The records of the Vice-President for Business and Finance incorporate the records of the predecessor office of Business Manager established in 1954. The bulk of the records represent the time period 1960 through 1983. The Business Manager and his successor, Vice President of Business and Finance, were responsible for coordinating the administration of non-academic departments of the College, including all functions relating to accounting systems and buildings and grounds, residences and dining halls and all purchases of goods and services.

The record group, which is organized into seven subgroups, reports on the respective areas of responsibility and administrative functions. The subgroups are: I. Administrative Records of the Vice-President for Business and Finance (Governance Files); II. Administrative Records of the Vice-President for Business and Finance (General Files); III. Personnel Files; IV. Academic Divisions, Departments and Programs; V. Buildings and Grounds; VI. Committee Files; and VII. Organizations and Associations.

The first two subgroups document the Vice-President's main areas of administration, namely, budgetary and investment responsibilities. The files of the various governing bodies of Oberlin College are hierarchically ordered. The records of the governing bodies (Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, Presidential Staff Meetings, Investment Committee) contain minutes, agenda, memoranda, and background materials relating to the operation and function of the Business Office and the College in general.

Subgroup II, consisting of records that document the daily administration of the Business and Finance Office, is organized into ten series. Extant is a fairly complete run of auditing reports, budgetary records, investment and endowment files, and general and subject files. Of particular importance are the records concerning College insurance and health plans. In addition, the Vice President's role as a member of the Allen Memorial Hospital Board is represented here. Of special importance is the history of the hospital which these files contain.

The Vice-President's responsibility for the non-faculty employee groups and staff of the College is documented in Subgroup III, Personnel Records. Correspondence regarding negotiations with O-COPE and OCEA, as well as salary classifications from A & PS, make up the first series. This important operations office frequently received copies of all college-wide transactions, including appointments. In series two, Staff Appointment Files, are filed faculty and staff members, along with information on tenure and reappointment for the period 1978-85. The third series, Topical Files, deals with a variety of issue including, benefits, payroll, pensions, leaves, retirement, etc.

The remaining four subgroups are organized on the basis of particular functions performed by the Vice-President's Office. In subgroup IV, consisting of information copies that document various academic departments and programs, are located the files of both current and defunct divisions, departments and programs. The power and influence of the Business and Finance Office was such that the Vice-President received copies of most memos that were sent out even though he had no academic duties. The files consist of requests for funding of special programs as well as additional funding for those already in existence from corresponding departments and are not particularly rich in research data. However, the records do document several programs that might otherwise have been forgotten if not for their detailing here.

Subgroup V, Buildings and Grounds, contain documentation regarding that department because the Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds reported to the Business Officer. The annual reports, which cover the period 1937-65, provide important detail on the activities of Buildings and Grounds, activity from before it came under the Vice-President's control and after. General files deals with a variety of topics from building administration to maintenance. Lewis Tower, during the period 1953-71, played an important role in the development of the physical plant of the College. This is well documented in the third series which contains materials in regards to the planning, financing and construction of the King Building (1961), Mudd Library (1974), and the Oberlin Inn (1955). The Oberlin Inn files are substantial and deal with all phases of Inn operation from 1954 through 73. Documentation regarding an addition to the Inn (1970) is also well represented. The final series in this group originated from the Buildings and Grounds Offices. The bulk of the files cover a period predating the Vice-President's control over the department. Records go back as far as 1923, but most of the information deals with the period 1938 through 1950.

Committee files further illuminate the amount of involvement the Vice-President had in the activities of the College. The committees on which he served on are represented in this subgroup: Budget Advisory Committee, Budget and Finance Committee, Building and Grounds Committee, College Benefits Committee, College Investment Committee, Finance Committee, Skating Rink Committee, Student-Faculty Health Task Force Committee and Tuition Remission Subcommittee.

The final subgroup reports on the relationship Oberlin College, and in particular, the Business and Finance Office, had with a variety of local, state, regional and national organizations and associations. Of particular interest are the files dealing with the Oberlin Golf Club and its lease from Oberlin College, and the files relating to the transfer of Westervelt Hall to the City of Oberlin. In addition, Oberlin College's involvement in the Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA)is documented here. This group is divided into six series: 1. Oberlin College; 2. Oberlin Community; 3. Northern Ohio; 4. State of Ohio; 5. Regional and 6. National.

