Geoffrey T. Blodgett Papers, 1683, ca. 1815-ca. 2011 (span) | Oberlin College Archives

Geoffrey T. Blodgett’s career as a professor and scholar of American history at Oberlin College is well documented in these papers, from his appointment at Oberlin in 1960 to his retirement in 2000 and death in 2001. A small amount of material dates from prior to his faculty appointment. There is very little of a personal nature in the papers, but his correspondence with respected and valued colleagues, as well as many former students, reveal warm relationships with many of them and their families.

Blodgett’s scholarship on Progressivism and Grover Cleveland transitioned to his later specialization in American architecture, culminating in a book on Cass Gilbert that grew out of his study of Oberlin College architecture. The research and writing groupings constitute the bulk of the papers. Blodgett was an accomplished photographer; many of his photographs of structures were kept in the research files in his papers. His teaching is represented in extensive course files, student papers and theses. The collection contains a significant amount of professional correspondence, as well as smaller subgroups for talks, oral histories, artworks, architectural records, ephemera, and objects.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Subgroup I. Biographical, 1937-ca. 2011 (span)  (1.81 l.f.)

The biographical subgroup holds a minor amount of material, and is not divided into series. It comprises personal correspondence, clippings, curriculum vitae, Blodgett’s diploma and commencement programs from Oberlin College, US Navy records, memorabilia from a reunion of his football team, materials from his memorial service at the college, and two scrapbooks. One scrapbook contains news clippings on the invasion of Europe during World War II, and the other holds Oberlin College memorabilia.

Subgroup II. Correspondence, 1897-2001 (span)  (6.2 l.f.)

The correspondence subgroup is divided into three series: Series 1. Autograph Letters; Series 2. Name Files; and Series 3. Chronological Files. With the exception of a few collected historical letters in Series 1, this subgroup represents Blodgett’s extensive correspondence over the span of his academic career in the second half of the twentieth century. Personal correspondence was placed in the biographical subgroup.

            Series 1. Autograph Letters, 1897-2001 (span)  (0.4 l.f.)

            The autograph letters series is a collection set aside by Blodgett, sleeved and stored in a binder. These were removed from the binder and arranged in alphabetical order by the correspondents’ last names. They primarily comprise letters sent to Geoffrey Blodgett by historians and other scholars, Oberlin College administrators and faculty, and figures from the museum, architectural, legal and publishing professions. These include H.L. Mencken, Ada Louise Huxtable, Sandra Day O’Connor, Philip Johnson, and Reed Axelrod. A few personal items can be found here as well: A recipe written by Blodgett in the fourth grade, and a letter from his father Harold Blodgett. There are a few letters addressed to others by historical figures James A. Garfield (1879), John F. Kennedy, and Thornton Wilder, and two letters by an unidentified American novelist in Paris in 1931 and 1932. Historical letters can also be found in the Research Files (Subgroup VI, Series 1).

            Series 2. Name Files, 1941, 1962-63, 1965-68, 1972-2001, n.d.  (1.4 l.f.)

            The name files consist of correspondence selected by Blodgett for a separate filing system. These are correspondents Blodgett either wrote to frequently, or with whom he maintained a personal relationship. Various topics are covered here, including both professional and personal matters. This series of correspondence was kept in Blodgett’s original order.

            Series 3. Chronological Files, 1956-2001  (4.4 l.f.)

            The correspondence files represent a significant amount of material. It was divided into two subseries to facilitate access, but otherwise kept in original, chronological order.

                          Subseries 1. Oberlin College Correspondence, 1959-2001  (1.2 l.f.)

                        This subseries comprises correspondence to and from Blodgett’s colleagues at Oberlin College. Much, but not all, of the material is on Oberlin College letterhead, and includes both typewritten and handwritten correspondence. While most of the material is formal professional correspondence, there are some notes and memos as well. More correspondence with people associated with Oberlin College can be found in the Name Files (Subgroup II, Series 2).

                        Subseries 2. Other Correspondence, 1956-2001 (3.2 l.f.)

