The Oberlin College Archives postcard collection, Record Group 36, consists of approximately 5500 black and white and color cards, c.1890s (1900-30)-2004, and n.d. The collection includes scenes from states and cities in the United States (arranged by state and cities within states), countries around the world, occasion cards (i.e., Thanksgiving, birthdays, World War I, and Easter), paintings in art galleries, and scenes from Oberlin, Ohio and the state of Ohio. The Oberlin College postcards primarily depict campus scenes, buildings, and events. The postcards of the town of Oberlin include street scenes, storms, businesses, schools and homes. The Ohio postcards (arranged alphabetically by town or city) include government buildings, monuments, schools, libraries, and other points of interest. Available is a separate box of miscellaneous cards, which include pictures of artwork, greetings, and various illustrations.

The Oberlin College and town postcards were reorganized in 2009 to follow the arrangement of the Photograph Collection vertical files for buildings and subjects, and placed into two archival boxes.

(Total volume--10 boxes, 8.56 l.f.)

The bulk of the collection was received as part of the John G. Olmstead Family Papers in 1967 and 1973. Postcards from other sources are added as they are received by the College Archives. 32 postcards of the Ban de la Roche area, John Frederick Oberlin's pastorate, were transferred in 2009 to the postcard collection from RG 32/5, Photographs: Subjects: Oberlin, John Frederick. Some of these postcards include correspondence by or to Mary E. Beard and her mother Mrs. A.F. Beard in the early 1900s.

Postcards are included in the Olmstead Papers (30/2), Series XIV. Postcards, 1906-1930, n.d. (0.4 l.f.)