Grace Cowling Berlin Papers, 1917-1980
| Oberlin College Archives
Administrative/Biographical History
Grace Fern Cowling Berlin was born on March 3, 1897 in Monclova, Ohio to Sanford Matthew and Ruth Richardson Cowling. She was a lifelong resident of Monclova, Ohio, leaving only to attend Oberlin College in 1919.
While at Oberlin College she majored in Animal Ecology taking several courses in Botany, Organic Evolution, Animal Ecology, Ornithology, Geology and Astronomy. She was one of the first women in Ohio to earn a degree in Animal Ecology, graduating in 1923. During her attendance at the Oberlin College she resided in Lord Cottage and participated in the 7th annual cross country Ecology Field Trip, led by Professor of Animal Ecology, Lynds Jones in 1922.
After graduating in 1923, Miss Cowling returned to farming in Monclova, and married Mr. Herbert Berlin on November 7, 1925. She continued to be active in ecology throughout her lifetime serving as an officeholder in the National Audubon Society, Toledo Naturalists Association, Naturalists Camera Club, Ohio Audubon Society, National Wildlife Association, and the Ohio, Maumee Valley, Waterville, and Whitehouse historical societies. She also wrote several papers on early Ohio architecture and compiled information on early roads and one-room schoolhouses in Monclova Township.
In 1980 Mrs. Berlin was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame, honored for her contributions in ecology, ornithology, Ohio history and volunteer services.
Mrs. Berlin died Sunday, August 29, 1982 at the age of 85, with no known survivors. Contributions in her memory were made to the Log House Fund of the Whitehouse (OH) Historical Society.
SOURCES CONSULTED
Grace Cowling Berlin Alumni Record File (RG 30/409), Oberlin College Archives
Oberlin College Yearbook, Hi-O-Hi, 1923, Oberlin College Archives
Author: Julie Cowan Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative InformationThe papers of Grace Cowling Berlin were received in the Archives in two accessions. A scrapbook and ecology field trip report were received in 1979 from Lynds Jones, and had been placed in other record groups prior to the organization of the Grace Cowling Berlin Papers. The rest of the papers were donated by Gary Wolfe on July 2, 2010.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The papers of Grace Cowling Berlin are modest in volume, and varied in composition. The content of the material largely focuses on Grace Cowling's coursework at Oberlin College. There is emphasis on a cross country Ecology Field Trip taken in 1922, with fellow students and noteworthy Oberlin College Professor of Animal Ecology Lynds Jones.
The collection is divided into six series and alphabetically arranged; Series I. Artifact, Series II. Correspondence, Series III. Coursework Materials, Series IV. Ecology Trip Materials, Series V. Photographs, and Series VI. Printed Material.
The bulk of the collection consists of the coursework and ecology trip materials. Most of the coursework materials are handwritten lecture notes, and include two typewritten course outlines. The photographs in the ecology trip materials are predominantly black and white, 1”x2” in size, and depict the landscape flora and fauna of the Western United States seen by Grace Cowling on the 1922 Ecology Field Trip.
The personal photographs series holds one undated color photograph, 5”x7”, of Finney Chapel at Oberlin College and a portrait of Edward I. Bosworth. In addition to the photographs, the collection includes Grace Cowling’s Field Notes Journal, containing many descriptions and listings of bird species and plant life observed on her 1922 ecology trip.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series I. Artifact, 1980 (0.2 l.f.)
This series contains one dismantled trophy with wooden base and metal female angel top. The trophy was presented on August 26, 1980 by the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame to Mrs. Berlin for her contributions to the growth and progress of Ohio ecology, ornithology, history and volunteer services.
Series II. Correspondence, 1922, 1960 (0.05 l.f.)
The correspondence is comprised of two documents; one original letter to Grace Cowling (Berlin) from her sister, Eunice Pomeroy, and one miscellaneous note regarding the building of Lord Cottage in 1892, written by Mrs. Berlin.
Series III. Coursework Materials, 1922 (0.3 l.f.)
The series contains five folders pertaining to college courses taken by Grace Cowling (Berlin). These include a typewritten class syllabus with handwritten notes, handwritten lecture notes, and typewritten course outlines. See Inventory for listing of classes.
Series IV. Ecology Trip Materials, 1922 (1.81 l.f.)
A leather bound, 3”x5”, handwritten field notes journal, six newspaper clippings, two scrapbooks, and a typed report are contained within this series. The journal details a chronologically arranged daily description of what Grace Cowling (Berlin) observed in nature on her cross country Ecology Field Trip in 1922, while a student of Lynds Jones, Oberlin College Professor of Animal Ecology. The clippings are primarily relating to the Ecology field trip, with three of the articles written by Grace Cowan (Berlin), detailing her experiences. A typed report on the ecology trip, turned in for a grade by Cowling, is included.
Two hundred and forty seven photographs, mostly black and white prints, are within this series, and grouped by size (small: 1” x 2”; large: 3” x 5”, 5” x 7”, 8” x 10”) and two scrapbooks with photographs, one of which was in the collection of the Jones Family. The photographs are predominantly of scenery observed during the Ecology field trip, with several unidentified persons.
Series V. Personal Photographs, 1922, n.d. (2 items)
Comprises two personal photographs within one of the folders, depicting the location where Grace Cowling was married (Finney Chapel at Oberlin College), and a photograph of the officiating Dean Edward I. Bosworth.
Series VI. Printed Materials, 1980 (0.05 l.f.)
Two items of similar nature are contained within this series. One, 8.5” x 11” comb bound pamphlet, published by the Ohio Women’s and Hall of Fame Bureau, and one 5” x 7” folded, stapled pamphlet listing the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees of 1980. Grace Cowling Berlin is listed as an inductee in both pamphlets.
INVENTORY
Series I. Artifact
Box 2
Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame Induction Award, August 1980
Series II. Correspondence
Box1
Letter from sister, Eunice Pomeroy, July 1922
Misc. note re: building of Lord Cottage in 1892
Series III. Coursework Materials
Box 1
Syllabus of Lectures – A Christian Philosophy of Life, 1922
Class outlines
Botany 1 & Botany 2, 1922
Lecture notes
American Literature, September 1922
Botany, May 1922
History, 1922
Series IV. Ecology Trip (Western United States) Materials, 1922
Box 2
“A Report of the 1922 Ecology Trip” (student paper)
Field notes, 1922
Newspaper clippings, 1922, 1933
Ecology trip scrapbook, 1922 (disbound) (see also box 3)
Ecology trip photographs (various), 1922
Box 3
Ecology trip scrapbook, 1922
Series V. Personal Photographs (2 items)
Box 2
Finney Chapel (hand tinted)
Edward I. Bosworth
Series VI. Printed Matter
Box 1
Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees 1980