The papers of Frank T. Cooke document his personal interest and professional career in photography. Many photographs of college buildings and houses in Oberlin are included in the collection. Other photographs, included in the pages of a disbound photographic album show Cooke and his family at Oberlin Beach along Lake Erie and demonstrate his concern for the eroding of the beach. Copies of newspaper clippings, letters, and directory listings give the researcher some biographical information regarding Cooke and his family.

Series 1. Biographical and Genealogical Files, 1872, 1880, 1914-65, 1997 (two folders)

This series consists of a folder containing items used in constructing the biographical sketch. It includes a copy of a letter from Dorcas Gastier, 1997, and copies of items from the alumni student files of Frank Cooke, his daughter Frances (Mrs. George E. Stansfield), and his wife Clara Helen Paul. It also includes photocopies of pages of the 1914 and 1931-32 Directory of Oberlin, Ohio which bear on Frank Cooke’s occupation. A second folder contains copies of an ancestors chart, an obituary for Morgan Stuart, and clippings (1872, 1880, n.d.) that provide genealogical information concerning the Cooke and Stuart families.  The ancestors chart was received from Carolyn Cooke Lerch in 2006.

Series 2. Photographs, 1916-22, 1946-63 (one small box; album pages)

This series consists of a box of small, approximately 3.5” x 2.5”, photographs taken by Frank Cooke of various subjects around Oberlin. The photographs depict college buildings, residential houses, monuments, and natural settings, however, there are some unidentified photographs in the collection. The inventory contains an incomplete listing of the buildings/scenes depicted in the photographs.

There are also unbound pages of a photographic album included in this series. Many of the photographs were taken at Oberlin Beach along Lake Erie as Cooke’s family frequently picnicked there. Most of the photographs were taken by Frank Cooke in 1916-22, but a note identifies the c. 1950 photographs as originating from Helen and Stephen Cool.

The Frank T Cooke papers were received from Ruth Wood in one accession in 1997.

Oberlin Beach Association (RG 31/31)