The first subgroup in this record group consists of four series, which document President Robert K. Carr’s pre-presidential and post-presidential years, particularly through his extensive correspondence. Materials (i.e., lecture notes, writings) relating to his professional work concerning civil liberties and his career as an academician are contained in this collection. Carr’s service on President Harry Truman’s Committee on Civil Rights is documented in Series 2. Professional Teaching and Service. In addition to research notes, the collection includes the texts to several speeches as well as many of his writings in the field of political science. There are also several talks and writings from his tenure as President of Oberlin College, 1960-70. The collection also includes some photographs and personal memorabilia from his childhood and high school years.

Subgroup I is divided into five series: Correspondence; Professional Teaching and Service; Speeches, Talks, and Writings; Photographs; and, Miscellaneous.

The second subgroup in this collection contains the papers of Olive Grabill Carr, wife of Robert K. Carr. Included in this subgroup are speeches, writings, and correspondence of Olive G. Carr. Her writings and correspondence addressed campus life at Oberlin in the 1960s, as well as questions concerning education and youth in general. Olive Grabill Carr spoke at several Oberlin Alumni functions and the texts of these speeches are contained in this collection. Her presentations concerned issues of personal interest to her including: motherhood, women’s role in society, the role of a college president’s wife, and issues facing American youth.

Finally, this subgroup contains brief biographical information of Olive Grabill Carr and photographs of her and of Point Connett, Mattapoisett, Massachusetts (a family vacation location). A separate correspondence series of the Grabill Family includes letters written to her parents, Ethelbert V. and Elizabeth Z. Grabill, who had long standing Oberlin ties.

Subgroup II is divided into five series: biographical; correspondence (Olive G. Carr); Grabill Family correspondence; speeches, talks, and writings; and, photographs and scrapbooks. The majority of the documents in this subgroup were received after the death of Olive Carr in 2003.

Subgroup I. Files Relating to Robert Kenneth Carr, 1908-1977, 1979, n.d.

Series 1. Correspondence, 1925-1977 (2.7 lin. ft.)

This series is divided into four subseries: 1. Pre-Presidential Years, 1925-1970; 2. Presidential Years, 1959-1970s; 3. Post-Presidential Years, 1970-1977; and 4. Family Papers, 1950-1951, 1976.

Series 2. Professional Teaching & Special Services, 1930s-1975, n.d. (0.5 lin ft.)

Records in this series relate to Carr’s professorial career and special projects with which he was associated. Examples of items in this series are lecture notes and research work for the President’s Committee on Civil Rights. Also included is a file of photographs and negatives related to English Civil Liberties. Lastly contained in this series is the FBI file compiled in 1960 on Carr and his career, including service on President Harry Truman’s Committee on Civil Rights.

Series 3. Speeches, Talks, and Writings, 1933-1974, n.d. (1.9 lin. ft.)

This series documents Carr’s speeches and writings and is divided into four subseries: 1. Speeches, 2. Talks, 3. Writings, and 4. Publishers. Carr’s written work consists of notes and articles for research projects and books related to civil liberties. The publishers subseries contains correspondence and contracts with various publishers such as Holt, Rinehart, Co.

Series 4. Photographs and Scrapbooks, 1908-1925, 1960-1968, n.d. (0.2 lin. ft.)

Subseries 1. includes a variety of black and white photographs of President and Mrs. Carr. Many are labeled. Subseries 2. contains the Baby Book of Robert Kenneth Carr, 1908-1925, which includes many photographs of his early years.

Series 5. Miscellaneous files, 1925, 1979 (3 folders)

This final series contains high school memorabilia from Robert Carr’s years at Shaw High School, Cleveland, where he was active in debate team. The last folder contains a memorial service program and the obituaries for Robert K. Carr, 1979.

Subgroup II. Files Relating to Olive Grabill Carr, 1907, 1920s, 1960-1981, n.d.

Series 1. Biographical, 1907, 1925, 1928, 1977 (3 folders)

This series contains a photocopy of Olive Carr’s birth certificate, 1907; her passport issued in 1977; and two grade reports from her years at Wellesley College, Fall 1925 and Fall 1928. These are restricted documents.

Series 2. Correspondence, 1929, 1960-1981, n.d. (5 folders)

Consists of Olive G. Carr’s personal correspondence and drafts of correspondence during her years at Oberlin, including several letters to students, as well as her regular correspondence with Dewey Ward and Seabury and Agnes Mastick during the 1960s. Also included in this series are a number of letters written by Olive to her parents, Ethelbert V. and Elizabeth Z. Grabill, during her Europe Trip in 1929. There are additional letters to her parents from Olive’s companions concerning Olive’s health on the trip.

Series 3. Grabill Family Correspondence, 1907 (2 folders)

Includes letters to Elizabeth Grabill, mother of Olive Grabill Carr, Elliot Grabill, and Elizabeth (Betty) Grabill (Mrs. Farley), congratulating her on the birth of her daughter Olive in 1907. One 1907 letter addressed directly to Olive from her Aunt Sarah welcomed the baby into the world.

Series 4. Speeches, Talks, and Writings, 1960s, n.d. (3 folders)

This series contains numerous speeches given by Olive Carr in the 1960s, as well as her reflections decades later on the 1960s in Oberlin. Also included are Olive’s drafts of speeches and writings.

Series 5. Photographs and Scrapbooks, 1920s, 1973, n.d. (3 folders)

Contained in this series is the photograph album of Olive G. Carr with Point Connett Snaps, 1920s. Also included are several photographs from various points in Mrs. Carr’s life and a number of photocopied photographs. The majority of the photographs are undated.

Three installments of records for Robert K. Carr were received from the Office of the President, 1973, 1975, 1976, and 1978 (208, 1976/2, 1978/18). Some of the material were separated form the Presidential Collection and placed in this personal papers group.

Geoffrey Blodgett transferred the personal papers of President Robert Kenneth Carr that belonged to Olive G. Carr to the Oberlin College Archives after the death of Robert Carr in 1979 (1979/16).

Michael Doyle donated the copy of the FBI file concerning Robert K. Carr, 1960, in July 2000 (2000/62).

In March 2003, after the death of Olive G. Carr, Norman and Carolyn Carr donated additional personal papers of Robert K. and Olive G. Carr (2003/018).Michael Doyle donated the copy of the FBI file concerning Robert K. Carr, 1960, in July 2000 (2000/62).

In March 2003, after the death of Olive G. Carr, Norman and Carolyn Carr donated additional personal papers of Robert K. and Olive G. Carr (2003/018).