The papers of Mary Durling primarily document her work as an artist, coordinator of special projects and exhibitions, and her civic activities within the community of Oberlin. A modest amount of materials relate to her teaching in the Oberlin College Upward Bound Program, and her work with other student achievement programs and the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs.

Series IX. Special Programs Coordinator Files contains correspondence, notes, and other materials that detail her contributions to significant events at Oberlin College and in the community. The files relate to her participation in the Oberlin College Bandstand Competition and construction, 1985-87, the Oberlin Sesquicentennial Celebration, 1983, and the inauguration of Oberlin College’s 12th president, S. Frederick Starr, 1983. This series also contains files relating to Durling’s service as the class agent for the Oberlin Class of 1957.

Durling’s interest in history and the historic preservation of Oberlin are evident throughout the collection. The miscellaneous subject files and the files relating to design concepts cover a wide range of projects and interests. Designs and drawings for storefronts along South Main Street in Oberlin, 1994, and her ideas for restoring the Gasholder House, 1990-93, illustrate her interest in preserving Oberlin's architectural significant built environment and the history of Oberlin, Ohio.

Evidence of her civic work can be found in the series relating to her campaign for a position on the Oberlin City Council, her work for Michael Dukakis and the Democratic National Convention, and for the election campaigns of Congressman Don Pease and Congressmen Sherrod Brown.

The Mary Durling Papers are divided into eleven (11) series: I. Biographical File, II. Design Concepts, III. Exhibitions Files (Miscellaneous), IV. Job Applications and Resumes (Miscellaneous) Restricted, V. Subject Files (Miscellaneous), VI. Oberlin City Council and U.S. Congressional Campaigns, VII. Personal Correspondence, VIII. Publications, IX. Special Programs Coordinator Files, X. Student Achievement Organizations and Development Office, XI. Photographs and one Oversize Box.

The files within each series are arranged alphabetically.

Series I. Biographical File, 1952, 1985, 1987-88 (1f)

The biographical file consists of articles and newspaper clippings concerning the professional activities of Mary Durling. Resumes of Mary Durling are filed in Series IV. (Restricted).

Series II. Design Concepts, 1979-81, 1983-85, 1987-88, 1994-95, n.d. (21f)

This series contains photographs, design proofs, pamphlets, and drawings created by Mary Durling for the designs of logos, letterheads, storefronts, and signs for Oberlin businesses, Oberlin College, Oberlin City government, and other local groups. (See also the oversize box)

Series III. Exhibitions Files (Miscellaneous), 1983, 1985-97, n.d. (18f)

The exhibitions files consist of associated financial records, correspondence, notes and printed matter related to exhibitions and events held at the Allen Memorial Art Museum and an Oberlin pictorial history exhibit displayed in the lobby of the Carnegie building, Oberlin College. Also contained within this series are photocopies of photographs from some of those events.

Series IV. Job Applications and Resumes (Miscellaneous), 1956-57, 1963, 1970-81, 1984, 1986, 1988-89, 1997, n.d. (7f) (Restricted)

This series consists of contracts, applications, and resumes that provide detail of the employment history of Mary Durling. Access to this series by permission of the College Archivist.

Series V. Subject Files (Miscellaneous), 1987, 1989-93, n.d. (12f, one catalogue, and one notebook)

The miscellaneous subject files contain notes, catalogues, financial records, and correspondence relating to Durling’s work with city planning committees (i.e., Buildings Review Committee) and the historic preservation group that worked to preserve the Gasholder House in the city of Oberlin. Also included are her class notes, papers and syllabus for "The Social History of American Architecture" course taught by the late Geoffrey Blodgett (d. 2001) in the fall of 1989.

Series VI. Oberlin City Council and U.S. Congressional Campaigns, 1988, 1993, 1999-2000, n.d. (5f)

This series contains financial records, correspondence, clippings, and printed matters from Durling’s political campaigns for Oberlin City Council. Also included are correspondence, financial records, and printed matter relating to Durling’s involvement with the campaign of Ohio Congressman Sherrod Brown (13th District).

Series VII. Personal Correspondence, 1983-97, n.d. (3f)

The personal correspondence includes letters of appreciation from individuals who attended events managed by Durling. Also included is correspondence with Margaret Rice Egeland (d. 1994), a friend of Durling.

Series VIII. Publications, 1983-84, 1986-87, 1989, n.d. (3f)

These published articles written by Durling primarily concern events such as the Oberlin Sesquicentennial Celebration, coeducation, and other Oberlin topics. Some associated correspondence is included in this series.

Series IX. Special Programs Coordinator Files, 1957, 1962, 1978-95, n.d. (25f and 2 notebooks)

The special programs files contain correspondence, notes, and associated planning materials that document Durling’s role as coordinator for special projects including the Bandstand Competition (1985-87) in Tappan Square and the 1983 Sesquicentennial Celebration of the city of Oberlin. Included are photographs and slides of the various events. Correspondence, letterhead design, and reunion materials for the Oberlin Class of 1957 are also contained in the series (class agent files). (See also the oversize box)

Series X. Student Achievement Organizations and Development Office, 1979, 1981-84, 1988-93, 1995, n.d. (6f)

This series contains correspondence and notes related to Durling’s responsibilities as acting assistant to the Vice President of Development of Oberlin College, teacher in Upward Bound Program, and her work with other student programs.

Series XI. Photographs, 1950, c. 1960-65, c. 1970s, 1984-85, 1989, 1991, n.d. (1f)

Consists of fourteen (14) photographs of her immediate family and friends, and a sheet of proofs for Durling's promotional photographs. Other photographs related to Durling’s work are filed with the textual materials in order to maintain the integrity of the record (i.e. Bandstand Competition, Gasholder House, etc.).

The papers of Mary Durling were received from Durling in two accessions in 2002 and 2004.

Allen Memorial Art Museum (RG 9/3); Christ Episcopal Church (RG 31/4/2); Jeptha Carrell (RG 30/251); Oberlin College Alumni Association (RG 20); Oberlin Improvement and Development Company (RG 31/24); Office of Development and Alumni Affairs (RG 26); O.H.I.O. (RG 31/9); Sesquicentennial Celebration (RG 0); Student File of James Fuller Fixx (RG 28); and Various Committees (RG 33)