Department of German and Russian Records, 1913-1992, n.d.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I.  Departmental Administrative Files, 1913-92, n.d.  (0.4 l.f.)

            Subseries 1.  Grant Files, 1961-1962

            Records include the Progress Reports and Final Report for a grant received by Oberlin College from the Language Development Section of the U.S. Office of Education.  The project, directed by Joseph Reichard, investigated the impact of electromechanical aids on the teaching of foreign languages at Oberlin.  Progress reports outline the scope and findings of the project, and also provide examples of classroom instruction and student work.  The Final Report presents  the project’s accomplishments, and includes the remarks of consultants from Ohio State University, Northwestern University, and the Educational Testing Service.  Examples of classroom instruction materials are also found in the final report.  Arrangement is chronological.

            Subseries 2.  Miscellaneous Printed Material, 1940, 1963-92, n.d.

            Included are the programs and brochures for the German Write in Residence Series, noting such guests as Fritz Hochwalder, Johannes Schenk and Christa Wolf.  Other material includes brochures from the German Summer Session, and related programs supported by the German and Russian Department.  Series is arranged alphabetically and chronologically thereunder.

            Subseries 3.  Student Surveys, 1913-73

            Completed surveys from students of Russian and German (1913-1973) can be found here.  Students detail their continuing education, use of their foreign language, and offer suggestions for the improvement of the department.  Included also is a mailing list of departmental majors, and other materials associated with the implementation of the survey.  Series is arranged alphabetically by folder.

Series II.  German Language Instruction Files, 1959-84, n.d.  (0.6 l.f.)

            Subseries 1.  German Club Programs, 1938-1943

            Included are the programs from the German Club’s Christmas, Easter, and other seasonal gatherings.  The programs are primarily in German, and contain the texts of songs and poems.  Series is arranged chronologically.

            Subseries 2.  German House, 1959-83, n.d.

            German House directors files and resident lists are found here.  Material in the directors files include correspondence, applications for residency, policy statements, and budget reports.  Included also is Elizabeth A. Siber’s “A study of German House at Oberlin College” (1960).  Arrangement is alphabetical by folder and chronological thereunder.

            Subseries 3.  German Programs Abroad, 1971-83

            Included are the records regarding the German Summer Abroad Program, the German Summer Session in Vienna, and the German Summer Session Program.  Applications, brochures, participants lists, and directors reports can be found in these files.  Included also is correspondence from students at other colleges who participated in these language programs.  Series is arranged alphabetically by folder title.

            Subseries 4.  Miscellaneous Files, 1961-63, 1965-80, 1984

            Series contains files on the German Honors Program, the hiring of Graduate Assistant Heidemarie Feyer, the 1984 death of faculty member John W. Kurtz, and the administration of German placement and proficiency examinations. Files include correspondence, clippings, and printed material.  Arrangement is alphabetical by folder.

Series III.  Russian Language Instruction Files, 1965-72, 1974  (1.4 l.f.)

            Subseries 1.  Honors Papers, 1966-1973, n.d.

            Records include the honors papers of Ellen Chances, Edith Clowes, Alexandra Podwalny, Wendy Pollack, Helen Scott, and Walter Winslow.  Only one of the papers is in English; the remaining are in Russian.  Arrangement is alphabetical by student.

            Subseries 2.  Russian Summer Session Program (RSSP), 1965-70

            Series contains records of the Russian Summer Session Program (RSSP).  Included are budget files, directors reports, mailing lists, and student questionnaires.  The chronological files, kept by Assistant Professor Margaret Hoover, holds a variety of material; correspondence, brochures, applications, participants lists, and regulatory material regarding travel in the Soviet Union.

            Subseries 3.  Russian Semester Abroad Program, 1968-70

            Series contains records of the Russian Semester Abroad Program.  Includes correspondence, telegrams, clippings, examinations, bibliographies, blank application forms, memos and other materials from the Council on International Educational Exchange, student lists, course critiques, a booklet in Russian, and a list of Russian language programs in the U.S. in 1968.

            Subseries 4.  Miscellaneous Files, 1965-72, 1974

            Items include a 1974 student questionnaire, records regarding the experimental use and implementation of an Educational Testing Service Russian Exam (1965-1972) and the testing of student Christine Pilecki.  Material on the death of American, Newcomb Mott, while touring the Soviet Union (1966), is also found here.  Arrangement is chronological by folder title.