Administrative/Biographical History
ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
Founded on May 1, 1966, the Oberlin College Archives is an administrative unit authorized by the Board of Trustees at its June 1962 meeting. The Archivist reported to one of the senior administrative offices and outside of the Library from its founding until 2008. At that time the reporting structure was changed such that the Archivist reports to the Library Director.
Over time the holdings of the College Archives have been housed in three locations: Cox Administration Building, up to 1967; Bosworth Hall, 1967-1973; and the Mudd Center, 1974 to present. During the 1990s the College Archives also occupied ancillary storage space on the fourth floor of the Carnegie Library Building.
Between 1899 and the early 1960s Oberlin’s Corporate Secretary served as the “unofficial” Archivist and was responsible for maintaining and servicing institutional records. Non-institutional records, often referred to as “Oberliniana,” were kept by the College Library. George Morris Jones, 1899-1938, and Donald M. Love, 1938-1962, served as secretary and archivist before a professional archivist was employed. William E. Bigglestone served as the first archivist (May 1, 1966—July 31, 1986). He was succeeded by Roland M. Baumann (January 1, 1987—September 30, 2008), and by Kenneth M. Grossi (2008 to present).
For additional details on the movement to establish an Archives and on the tenures of Bigglestone and Baumann, respectively, readers should consult the Archives’ annual reports, 1966 to 1999, and two written pieces: Roland M. Baumann, “Oberlin College and the Movement to Establish an Archives, 1920-1966,” The Midwestern Archivist, 13 (1988): 27-38; and Lisa Hicks, “The Development of the Oberlin College Archives, [1966-1986],” which was a paper submitted to the Kent State University School of Library Science in fulfillment of Ms. Hicks’ 1991 M.L.S. Degree. This unpublished paper is filed in RG 21, “Oberlin File.”
Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative InformationThe voluminous files document the full range of archival functions carried out by the staff operating under William E. Bigglestone, Roland M. Baumann, and Kenneth M. Grossi, respectively, over more than five decades.
In particular the records handsomely document the acquisition of collections, the nature and level of reference activity, the role played by the unit on the instructional front, and the unit’s ongoing struggle for institutional support to keep pace with the growing demands of the campus community for archival services.
The evolution and maturation of the archival program in all of its manifestations is probably as well documented as any among liberal arts colleges.
SERIES DESCRIPTION
Subgroup I. Files Relating to the Tenure of William Bigglestone,
1959-1988 (9.4 lin. ft.)
Files in subgroup I document archival development and activities during William E. Bigglestone's twenty-year tenure as Archivist. The group contains fifteen record series: 1. Accessions Files; 2. Annual Reports; 3. Appraisal Reports and Records Survey; 4. Budget Files; 5. Committee Files; 6. Correspondence; 7. Energy Conservation Files; 8. Grant Files; 9. Historical Files; 10. Logs; 11. Personnel; 12. Policies and Procedures; 13. Security Files; 14. Special Projects/Outreach; and, 15. User Registration Records.
Series 1. Accession Files, 1966-1986 (0.63 lin. ft.)
Consists of one file containing the record of all accessions between 1966-1986 in chronological order, and the Archives Control Cards removed from a Kardex in original order. The accessions records consist of the donor's name or originating office and the date of transfer. In addition, the numbering of accessions is done two different ways and is registered by the fiscal year. The control cards, one for each record group or subgroup, provide a holding place for information on the holdings in each group. Some cards carry very little information, while others are more descriptive.
Series 2. Annual Reports, 1967-1986 (0.07 lin. ft.)
Includes a file copy of each annual report of the archivist from 1967-1986 directed to the Office of the President.
Series 3. Appraisal Reports and Records Survey,
1966, n.d. (0.1 lin. ft.)
Appraisal reports of the archivist in regards to papers in the Administration Building, Secretary's Office, and History Department.
Series 4. Budget Files, 1966-1988 (0.4 lin. ft.)
Includes budget sheets, monthly expense forms, request for change in appropriation forms, and correspondence from the Controller's Office for the years 1966-1988.
Series 5. Committee Files, 1974-1983 (0.2 lin. ft.)
Consists of documentation relating to the various committees the archivist served on from 1974-1983.
Series 6. Correspondence, 1966-1986 (6.8 lin. ft.)
This series is divided into three subseries: 1. General; 2. Inter-Office; and, 3. Reference (Patron). The reference files contain correspondence from patrons seeking information from the archival holdings in the archives. Inter-office correspondence consists of memoranda from other college offices such as the Provost and the Librarian. General correspondence relates to general topics concerning the development of the archives.
Series 7. Energy Conservation Files, 1976-1982 (0.2 lin. ft.)
These files document the hygrometer readings in the archives. (The hygrometer measures temperature and humidity changes.)
Series 8. Grant Files, 1981-1983 (0.2 lin. ft.)
Business papers relating to Bigglestone's participation on the Ohio Historical Records Preservation Advisory Board.
Series 9. Historical Files, 1959-1986 (0.4 lin. ft.)
Research materials relating to the development of the archives founded in 1966. Included are files covering topics such as Phillip Mason's consultant report of 1962, the move to Mudd in 1974, and the James Anderson report from 1986.
Series 10. Logs, 1974-1987 (0.15 lin. ft.)
Record of Gertrude Jacobs' work of answering inquiries for archival information.
Series 11. Personnel, 1966-1983 (0.2 lin. ft.)
This series is divided into two subseries: 1. Full-Time and 2. Student Help. Issues and information concerning archival employees like Gertrude Jacobs, Marleen Merrill, and Monica Green are documented in this series. Bigglestone's file, however, is not.
Series 12. Policies and Procedures, c. 1970s-1980s (0.05 lin. ft.)
Official policies and procedures of the archives are recorded in this series. Topics include the purpose of the archives, donation policies, grievance procedures, and long range planning.
Series 13. Security Files, 1966-1987 (0.4 lin. ft.)
Contains security copies of the box listings of the collections in the archives and other important descriptive media like the preliminary finding guide.
Series 14. Special Projects/Outreach, c. 1970s-1980s, n.d.
(0.15 lin. ft.)
Exhibits, displays, and programs put on by the archives to introduce the public to its holdings and the history of Oberlin, such as the Aluminum Celebration, microfilming projects, and the Silhouette Exhibit.
Series 15. User Registration Records, c. 1980s (0.05 lin. ft.)
Information sheets (3 x 5 cards) completed by patrons who used the archives for research purposes.
Subgroup II. Files Relating to the Tenure of Roland M. Baumann,
1966 (1988-2008)-2008 (33.12 lin. ft.)
Files in subgroup II document archival development and activities during the 20-year tenure of Roland M. Baumann as Archivist, from 1988 to 2008. The group contains twenty-four series: 1. Administrative Files Relating to the Reporting Relationship; 2. Accessions and Acquisitions Files; 3. Annual Reports; 4. Budget Files; 5. Committee Files; 6. Continuing Education Workshops Offered By; 7. Contracts, Agreements, Leases Files; 8. Correspondence; 9. Datebooks and Logs; 10. Descriptive Media Related Files; 11. Document Preservation Related Files; 12. Donor Files (cultural gifts & financial); 13. Endowed Program Files; 14. External Support Related Files (incls. Grants); 15. Exhibition Files (various); 16. Historical Files; 17. Personnel; 18. Policies and Procedures Files; 19. Publications and Special Projects; 20. Special Research Patron Files; 21. Publicity and Public Relations Files; 22. Subject Files; 23. User Registration Files; and, 24. Files Relating to Space Management/Planning.