The records of the Office of Business and Finance are arranged as follows:

I. Administrative Files of the Vice-President for Business and Finance (Governance Files)

1. Board of Trustees Files

I. Minutes of the Board of Trustees

II. Minutes of the Executive Committee

III. Minutes of the Investment Committee

IV. Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees

2. Correspondence with the Board of Trustees

3. Correspondence with the President

4. Presidential Staff Meetings Files

II. Administrative Records of the Vice-President for Business and Finance (General)

1. Auditing Reports

2. Budgetary Records

I. Budgets (Institutional)

II. Buildings and Grounds Budgets

III. Departmental Budgets

IV. Educational and General Budgets

V. Housing and Dining Budgets

VI. Salary and Benefits Budget(s)

VII. Budget Projections/Planning

VIII. Budget--General Allocations/Changes

IX. Budget--Benefit related files

X. Budget--Salary related files

3. Investment and Endowment Files

I. Investment and Endowment Records

II. Custodian Statements

III. Operating Statements

IV. Tax Files

4. Grants and Loans Files

5. Contracts, Leases and Real Estate Files

I. Contracts and Leases Files

II. Real Estate Files

6. Insurance and Health Plan Files

7. Chronological Files

8. General Correspondence Files

I. Colleges and Universities

II. Individuals

III. Memoranda and General Files

9. Administrative Departments

10. Files relating to Allen Memorial Hospital (See also Records of the V.P. for Finance R6 54)

11. Topical Files

III. Personnel Records

1. Bargaining Units/Classified Groups

2. Staff Appointment Files

3. Topical Files

4. Service Employee Files

IV. Academic Divisions, Departments and Programs Files

1. Academic Divisions

2. Academic Departments

3. Academic Programs

V. Buildings and Grounds Files

1. Annual Reports

2. General Files

3. Buildings (Business and Finance Office Files), A-Z

4. Buildings (Physical Plant Department Files), A-Z

5. Files relating to the Hall Arboretum (copies)

VI. Committee Files

VII. Organizations and Associations

1. Oberlin College

2. Oberlin Community

3. Northern Ohio

4. State of Ohio

5. Regional

6. National

Note: Accession 1996/061 contains materials related to several series listed in the outline above. The accession was kept separate from the remainder of the collection due to its size (13.75 l.f.). The inventory for this accession begins on page 39 and cross references appear in the main inventory for related files found in 1996/061.

Subgroup I.  Administrative Files of the Vice-President for Business and

            Finance (Governance)

Consisting of four series, this subgroup covers the administrative governance activities of the Vice-President for Business and Finance.  Included are records from the institutional bodies on which the Vice-President served or reported to: 1.  Board of Trustees Files; 2.  Correspondence with the Board of Trustees; 3.  Correspondence with the President; and 4.  Presidential Staff Meetings.

            Series 1.  Board of Trustees Files, 1970-88 (15.35 l.f.)

                        This chronologically arranged series contains an incomplete run of Trustee, Executive Committee, Investment Committee, and other miscellaneous committee minutes as well as  memoranda, meeting agendas and background material pertinent to these  meetings.  The four subseries are: I.  Minutes of the Board of  Trustees;  II.  Minutes of the Executive Committee; III.  Minutes  of the  Investment  Committee;  and IV.   Minutes  of  Miscellaneous Committees.

            Series 2.  Correspondence with the Board of Trustees, 1975-87 (1.1 l.f.)

                        Consists  of correspondence from various  Trustee  members,  including  George Bent, Robert S. Danforth  (d.1987),  and Lloyd Morrisett.  Also included is the correspondence between the Vice-president  and  Oberlin  College's  legal   counsel--Fauver, Tattersall & Gallagher, Elyria, Ohio.

            Series  3.  Correspondence with the President, 1954-87  (0.8 l.f.)

                        Correspondence and memoranda between the Vice-President and the President, including the presidencies of Stevenson, Carr, Fuller, and Danenberg, which covers four decades. 

            Series 4.  Presidential Staff Meeting Files, 1955-59, 1982-88 (0.4 l.f.)

                        Minutes,  memoranda, agendas, correspondence  and  supporting documentation used by the Vice-President of Business  and Finance as a member of the Presidential Staff and  Administrative Council.  Permission of the archivist is required.

