William E. Bigglestone Papers, 1818-1988, 1997-2003, n.d.
| Oberlin College Archives
Administrative/Biographical History
William E. Bigglestone served as the archivist of Oberlin College for twenty years (1966-86). He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on 20 July 1924. He received his B.A. degree in History from the University of Arizona in 1950 and went on to complete his M.A. History at Stanford University in 1951. Prior to receiving his degree, Bigglestone served with the U.S. Army in the Pacific during World War II, 1943-45. Also during this time, he met and married Mary Markley Grady (1928-83) on 1 June 1949. They had two children Leah (1954-1997) and Mark (b. 1957). Mary Grady Bigglestone died on 12 April 1983.
Before being appointed as Oberlin's first College Archivist on 6 May 1966, Bigglestone was corporate archivist for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio. Prior to that he was an archivist with the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington D.C. where he learned from Theodore Schellenberg and other distinguished archivists.
In addition to setting up the College Archives, Bigglestone’s many accomplishments at Oberlin included creating the classification scheme, setting up in-house procedures, and policies, as well as establishing a modest microfilming program. Included among the program’s major microfilming projects were the Henry Churchill King Papers (ca. 1902-1927) and Records of the Office of the Treasurer (1822-1866). Bigglestone also created the “Preliminary Guide to The Oberlin College Archives” (1974). This loose leaf three ring binder primarily contains descriptive information for 87 personal papers collections in the Oberlin College Archives. There are 94 pages of descriptive text, followed by an approximately 50-page name and subject index. For additional information about program outcomes, readers should consult his annual reports, 1966-1986, and the unpublished honors paper by Lisa Hicks, “The Development of the Oberlin College Archives”, Kent State University, 1991.
Bigglestone’s long career in archival administration grew out of a strong interest in history. As a contributing local historian, Bigglestone focused on Oberlin by writing a number of important articles. The titles, chronologically listed, are as follows: "Straightening a Fold in the Record," Alumni Magazine 68 (May/June 1972), 11; "Oberlin College Selects some Presidents, 1889-1902," (Northwest Quarterly (Spring 1973) and Alumni Magazine 70 (Mar/April 1974), 2-9; 'The Life and Death of 'Junior Ex'," Alumni Magazine 70 (Nov./Dec. 1974), 7-10+; "Irrespective of Color," Alumni Magazine 77 (Spring 1981), 35-36; and with Marcia Goldberg, "A Wedding Gift of 1862," Alumni Magazine 73 (Jan/Feb 1977), 20-21. In addition, Bigglestone wrote or edited several privately published studies including: They Stopped in Oberlin: Black Residents and Visitors of the Nineteenth Century (1982), a collection of histories of black families; Oberlin: From War to Jubilee 1866-1883 (1983), the history of Oberlin after the Civil War; The Journal of Russell T. Hall 1863 (1985), the two notebook diary of the 19th century veteran and Oberlin student (A.B. 1865). Some of these titles illustrate Bigglestone’s interest in the ordinary person and the under-privileged.
Bigglestone was active in the wider profession. He was a member of the Society of American Archivists and held the position of Advertising Editor of the American Archivist from 1959-1971. He was named a SAA Fellow in 1968. Other memberships include the Midwest Archives Conference, Society of Ohio Archivists (founding member), the American Historical Association, and the American Civil Liberties Union, NE Ohio Chapter. He sat on the Oberlin City Records Commission and was a board member of the Oberlin Historical and Improvement Organization. Additionally, Bigglestone was an annual lecturer at Ruth Helmuth's workshop on College and University Archives Institute given at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, from 1969 to 1980.
Bigglestone retired as Archivist of Oberlin College in 1986. He now resides in Tucson, Arizona with his second wife Kay Althea Woodruff (Ruckman) (A.B., 1961); they were married in 1984. Bigglestone continues to research and write; two recent publications are Tucsonans Who Died in Military Service During World War II (1994), and Tucson’s Korean War Dead (1997).
