Oberlin College Archives | Holdings | Finding Guides

RG 31 - Oberlin Community

Introduction

Among the current holdings of the Oberlin College Archives are approximately 120 manuscript groups. These non-institutional groups consist of records of arts and historical organizations, businesses, church and religious-based organizations, educational groups, health and medical associations, local government (city and township), service or charitable organizations, and outdoor recreation-based entities.

For purposes of intellectual control, the Archives has classified these groups of records under record group number 31, “Oberlin Community.” Under the classification system, each manuscript group holds an assigned identification number under 31 (i.e., Commercial Banks fall under 31/8). To assist users, Archives’ staff have also provided cross-references to a number of important institutional record groups because these records contain valuable bodies of documentation relating to community entities. The files of the Allen Memorial Hospital found in RG 6, Records of the Vice-President of Business and Finance, constitutes one example.

The total volume of records for RG 31 stands at about 257 feet, or 3 percent of the total volume of the holdings of the Oberlin College Archives.

Oberlin Community

NAME & CLASSIFICATION NO.	DATE SPAN	VOLUME

Academic/Educational
Living and Learning Institute (31/23)	1993-1994	2.0 l.f.
Oberlin Industrial School (31/6/16)	1885-1916, 1934	0.4 l.f.
Oberlin Manual Training School (31/40)	1887-1888	0.05 l.f.
Oberlin Public Schools (31/7)	1838(1850-1973)-1988	9.7 l.f.
Oberlin School of Commerce (31/21)	1884-1950	6.4 l.f.
Oberlin School of Telegraphy (31/34)	1873-1906	0.3 l.f.
See also Russia Township, Records of, Board of Education Files (RG 31/11)
Spencerian Penmanship School, Institute of See Oberlin School of Commerce

Arts & Historical Organizations
Lorain County Arts Council (31/17)	1986-1988	0.4 l.f.
Oberlin Historical and Improvement Organization (O.H.I.O.) (31/9) *	1903-2005	7.2 l.f.
Oberlin Historical Society See O.H.I.O.

Business
Apollo Theatre (31/3)	1920, 1931	0.05 l.f.
Bayer Diagnostics (31/28)	1941-2001	22.75 l.f.
Business Miscellaneous (31/3)	1857(1889-1964)-1964	0.05 l.f.
Citizen's National Bank of Oberlin (31/8)	1882-1901	12.6 l.f.
Fire Insurance Miscellaneous (31/3)	1884(1884-97)-1912	0.05 l.f.
First National Bank of Oberlin (31/8)	1863-1882	12.5 l.f.
Foote & Locke [Wellington & Pittsfield merchants] (31/3)	1837-1846	3 vols.
Gilford Instruments Laboratory See Bayer Diagnostics
E.L. Goodrich, Brownhelm (31/3)	1835-1845	1 vol.
N.H. House, Account Book of [salesman for Force Pump Co.] (31/3)	1871-72, 1878-81	0.05 l.f.
J.B.T. Marsh & Co. [financial consultants] (31/3)	1884	1 vol.
Oberlin Automobile Club (31/2)	1951	0.05 l.f.
Oberlin Business & Civic Association (RG 6, SG VII, Ser. 2)	1958-1961	0.2 l.f.
Oberlin Cable Co-op See Jeptha J. Carrell (30/251)
Oberlin Chamber of Commerce (31/25) (See also RG 6, SG VII, Ser. 2)	1953-1988	0.2 l.f.
Oberlin Consumers Cooperative (31/29)	1896(1940-2000)-2002	19.75 l.f.
Oberlin Druggists (31/39)	1882-1955	0.8 l.f.
Oberlin Grocery Store (31/3)	1875-1876	1 vol.
Oberlin Improvement and Development Company (31/24)	1950s-1970s	4.75 l.f.
Oberlin Telegraph Company - See Oberlin School of Telegraphy	1873-1906	0.3 l.f.
Residence Mutual Fire Association (31/3)	1884-1897	0.1 l.f.
Young & Arnold [building supplies] (31/3)	1882-1883	1 vol.

