The John Millot Ellis papers consist of a modest amount of material but it covers a good portion of his life. There is little biographical information, but an obituary offers a good summary of his career and community service. Miscellaneous photographs and college pamphlets chronicle some of Ellis's leisure and family activity. A genealogical chart, compiled by a family in 2002, is included. Six of Ellis's notebooks record his instruction of Rhetoric and Greek from 1851 to 1896. One folder contains biographical information on Emily Cummings Ellis, Ellis and her father Henry H. Cummings.

The collection is divided into four series: Series 1. Biographical File, Series 2. Notebooks, Series 3. Printed Materials, and Series 4. Photographs.

Series 1: Biographical File, 1864-65, 1889, 1894, 1922, 1924, c. 1945 (2 folders)

This series contains photocopies of an article concerning the funeral for John Millot Ellis, 1894, and obituaries for Theodore H. Ellis (son), 1945, and for Emily Cummings Ellis (wife of Theodore H. Ellis), 1922. Additional material for Theodore Ellis include a reprint of a memoir by Alfreda Ellis, American Society of Civil Engineers Memoirs, 1945?, and a photocopy of his dismissal form from Oberlin College, 1889. Also included are two short booklets on the dedication of a Maryland spring to Emily Cummings Ellis, 1924, as well as a pamphlet concerning her father, Henry H. Cummings, 1865. Accompanying the obituaries and pamphlets is a genealogical chart compiled in 2002.

Series 2: Notebooks, 1852-1896, n.d. (6 Notebooks)

These notebooks, compiled by Ellis, contain his Rhetorical Exercises for Oberlin College from 1852 to 1881. Two are gradebooks for Greek and Rhetoric from 1858 to 1896 (restricted). One is filled with miscellaneous personal notes.

Series 3: Printed Materials, 1858-1895, n.d. (1 Folder)

This series is comprised of commencement and theatrical programs, as well as College announcements, and a program from the Oberlin High School.

Series 4: Photographs, 1889, n.d. (1 Folder)

Contains miscellaneous and unidentified family photographs. All photographs of John M. Ellis have been removed to the Photograph Collection, RG 32/3, Box 9.

Autograph File (RG 16/5)

"Appeal for the New Ladies Hall" (printed), Dec. 16, 1863, by Ellis on the back of which he has written a note to "My Dear Kedzie." (RG 16/5, filled "E")

Lectures on Mental Philosophy, 1875, are in RG 16/5, Box 18, "E."

Physics Department Records (RG 9/5)

For letter of Nov. 23, 1879, to Elisha Gray see the Physics Department Records, RG 9/5.

Other Individual Groups (RG 30)

For notes by Anna M. Metcalf on Ellis's lectures in Evidences of Christianity (1882) see the Azariah S. Root papers, RG 30/57, Box 17.

Notes on Ellis's lectures, 1884, on several topics are in the Philo P. Safford Papers, RG 30/45, Box 6.

Students Notes (RG 19/6)

Notes on Ellis's lectures in Mental Philosophy (by Anna J. Mead) are in Student Notes, RG 19/6, Box 5.

Other

For anecdotal material see "Professors Mead, Smith, and Ellis, An Appreciation" by D.F. Bradley in The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Second Congregation Church, 1910, pp. 127-35, Library # 285.877.1Ob2F