The Margaret Schauffler papers primarily consist of thirty-six sketches, two essays, four journals, and an oversize scrapbook that document her life as a political activist and prolific artist. The collection covers almost exclusively Schauffler’s activities as an undergraduate student at Oberlin College (OC ’18), her career as an art professor, and her commitment to activism and the visual arts even in her retirement.

Of significance to Oberlin’s institutional history are the thirty-six sketches of buildings, sites, and historical figures associated with Oberlin College (see series descriptions). The majority of these preliminary sketches were used in several Oberlin College publications, including a 1930 Oberlin College Calendar. Three copies of this calendar are included in the drawings file.

Her personal diaries and journals document a freshman bible course taught by Professor William J. Hutchins (d. 1958), 1915, a Social Action Seminar, an around the world tour led by Dr. Rev. Ray Gibbons and Mrs. Ray Gibbons, 1960, and a personal trip to Japan in 1955. Schauffler’s two essays, “The Anti-Saloon League in Oberlin,” 1971, and a women’s liberation essay entitled “Oberlin Women in the Temperance Movement,” 1972 shed insight on her political ideology. Also contained in the collection is a telegram from Albert Einstein (d. 1955), n.d., which requested her support for the Emergency Committee of Atomic Scientists.

One of the more interesting and insightful documents in the Schauffler collection is her oversize scrapbook, which consists of printed material (i.e., pamphlets, invitations, and awards), photographs, and other memorabilia. The pages also contain signatures from former colleagues, mentors, friends, and family. Highlights of the scrapbook are photographs from the graduating class of OC ’18, their class reunion in 1928 and candid shots of her personal trip to Japan in 1955. This scrapbook documents her career as an artist, her interests in political activism and her personal relationships with her students, colleagues, friends and family.

Series I. Biographical File, 1929-94 (2 folders)

The biographical file and articles and clippings file span from 1929 to 1994. Both files primarily consist of pamphlets on Schauffler’s prominent family history, including their connections with Oberlin College and the Schauffler College of Religious and Social Work in Cleveland, Ohio; various clippings, photocopied articles, and letters that highlight major events in Shauffler’s personal and professional career; and lastly her obituary.

Series II. Correspondence, n.d. (1 folder)

The correspondence file consists of an original telegram from Albert Einstein concerning the future of the atomic bomb, n.d.

Series III. Diaries, Journals, and Notebooks, 1915-1955 (4 folders)

This series consists of four items: a notebook of notes and tests from a Freshman Bible Course with Professor William J. Hutchins, second semester 1915; a diary of lecture notes and comments from a Social Action Seminar (an around the world tour) led by Dr. Rev. Ray Gibbons and Mrs. Ray Gibbons, 1960; a personal journal from the Social Action Seminar, 1960; and a daily diary from a personal trip to Japan, July-December 1955.

Series IV. Drawings File, c.1930 (6 folders)

The series of Schauffler’s sketches and calendars encompass six folders. Nineteen of the thirty-six drawings are of buildings and sites affiliated with Oberlin College--- Old Chapel, Cabinet Hall, Ladies’ Hall, Severance Hall. Old Warner Conservatory, John Frederick Oberlin’s Church in Waldersbach, Alsace, Old Campus View, Door of Allen Memorial Art Museum, Memorial School in Shansi, Finney Revival Text, Fairchild House, Early Chapel, Tappan Hall, Society Hall, Old Laboratory, and Council Hall. The remaining nineteen are portraits of historical figures of Oberlin College, former presidents, and former classmates--- Frank Jewett, President W.G Ballantine, Lucy Stone, President Charles G. Finney, President John H. Barrows, Fenelon B. Rice, Charles Churchill, Edward I. Bosworth, President Asa Mahan, Marianne P. Dascomb, Adelia A. F. Johnston, President Henry Churchill King, John Frederick Oberlin, President James H. Fairchild, and Ernest Hatch Wilkins. These preliminary sketches were used in many Oberlin College publications, including a 1930 Oberlin College Calendar. Three copies of this calendar are also included in the drawings file.

Series V. Writings by Margaret Schauffler, 1971-2 (1 folder)

Schauffler’s writings file consists of an anti-saloon essay entitled ”The Anti-Saloon League in Oberlin,” 1971, two copies of a women’s liberation essay entitled “Oberlin Women in the Temperance Movement,” 1972 and a pamphlet of the essays about the Schauffler College, 1986.

Series VI. Scrapbook, c. 1914-1918, 1918

Schauffler’s scrapbook consists of printed material (i.e., pamphlets, invitations, and awards), photographs, and signatures from former colleagues, mentors, friends and family. This series also consists of one photograph of Schauffler among her graduating class of faculty and students at the Vassar Nurses Training School, summer 1918. A number of Oberlin graduates, such as Irene Dole and Harriet Long are included in the photograph.

Papers of Grace Schauffler (30/269)