                        The other correspondence subseries contains the bulk of Blodgett’s correspondence, both to and from friends, colleagues from other institutions, and former students. The topics covered include traveling arrangements, requests for letters of recommendation, and general catching-up with acquaintances. This material spans Blodgett’s professional activity. Blodgett was a dedicated correspondent and he seemed to have kept all of it. Because of this, his personal correspondence, correspondence with Oberlin College colleagues, and correspondence with publishers were separated out. Otherwise, Blodgett’s original order was maintained in this subseries. For correspondence with Oberlin College colleagues, see Oberlin College Correspondence (Subgroup II, Series 3, Subseries 1). For personal correspondence, see Subgroup I. Biographical. For letters with publishers, see Writings (Subgroup VII, Series 1).

Subgroup III. Oberlin College Records, 1890, 1908, 1921-23, 1925, ca. 1928, 1933, 1936, 1941, 1945-49, 1951, 1954, 1956-57, 1959-2000, n.d.  (1.65 l.f.)

Divided into three series, this group holds files relating to the History Department (Series 1), the college in general (Series 2), and Blodgett’s professional activities while a professor at Oberlin (Series 3).

            Series 1. Department of History, 1936, 1946, 1951, 1956-57, 1961-62, 1964-76, 1978-81, 1983, 1985-89, 1991-94, 1996, 1998-2000, n.d.  (0.25 l.f.)

            The files in this series are few in number. They include his histories of the History Department and the Honors Program, and other files having to do specifically with his department.

            Series 2. General College, 1890, 1908, 1921-23, 1925, ca. 1928, 1936, 1941, 1945-49, 1954, 1957, 1959-61, 1963, 1966, 1968-70, 1973, 1976-2000, n.d.  (1.0 l.f.)

            Series 2 reflects Blodgett’s college service, and include his work on committees having to do with campus architecture and planning, athletics policy, conference planning, Alumni Association travel trips, and most significantly, his active participation in the discussions of college governance. He produced a written history of college governance for administration and faculty. This was kept in these files, rather than moving them to the writings subgroup.

            Series 3. Professional Activity, 1933, 1961-68, 1970-95, 1997-2000, n.d. (0.4 l.f.)

            Series 3 provides insight into Blodgett’s wider professional activity, such as attending or presenting papers at conferences, symposia and colloquia; research status appointments; sabbaticals; fellowships and grants; guest lectureships; and consulting.

Subgroup IV. Teaching Files, 1928-2000 (span)  (7.2 l.f.)

The teaching files subgroup holds five series: Series 1. Course Materials; Series 2. Student Papers and Honors Theses; Series 3. Student Correspondence; Series 4. Class Lists, Exams and Grade Books; and Series 5. Recommendation Letters.

            Series 1. Course Materials, 1928-2000 (span)  (4.55 l.f.)

            The course materials in Series 1 represent the bulk of the subgroup; the course titles are listed on the inventory. Those interested in Blodgett’s teaching will find this series of most interest.

            Series 2. Student Papers and Honors Theses, 1963, 1966, 1970-71, 1974, 1976-77, 1982, 1984, 1987-88, 1989-90, 1992-95, 1998- 2000, n.d.  (1.45 l.f.)  (Restricted from copying)

            The student papers and honors theses in Series 2 are open for research but cannot be copied. Additional student papers can be found throughout Blodgett’s research files in Subgroup VI.

            Series 3. Student Correspondence, 1966, 1970, 1977-78,1980, 1988-2001, n.d.  (0.2 l.f.)  (Restricted)

            The correspondence in this series is limited to that which concerns coursework. Other student correspondence is held in Series 5, Recommendation Letters. Both series are restricted.

          Series 4. Class Lists, Exams, and Grade Books, 1986-99  (0.6 l.f.) (Restricted)

            These records document student enrollment, exams and final grades. They are restricted.

          Series 5. Recommendation Letters, 1961-99 (span)  (0.4 l.f.) (Restricted)

            This series holds letters of recommendation written for students at their request by Blodgett, and is restricted.

Subgroup V. Talks, 1940-2000 (span)  (0.8 l.f.)

