The John Frederick Oberlin Papers contain items created by J. F. Oberlin and his contemporaries, gifts to Oberlin College relating to J. F. Oberlin, correspondence, writings and addresses about J. F. Oberlin.

The collection was rearranged into series in 2002 because of a sizable accretion of J. F. Oberlin related material received from the Oberlin College Library, Department of Special Collections. Also at that time several files were transferred to this group from RG 21 "Oberlin File." Series I, II, and III represent the original collection, with a few additional items. Series IV, V, and VI consist of material received in this late accretion. Two additional items were received in 2009-2010.

The papers are arranged in six series: I. Letters, II. Manuscripts and Notes, III. Miscellany, IV. Addresses about John Frederick Oberlin, V. Printed Materials, and VI. Prints, Drawings and Photographs.

Items created by John Frederick Oberlin include one letter, inscriptions, three watercolors, a map, woodcuts, music, and printed Bible verses. These items are filed in Series I. Letters, and Series III. Miscellany.

In addition to these items created by Oberlin himself, the papers include a number of items created during his lifetime. They include two sermons written by a contemporary for J. F. Oberlin and letters written by family members or friends. Other items include exercise cards by three of his pupils, a double silhouette of J. F. Oberlin and his wife done from life, and silhouettes of friends. A 1791 memory book contains inscriptions by J. F. Oberlin and several of his children and friends. These items are filed in Series I. Letters, Series II. Manuscripts and Notes, and Series III. Miscellany.

Memorabilia relating to J. F. Oberlin include drawings and lithographs of the Ban de la Roche, commemorative medals, and printed materials commemorating J. F. Oberlin anniversaries. Addresses by Oberlin College President Ernest Hatch Wilkins (1940, n.d.) and by faculty members Robert S. Fletcher (1955), Walter M. Horton (1952), Maurice Kessler (1953), and John W. Kurtz (1972, 1976) discuss J. F. Oberlin's life and his influence on the founders of Oberlin College.

A number of printed works discuss Oberlin's life and work; many of these publications are written in French or German. Included in the publications in Series V is an extract of Oberlin's notes (in French) on the fauna of the Ban de la Roche; these notes were published by Dr. Ernest Wickersheimer in the annual of the Société historique, littéraire et scientifique du Club Vosgien in 1934. A new publication acquired in 2010 is a German cartoon book on the life of Oberlin published for young readers in 1989. Also in the printed material in Series V are a number of commemorative items celebrating the bicentennial (1967) of J. F. Oberlin's arrival at Waldersbach.

Note: Copies of each of the items in Series I, II, and III (with the exception of items # 38, 39 and 40) are filed in 16/5, Library Autograph File. Unless one has a special need the researcher should use the copies to avoid wear upon the originals. In 2010 a number of items were scanned or photographed and published in the John Frederick Oberlin digital collection and a multi-media presentation on J. F. Oberlin for the Oberlin College Archives website; see inventory for details.

Printed matter re J.F.O. in 16/5 Library Autograph File, and in the Subjects (Vertical) File.

See John W. Kurtz Papers (30/216) for material related to his biography of J.F.O., including printed material on J.F.O. and additional bible verses printed by J.F.O.

RG 30/37 contains copies of Florence M. Fitch's pamphlet "John Frederick Oberlin," n.d.

RG 45 contains an English translation (by Louis Levine) of Wilhelm Scheuermann's biography of Oberlin as well as a Strasbourg Museum catalogue featuring J.F.O.

See also RG 5 Office of the Secretary, Subgroup IX Historical Files, Series 5 Subject Files.

Additional photographs relating to J.F.O. and Waldersbach are filed in 32/3. These include photographs used in J. W. Kurtz's biography of J.F.O. and the Coat of Arms of the Oberlin Family (original in 420A, Drawer 9; researchers should use the photograph unless there is a special need).

Portraits of John Frederick Oberlin (engraving) and Jérémie-Jacques Oberlin (lithograph) are in RG 40, Paintings, drawings, and framed items.