Gerrish Family Papers, 1786-1940
| Oberlin College Archives
Administrative/Biographical History
For more than one hundred years, the Gerrish family figured prominently in the life of the village of Oberlin. The first of the family to settle permanently in Oberlin was Nathaniel Gerrish (1810-1890) who came from Newburyport, Massachusetts in 1834. His younger brother Charles D. Gerrish preceded him, having entered the opening class of Oberlin College in 1833. Charles, however, returned to Newburyport and died there in 1859. He kept in contact with his brother Nathaniel, and some of those letters are included in this collection.
Although Nathaniel did not attend Oberlin College, he quickly settled in to the life of the village. He worked as a mason and a plasterer and participated in the construction of many of the village's buildings, including what is currently known as First Church in Oberlin. Nathaniel also became a substantial landowner. In 1837, he brought a piece of property from Peter Pindar Pease, Oberlin's first settler. Consisting of about four and one-half acres lying south of Plum Creek, this land eventually became the site of the family home. The first house at 143 E. College Street burned in 1875, during the childhood of Nathaniel's son, William Blanchard Gerrish (1863-1939). A second house was built on the same property and was occupied by William Gerrish and then by his daughter Evangeline Gerrish Kofsky until the early 1960s.
Although details on Nathaniel Gerrish's life are scanty, his first wife was probably named Mary, with the possible surname "Harris." Nathaniel and Mary were married in the 1840s by John Jay Shipherd, one of the founders of Oberlin College. They appeared to have had no children. Mary Gerrish died on 20 May 1859. Two years later Nathaniel married Harriet Blanchard (1820-1898). An 1847 graduate of Oberlin College, Harriet taught school until her marriage in 1861. This marriage produced two children, one of them being William Blanchard Gerrish. The name of the other child is less certain, though it may have been Mattie or Mary.
Following graduation from Oberlin in 1886, he studied civil engineering at Cornell University for a short time. He married Oberlin graduate, Julia Gage (class of 1884, 1864-1939) on 10 January 1889. Julia was raised in Cleveland, and she could count among her peers classmates Azariah Smith Root, his future wife Anna Mayo Metcalf, Charles Martin Hall, and John L. Severance. For many years Julia Gerrish participated in the Kindergarten Association in Oberlin and served as its secretary-treasurer. According to her grandson, William Gerrish Metcalf, Julia became quite deaf in later life.
William and Julia Gerrish had five daughters: Martha Amanda Gerrish Metcalf (OC 1911; 1890-1938), known as "Mart", Dorothy Gage Gerrish Henkes (OC 1918; 1894-1977), known as "Dort"; Mary Harris Gerrish Seiberling (OC 1918; 1897-1950); Evangeline Gage Gerrish Nichols Kofsky (1900-1970), known as "Eve" or "Van"; Margaret Campbell Gerrish Weislogel (OC 1925; 1901-1982). Four of the daughters--Martha, Dorothy, Mary, and Margaret--were Oberlin graduates, in the classes of 1911, 1918 (Dorothy and Mary), and 1925, respectively.
Although a year older than his future wife Julia, William B. Gerrish, OC 1886, graduated from Oberlin two years later than she did probably due to the fact that he had already begun working in the village engineering department. In this capacity he had supervised the construction of the water works system in the 1880s. He devised, with the assistance of Professor Frank Jewett, a water softening process. This ultimately led to the construction, in 1904, of the nation's first municipal water softening plant. A June 1946 article from House Beautiful magazine (found in Sub-Group III, Series 1 of this collection) called William Gerrish the "father of municipal water softening (p. 154)." Clearly, William Gerrish and the village of Oberlin were imbued with the spirit of progressivism so prevalent throughout the nation during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Between the 1880s and the turn of the century, Gerrish also designed and oversaw the village's first sewage plant, and attempted to erect the village's first municipal lighting plant in the early 1890s. The latter project did not come to fruition at that time for the voters felt that such a project would not be a profitable investment for Oberlin. As village engineer, Gerrish was also responsible for laying many of the town's first sidewalks.
Often a feisty and cantankerous man (according to his grandson, William Gerrish Metcalf), William B. Gerrish made a few enemies during his career as a village official. His honesty and his sincere interest in Oberlin's welfare, however, earned the respect of friends and enemies alike. Nevertheless, he was no stranger to controversy in his public life. After a fundamental disagreement with the village council concerning remuneration which dragged on for four years, Gerrish resigned from all his city government positions in 1908. The following year he established his own dairy business, known as the Clean Milk Dairy, which he sold in 1935 to the Dairy Service Company. Official accounts of William Gerrish's life gave no hint of controversy concerning his association with Oberlin's village government. One local obituary (9/7/39, source unnamed) did note, however, "He was a man of sound faith in his own judgement and never hesitated to defend his views on public matters."