This subgroup is divided into two series. It holds texts of talks by Blodgett and others, and some research notes. The inventory indicates which talks are available as recordings on cassette audiotapes in this collection.

            Series 1. Talks by Blodgett, 1958, 1960-69, 1972, 1974-80, 1982-84, 1986-2000, n.d.  (0.7 l.f.)

            Series 1 represents the bulk of this subgroup, and indicates Blodgett’s gift for public speaking on topics related to his research, in addition to his scholarly work in publications. For most of the research materials that supported these talks see Subgroup VI, Research Files.

            Series 2. Talks by Others, 1940, 1943, 1948, 1951-52, 1954, 1960-61, 1964,1988, 1990, 1993, 1995-96, 1999-2000  (0.1 l.f.)

            Series 2 consists of talks by other Oberlin College faculty, including Blodgett’s mentor, Robert S. Fletcher.

Subgroup VI. Research Files, 1828-2010 (span)  (17.33 l.f.)

This subgroup is by far the largest in the Blodgett Papers, and will prove to be of use to local preservationists, Oberlin homeowners, Oberlin College faculty, staff, and students, and scholars of American history and architectural history. It should be noted that Blodgett kept copies of student papers in his research files; these cannot be copied. Additional student papers are filed in Subgroup IV, Series 2. The research files subgroup has been divided into five series: Series 1. Architecture; Series 2. Oberlin History; Series 3. Other Historical Research; Series 4. Cass Gilbert, Architect; and Series 5. Card Files.

For more research materials see Subgroup X. Photographs, and Subgroup IX Architectural Records. Some of the results of Blodgett’s research can be found in Course Materials (Subgroup IV, Series 1), Talks (Subgroup V), and Writings (Subgroup VII).

            Series 1. Architecture, 1840-2010 (span)  (3.3 l.f.)

            Architectural history represents the largest content in the Blodgett Papers in general, and within the Research Files subgroup, architects and architectural history represent the bulk of those files. The series is divided into three subseries: Subseries 1. General, covers architects and architectural topics not related to Oberlin, with the exception of Cass Gilbert files. Subseries 2. Oberlin College holds college architecture and landscape research files. Subseries 3. Oberlin (City) comprises files on Oberlin’s town structures, assembled primarily for Blodgett’s column on local houses and buildings for the town newspaper. These files were kept in original order, arranged by street and address number. There are files at the end of the subseries that are not by street; these include landmarks, memorials and monuments, the waterworks, Westwood Cemetery, and other larger geographical entities.

            The architect Cass Gilbert designed five buildings on campus; thus, Gilbert is represented in Series 2, Oberlin History. However, Gilbert’s work outside of Oberlin was the subject of Blodgett’s lengthiest historical research, and the materials generated for that work are held in their own series (Series 4), consisting of over four linear feet of material on Gilbert alone. For more research materials on architecture, see Subgroup IX. Architectural Records.

            Series 2. Oberlin History, 1833-2000 (span)  (2.5 l.f.)

            The Oberlin history research files in Series 2 are arranged into, first, biographical files, and second, topical files. The biographical files are ordered alphabetically by last name. The topical files begin with general Oberlin history files, followed by topics such as anti-slavery, coeducation, football, and race in Oberlin.

            Series 3. Other Historical Research, 1828-2001 (span)  (1.0 l.f.)

            The research files in Series 3 were compiled for Blodgett’s writings on topics not limited to Oberlin, for encyclopedias, articles, books and talks. Most of the files are about individuals; a few are topical. Facsimiles and copies from other archives can be found in the files for the Civil War, Ida Minerva Tarbell, and George Fred Williams. A microfilm copy of the Alice Stone Blackwell Diary from the Library of Congress is listed here. The materials from other archives cannot be printed or copied.

            Series 4. Cass Gilbert, Architect (primarily not dated)  (4.15 l.f.)

            The research files on Cass Gilbert are voluminous; those that Blodgett kept in separate boxes were placed in this series. The materials include correspondence with the publisher of his book, Cass Gilbert: The Early Years (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2001), chapter drafts, research correspondence and copies of sources, and talks he delivered on Cass Gilbert. Although this series was not processed, original order was maintained, and new folders were inscribed with Blodgett’s own folder headings for the files. A separate inventory for the series is available from the case file. More research information pertaining to Cass Gilbert is in Series 5. Card Files, below.