Bigglestone received the “Community Historian of the Year Award” at the annual meeting of the Oberlin Historical and Improvement Organization and the Oberlin Heritage Center on April 6, 2005 (The Oberlin Inn, Oberlin, Ohio).
William E. Bigglestone died on February 20, 2016 in Tucson, Arizona, at the age of 91.
SOURCES CONSULTED
William E. Bigglestone, Tucson, Arizona; Staff file of William E. Bigglestone (RG 28/3); Papers of William E. Bigglestone (30/151).
Subjects (links to similar collections) Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative Information
The Bigglestone personal papers reflect William E. Bigglestone's interest in Oberlin history, with a special interest in the Oberlin Black community, and Oberlin during the mid-to-late 19th century. He was preoccupied with focusing on Oberlin's early themes (such as a place of refuge for escaped slaves, black servicemen in the Civil War, and Oberlin College as an integral part of the town) and getting the record straight. The collection highlights Bigglestone’s position as an archivist, and as a collector of his own research files. His work files are to be found in RG 41, and a distinction should be made between his work (in this case) as an historian and his work as the official archivist. The Bigglestone papers also document his regular activity in the Society of American Archivists and in other professional organizations.
At first glance, Bigglestone’s files relating to his research might seem insignificant, as they appear to mirror the data found in his publications. However, there is a great deal more to be derived from the collection. His research files contain a significant amount of material which is not found in his publications. In addition, information exists that updates Bigglestone’s work in these subject areas. The wealth of information will benefit both scholarly and genealogical researchers.
This collection is organized into eight series, with series I, III, and VI further divided into subseries:
I. Files Relating to They Stopped in Oberlin, c. 1840-c.1986
1. Civil War Military Records
2. Genealogical Research Files
3. Local Census Records
4. Miscellany
II. Files Relating to the Ojibway Mission, n.d.
III. Research Files Relating to Other Writings, c.1840-1983
1. Oberlin Blacks
2. Oberlin History
3. Russell T. Hall Journal
IV. Writings File, 1889-1904, 1962-85, 1997-2003
V. John J. Shipherd Correspondence (transcripts), 1818-1844
VI. Files Relating to Professional Activities, 1960-1988
1. Society of American Archivists
2. Miscellany
VII. Personal Correspondence, 1982-1984
VIII. Miscellany, 1977-1979, n.d.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series I. Files Relating to They Stopped in Oberlin, c.1840- c. 1986 (1.8 l.f.)
This series contains research materials used to write "They Stopped in Oberlin." It consists of four subseries: 1. Civil War Military Records; 2. Genealogical Research; 3. Census Records; and, 4. Miscellany. The collection is largely made up of Bigglestone’s research notes, photocopies of official documents, a few photographs, correspondence, and copies of newspaper clippings.
Subseries 1. Civil War Military Records, c.1860-c.1900
Subseries 1 contains miscellaneous photocopies of official military documents and correspondence, and records of blacks from Oberlin who served in the Civil War. The originals are held by the National Archives. This subseries also contains typescripts and Bigglestone’s own research notes. The files are alphabetically arranged.
Subseries 2. Genealogical Research Files, c.1840-c.1986
This subseries documents the genealogy of several black families who lived in Oberlin at one time. The arrangement is alphabetical. Much of this material was not used in the book They Stopped in Oberlin.
Subseries 3. Local Census Records, 1840-1900
This subseries includes copies of census records for Russia Township, Lorain County and the town of Oberlin for the period covering 1840 to 1900, as well as notes on census information. In some cases, but not all, the data is categorized into sections relating to Whites, Negroes, Chinese, Property Owners, Occupations, etc. Much of the information is written in Bigglestone’s own hand in the form of notes and tables, as well as documents consisting of photocopies of official reports.
Subseries 4. Miscellany, 1977-1982
Consists of correspondence, photographs, introduction and appendices notes, and errata.
Series II. Files Relating to the Ojibway Mission, n.d. (0.4 l.f.)