Church/Religious-Based Organizations
Cavalry Baptist Church (31/4/2)	1977-1980	0.01 l.f.
Christ Episcopal Church (31/4/2)	1912-1988	0.4 l.f.
Christ Episcopal Church, Microfilm reels (31/4/2)	1855-1939	0.1 l.f.
Christ Temple Apostolic Church (31/4/2)	1978, 2003	0.01 l.f.
Christian Science (31/4)	1958, 1966, 1975, 1979	0.05 l.f.
Church Women United (31/6/26)	1937-1998	0.8 l.f.
East Oberlin Community Church (31/4/4)	1931-1981	0.2 l.f.
First and Second Congregational Churches (31/4/1) *	1834-2003	27.85 l.f.
First Baptist Church of Oberlin (31/4/2)	1885-1988	0.05 l.f.
First United Methodist Church (31/4/2)	1869-1988	3.4 l.f.
Friends Meeting (31/4/2)	1938, n.d.	0.05 l.f.
Grace Lutheran Church, LC-MS (31/4/2)	1953-1989	0.05 l.f.
See also Graduate School of Theology (RG 11)
Litchfield [Ohio] U.C.C.C. History (31/4)	1833-1999	0.05 l.f.
Lorain County Congregational Association (31/38)	1837-1854	0.1 l.f.
Mt. Zion Baptist Church (31/4/2)	1903-1998	0.05 l.f.
Oberlin Area Cooperating Ministries (31/6/28)	1981-1995	0.6 l.f.
Oberlin Bible Society (31/38)	1849-1875	0.05 l.f.
Oberlin Christian Union (31/38)	1880-1913	0.2 l.f.
Oberlin Ministers Union (31/38)	1902-1917	1 vol.
Oberlin Unitarian Fellowship (31/4/2)	1974-1986	0.05 l.f.
Peace Community Church See First Baptist Church of Oberlin
Religious Groups Miscellaneous (31/4)	1899-2006	0.1 l.f.
Rust United Methodist Church (31/4/2)	1905-87, 1997	0.1 l.f.
Sacred Heart [Catholic] Church (31/4/2)	1903-1986	0.05 l.f.
See also Schauffler College of Religious & Social Work (RG 34)

Government (City, County, Township)
Amherst Township Civil Court (31/36)	1854-1874	0.4 l.f.
Lorain County Regional Planning Commission (31/37)	1956-67, 1979	0.3 l.f.
Lorain County Treasurer (31/1)	1884-1899	3.5 l.f.
Oberlin Cemetery Association - See Oberlin, City of	1861-1963	0.4 l.f.
Oberlin, City of (31/5)	1858-2006	55.46 l.f.
Oberlin Community Services Council (31/15) (incls: Oberlin Weekday Hot Meals Program)	1977-2006	0.4 l.f.
Oberlin Community Welfare Council (31/13)	1956-1976	0.2 l.f.
Oberlin Health Commission (31/14)	1959-1976	0.2 l.f.
Oberlin Interagency Council (31/26)	1991-2000	2.4 l.f.
Pittsfield, Ohio (church & school records) (31/35)	1835-1898	0.3 l.f.
Russia Township (31/11) (incls: Board of Education; Civil & Criminal Court; & Treasurer's Records)	1838-1926	6.0 l.f.

Health/Medical
Allen Memorial Hospital (RG 6, SG II, Ser. 10) (incls: Allen Memorial Hospital Association)	1926-1984	6.25 l.f.
American Red Cross in Oberlin (31/6/30)	1972	0.05 l.f.
Oberlin Hospital Association (31/12)	1906-1925	1.65 l.f.

Recreation
Oberlin Athletic Club (31/2)	1902-1903	0.07 l.f.
Oberlin Beach Association (31/31)	1905-1992	0.6 l.f.
Oberlin Golf Club Company (31/22) See also RG 6, SG VII, Ser. 2	1903-2006	8.2 l.f.

Service Organizations
Citizen's Aid Society (31/30)	1888-1894	1 vol.
Clubs and Associations, Misc. (31/2)	1886-2002	0.4 l.f.
Lorain County Children's Home (Oberlin, Ohio), Collection in Honor of the Rebeles Family (31/42)	1927-1933	0.05 l.f.
NAACP (Oberlin Chapter) (31/33)	1990-2004	0.4 l.f.
Neighborhood House Association, Lorain County (31/2)	1911-2006	0.05 l.f.
Oberlin Associated Charities (31/30)	1916	0.05 l.f.
Oberlin Braille Group (31/30)	1951-1955	0.01 l.f.
Oberlin Carpenters' Union Local No. 1968 (31/10/1)	1918-1972	0.6 l.f.
Oberlin City Club (31/20)	1956-1993	1.0 l.f.
Oberlin Community Chest (31/30)	1918, 1935	0.01 l.f.
Oberlin Community Players (31/27)	1920-1977	0.4 l.f.
Oberlin Exchange Club (31/2)	1921, 1926, 1946, 2002	0.02 l.f.
Oberlin Forum (31/6/15)	1965-1983	0.05 l.f.
Oberlin Village Improvement Society - See O.H.I.O.
Oberlin War Chest (31/30)	1918	0.01 l.f.
Poultry & Pet Stock Association of Oberlin (31/2)	1886-1914	0.05 l.f.
Rotary Club of Oberlin (31/16)	1938-2006	1.6 l.f.
Southside Neighborhood Assoc., Oberlin (31/2)	2001, 2006-7	0.05 l.f.
Young Men's Club (31/2)	1934-1965	0.05 l.f.

