The Gertrude F. Jacob Papers ’29 consists of six (6) record series. The scope and content of the historical material is relatively narrow and uneven, given that the content primarily covers Miss Jacob’s professional career at Oberlin’s Office of the Secretary, 1937-43, the Graduate School of Theology (GST), 1944-65, and the Oberlin College Archives, 1965-89. Of particular interest are Jacob’s comments regarding the closure of the GST and the details of her work at the Oberlin College Archives.

Series I. Biographical File, 1929-89, n.d. (1 folder)

Consists of a number of individual documents that report on her life and times, including her employment at Oberlin College and the auto accident that ultimately led to her death in August 1989.

Series II. Correspondence Files, 1897, 1909-18, 1939-89 (54 folders)

Consisting of six subseries, the correspondence is mainly of letters sent (copies of) and letters received from Oberlin College Alumni [especially from graduates of the Graduate School of Theology (GST) where Miss Jacob was employed], friends, and acquaintances developed over the years while working at the College Archives. The outgoing letters are newsy and they report on events at GST and Oberlin College. They also comment on the archival holdings (mostly genealogical in character) held by the College Archives. Key correspondents include Thomas Graham, Walter Horton, and William Morison (Archivist, University of Louisville).

This series is divided into six (6) subseries: 1. Personal Files (incls. comments regarding the closure of the GST); 2. Archival-Related Files; 3. Research-Related Files; 4. GST-VDS Related Files; 5. Missionary Correspondence, 1939-84; and, 6. Schauffler College, at Defiance College.

Series III. Diaries, 1936-70 (7 volumes)

Daily entries consist of three-to-four sentences that account for letters received and written and that comment on the weather and social activities.

Series IV. Genealogical Files, c. 1880s(1960-1989)-1989, n.d. (alpha order, 28 folders)

Consists of two subsets—general genealogical information on sources and 25 name files. Some materials are photocopies.

Series V. Writings (by Jacob), 1929, 1985 (1 folder)

Consists of one abstract paper written by Jacob in 1929 as well as an article published in "The Spire" on Richard C. Wolf, a professor at the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology and Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Series VI. Non-Textual Files, c. 1881-1913, n.d. (3 folders)

A small lot of Oberlin related non-textual material, consisting of three painted items, numerous postcards and greeting cards, and miscellaneous printed matter such as decorative booklets, advertisements, and prayer cards.

Gertrude F. Jacob donated this collection to the Oberlin College Archives in two accessions, 1974 (accession 249) and 1989 (accession 1989/132).