This series contains the research done by Bigglestone concerning the Ojibway Mission and Oberlin's involvement with it. Included are papers relating to Reverend Sela G. Wright, Reverend Alonzo Barnard, and Mr. David Brainerd Spencer, among others, principle missionaries at the mission at Red Lake, Minnesota Territory. The papers document activities at the mission from 1843 to 1859 (Minnesota became a State in 1858). Included are photographs, clippings, transcripts, Bigglestone’s notes, correspondence, etc.
Series III. Research Files Relating to Other Writings, c.1840-1985 (5.8 l.f.)
This series contains research materials relating to Bigglestone’s writings on Oberlin and Black history, and the journal of Russell T. Hall (A.B. 1865). Some of the material relates to the content of documents found in Series I. A decision was made, however, to maintain the original order of the records as they were received. The Series is made up largely of Bigglestone’s research notes, and also includes correspondence, photocopies of newspaper clippings, and other research material. The papers range in date from c.1960 to 1984.
Subseries 1. Oberlin Blacks, pre-1900-1945
This subseries contains materials relating to Bigglestone’s research into local Black history, including correspondence, newspaper clippings and research notes, largely for his article “Oberlin College and the Negro Student, 1865-1940” (Journal of Negro History, July 1971). Information included ranges in date from pre-1900 to 1945.
Subseries 2. Oberlin History, c.1860-1983
Subseries 2 includes materials relating to Bigglestone’s research into Oberlin history, reflecting events, issues, and items of a local nature. These items are directed primarily towards his book Oberlin: From War to Jubilee, 1866-1883.
Subseries 3. Russell T. Hall Journal, c. 1857-1985
Consists of correspondence and research materials related to the book The Journal of Russell T. Hall, 1863, with Introduction and Notes by William E. Bigglestone (Grady Publishing Company, Oberlin, 1983).
Series IV. Writings, 1889-1904, 1962-85, 1997-2003 (0.2 l.f.)
Bigglestone wrote several important, in-depth historical articles on Oberlin history between 1971 and 1985 that are included in this series. Topics cover Oberlin College, individuals, the Negro experience in Oberlin, etc. Also included are writings related to Tucson, Arizona. See the inventory for the listing of the titles of the articles and books.
Series V. John J. Shipherd Correspondence (transcripts), 1818-44 (22 folders) (0.4 l.f.)
This series is largely made up of transcripts and copies of the correspondence of John J. Shipherd (one of the founders of Oberlin College in 1833), and of his wife Esther. These documents provide information regarding Shipherd’s involvement in the planning, establishment, and the early years of Oberlin and the College. Many of the copied letters are in a collection held by the Oberlin College Archives (Robert S. Fletcher Papers), as indicated by the Archive’s stamp, and the other copies of letters were provided by private individuals (documented by Bigglestone’s personal correspondence).
Series VI. Files Relating to Professional Activities, 1960-1988 (0.4 l.f.)
This series contains correspondence, notes, and informational packets regarding Bigglestone’s involvement in various professional organizations and activities on the national, regional and state level.
Subseries 1. Society of American Archivists, 1960-1988
Subseries 1 includes correspondence and other information relating to the SAA, and especially Bigglestone’s involvement with the Committee on College and University Archives.
Subseries 2. Miscellany, 1969-1986
This subseries is made up of files relating to Bigglestone’s involvement in the Loewenheim - FDR Library Affair (1969-73), of his notes for Schellenberg’s NARS course on Archival Practice (n.d.), and correspondence relating to the microfilming of copies of The American Archivist for 1982-86.
Series VII. Personal Correspondence, 1982-1984 (0.3 l.f.)
Letters and cards of condolence received by William E. Bigglestone following the death of his wife Mary Grady Bigglestone in 1983. Also included are letters and cards of Lorna Grady that concern Mary Grady Bigglestone.
Series VIII. Miscellany, 1977-1979, n.d. (0.1 l.f.)
Consists of notes and notices for Bigglestone’s talk tilted “Names about Town”; copies of the 1978 and 1979 OC Commencement Programs for which Bigglestone contributed photos and text from archival sources; and, a copy of the August 1977 journal American History Illustrated.
NOTE:
Titles of file folders in this collection reflect the headings as given by the creator of the records.