Subgroup II.  Administrative Records of the Vice-President for Business and Finance (General Files)

Subgroup  II documents the Vice-President's  functional  responsibilities as the chief business officer of Oberlin  College.   The  divisional  responsibilities and investments  outlined  here constitute  the day to day administrative areas of  responsibilities,  apart from the governance chronicled in Subgroup  I.   The series are : 1.  Auditing Report Files; 2.  Budgetary Records; 3.  Investment  and Endowment Files; 4.  Grants and Loans  Files;  5.  Contracts, Leases and Real Estate Files; 6.  Insurance and Health Plan  Files; 7.  Chronological Files; 8.  General  Correspondence Files; 9.  Administrative Departments; and 10.  Files relating to Allen Memorial Hospital; and 11. Topical Files.

            Series 1.  Auditing Report Files, 1927-37, 1949-81 (1.0 l.f.)

                        This series consists of auditor's reports from the firm of  Arthur Anderson and Company, Cleveland, Ohio.   In  addition, memoranda  and report analysis material produced by the  Business Manager is also present.  The reports largely deal with  accounting procedures and internal control.

            Series 2.  Budgetary Records, 1936-89 (31.8 l.f.)

                        Consisting  of the working budget files, included  here are  budget projections, closing, Education and General  Budgets, Housing  and Dining Budgets, Departmental Budgets  and  Buildings and  Grounds Budgets.  The subseries are: I.   Budgets  (Institutional);  II.  Buildings and Grounds Budgets; III.   Departmental Budgets;  IV.  Educational and General Budgets; V.   Housing  and Dining  Budgets; VI.  Salary and Benefits Budgets;  VII.   Budget Projections/Planning; VIII.  Budget-General  Allocations/Changes; IX.  Budget--Benefit related files and X.  Budget--Salary related files.

            Series  3.   Investment and Endowment Files,  1954-89  (12.25 l.f.)

                        Subjects  included  in the general  files  relating  to  investments are assets, securities, South African divestment, and revenue  projections.  In addition, these files contain  information  on the handling of investments and  performance  evaluation provided by the companies, etc., and are arranged  alphabetically by  company.   The  subseries are: I.  Investment  and  Endowment Records; II. Custodian Statements and III.  Operating Statements.

            Series 4.  Grants and Loans Files, 1965-87 (3.9 l.f.)

                        The  Grants and Loans files which contain  federal  and private  grant applications, cover institutional applications  to the  American  Council on Education,  Atomic  Energy  Commission, College Science Improvement, and the National Science Foundation.  Grant  files are arranged alphabetically by name of agency  being applied to.

Series 5.  Contracts, Leases and Real Estate Files, 1969-88 (3.95 l.f.)

                        Included  are  contracts, leases and  other  agreements which  Oberlin  College had with several groups such  as:  Public Library, Golf Club and the Intermuseum Conservation  Association.  Also  part of this series is documentation  regarding  investment properties  that  were  once or are currently  owned  by  Oberlin College.   The affairs of these properties and their income  were handled  by  the Business and Finance Office.  They  represent  a variety  of interests from a variety of locations in  the  United States.  The series is divided in to two subseries: I.  Contracts and Leases Files and II.  Real Estate Files

            Series 6.  Insurance and Health Plan Files, 1969-88  (2.4 l.f.)

                        The  Insurance  series is arranged  alphabetically  and includes  the  basic benefit price comparison  between  competing companies.  The Student Health Plan files make up a large section of  this  series.  Included are yearly  benefit  adjustments  and price information.

            Series 7.  Chronological Files, 1956-88 (11.90 l.f.)

                        This  series  contains the chronological files  of  the Office of Business and Finance from 1956-88.  Included are  memoranda,  notes,  correspondence,  etc. that were  collected  on  a monthly  basis and filed together.  Because of this, there  is  a varying  amount of material in each file and topics are  assorted as well.

            Series 8.  General Correspondence Files, 1956-87 (1.65 l.f.)

                        The  general  file is an alphabetical  file  consisting primarily of correspondence and memoranda on a variety of  topics from  administrative  appointments to  vehicle  registration.   A portion  of  the  correspondence relates to  other  colleges  and universities as well as inquiries from individuals interested  in miscellaneous college matters.  It is divided into three  subseries:  I.  Colleges and Universities; II.  Individuals;  and  III.  Memoranda and General Files.

