The Ellen N. Lawson Papers consist of Project and Research Files, including the Langenheim Daguerreotypes Research Files, Oral Histories of African-Americans, and the National City Bank Research Files. The collection also contains Women's Studies Historical Files, including an interview with Hope Hibbard (audio cassette), Oberlin Faculty Wives Survey, and Barbara Seaman Correspondence; files relating to the Women's Studies program at Oberlin College. Published and unpublished writings of Lawson, including "Children of the Amistad" (1989), "A History of Banking in Cleveland" (1994), and a number of articles written for a variety of publications are included in this collection.

The collection is divided into five series: 1. Project and Research Files, 2. Women's Studies Historical Files (certain files are restricted as noted by an asterisk on the inventory), 3. Files Relating to the Women's Studies Program at Oberlin, 4. Writings (Published and Unpublished), and 5. Oral History Interviews.

Series 1. Project and Research Files, 1974-93, 2.0 l.f.

This series consists of the project and research files of Ellen N. Lawson. It is divided into three subseries: the Langenheim Daguerreotypes Research Files*, the National City Bank Research Files*, and Oral Histories of African-Americans*. The oral histories contain interviews by students (both transcripts and commentaries), "Moving On" (both research files and unpublished manuscript), audio tape interviews conducted by students, and videotape interviews conducted by students. Some files are restricted as noted on the inventory with an asterisk (*).

Series 2. Women's Studies Historical Files * (restricted), 1972-84, 0.4 l.f.

This series contains Women's Studies historical files from the Schlesinger Library Transfer. There are copies of the Barbara Seaman Correspondence, 1978-79, documents regarding Women's Studies at Oberlin College, 1973-83, documents pertaining to the Oberlin Early Childhood Center, 1974-80, Oberlin Faculty Wives Survey Questionnaires*, and an audio cassette interview with Hope Hibbard, 1984. Two files are restricted.

Series 3. Files Relating to Women's Studies Program at Oberlin, 1968-87, 0.2 l.f.

This series consists of documents pertaining to the Women's Studies program at Oberlin College, 1968-87, including the Leah Freed Women's Studies Memorial Prize, 1984-87, Oberlin Women Scholars notes, 1968-72, Recommendations, 1977-87, Special Consultant to Co-ordinate Women's Studies, 1974, and miscellaneous Women's Studies papers, 1975-87.

Series 4. Writings (Published and Unpublished), 1963-92, 1.10 l.f.

This series is divided into three subseries: 1. Writings General, 2. Writings in Northeast Ohio Publications, and 3. Writings by Location/Region. A representative sample includes, "Against Fearful Odds: Clara Barton and American Philanthropy" (Ph.D. Dissertation, 1978), "Children of the Amistad," 1989, Lenten Meditations, 1982-88, "Sarah Woodson Early: 19th Century Black Nationalist Sister," 1981, New Cleveland Woman articles, 1988, Plain Dealer articles, 1987-92, Sun Press articles, 1987-90, writings from New Hampshire, 1978, writings from Oberlin, Ohio, 1979-84, and writings from Washington, D.C., 1976. All writings are contained within a single box. One file is restricted.

Series 5. Oral History Interviews, 1990, 0.1 l.f.

This series contains an interview with George Langeler conducted in 1990.