Oberlin Community Welfare Council Records, 1956-1976
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Administrative/Biographical History
The Oberlin Community Welfare Council (OCWC) was established in 1955 to coordinate, assist, and supplement the public and private welfare services operating in the Oberlin area. The Council was incorporated as a non-profit Ohio corporation. Membership was open to all adult residents of the Oberlin community, to agencies and organizations offering welfare services in Oberlin, and to staff members of welfare agencies and organizations. The general membership elected a twelve member Board of Directors to conduct the business of the Council. Directors were elected for three-year terms on a rotating basis so that only four directors were elected each year. The Board of Directors met annually to elect an Executive Committee consisting of four officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
The Council primarily served as a clearinghouse and community information service for all aspects of welfare and social service resources in the region. It sought to coordinate the activities of existing agencies in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of services and prevent duplication of efforts. As a secondary function, the Council administered the Oberlin Family Emergency Fund, which provided local residents with emergency assistance in the form of food, clothing, and furniture. Other activities included conducting an annual clearinghouse for Christmas giving, doing casework for the Oberlin Salvation Army fund, operating Meals on Wheels and a Senior Citizens Bus Service, and providing funds to send children to summer camp. The Oberlin Community Welfare Council merged with the Oberlin Health Commission in 1977 to form the Oberlin Community Services Council.
Presidents of the Oberlin Community Welfare Council:
1955-1956 Oscar Schettler
1957 Thomas Piraino
1958 Robert Singleton
1959 Robert Thomas
1960 Mildred McEwen
1961 Charlotte Shannon
1962-1965 Edward W. Jones
1966 Ella Thompson
1967 Elizabeth Martin
1968 Dorothy Holbrook
1969 Louise Kulka
1970-1972 Shirley Shubert
1973 Geraldine Donaldson
1974-1975 Dorothy Holbrook
1976 Jeanne C. Doneghy
Author: Lisa Pruitt Administrative InformationOberlin College Archives also maintains the records of the Oberlin Health Commission (31/14) and the Oberlin Community Services Council (31/15).
See also the papers of A. Claire Siddall (30/145).
Records of the Oberlin Community Welfare Council date from 1956 to 1976. They consist primarily of annual reports for the years 1958 to 1976, with reports for 1960, 1961, and 1975 missing. The annual reports contain reports of the president, treasurer, caseworker, and various committees. The OCWC records also include a twelve-month report of the information and Referral Office for the year August 1, 1956 to July 31, 1957.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1: Annual Reports, 1958-1959, 1962-1974, 1976 (2 lin. in.)
Annual reports are arranged chronologically. They contain reports of the president, treasurer, caseworker, and various committees.
Series 2: Information and Referral Office, 1956-1957 (1 item)
The records of the Information and Referral Office consist of a single twelve-month report detailing the office's referrals and assistance to individuals, agencies, clubs, funds, and the members of the Welfare Council.
INVENTORY
Series 1. Annual Reports
Box 1
Annual Reports, 1958-1959, 1962-1974, 1976 (2 folders)
Series 2. Information and Referral Office
Box 1 (cont.)
Information and Referral Office Twelve-Month Report, 1956-1957