            Series 5. Card Files (primarily not dated)  (6.38 l.f.)

            The card files contained in this series provide a record of Blodgett’s research over the course of his career. Each card has information about a particular topic, often a quotation or summary of a piece of writing, along with a citation. While some of these cards are typewritten, most of them are handwritten. The topics referenced in these card files include biographical information on notable historical figures, primarily Americans; notable places in the United States, such as Central Park in New York City; nineteenth-century American politics, particularly Grover Cleveland’s two terms as president; the history of the city of Oberlin and Oberlin College; and American architecture. Of particular note are the cards containing information pertaining to Blodgett’s research on Cass Gilbert. The series was not processed; Blodgett’s original order and headings were preserved. A separate inventory is available in the case file.

Subgroup VII. Writings, 1865-2008 (span)  (4.0 l.f.)

            Series 1. Writings by Blodgett 1950, 1958-95, 1997-2003, n.d.  (2.6 l.f.)

            The writings by Blodgett in Series 1 are arranged into six subseries: 1. Manuscripts; 2. Book Reviews and Manuscript Evaluations; 3. Articles; 4. Books; 5. Correspondence with Publishers and Others; and 6. Reviews and Citations of Blodgett’s Writings.

                        Subseries 1. Manuscripts, ca. 1950, 1960, 1968-69, 1970-74, 1976-77, 1980-86, 1988-89, 1990-1995, ca. 1997, 1999-2000, 2003  (0.8 l.f.)

                        Many of the manuscripts correspond to final published versions found in Subseries 3. Articles, and Subseries 4. Books. The manuscripts are restricted from copying, but published versions may be copied.

                        Subseries 2. Book Reviews and Manuscript Evaluations, 1959-60, 1962-94, 1997, 1999-2000, n.d.  (0.2 l.f.)

                        These materials are those written by Blodgett about the works of others, requested of him by publishers or colleagues. The correspondence associated with these writings can be found here.

                        Subseries 3. Articles, 1947-2001, n.d.  (1.0 l.f.)

                        The articles are arranged in date order, and give a sense of Blodgett’s output over time, beginning in 1962 and ending the year of his death in 2001.

                        Subseries 4. Books, 1966, 1970, 1976, 1981, 1985, 1992-93, 1996  (0.2 l.f.)

                        The books in this subseries include Blodgett’s dissertation, pieces from the dissertation in collections, two exhibition catalogs, and his book on Oberlin architecture published in 1985. Other Blodgett works are not in these papers.

                        Subseries 5. Correspondence with Publishers and Others, 1958-75, 1978-95, 1997-2000, 2002, n.d.  (0.3 l.f.)

                        The subseries contents are arranged by publisher. The “Others” in the subseries title refers to correspondence with the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts regarding a possible book, and individuals writing about to Blodgett about his works. There may be additional correspondence of this nature in Subgroup II. Correspondence.

                        Subseries 6. Reviews and Citations of Blodgett’s Writings, 1966, 1968, ca. 1970-72, 1975-77, 1981-82, 1985-92, 1994-97, 2000, n.d.  (0.1 l.f.)

                        The subseries comprises writings by other scholars about Blodgett’s publications, either in the form of reviews or citations in their own articles and books. Blodgett kept these as a record of his influence on his academic field.

            Series 2. Writings by Others, 1856-2008 (span)  (0.6 l.f.)

            The second series in the writings subgroup, those by others, is divided into five subseries. This is a small series in the writings subgroup.

                        Subseries 1. Manuscripts, 1944-1998 (span)  (0.1 l.f.) (Restricted from copying)

                        The manuscripts subseries holds works by five authors; these are restricted from copying.

                        Subseries 2. Articles, 1930-1997 (span) (0.2 l.f.)

                        The articles subseries comprises works by historians Martin Duberman, Robert S. Fletcher, Warren Taylor, Robert Kelley and others.

