaching side of Foster’s career.

The collection is arranged in twelve series, some of which are divided into subseries.

Series I. Biographical Documentation Files, 1925-35, 1995 (1 folder)

The files in this series were separated from Foster’s faculty file and contain biographical information. The documents consist of newspaper obituaries, as well as the memorial minute adopted by the General Faculty at Oberlin College in 1935. The eight page forward to Foster’s book The Life of Edwards Amasa Park written by Walter Marshall Horton provides a biographical sketch of Frank Foster. Also included in this file is a genealogical inquiry made in 1995 by Foster’s great-granddaughter.

Series II. Letters Received by Frank H. Foster, 1879-1935, n.d. (4 folders)

Includes the numerous correspondence received by Foster over a forty-six year period. The letters from family, former students, and fellow scholars reflect Foster’s interests in church matters.

Series III. Lectures Given by Frank H. Foster, 1886-92, 1916-19, 1929-30, n.d. (5 volumes, 2 folders)

Contains Foster’s lectures on theology and religion, including “History of the Church in America” and “Lectures on the Bible.” The series is further divided into four subseries: “Andover Newton Lectures,” Seminary at Oberlin College, Lake Erie College, and Miscellaneous.

Series IV. Lectures Given by Others, 1875-77 (5 volumes)

This series includes four volumes of lectures by Edwards Amasa Park, of the Andover Theological Seminary, and one volume of homiletics by Professor Austin Phelps.Series V. Manuscripts, 1917, 1927-28, 1933, n.d. (18 folders)

Contains mostly religious manuscripts or texts concerning Christianity, such as “Meditations and Prayers” and “The Resurrection of Christ.” The series is further subdivided into miscellaneous manuscripts and theological manuscripts.

Series VI. Miscellaneous Theological Notes and Papers, 1873-75, 1883-1902, 1920, 1925, n.d. (7 folders, 2 volumes)

Consists of F.H. Foster’s notes for lectures and papers on theology.

Series VII. Pastoral Records, 1904-07, 1921-23 (1 volume)

This series contains the Pastor’s Register for Foster’s churches in Olivet, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio.

Series VIII. Teaching Files, 1884-92 (1 folder)

Consists of Foster’s Register of Classes in the Seminary at Oberlin (1884-92) during his time as a professor of church history.

Series IX. Translations, n.d. (3 folders)

Includes several of Frank H. Foster’s Arabic translations of the works of Ghazzali and Hariri.

Series X. Various Subject Files, 1873-75, 1931-32, n.d. (11 folders, 6 volumes)

The subject files concern a variety of topics, most notably, notes related to Edwards Amasa Park and a typescript of his Biography. Also included are several files related to F.H. Foster’s studies of and writings on the Qur’an.

Series XI. Writings Collected by Oberlin College Archives, 1885-1933 (1 folder)

This series contains one folder of writings by Foster collected by the Oberlin College Archives.

Series XII. Writings Transferred from Special Collections, 1912-1932, n.d. (4 folders)

Includes Foster’s writings that were transferred from Special Collections to the Oberlin College Archives.

The documents in this collection were received in two installments. In 1977 the bulk of the Frank H. Foster Papers were received from the Oberlin College Library (1977/77). In 2001 a number of Foster’s writings were transferred from the Oberlin College Library’s Department of Special Collections (2001/94)

The College Archives also holds several notebooks belonging to the students of Edwards Amasa Parks.