Historical Note

The Oberlin File consists of historical material received piecemeal and from sources that do not fit into existing groups. The contents of these files lack organic relationships except in the broadest sense, and they run the gamut from manuscripts to printed or otherwise duplicated materials. Included are letters, essays, poetry, notes, memoranda, legal documents, articles, speeches, recollections, clippings, tracts, reports, and drawings.

Scope and Content Note

The Oberlin File is a disparate collection whose contents include genealogical records and family histories, letters, lectures and addresses, miscellany, newspapers and periodicals, deeds and other legal documents, writings by Oberlinians, and writings about Oberlin. For example, an 1834 field survey of Oberlin is located with the deeds and other legal and historical documents. Writings by Oberlinians include The Swamp That Was Different: A Brief History of Oberlin Land-Use (1985) and “Talcott Attic History” (1991). Writings about Oberlin include “A Patchwork Guide to Oberlin: The Oberlin Quilt” (1976) and “A ’Spacious, Commodious and Comfortable Place to Speak’: Charles G. Finney’s Revolution in Church Architecture” (1994). The researcher seeking information on Oberlin’s built environment is advised to view the full alphabetical listing of items in this group of Oberliniana because these files contain references to land deeds, buildings, and so forth. An in-house index is available.