Title: Fred H. (Tip) Maddock Papers, 1933-1953
ID: RG 30/068
Extent: 0.8 Linear Feet
Forms of Material (links to similar genres)
Administrative/Biographical History
Fred Howard (Tip) Maddock, well-known citizen of Oberlin for many years, was born in Lake Breeze (Sheffield), Ohio on January 25, 1874. He moved to Oberlin in 1894 to attend the Oberlin Business School. In 1895 Maddock became an Express Agent, selling train tickets from an office in the old corner Inn building for 22 years, and thus met almost everyone in town. In 1918 he quit this job in order to enlist in any branch of the military that would take him in order to help the war effort during World War I. However, after being informed that, at age 44, he was too old to enlist, Maddock returned to Oberlin and was employed by the Cleveland and South Western Railroad Company. In addition, he managed the Electrical Package Agency and became the operator of a taxi line. In 1933, as a result of a serious car accident, Maddock became bed-ridden, and for the next 18 years devoted himself to collecting all available information on Oberlin history. His particular interests were Oberlin businesses and the commercial buildings in the downtown Oberlin. In preparing his will in July of 1951, Maddock thought first of Oberlin. After his death on Sept. 20, 1951, a reading of the will revealed that he wished the proceeds of his estate to go to complete his history of proprietorships and occupancy of downtown Oberlin businesses; a history of the old Cleveland and South Western Railroad Company; and, his history of the Oberlin Rod and Gun Club. Maddock never married, and was survived by one brother, Bill, and two nephews.
Sources Consulted
Fred H. (Tip) Maddock papers (30/68); Oberlin News Tribune Sept. 20, 1951 and October 4, 1951.
Author: Prue Richards, Kenneth M. Grossi, Ellie Leonhardt Administrative InformationThe papers of Fred H. "Tip" Maddock consist entirely of materials related to the history of Oberlin, Ohio. The collection includes handwritten lists of street addresses, typed city directories, handwritten notes, and other materials that were compiled into notebooks by Maddock. The notebooks were compiled between 1933 to 1951, and they contain information concerning Oberlin businesses, buildings, the Telegraph School, the Chamber of Commerce, and local history. The time period covered is 1833-1953, with some undated materials.
INVENTORY
Box 1
Notebook #1:
Newspaper clippings re: Oberlin & Cleveland sports history
Robert M. Hutchins, 1941-48
Notebook #6:
(1) Letters & clippings re Sheffield, Ohio, area history
(2) Information about Oberlin: Newspapers &
publications, 1839-1950
Telegraph school, 1862-1927
Telephone system, 1881-1940
Chamber of Commerce, 1895-1920
Banks, 1863-1950
Flour and grist mills, 1833-97
Blacksmithing, 1833-1950
Coal and ice, 1866-1950
Concrete, greenhouses and flower shops
Dray-truck and merchants delivery, 1848-50
Shoe stores, 1849-72
Fires, 1848-1893
Description of East College Street from South Main to
South Pleasant, 1848-1950
Addresses of people named Maddock, 1891-1950;
miscellany
Notebooks #7-8:
Oberlin directories, 1873-1948 (3f)
Notebook #10:
Chronological record of events, 1886-1927 (includes Cassie
Chadwick affair, c. 1903-04; gas history, 1907-24;
at the end are names and dates of businesses
grouped by type of business) (2f)
Notebook #12:
Newspaper clippings, c.1940's, re Fred H. Maddock and a
variety of Oberlin events; bicycling. In part 2 is
correspondence, 1898-1933 (2f)
Notebook #19:
Clippings re Ohio localities other than Oberlin, 1944-49
Box 2
Centennial Building, 1941
North Main Street between East College and East Lorain: history of
each building and its occupants to 1950. 1949
Camp (1873), Chapin (1928) and Souvenir (1909) histories;
miscellany
Grove Patterson, 1941-53
Lists of names and dates of persons and businesses that were in
the Oberlin business section grouped by location or kind
of business, n.d. (2f)
