John J. Shipherd Papers, 1806-1855, undated

Title: John J. Shipherd Papers, 1806-1855, undated

ID: RG 30/083

Creator: Shipherd, John J. (1802-1844)

Extent: 1.25 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 05/17/1968

Languages: English [eng]

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The letters of founder John J. Shipherd represent the most important single source on the founding of Oberlin. Philo P. Stewart left no papers. The Shipherd papers should be read along with the early files found in the records of the Office of the Treasurer.

Consisting of original documents, ca. 1831-45 and n.d., the John J. Shipherd papers mainly constitute letters sent or received by Oberlin’s founder. The approximate twenty letters sent by him, 1831-37, are to his family or to the trustees of the Oberlin Collegiate Institute. In addition there are about fifteen letters to him, 1833-35, which are largely from family members, friends and associates (Philo P. Stewart, J.F. Scovill, James Dascomb, Theodore Weld, Joshua Leavitt, Peter Pindar Pease, and Seth H. Waldo), and others regarding the affairs of the Oberlin Collegiate Institute.

A notebook, believed to have been kept by Shipherd, also exists. Series IX contains a genealogical chart for the Shipherd family tree prepared by Barbara Riis Shipherd Evans, ca. 1977.

For detail on the Shipherd letters, see Robert S. Fletcher, A History of Oberlin College from Its Foundation through the Civil War, 2 vols. (Oberlin, 1943), II, 932-33.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: Researchers are requested to use photocopies instead of original letters.

Processing Information: Processed by Archives staff, November 2004; January 2013 (Series IX). Biographical sketch by College Archivist Roland Baumann, November 2004.

Other URL: http://www.oberlin.edu/archive/archon_pdfs/Shipherd_John_Inventory.pdf

Box and Folder Listing

Series I: Notebook Believed Kept by Shipherd, ca. 1834-1835

Box 1

Item 1: Notebook Believed Kept by Shipherd, ca. 1834-1835

Series II: Letters Primarily Sent by John J. Shipherd, 1831-1843, undated

Box 1

Folder 2: John J. Shipherd to Rev. Absalom Peters, 1832 January 19
Folder 3: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1831 December 1
Folder 4: John J. Shipherd to Cornelius Mutsey, [?] August
Folder 5: Esther R. Shipherd to Sister Dewy, ca. 1843
Folder 6: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. Shipherd, 1831 April 6
Folder 7: John J. Shipherd to Minerva S. Leavitt, 1832 January 19
Folder 8: John J. Shipherd to James R. Shipherd, 1832 May 7
Folder 9: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1832 August 6
Folder 10: John J. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1832 September 3
Folder 11: John J. Shipherd to Eliphales Redington for the Board, 1833 May 1
Folder 12: John J. Shipherd Esther R. Shipherd, 1833 May 14
Folder 13: John J. Shipherd to E. Redington (Trustees), 1833 August 9
Folder 14: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1833 August 23
Folder 15: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1833 December 13
Folder 16: John J. Shipherd to Rev. John Keep, 1834 December 13
Folder 17: John J. Shipherd to Rev. John Keep, 1834 December 15
Folder 18: John J. Shipherd to Eliphalis and Tracy Redington, 1834 December 15
Folder 19: Fayette Shipherd to Sister C., ca. 1835
Folder 20: John J. Shipherd to E.P. Sturges, 1835 April 10
Folder 21: John J. Shipherd to L. Burnell, 1836 March 18
Folder 22: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1836 March 29
Folder 23: John J. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1837 March 2