                        Subseries 3. Books, 1876, 1921, 1937, 1957, 1970, 1982 (0.25 l.f.)

                        The subseries contains both book chapters and bound books. Of the latter, a 1921 copy of Frederick Jackson Turner’s The Frontier in American History is inscribed by the author to Robert Fletcher, Blodgett’s mentor.

                        Subseries 4. Electronic Media, 2006-08  (0.05)

                        Only one publication occupies this subseries, an interactive DVD, Geoffrey Blodgett: The Social History of American Architecture. Produced by Jane Blodgett after her husband’s death, the project’s goal was to reproduce the experience of a Blodgett course lecture, using transcriptions with digital images in HTML. It was copyrighted by Jane Blodgett in 2007-08. An additional file holds Permissions, related correspondence and clippings.

                        Subseries 5. Historical Printed Matter, 1856, 1918, 1940, 1942-43, 1957, 1961, 1963-64  (0.15 l.f.)

                        An eclectic subseries, Historical Printed Matter holds material collected by Blodgett that may have been used to expose students to historical ephemera and texts. They comprise booklets, pamphlets, article reprints, newspapers, and political party election materials. The earliest of these, on the political campaign of 1856, was printed that year.

Subgroup VIII. Oral Histories, 1963, 1978-80, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1991-92, 1994-95  (1.49 l.f.)

Series 1 and 2 hold oral history interviews conducted by Geoffrey Blodgett on cassette tapes and in transcriptions. Series 3 consists of correspondence regarding the oral history project at Oberlin. Series 4 holds other recordings.

            Series 1. Transcriptions of Oral Histories by Blodgett, 1979-80, 1984, 1991, 1994-95  (0.3 l.f.)

            Transcriptions of oral histories in Series 1 comprise interviews by Blodgett with Professor Frederick B. Artz, trustee Erwin N. Griswold, and former Oberlin College president William E. Stevenson. See the Oral History Collection (RG 43) for bound versions of these transcriptions.

            Series 2. Oral History Recordings by Blodgett, 1979  (1.0 l.f.)

            Comprises interviews recorded on cassette tapes with Clyde A. and Dorothy Holbrook, William E. Stevenson, and Elbridge Vance. For transcriptions of the Holbrook and Vance oral histories, see the Oral History Collection (RG 43).

            Series 3. Correspondence re: Oral History Project, 1978-80, 1984, 1987, n.d. (0.1 l.f.)

            The correspondence in this series has to do with institutional support for a specific project to conduct oral history interviews in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Additional correspondence, with former college president William E. Stevenson, relates to the interviews with him on cassette tapes and transcriptions in Series 1 and 2.

            Series 4. Oral Histories by Others, 1963, 1989, 1992 (3 cassette tapes) (0.09 l.f.)

            These recordings on cassette tape comprise an Honors Day talk by Blodgett, a sesquicentennial service held at First Church in Oberlin, and an oral history and music program on Oberlin in the 1910s through the 1930s produced for WOBC by former student Anita Jacobs, which includes interviews with Gertrude Jacob, Margaret Schauffler, and Glenn Hobbs. The latter production can also be found in the Oral History Collection (RG 43).

Subgroup IX. Architectural Records, 1916, ca. 1920s, post-1933  (1.66 l.f.)

            The materials in this subgroup are oversize architectural drawings and plans.

            Series 1. Ohio Buildings, 1916, ca. 1920s

            With the exception of a copy of a drawing by Cass Gilbert for a proposed tower at Oberlin, this series holds plans drawn on tracing paper of early Ohio structures by Professor Thomas E. O’Donnell, done ca. 1920s. Locations include Medina, Milan, Coe Ridge, and Fremont.

            Series 2. Massachusetts Buildings, post-1933

            Housed in the same box with Series 1, these records (bluelines) were made by the Historic American Buildings Survey sometime after 1933. All of the structures represented were located in Massachusetts. They are houses, a church, Fort Washington, and Holden Chapel at Harvard College.

Subgroup X. Photographs, 19^th Century to 2000  (1.66 l.f.)