            Series  9.  Administrative Departments, 1956-88  (6.95 l.f.)

                        These  files,  which  represent  general  informational files  maintained by the Business and Finance Office,  report  on the programming and operations of various administrative entities throughout the college.  Most of these offices and units  perform an integral support function germane to the Business and  Finance Office.   The series is arranged alphabetically by the  title  of the office or departmental unit.

            Series 10.  Files relating to Allen Memorial Hospital, 1926-84 (6.25 l.f.)

                        This alphabetically arranged series contains the  files relating to the activities of both Lewis Tower and Dayton Livingston as members of the Board of Directors of the hospital.   Also of  importance is a history file on the Allen  Memorial  Hospital dating back to 1926.

            Series 11. Topical Files, 1956-86 (1.25 l.f.)

                        This series includes records documenting a variety of topics including Cable Co-op, disaster planning, consultants, rentals, utilities, and other services.

Subgroup III.  Personnel Records

            Series 1.  Bargaining Units/Classified Groups, 1968-84 (1.3 l.f.)

                        This  series  contains documentation relating  to  OCEA (Oberlin  College Education Association) and OCOPE in regards  to negotiations and collective bargaining for new contracts.

            Series 2.  Staff Appointment Files, 1978-85 (1.5 l.f.)

                        Documentation consists of yearly appraisals of  current faculty  and staff concerning reappointment and advancement,  and records of past actions.  Records are arranged alphabetically  by year.

            Series 3.  Topical Files, 1954-88 (3.4 l.f.)

                        This  series includes records documenting a variety  of topics including faculty and staff surveys, benefits information, pay  scales,  AAUP job classification, pensions,  retirement  and TIAA-CREF.

            Series 4.  Service Employee Files, 1920-1970 (2.5 l.f.)

                        This series consists of files of the minorities who were employed by Buildings & Grounds.

Subgroup IV.  Academic Divisions, Departments and Programs Files

The  records  of this subgroup document the  academic  divisions,  departments  and programs at Oberlin  College.   Included within this context are files relating to graduate study,  budgetary concerns, and funding requests.  Academic programs  includes both  on-campus and off-campus programs.  The subgroup is  organized  around three series: 1.  Academic Divisions,  Academic  Departments, and Academic Programs.

            Series 1.  Academic Divisions, 1958-88 (0.8 l.f.)

                        This series is comprised of files relating to  funding, budgetary allocations and requests from the three main  divisions at  Oberlin College, i.e. the College of Arts and  Sciences,  the Conservatory of Music and the Graduate School of Theology.

            Series 2.  Academic Departments, 1965-87 (0.7 l.f.)

                        The series academic departments is comprised of departmental files arranged alphabetically by department title.   Documentation includes requests for additional staffing and  funding, budgetary allocations and reviews of programs.

            Series 3.  Academic Programs, 1959-85 (1.45 l.f.)

                        Academic  programs contain records of current and  noncurrent programs, both on and off campus.  Examples of  on-campus programs  are Creative Writing, Institute on Racism and  Institutional Change, Upward Bound and Winter Term.  A variety of summer programs  run by the college can be found here.  Off-campus  programs such as the Danenberg in London program and German  Studies in Vienna are also a part of this series.

Subgroup V.  Buildings and Grounds Files

            Series 1.  Annual Reports, 1937-65 (0.8 l.f.)

                        Included  here are the annual reports received  by  the Vice-President from the Director of Buildings and Grounds  covering the period 1937-65.

            Series 2.  General Files, 1956-86 (0.7 l.f.)

                        These  files contain general information in regards  to buildings  and  grounds financing and planning.   Topics  covered deal  with space rearrangement, building cost,  maintenance,  use rates and rental fees.

            Series 3.  Buildings (Business and Finance Office Files), A-Z, 1928-87 (15.6 l.f.)

                        Consists  of an alphabetical listing of files by  place names  generally  having to do with construction  and  renovation projects  at Oberlin College.  The College Park Lot  records  are arranged  numerically  within this series.   Substantial  records document  Oberlin  College Inn and its operations  from  1954-81.  Also,  there  are extensive photographs of East  and  South  Hall construction.

