Barbara Calmer Papers, 1942-1982, n.d.
| Oberlin College Archives
Administrative/Biographical History
Barbara Calmer (1923-1996), Associate Professor of Physical Education at Oberlin College, was born on August 30, 1923 in Sioux City, Iowa to Edward Emanuel Calmer and Bessie Venice Miller. She received a B.Sc. degree from the University of Nebraska in 1945 and an M.A. degree from New York University in 1950. Prior to joining the Oberlin faculty in 1950, she worked as an Instructor of Physical education at Alabama State College for Women (1945-46) and Lake Forest College (1946-50). She retired in 1988. Calmer’s fields of interest included folk and square dancing, outdoor education, and elementary physical education and teacher training.
Calmer took two sabbatical leaves during her 38 years (1950-88) at Oberlin. On the first (1956-57), she traveled to Sweden and England to study with the Scandinavian Seminar for Cultural Studies and the English Folk Dance and Song Society. While there, she observed classes in movement education in the primary schools and taught at the Lillsved Gymnastik Follchogskola. She also worked with handicapped children at the Lucy Idol School in Vermilion, Ohio before returning to Oberlin. On her second sabbatical leave (1963-64), she studied with Dr. Gladys Andrews, an expert on children’s rhythms and movements at New York University.
In addition to working at Oberlin, Calmer was a member of several different organizations. These organizations included the American Association of Heath, Physical Education and Recreation, AAUP, National and Mid-West Association for Physical Education of College Women, and the National Volleyball Rules Guide Committee for the Division of Girls’ and Women’s Sports. She served as chairman of the Teacher Education Section of the Ohio Association for physical Education of College Women, as an honorary national official in basketball for girls, and as a state coordinator of all Ohio Rating Records. In 1991, the Lorain County United Way honored Calmer for her volunteer work with the Lucy Idol Center for the Handicapped, where she designed and managed a swimming program for clients. Barbara Calmer died in Oberlin, Ohio on 1 November 1996.
SOURCES CONSULTED
The faculty file of Barbara Calmer (RG28) and The Papers of Barbara Calmer (RG30/290).
Author: Megan Thompson and Kenneth M. Grossi Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative Information
The papers of Barbara Calmer primarily document Calmer’s career as Associate Professor of Physical Education at Oberlin College. The instructional file series (Series 2) contains materials from the courses taught by Calmer (i.e. syllabi and reading lists) and reference materials concerning physical education issues such as dance, golf, and gymnastics. Notes from physical education workshops attended by Calmer can be found in this series. The files related to the Oberlin College Physical Education Department concern committee work on individual majors and the policies and procedures for the Department. Of particular interest is a file concerning the Oberlin Board of Women Officials that documents the process of selecting officials and organizing events for girls and women’s sports. A journal used to record the acquisition of book titles concerning physical education issues is included in the department files. Series four contains student papers, requests for letters of recommendation from Calmer’s former students, and a file concerning a misconduct case between James Jeanpierre (a student) and Thomas LeDuc (professor of history).
Except for the student papers, the files in series four are restricted. The collections contains some biographical information, but, in general, it lacks documentation concerning the personal life of Barbara Calmer.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series I. Biographical Files, 1977-82, n.d. (3 Folders)
The biographical files of Barbara Calmer primarily relate to her position as a faculty member in the Oberlin College Physical Education Department. Included is a file concerning leave of absences, and a self-evaluation required by the College of Arts and Sciences. The file containing the self-evaluation is restricted. Also included is a file containing a brief biographical sketch.
Series II. Instructional Files, 1942-74, n.d. (10 Folders)
The instructional files consist of materials used by Barbara Calmer to teach courses in physical education and reference materials related to basketball, children’s movement, dance, gymnastics, golf, and learning disorders. Also included is a file related to a workshop held at Wellesley College and two folders containing notes from other conferences or workshops concerning physical education issues.
Series III. Physical Education Department Files, 1952-71, 1974, 1979, 1982, n.d. (4 Folders)
The files related to the Oberlin College Physical Education Department include correspondence concerning committee work on individual majors programs and the practices and procedures of the Department of Physical Education.. Also included is a folder concerning a program review of the Physical Education Department (1970). A file concerning The Oberlin Board of Women Officials documents the activities of the Board as a member of the National Section on Girls and Women’s Sports. A journal of “Library Acquisitions” lists various book titles that were received by the Physical Education Department.
Series IV. Student Files, 1971-74, 1977-79, 1982 (6 Folders)
This series contains requests for letters of recommendation from former students of Barbara Calmer. These files are restricted. Also included are student papers concerning topics in physical education. A file concerning a case between James Jeanpierre (a student) vs. Thomas LeDuc (professor of history) is included. This file is also restricted.
INVENTORY
Series I. Biographical Files
Box 1
Biographical, n.d.
Leave of Absence, 1977-78
Self-Evaluation, 1977-82 (Restricted)
Series II. Instructional Files
Box 1 (cont.)
Basketball, 1961-62 [n.d]
Children’s Movement, 1974, n.d.
Class Plans, Notes, 1962-72 [n.d]
Dance, 1960-63, 1969, [n.d]
Educational Rhythmic Gymnastics Workshop, 1968
Golf, 1942-67 [n.d]
“Learning Problems,” n.d.
Workshops: notes, n.d. (2 f)
Workshop: USC at Wellesley College (Lockhart), 1969
Series III. Physical Education Department Files
Box 2
Correspondence, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1982
“Library Acquisitions”: RE: Physical Education, 1962-71
Oberlin Board of Women Officials, 1952-68. n.d.
Program Review of Physical Education Department, 1970
Series IV. Student Files
Box 2 (cont.)
Recommendations, 1972-73, 1977-79, 1982 (2f) (Restricted)
Carrell, Heather: Student, 1971, 1973 (Restricted)
Cook, Melissa: Student, 1981
Berstein, Paula: Student, 1972
Jeanpierre, James (student) vs. Thomas LeDuc (professor), 1974 (Restricted)