Not only did the Gerrish Family have an active involvement in Oberlin's civic affairs, it also had a close association with Oberlin College, by virtue of its many family members who attended the college. In 1934 Margaret Gerrish Metcalf (William Gerrish's granddaughter, class of 1938, 1916-1989) became the fourth generation of the Gerrish family to attend Oberlin College. With the death of both William and Julia Gerrish in 1939, however, the Gerrish family name in Oberlin ended. In honor of their parents, the five daughters of William and Julia donated to the village of Oberlin part of the land upon which their family home stood. This donation was made in April 1940. In August 1941, a boulder was placed on the south edge of the property which bears the following inscription:
Gerrish Field
Given to the Village of Oberlin
In Memory of
Mr. and Mrs. William Blanchard Gerrish
By Their
Five Daughters
SOURCES CONSULTED
Clippings and official records found in the alumni student files of Charles D. Gerrish, Harriet Blanchard Gerrish, William Blanchard Gerrish, Julia Gage Gerrish, and Martha Gerrish Metcalf. Oberlin College Archives.
Letters and a family tree found in the correspondence series of this collection. Oberlin College Archives.
Recollections of William Gerrish Metcalf, 25 May 1990.
Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative InformationThe bulk of materials in this collection were acquired in two lots as gifts from William Blanchard Metcalf (Gerry) of Falmouth Massachusetts in October 1989 and May 1990. As the grandson of William Blanchard Gerrish and the son of Keyes DeWitt Metcalf (who married William's daughter Martha), Gerry Metcalf had in his possession papers of both the Gerrish and Metcalf families. When donating these papers to the Oberlin College Archives in October 1989 and May 1990, Gerry Metcalf's personal recollections proved of valuable assistance.
A few of the items in this collection came to the Archives as acquisitions from the College Library in 1971 and 1977. Additional material was transferred from the Oberlin College Library, Special Collections, in 2001. Altogether, therefore, the Gerrish Family Papers represents a combination of five different accessions: numbers 133, 1977/33, 1989/182, 1990/49, 1993/12, and 2001/99. The classification number 30/109 now includes the first two and the fifth and sixth accessions, and portions of the third and fourth accessions. The remainder of the third and fourth accessions became part of The Keyes DeWitt Metcalf Family Papers (30/212).
The Gerrish Family Papers document three generations of Gerrish family members in Oberlin, beginning with Nathaniel Gerrish, one of the earliest settlers in Oberlin, continuing with William Blanchard Gerrish, and ending with his children. Although the collection spans from 1825-1940, the bulk of the material covers the time period 1880-1938 and concerns primarily William Blanchard Gerrish. Types of materials include letters, deeds, financial journals and record books, photographs, artifacts and memorabilia.
This collection comprises several different accessions, so researchers may find some arrangement anomalies. For example, Subgroup III, Series 1 contains the correspondence of William B. Gerrish as a public official. Since this series came from several different sources, there are two forms of arrangement--chronological and alphabetical. These two filing methods were left intact in order not to unduly disturb the original order.
The following subgroups and series are included:
I. Personal Papers of Nathaniel Gerrish and Harriet Blanchard Gerrish
1. Correspondence of Nathaniel Gerrish
2. Financial Records of Nathaniel Gerrish
3. Correspondence of Harriet B. Gerrish
4. Memorabilia of the Nathaniel Gerrish Family
II. Personal Papers of William Blanchard Gerrish and Julia Gage Gerrish
1. Gerrish Genealogy and Family Information
2. Correspondence of William B. Gerrish and Julia G. Gerrish
3. Legal and Financial Records
4. Gerrish Family Photographs
5. Memorabilia of William and Julia Gerrish
III. Public Career of William B. Gerrish
1. Correspondence and Papers of William B. Gerrish as Oberlin Village Official
2. News Clippings of William B. Gerrish
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Subgroup I: Personal Papers of Nathaniel Gerrish and Harriet Blanchard Gerrish, 1786-1890 (2.85 l.f.)
Nathaniel Gerrish (1810-1890) was one of the early settlers of Oberlin. Harriet Blanchard (1820-1898) was his second wife. Before their marriage in 1861, Harriet taught school for a number of years. The couple had two children: William Blanchard Gerrish and Mary Gerrish (the name of William Blanchard's sibling is questionable and could not be verified in official documents). The identity of Nathaniel Gerrish's first wife is also somewhat uncertain, but according to letters in this collection it was probably Mary. Her maiden name may have been Harris, and she and Nathaniel apparently had no children.
