The collection is divided into two subgroups: papers of Joseph Reichard, and papers of Anita Reichard. Each subgroup is made up of three series. In the first subgroup, these are: 1. Files of Service to Oberlin College, 2. Files of External Professional Activities, and 3. Publications File. The second subgroup consists of: 1. Biographical File, 2. Clippings File, and 3. Choir Tour Files.

In both sections of the collection, documentation is somewhat uneven. In Joseph Reichard's papers, coverage of professional activities is the most extensive. His work with the Oberlin language laboratory, as well as his role in popularizing this relatively new teaching method, are also well documented. Most of the materials in this subgroup consist of correspondence (both incoming and outgoing), programs and memoranda relating to conferences, and drafts of speeches given at these conferences. One of the speeches, given at a conference in Vienna in 1962, is in German, as is some of the correspondence.

In 1964, Anita Reichard accompanied the Oberlin College Choir, as manager and chaperone, on its tour of the Soviet Union and Romania. The two-month tour, which performed in twelve cities, was carried out under the auspices of the State Department's Cultural Presentation Program. Records relating to the tour make up most of the second subgroup. Especially noteworthy parts are the administrative papers (which include a personnel list and a copy of Oberlin's agreement with the State Department) and a collection of concert programs from the choir's performances abroad. There is also a file of photocopied newspaper articles and reviews, some of which are in Russian. Some bound volumes and other souvenirs of the trip are also included.

Subgroup I. Papers of Joseph Reichard, 1952-1989 (0.5 l.f.)

Most of this subgroup relates to Joseph Reichard's work at Oberlin and to his non-Oberlin professional activities.

Series 1. Files of Service to Oberlin College, 1952-1975

This series consists of papers relating to two topics: the Oberlin Honor System and Reichard's work with the Oberlin Language Laboratory.

Series 2. Files of External Professional Activities, 1953-1989

Most of these materials relate to Joseph Reichard's work with the American Association of Teachers of German, and with the Advanced Placement program and its sponsoring organization, the College Entrance Examination Board.

Series 3. Publications File, 1956

This series is made up of a single reprint of an article which originally appeared in German Quarterly. (See the biographical sketch for information on other publications.)

Subgroup II. Papers of Anita Reichard, 1963-1969, 1974, 1989 (0.5 l.f.)

Aside from a brief biographical file and some clippings, this subgroup consists of records from the Oberlin College Choir's 1964 tour.

Series 1. Biographical File, 1966

This series consists of several vitae and press releases, dating from the mid-1960s, which present basic personal and professional information.

Series 2. Clippings File, 1964-1969

The clippings in this series relate to Anita Reichard's role in the 1968 dormitory rules controversy, as well as to talks she gave to various organizations following the choir tour.

Series 3. Choir Tour Files, 1963-1964, 1974, 1989

This series relates to Anita Reichard's experiences with the Oberlin College Choir's 1964 tour.

These records were received from the Reichards in several small installments in 1993.

Records relating to other aspects of Joseph Reichard's work at Oberlin may be found in the records of the Department of German and Russian (9/13). See especially the records of the German Summer Session Program, which Reichard directed for many years, and materials relating to his government-sponsored language laboratory research. The records of the Office of the Dean of Women are in Record Group 12, Subgroup VIII; some of these records may be restricted. Photographs of the Oberlin College Choir may be found in the Conservatory records (10/XV/1), which also contain four folders of photographs specifically of the 1964 tour.