Robert Wayne Wheeler Papers, ca. 1920s, 1921-28, 1970, ca. 1971

The Robert W. Wheeler Papers comprise biographical materials, correspondence, materials from Wheeler’s time at Oberlin College and Harvard Law School, and two photographs. The small collection is not divided into series. The bulk of the collection consists of legal briefs written for Harvard’s Ames Moot Court Competition from 1924 to 1926. Wheeler’s success in the competition resulted in his winning the most prestigious award bestowed upon law students at Harvard. Other materials include two photographs; miscellaneous papers from Wheeler’s tenures at Oberlin College and Harvard Law School; newspaper clippings detailing achievements; and a transcription of a speech he gave at an Oberlin alumni event in his senior year.

Biographical materials, 1922, 1926, ca. 1927, n.d. (1 folder)

In this folder, various materials furnish information on Wheeler’s family and professional life. These include an acknowledgement of appreciation for Wheeler’s parents, Wayne B. and Ella Belle Wheeler, following their deaths in 1927, from the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Washington D.C.; notification of Robert Wheeler’s passing the Ohio Bar exam in 1926; an invitation for a luncheon of congratulations; a biography of Robert Wheeler from The Rowfant Club (a bibliophilic society in Cleveland); and various clippings documenting Robert’s achievements.

Correspondence, 1921-28, 1970, n.d. (5 folders)

Within this section of the collection are letters received by Robert Wheeler from family members (1922, 1925-27), correspondence to and from Oberlin Professor Karl Geiser for Wheeler, or to Wheeler himself (1921, 1923-27), letters from Oberlin President Henry Churchill King (1925-26), and letters from Harvard University and other correspondence, both personal and professional (1924-28, 1970, n.d.).

Harvard Law School materials, 1924-26 (18 folders)

The largest part of the collection contains materials from Robert Wheeler’s time in law school. It primarily comprises legal briefs used by Robert Wheeler and his partner Harold Havighurst, and those written by them, while participating in the Harvard Law School Ames Competition. These briefs span 1924-26 and contain papers describing the content of the cases Wheeler and Havighurst were arguing. In addition, there is a manual of instructions for editorial work for the Harvard Law Review and a heavily marked article.

Oberlin Alumni talk, 1923 (1 folder)

The file holds two transcribed drafts of a speech given by Robert Wheeler at his Oberlin College commencement in 1923 to the Alumni Association banquet. He discusses the singularity of an Oberlin education and his ongoing allegiance to the college.

Photographs, ca. 1920s, 1927 (1 folder)

There are two photographs in the collection. One is a mounted portrait of John Prindle Scott, Oberlin Conservatory graduate in 1900, author and composer of songs, inscribed to Robert Wheeler’s mother, Mrs. Wayne B. Wheeler, with a message commending her “singing voice––and heart!” The message is dated April 20^th, 1927. The other photograph, ca. 1920s, depicts a group of women at a Sunday dinner with a Mrs. Lawrence. The back of the photograph carries an inscription stating that the dinner was “quite a reunion.” It may be that Mrs. Lawrence was one of those who operated a boarding house for women students in Oberlin, and Grace Wheeler may have been a boarder.

INVENTORY

Box 1

            Biographical Materials

                        Notification of Ohio Bar results, 1926

                        Invitation to Bar Association luncheon, 1926

                        Resolutions in honor of Wayne and Ella Belle Wheeler

                                    by the Fourth Presbyterian Church,

                                    Washington, D.C., n.d.

                        Biographical sketch of Robert Wheeler, The Rowfant

                                    Club, ca. 1971

                        Clippings, n.d.

            Correspondence

                        Wheeler family letters, 1922, 1925-27

                        Karl Geiser correspondence, 1921, 1923-27

                        Other letters received, 1924-28, 1970, n.d. (2f)

            Harvard Law School

                        Harvard Law Review manual and article, 1922, 1926

                        Harvard Law School Ames Competition

                                    Briefs, 1924-26 (17f)

                                    Correspondence, clippings, 1925, ca. 1926

            Oberlin College materials

                        Class of 1923 Alumni Luncheon talk, ca. 1923

            Photographs

                        Portrait of John Prindle Scott with inscription to Mrs.

                                  Wayne B. Wheeler, ca. 1927

                        Group photograph taken at “Sunday dinner” with Mrs.

                                    Lawrence, ca. 1920s