Series 1: Correspondence of Nathaniel Gerrish, 1825-90 (0.4 l.f.)
Many of the correspondents' names are uncertain in this series, but it consists primarily of letters to and from Nathaniel Gerrish and various family members, including his brother Charles--the first member of the Gerrish family to attend Oberlin. Charles was in the opening class of 1833. There is also correspondence with friends and business associates, including one post card dated 1886 from "H.C. King", the future president of Oberlin College. Received with this group of papers were letters to William H. Harris (1835-50), who may have been a relative of the first Mrs. Nathaniel Gerrish. Many of the letters to Mr. & Mrs. Gerrish are from Newburyport, Massachusetts, the ancestral home of the early Gerrishes. Arranged chronologically.
Series 2: Financial Records of Nathaniel Gerrish, 1835-57 (1.25 l.f.)
Nathaniel Gerrish's financial and real estate records include an early financial journal (1833-54) and many deeds to property bought and sold by him. The "Oberlin File" (21/3, Box 4, folder 7) contains the original deed, dated 12 December 1837, from Peter Pindar Pease to Nathaniel Gerrish for the Gerrish family home at 143 E. College Street.
Series 3: Correspondence of Harriet B. Gerrish, 1838-55 (0.4 l.f.)
The bulk of these letters to and from Harriet Blanchard and her family members date from the late 1840s to the mid 1850s. They cover Harriet's career as a teacher in Ohio. Included are two teaching certificates dated 1845 and 1855. Harriet did not marry Nathaniel until age 41, and thus was able to devote at least ten years to her teaching career. Arranged chronologically.
Series 4: Memorabilia of Nathaniel Gerrish Family, 1786 (0.8 l.f.)
One framed handwriting sample (12" x 17") signed by Nathaniel Gerrish, 28 March 1786. This was the father of the Nathaniel Gerrish who settled in Oberlin.
Subgroup II: Personal Papers of William Blanchard Gerrish and Julia Gage Gerrish, 1872-1940 (2.05 l.f.)
William Blanchard Gerrish and Julia Gage Gerrish were married 10 January 1889. Both were graduates of Oberlin College. They had five daughters, the eldest of whom married Keyes Metcalf. Most of the papers in this subgroup concern William and Julia Gerrish during their student days at Oberlin and subsequently during their married life.
Series 1: Gerrish Genealogy and Family Information, 1930-85 (0.05 l.f.)
This genealogical and biographical information was collected by several family members, among them William Gerrish Metcalf, ("Gerry") the grandson of William B. Gerrish. It includes a family tree and various letters and clippings. None of the material, however, verifies the name of either the first wife of Nathaniel Gerrish or the name of William B. Gerrish's sibling (probably named Mary and called “Mattie” by her family).
Series 2: Correspondence of William B. Gerrish and Julia G. Gerrish, 1872-1939 (0.2 l.f.)
Among the early items in this series are letters to "Willie" Gerrish signed from his sister "Mattie" (also sometimes signed as "Mary"). Of particular interest is a letter from Nathaniel Gerrish to Jacob Johann of the Wabash, St. Louis, & Pacific Railway Co., dated 1881, regarding employment for Nathaniel's son, William. This series contains a few letters from Martha Gerrish (later Metcalf) as well as an untitled and undated poem written by her about the Oberlin High School Class of 1907. The last folder in the series consists of letters written by William and Julia Gerrish to their five daughters, spanning the period 1915-1930. Arranged chronologically.
Series 3: Legal and Financial Records of William B. Gerrish and Julia G. Gerrish, 1884-1940 (0.4 l.f.)
William Gerrish's day books contain a record of household finance and events, and span 1884-1939. These pocket-size (2" x 5") books are arranged chronologically. Also included in this series are tax receipts (1910-1917, 1940), account books (1912-1935), insurance policies (1929-38), deeds (1890-1900), and a Westwood Cemetery certificate dated 1906 for William B. Gerrish. Of particular note are the estate matters of William and Julia Gerrish, which include 1903 copies of their wills (William drew up a later version but it is not in this collection). Much of the correspondence in this file is directed to William son-in-law, Keyes Metcalf. Keyes served as his father-in-law's beneficiary after the death of Julia in early 1939, and apparently handled the estate of his father-in-law after William's death later in 1939.
Series 4: Gerrish Family Photographs, 1833-1938 (0.2 l.f.)
Photos are arranged in basic chronological order with unidentified photos first. Of special interest are an undated photo of Charles Gerrish, the first member of the family to attend Oberlin; a 1924 photo of the 40th reunion of the class of 1884 which includes Julia Gage Gerrish and Azariah Smith Root; and two 12" x 8" photos of the Gerrish family home at 134 E. College St.
