Richard Lothrop Papers, 1934-2005
| Oberlin College Archives
Administrative/Biographical History
Richard Lothrop (1925-2015) was a lifelong Oberlin resident known for his extensive knowledge of Oberlin’s history and his dedication to the community. He was born in Washington, DC to Alfred P. Lothrop and Florence A. Osborne (both Oberlin College graduates) in 1925. The family moved to Oberlin when he was a child for his father’s position as a professor of chemistry at the college. Lothrop graduated from Oberlin High School in 1944 and served the US Naval Reserve during World War II. Following his service, Lothrop earned his BA in history from the College of Wooster in 1949 and his Master of Education from the University of Illinois in 1954. He worked as an admissions counselor at Illinois College, Beloit College, and Case Western Reserve University, eventually earning a Master of Library Science from Case Western in 1967. He went on to work as the librarian at Lake Ridge Academy until his retirement in 1988.
Lothrop was an active Oberlin community member for decades. He served eleven terms on the Oberlin City Council between 1974 and 1999, including as chair, vice chair, and city manager. He was also a member of Oberlin’s Christ Church for over fifty years and served as the parish historian. He hosted a 30-minute segment once a month on local television entitled “Conversations with Lothrop,” and authored a column in the Oberlin News Tribune entitled “Elm Street Thoughts.” Lothrop was known to collect newspaper clippings detailing Oberlin events throughout the years, amassing an Oberlin archive of his own. His commitment to Oberlin’s history and community earned him the title of “Oberlinian of the Year” in 1996. In 2002 he was named an official Community Historian by the Oberlin Heritage Center. He died on August 18, 2015.
Sources
“Richard Lothrop Obituary.” Cowling Funeral Home, Inc., 2015. Accessed April 3, 2023.
“Richard Lothrop.” Oberlin News-Tribune, August 31, 2015. Accessed April 3, 2023.
Author: Julia Clark ‘23 Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative InformationOberlin College Archives
City of Oberlin Records (RG 31/5)
Church/Religious-Based Organizations (RG 31/4)
Oberlin College Library Records (RG 16)
The Richard Lothrop Papers document Oberlin’s history in the later 20th Century through his writings, his service on the Oberlin City Council, and his relationships with the Oberlin College Librarian, the Archivist, family and friends, on and off campus.
The writings include copies of Lothrop’s “Elm Street Thoughts” column written from the 1970s until 2003, and his “History of the Oberlin College Library,” a student publication (1967). Other materials include Oberlin City Council documents and proposals involving the Oberlin Golf Club (1970s); the Pyle Road Reservoir (1970s-90s); issues of “Lothrop Reports to Ward 4,” in which Lothrop writes to the people in his district about issues facing the City Council; a copy of “Thoughts from Oberlin: Campus Talks of the College Year 1933-34” written by Richard Adams. The correspondence holds only a few letters by Lothrop. The letters received and items related to his uncle and his father make up the bulk of the Lothrop Papers.
SERIES DESCRIPTION
Series 1. Biographical Files, 1944, 1997, 2002, 2005 (0.1 l.f.)
Contains a copy of the story of Richard Lothrop’s uncle Everett Lothrop, also an alum; articles relating to Richard Lothrop’s Oberlinian of the Year award and Community Historian Award; and an illustrated manuscript on hide that Oberlin College commissioned for its Memorial Minute for former Professor Alfred Pierce Lothrop (Richard’s father) in 1944. This is enclosed in a leather portfolio.
Series 2. Correspondence, 1939-94, 2000-03 (0.8 l.f.)
Consists of letters sent and received by Lothrop between 1939 and 2003. These include letters between friends and family members, miscellaneous letters, and letters between Lothrop and the Oberlin College Archives. Two photographs are within the correspondence files.
Series 3. Oberlin City Council, 1974-2003 (span) (0.1 l.f.)
Series 3 is arranged in two subseries. Subseries 1 contains letters sent out during Lothrop’s numerous city council campaigns, as well as several “Vote for Lothrop” campaign cards. Subseries 2 contains information about several City Council ordinances. This includes the Oberlin Golf Club’s Reservoir purchase information, the Pyle Road Reservoir and Nature Reserve proposal, and a series titled “Lothrop Reports to Ward 4,” in which Lothrop wrote to the voters in his district directly informing them of City Council deliberations.
Series 4. Talks, 1934 (0.1 l.f.)
Contains a copy of Richard Adams’ “Thoughts from Oberlin: Campus Talks of the College Year, 1933-34),” which includes transcripts of talks given by professors that academic year.
Series 5. Writings, 1967, 1977-2003 (0.1 l.f.)
Contains over twenty years of “Elm Street Thoughts,” Lothrop’s monthly column in the Oberlin News Tribune where he discussed and reflected on his time living in Oberlin. Also contains a copy of Lothrop’s “History of the Oberlin College Library,” which he published as a student at Case Western Reserve University in 1967.