Series III: Letters Received by John J. and Esther R. Shipherd, 1833-1835

Box 2

Folder 1: Peter P. Pease et al. to John J. Shipherd, 1833 June 11
Folder 2: James Dascomb to John J. Shipherd, 1833 October 21
Folder 3: J.F. Scovill to John J. Shipherd, 1833 November 20: With attachment.
Folder 4: P.P. Stewart to Fayette Shipherd, 1833 February 4
Folder 5: P.P. Stewart to John J. Shipherd, 1833 May 21
Folder 6: P.P. Stewart to John J. Shipherd, 1833 July 2
Folder 7: S.H. Waldo to John J. Shipherd, 1833 October 7
Folder 8: Fayette Shipherd to John J. Shipherd, 1833 July 23
Folder 9: Zebulon R. Shipherd to John J. Shipherd, 1833 July 23
Folder 10: Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd to John J. and Esther Shipherd, 1833 September 10
Folder 11: Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd to John J. and Esther Shipherd, 1833 October 26
Folder 12: Zebulon R. Shipherd to Esther R. Shipherd, 1833 November 1
Folder 13: James K. Shipherd to John J. and Esther R. Shipherd, 1833 November 21
Folder 14: Zebulon R. Shipherd to John J. and Esther Shipherd, 1834 January 1
Folder 15: Fayette Shipherd to John J. Shipherd, 1834 January 25
Folder 16: Zebulon R. Shipherd to John J. Shipherd, 1834 February 5
Folder 17: Fayette Shipherd to John J. Shipherd, 1834 March 24
Folder 18: Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd to John J. and Esther Shipherd, 1834 March 31
Folder 19: Fayette Shipherd to John J. Shipherd, 1834 May 15
Folder 20: Theodore D. Weld to John J. Shipherd, 1834 June 21
Folder 21: Eliza Shipherd to John J. and Esther R. Shipherd, 1835 August 29
Folder 22: Rev. Joshua Leavitt to John J. Shipherd, 1835 July 11

Series IV: Letters Sent by John J. Shipherd, 1819-1843, undated

Box 3

Folder 1: John J. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, [?] April 14
Folder 2: John J. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1819 October 2
Folder 3: John J. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1819 January 17
Folder 4: John J. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1819 December 8
Folder 5: John J. Shipherd to James H. Shipherd, 1822 August 21
Folder 6: John J. Shipherd to James H. Shipherd, 1822 December 16
Folder 7: John J. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1823 March 29
Folder 8: John J. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1824 May 15
Folder 9: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. Shipherd, 1824 June 8
Folder 10: John J. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1825 February
Folder 11: John J. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1825 November 29
Folder 12: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. Shipherd, 1828 February 4
Folder 13: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1829 April 6
Folder 14: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1830 November
Folder 15: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1831 June 1
Folder 16: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1833 February 5
Folder 17: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1834 May 27
Folder 18: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1834 September 4
Folder 19: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1834 September 26
Folder 20: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1834 October 13
Folder 21: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1834 December 19
Folder 22: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1835 January 22
Folder 23: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. Shipherd, 1835 March 12
Folder 24: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. Shipherd, 1835 April 6
Folder 25: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. Shipherd, 1836 January 16
Folder 26: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1836 May 24
Folder 27: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1837 December 18
Folder 28: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1838 April 1
Folder 29: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1838 May 22
Folder 30: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1838 August 15
Folder 31: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1838 September 20
Folder 32: John J. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1840 April 23
Folder 33: John J. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd and Other Family Members, 1843 January 26