            Series 4.  Buildings (Physical Plant Department Files), A-Z, 1916-58 (8.35 l.f.)

                        This  series contains an alphabetical listing of  files by  place name that were held by the Physical Plant Department.  The series consists of two subseries:  Subseries 1.  Negative Photographic Files; and Subseries 2.  Photographic Prints and Related Media which covers the years 1926-58.  Included here are the following media:  construction floor plans, underground water and steam lines, rental properties and  planning records.  In addition, it contains a variety  of photographs representing miscellaneous college buildings.

            Series 5.  Files Relating to the Hall Arboretum, 1937-52 (copies)

                        This series contains information regarding the Hall Arboretum, including planting lists, tree types and tree counts, and planting plans for the seasons between 1937 and 1952.

Subgroup VI.  Committee Files, 1968-83 (4.55 l.f.)

Arranged  alphabetically, this subgroup  contains  committee minutes, pertinent records, notes  and information regarding  the various  committees the Vice-president for Business  and  Finance served  on: the Budget Advisory Committee, the Budget  Allocation Committee, the Budget and Finance Committee, Personnel Committee, Planning  and Development Committee, the  Student-Faculty  Health Task Force and the Tuition Remission Committee.

Subgroup VII.  Organizations and Associations

This subgroup is comprised of records of numerous educational  affiliations  which are held by Oberlin College  as  well  as general  inquiries  both by and for the Office  of  Business  and Finance.   The  records  consist of local,  state,  regional  and national  records are divided in to six series: 1.  Oberlin  College;  2.   Oberlin Community; 3.  Northern Ohio;  4.   State  of Ohio; 5.  Regional; and 6.  National.

            Series 1.  Oberlin College, 1957-85 (0.6 l.f.)

                        Documents  the  activities of several  Oberlin  College student  organizations from a financial standpoint.   Correspondence  regarding  student  treasurer's for these  groups  is  also included.

            Series 2.  Oberlin Community, 1953-88 (2.3 l.f.)

                        Oberlin College, and especially the Business and Finance Office,  has had an interest in and influence on town  government regarding  the  topics of finances, buildings  and  grounds.   Of particular  interest are the files dealing with the Oberlin  Golf Club  and its lease from Oberlin College, and the  files  dealing with the transfer of Westervelt Hall to the City of Oberlin. 

            Series 3.  Northern Ohio, 1913-85 (0.6 l.f.)

                        General correspondence received by and sent to Northern Ohio  businesses concerning donations, loans, and other  transactions with Oberlin College.

            Series 4.  State of Ohio, 1956-85 (0.4 l.f.)

                        Miscellaneous  correspondence and materials  concerning Oberlin College which relate to several Ohio associations such as the Ohio Association of College and University Business Officers, the Ohio College Association and the Ohio Board of Regents.

            Series 5.  Regional, 1958-87 (1.2 l.f.)

                        Documentation  of  a financial nature  from  the  Great Lakes  Colleges  Association.  Examples are  tuition  and  salary comparisons among member institutions.  Also included is a  minimal  amount of material from the North Central Association  which evaluates  educational institutions to check for  quality  standards.

            Series 6.  National, 1961-88 (1.25 l.f.)

                        Records  in  this series include documentation  on  the numerous  professional  associations and organizations  to  which Oberlin College holds membership.  Also, contains  correspondence from various government departments ad agencies in regarding  the financial matters of Oberlin College.

The records of the Office of Vice-President for Business and Finance were transferred to the Oberlin College Archives in several accessions between 1969 and 1996 by Maggie Campbell, a secretary in the Business and Finance Office. Photographs and negatives were received from Facilities, Planning, and Construction in 1997 [1997/140]. Photocopies of minutes of meetings of the Allen Memorial Hospital Trustees, 7 April 1969- 23 September 1969, were received from Christ Harding Public Relations offices of the Hospital in 1999 [1999/092].  Records on the construction of the Allen Memorial Art Museum addition were received from Marianne Carmichael in the Construction Office in 2000 [2000/071].  Records on the construction of the Allen Memorial Art Museum addition were received from Marianne Carmichail in the Construction Office in 2000 [2000/071].

For records associated with the Office of the Vice President for  Business and Finance, the researcher is advised to consult the  following collections: Alumni and Development Office  (28/3) and the Records of the Office of the Treasurer (7).