Series 5: Memorabilia of William B. and Julia G. Gerrish, 1872-1907 (1.2 l.f.)
Most of this series is comprised of Oberlin College programs from rhetoricals, class days, and commencements during the college days of William & Julia Gerrish in the 1880s. Included here is an autograph album belonging to Julia Gage (Gerrish), which is signed by many of her classmates (Oberlin class of 1884). Also included are a few early grade cards for "Willie Gerrish" in the early 1870s, and several college essays written by William Gerrish in the mid 1880s. The last folder contains miscellaneous items including two blank pledge cards for the Women's Christian Temperance Union. In a separate box is a banner from Oberlin High School, which William Gerrish Metcalf believed may have been made by his mother Martha Gerrish Metcalf. It measures 18" x 28." Sewn on one side is "OHS," and on the other is "'07."
Subgroup III: Public Career of William B. Gerrish, 1888-1939 (1.4 l.f.)
The documents of this subgroup relate primarily to William Gerrish's life as a public official. It also includes collections of clippings he maintained during most of his adult life. Both as a public official and as a private citizen, he never lacked opinions or interest regarding public events in Oberlin and elsewhere.
Series 1: Correspondence and Papers of William B. Gerrish as Oberlin City Official, 1889-1938 (1.0 l.f.)
This series contains a few publications by and about William Gerrish as well as some village annual reports found in his files. The latter may well be duplicated in the records of Oberlin city government. The actual correspondence begins with three letterpress copy books dating from 1889-1903. Among the miscellaneous letters is a substantial file of correspondence from the Chicago architect, J.L. Silsbee, concerning the construction of the Memorial Arch (1902-3). Included is an undated copy of specifications for the Memorial Arch. Gerrish's letters to Silsbee are contained in the last volume of the letterpress copy books. The last series of folders is arranged alphabetically by last name of correspondent. It includes letters written to Gerrish in his capacity as superintendent of the Oberlin waterworks and spans 1890-1910.
Series 2: News Clippings of William B. Gerrish, 1888-1939 (0.4 l.f.)
William B. Gerrish was a diligent collector of news clippings. Included in this series are three scrapbooks of clippings which concerned mainly the affairs of the village, his family, and his own opinions on events of the day. The third scrapbook contains a letter written by Gerrish to Mrs. F.F. Jewett on 15 October 1921 explaining why he ceased to be village engineer.
INVENTORY
Subgroup I: Personal Papers of Nathaniel Gerrish and Harriet Blanchard Gerrish, 1786-1890
Series 1: Correspondence of Nathaniel Gerrish, 1825-90
Box 1
Correspondence of Nathaniel Gerrish, 1825-90
Series 2: Financial Records of Nathaniel Gerrish, 1835-57
Box 2
Financial Records of Nathaniel Gerrish, 1835-57
Series 3: Correspondence of Harriet B. Gerrish, 1835-55
Box 3
Correspondence of Harriet B. Gerrish, 1835-55
Series 4: Memorabilia of Nathaniel Gerrish Family, 1786
Box 4
Memorabilia of Nathaniel Gerrish Family, 1786
Subgroup II: Personal Papers of William Blanchard Gerrish and Julia Gage Gerrish, 1872-1940
Series 1: Gerrish Genealogy & Family Information, 1930-85
Box 5
Gerrish Genealogy & Family Information, 1930-85
Series 2: Correspondence of William B. Gerrish & Julia G. Gerrish, 1872-1939
Box 5 (cont.)
Correspondence of William B. Gerrish & Julia G. Gerrish, 1872-1939
Series 3: Legal & Financial Records of William B. Gerrish and Julia G. Gerrish, 1884-1940
Box 6
Legal & Financial Records of William B. Gerrish and Julia G. Gerrish, 1884-1940
Series 4: Gerrish Family Photographs, 1833-1938
Box 7
Gerrish Family Photographs, 1833-1938
Series 5: Memorabilia of William & Julia Gerrish, 1872-1900, 1907
Box 7 (cont.)
Memorabilia of William & Julia Gerrish, 1872-1900
Box 8
Julia Gage (Gerrish) Autograph Album, 1880 [2001/94]
Oberlin High School Banner, 1907
Subgroup III: Public Career of William B. Gerrish, 1888-1939
Series 1: Correspondence & Papers of William B. Gerrish as Oberlin City Official, 1889-1938
Box 9
Correspondence & Papers of William B. Gerrish as Oberlin City Official, 1889-1938
Series 2: News Clippings of William B. Gerrish, 1888-1939
Box 10
News Clippings of William B. Gerrish, 1888-1939