Social Reform or Action Groups
American Civil Liberties Union, Northeast Ohio Chapter (31/19)	1969-1997	3.85 l.f.
Citizens for Voters Rights (31/6/27)	1975-1983	0.2 l.f.
Environmental Information Center (31/2)	c. 1972	0.05 l.f.
Ladies Temperance League, incls: WCTU (31/6/4) *	1874-1882	0.05 l.f.
Lorain County Progressives (31/2)	1913	0.05 l.f.
Non-Partisan Woman's Christian Temperance Union (31/6/10) *	1897-1924	0.2 l.f.
Oberlin Clubs Miscellaneous (31/2)	1895, 1911, 1916, 1926	0.05 l.f.
Oberlin Female Moral Reform Society (31/6/11)	1835-1857	0.05 l.f.
Oberlin Race Relations Committee (31/41)	2000-2002	0.1 l.f.
Oberlin Temperance League/Alliance (31/32) *	1870-1917	0.4 l.f.
The Plumbers [retired faculty lunch group] (31/2)	c. 1950, 1986-87	0.05 l.f.
Phyllis Wheatley Community Center (31/2)	1940-48, 2000	0.01 l.f.
Woman's Christian Temperance Union (31/6/4) *	1882-1976	1.25 l.f.
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society (31/4/1) *	1869-1931	1.0 l.f.
Woman's Relief Corp (31/6/18)	1885-1944	1.25 l.f.

Women's Professional Clubs or Organizations
American Association of University Women (31/6/21) *	1914-1998	1.6 l.f.
Finitimi Society (31/6/7)	1902-1926	0.2 l.f.
Junior Forum (31/6/23)	1936-1966	0.1 l.f.
Ladies Circulating Missionary Library (31/6/25)	n.d.	0.05 l.f.
League of Women Voters of Oberlin (31/6/5)	1924-2006	2.4 l.f.
Literary and Social Club (31/6/20)	1926-1983	0.2 l.f.
Maternal Association of Oberlin (31/6/19)	1835-1866	0.2 l.f.
Mutual Benefit Association (31/6/17)	1893-1921	0.2 l.f.
Mutual Improvement Club (31/6/14)	1913-1914	0.01 l.f.
Newcomers Club (31/6/8)	1962-1975	0.15 l.f.
Nineteenth Century Club (31/6/3)	1900-2001	2.8 l.f.
Oberlin Business and Professional Women's Club (31/6/29)	1950-1967	0.2 l.f.
Oberlin Junior League (31/6/22)	1935-1936	0.05 l.f.
Oberlin Junior Women's Club (31/6/9)	1954, 1960-64	0.2 l.f.
Oberlin Sorosis (31/6/2)	1897-2000	2.4 l.f.
Oberlin Woman's Club (31/6/1)	1901-1981	4.2 l.f.
Order of the Eastern Star (31/6/6)	1918, 1953-54, 1974-77	0.05 l.f.
Russia Township Farm Women's Club (31/6/31)	1923-2000	1.0 l.f.
Senior Forum (31/6/24)	1940-2001	1.4 l.f.
Women's Progressive Club (31/6/13)	1912 , 1927, 2004	0.01 l.f.

Note: The records listed under Women’s Professional Clubs or Organizations, for which there is as of yet no online finding guide, are fully described in the Guide to the Women’s History Sources in the Oberlin College Archives, edited by R.M. Baumann (Oberlin, 1990). This subject guide, under “Published Resources,” is available on the website of the Oberlin College Archives (www.oberlin.edu/archive/).

*Denotes MARC.AMC record accessible locally on OBIS, nationally on OCLC. A great many of the machine-readable records are also to be found on RLIN.

Revised 1995, 2000


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