Series V

Box 3

Folder 34: Esther Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1832 October 6
Folder 35: Esther Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1834 December 18
Folder 36: Esther Shipherd to Minerva S. Leavitt (Mrs. H.F.), 1837 September 18
Folder 37: Minerva S. Leavitt to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1826 September 10
Folder 38: Minerva S. Leavitt (With Daughter Sophia) to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1828 December 8
Folder 39: Minerva S. Leavitt (With Daughter Sophia) to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1832 March 10
Folder 40: Minerva S. Leavitt to Nancy E. Shipherd, 1832 June 25
Folder 41: Minerva S. Leavitt to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1833 December 30
Folder 42: Minerva S. Leavitt to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1840 June 2
Folder 43: Minerva S. Leavitt to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1841 July 7
Folder 44: Harvey F. Leavitt (With Daughter Sophia) to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1833 December 13
Folder 45: Sophia M. Leavitt to Zebulon R. and Nancy E. Shipherd, 1844 May 27
Folder 46: Zebulon R. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, undated
Folder 47: Zebulon R. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, [?] June 20
Folder 48: Zebulon R. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1806 June 12
Folder 49: Zebulon R. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1814 January 30
Folder 50: Zebulon R. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1814 April 18
Folder 51: Zebulon R. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1814 December 15
Folder 52: Zebulon R. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1818 September 15
Folder 53: Zebulon R. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1820 January 13
Folder 54: Zebulon R. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1824 February 27
Folder 55: Zebulon R. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1824 April 10
Folder 56: Zebulon R. Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1826 February 22
Folder 57: Zebulon R. Shipherd to James K. Shipherd, 1830 April 8
Folder 58: Zebulon R. Shipherd to James K. Shipherd, 1832 June 15
Folder 59: Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd to Zebulon R. Shipherd, ca. 1824 April
Folder 60: Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd to Zebulon R. Shipherd, 1824 April 22
Folder 61: Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd to James K. Shipherd, 1827 March 31
Folder 62: Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd to James K. Shipherd, 1829 March 3
Folder 63: Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd to James K. Shipherd, 1829 September 20
Folder 64: Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd to James K. Shipherd, 1830 April 13
Folder 65: Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd to James K. Shipherd, 1833 March 16
Folder 66: Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd to James K. Shipherd, 1833 August 10
Folder 67: Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd to Zebulon R. Shipherd, 1835 November 16
Folder 68: Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd to Esther R. Shipherd, 1850 February 18
Folder 69: Nancy E. Shipherd to Esther R. Shipherd, 1855 July 30
Folder 70: Fayette Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, undated
Folder 71: Fayette Shipherd to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1830 October 25
Folder 72: James K. Shipherd to Zebulon R. and Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1832 November 26
Folder 73: Julia I. Bright to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, undated
Folder 74: Julia I. Bright to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, undated
Folder 75: Julia I. Bright to Nancy "Betsey" Shipherd, 1808 May 31
Folder 76: S. Sanford to Zebulon R. Shipherd, 1818 April 3

Series VI: Photocopies of Original Letters, undated

Box 4

Folder 1: Esther Shipherd Duplicates, undated
Folder 2: John Jay Shipherd (Duplicates), undated
Folder 3: Joshua Leavitt (Duplicates), undated
Folder 4: Fayette and James Shipherd (Duplicates), undated
Folder 5: Betsey Shipherd (Duplicates), undated
Folder 6: Zebulon R. Shipherd (Duplicates), undated
Folder 7: Miscellany (Duplicates), undated
Folder 8: Miscellany (Photocopy Only), undated

Series VII: Shipherd Letters

Box 4

Folder 10: Shipherd Letters, Copy: Wordprocessing copy, set created by W.E. Bigglestone.

Series VIII: Writing of Esther R. Shipherd, ca. 1859-1879

Box 4

Folder 11: John J. Shipherd, "A Sketch of the Life and Labors of John J. Shipherd", ca. 1859-1879: By Esther R. Shipherd. Item cataloged by the library in July of 1993. Manuscript, typescript, and varient versions.
Folder 12: John J. Shipherd, "A Sketch of the Life and Labors of John J. Shipherd", ca. 1859-1879: By Esther R. Shipherd. Item cataloged by the library in July of 1993. Manuscript, typescript, and varient versions.
Folder 13: John J. Shipherd, "A Sketch of the Life and Labors of John J. Shipherd", ca. 1859-1879: By Esther R. Shipherd. Item cataloged by the library in July of 1993. Manuscript, typescript, and varient versions.

Series IX: Genealogical Chart, ca. 1977

Flat File C2D3

Item 1: The Shipherd Family Tree, ca. 1977: Goodrich Room Case 2, Drawer 3. Prepared by Barbara Riis Shipherd Evans.

John J. Shipherd Papers, 1806-1855, undated

Collection Overview

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing