The papers of Silas F. Millikan primarily document the lives of his immediate family and relatives. The bulk of the material, especially the correspondence, concerns Silas’ parents, Daniel and Aurelia Millikan, and his mother’s family, the Peases. The first series, Biographical Material, contains the bulk of the information about Silas F. Millikan, particularly in a biographical sketch of the minister. The biography, written by an unknown author, includes quotes by Millikan, as well as substantial excerpts from papers that he wrote. The biography also mentions his involvement in the Oberlin-Wellington slave rescue. Also in this series is an article about Silas and Mary’s 50th wedding anniversary that includes biographical information concerning their six children.

Series 2, Correspondence, contains letters written by, and regarding, the Pease and Millikan families. Some of the letters were hand-copied by Marjorie (Millikan) Johnson. Among the letters are correspondence discussing the early death of S. Aurelia Pease’s brother Phineas and a letter from Silas Millikan’s mother to all of her children, scolding them for their quarrelling. Later letters from the 1950s and 1960s briefly discuss the genealogies and histories of the Franklin (by way of the Millikans), Millikan, and Andrews families. Series 3, Writings, contains a variety of writings, most notable of which is an essay about 100 years of co-education at Oberlin College. This piece, written by an unknown author, was hand-copied by Marjorie Millikan and is an interesting summary of the early years of Oberlin College’s education of women.

The fourth series, Miscellaneous, includes lecture notes made by Silas Millikan during his years at Oberlin College from lectures about physiology by Dr. James Dascomb, moral philosophy by President Charles G. Finney, mineralogy by Professor George N. Allen, and a French class. An annotated copy of Silas’ hymnbook from his pastorate in Crete, Illinois, is also in this series. This book and biographical information represent the extent of the documentation concerning his ministry. Series 5, Photographs, contains pictures of Mary Andrews Millikan and a photograph of the Pease family house in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

The collection is divided into 5 series: 1. Biographical Material, 2. Correspondence, 3. Writings, 4. Miscellaneous, and 5. Photographs.

Series 1. Biographical Material, 1853, 1914, c. 1950, 1958, n.d.

This series contains materials relating to the life and family history of Silas F. Millikan. Consists of the congregational index of the Stockbridge, Massachusetts Congregational Church with the Pease family members marked, an article about Mr. and Mrs. Silas F. Millikan’s 50th wedding anniversary, an article about the founding of Oberlin that mentions the Pease family, and a biographical sketch of Silas F. Millikan that includes quotations from him.

Series 2. Correspondence, 1814-1960 (span), n.d.

Consists of correspondence of the Pease and Millikan families. Includes letters to Phineas Pease regarding the death of his son Phineas (Aurelia’s brother) and correspondence by the Pease sisters and the Millikan family describing journeys and family matters. Also extends to Silas’ children, including Robert A. Millikan (Oberlin College, A.B. 1891).

Series 3. Writings, c. 1937, n.d.

Series consists of an essay, “A Century of Co-education,” regarding the centennial celebration of co-education at Oberlin College, a copy of inscriptions in Daniel Franklin’s Bible, a poem copied by Silas’ brother Robert D. Millikan, and an essay written by Martha A. Millikan.

Series 4. Miscellaneous, 1855, 1857

This series is comprised of various materials of Silas and Mary Millikan. Includes a bound notebook of lecture notes by Silas F. Millikan. Also includes Silas’ annotated copy of a hymnbook and a ribbon presented to Mary Jane Andrews (Millikan) from her grammar school classmates.

Series 5. Photographs, 1864, n.d.

This series consists of two photographs of Mary Andrews Millikan and a photograph of the Pease house in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

See Silas F. Millikan’s student file (RG 28), and Mabel Millikan Brown’s “Family Trails and Tales” in the Oberlin Alumni Magazine (Feb. 1965): 18-21. Also see the Student File and Papers (RG 30/40) of Robert E. Brown, and the Student File of Robert A. Millikan.