As a photographer and historian, Blodgett valued photographic materials as historical sources. The photographs subgroup contains lantern slides, modern 35mm slides, photographic prints and negatives. Blodgett kept samples of popular nineteenth century photographs, as well as a viewer for stereoscopic images (in Subgroup XII).

            Series 1. Lantern Slides, 19^th-early 20^th Centuries  (0.66 l.f.)

            The lantern slides in this series reflect the teaching of American and local history by faculty before the invention of modern slides. Faculty, including Blodgett, continued to use these slides in the mid- to late 20^th century as sources and for teaching. They were held in the general lantern slide collection in the Archives for years after Blodgett transferred them from the Art Department’s visual resources collection. They were subsequently transferred to the Blodgett Papers. The seventy slides depict Oberlin buildings, people, events and campus views. A detailed inventory of the two boxes of slides may be requested from the archivist.

            Series 2. Modern 35mm Slides, ca. 1960s-2000  (0.4 l.f.)

            Geoffrey Blodgett took nearly all of the slides in this series. He used them extensively for lectures and talks, and to illustrate his publications. A significant number of the slides of American architecture in this collection were transferred to the Art Department’s visual resources collection. Slides having to do with Oberlin College and the town, and with Cass Gilbert, were retained, and placed in this series. Nearly all of the slides were taken of buildings, houses, monuments, and architectural plans, held in one box. The series is divided into two subseries: Subseries 1. Oberlin, and Subseries 2. Architecture by Cass Gilbert (outside Oberlin). The latters includes a list of slides of Cass Gilbert buildings.

            Series 3. Photographic Prints, ca. 1850s-20^th Century  (0.59 l.f.)

            The photographic prints are either those printed from Blodgett’s own negatives, or historical photographs. The images date from about the 1850s through the twentieth century. A small number of photographs of Geoffrey Blodgett and his family, friends, and former students are the only personal images. The bulk of the series constitutes historical photographs of Oberlin and of the work of Cass Gilbert. Of interest is a disbound album and some mounted photographs of Pennsylvania factory towns dating from about 1915 to 1917. Finally, some samples of early photographic formats--cabinet cards, a carte-de-visite, and stereographs—indicate his interest in early photography. The Objects subgroup (XII) contains a stereoscope with which to view the stereographs. When photographs were found in Blodgett’s research files, they were photocopied so that the originals could be moved to this subgroup, while the copies remained in the originating files.

            Series 4. Negatives, 1975, n.d.  (0.01 l.f.)

            This very small series consists of negatives of Oberlin buildings, Charles Martin Hall, and History Department faculty. The formats are 35mm and 4”x5” sheet film.

Subgroup XI. Artworks and Ephemera, 19^th-20^th Centuries  (1.66 l.f.)

This subgroup is divided into two series: Series 1. Artworks, and Series 2. Ephemera. They are both stored in one flat box.

            Series 1. Artworks, 1986, 1990, n.d.

            The Artworks series contains three items: a framed collage with an image of Charles Gwathmey and his 1986 sketch of Stevenson Hall on the local inn placemat, inscribed to Blodgett (1990); an illustration of Col. John Morley, founder and first president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America; and  print of Abraham Lincoln that originally belonged to Robert Fletcher.

            Series 2. Ephemera, 19^th-20^th Centuries

            This is another eclectic series comprising historical materials, such as lyrics and song sheets, letters, handbills, cartoons, postcards, clippings, and other miscellaneous ephemera. These were posted on Blodgett’s office door or passed in his classes.

Subgroup XII. Objects, 1683, ca. 1815, ca. 1835, ca. 1860s-80s, ca. 1908, 1940, ca. 1950s, 2001, 2003, n.d.  (2.18 l.f.)

The Objects subgroup is not divided into series. It holds a variety of keepsake items from Blodgett’s time at Oberlin as a student and faculty member. The most unusual item is a parchment document of indenture from England dated 1683. The subgroup also includes Blodgett family gravestone fragments collected in Rushville, New York. Of particular note is a necktie that had belonged to the architect Louis Kahn, gifted to Blodgett by Kahn’s niece, Sandra Zagarell, a faculty member at Oberlin.