Architectural Records, 1842-2008, n.d. | Oberlin College Archives

By Archives staff, Anne Cuyler Salsich

Collection Overview

Title: Architectural Records, 1842-2008, n.d.

ID: RG 53/

Primary Creator: Oberlin College (1833-)

Other Creators: Austin Company (Cleveland, OH) (1878-present), Blythe, Walter (active 1860s-1870s), Bond, Richard (flourished 1820-1850), Dagit Saylor Architects (Philadelphia, PA) (1970-2007), Dagit Saylor, Architects (1970-), Eichstedt & Grissam, Landscape Architects, Gilbert, Cass (1859-1934), Gunnar Birkerts & Associates (1962-), Gwathmey, Charles (1938-2009), Hahn, Alfred A. (1924-2010), Harrison, Wallace Kirkman (1895-1981), Kimball, Richard A. (1899-1997), Mellenbrook, Foley and Scott, Minoru Yamasaki and Associates (1949-), Moore and Hutchins (1937-1970s), Murphy, Henry Killam (1877-1954), Olmsted Brothers, Landscape Architects (1898-1950), Patton, Normand S. (1852-1915), Payette Associates, Potter, Tyler, Martin & Roth, Saarinen, Eliel (1873-1950), Schulte, Edward J. (1890-1975), Scott Brown, Denise (1931-), Scott, Kluth, Schaefer and Associates, Architects, Shaw, Howard Van Doren (1869-1926), Shreve, Lamb and Harmon (1924-1970s), Silsbee, Joseph Lyman (1845-1913), Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (1939-), Smith, Julian S., Snyder, Eldredge (d. 1967), Stubbins, Hugh Asher, Jr. (1912-2006), Van Dijk, Johnson and Partners (1987-), various, Venturi and Rauch (1960-1980), Walker and Weeks (1911-late 1940s), Ward, Clarence (1884-1973), Warner, Burns, Toan and Lunde, Weary and Kramer (Akron, OH) (1879-1894), Westlake, Reed, Leskosky (Cleveland, OH) (1905-), Wright, Frank Lloyd (1867-1959)

Extent: 523.02 Linear Feet

Arrangement: Records are arranged alphabetically by building or project name.

Date Acquired: 00/00/1976. More info below under Accruals.

Forms of Material: architectural records, design drawings, digital images, paintings (visual works), photographs - photographic prints, photographs - slides

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The architectural records at the Oberlin College Archives relate to the architecture or built environment of the College and the City of Oberlin from the 1830s to the present, except for a handful of isolated references to other places. The buildings which make up the Oberlin College campus, as well as those which are now gone, constitute a rich artifactual document of institutional growth since the founding of Oberlin in 1833. Oberlin’s architectural history is one of eclecticism – a mixture of styles from Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Romanesque Revival, Mediterranean Romanesque, Italianate, Queen Anne, Usonian, Utilitarian, Modern, Postmodern, and, more recently, sustainable structure design.

The records are arranged into flat files, roll boxes, flat boxes, and manuscript boxes.

Administrative Information

Repository: Oberlin College Archives

Accruals: Accession Nos: 1976/017, 1988/095, 1988/157 (microfiche), 1989/013, 1989/048, 1991/036, 1995/125, 1995/149, 1995/152, 1996/089, 1996/120, 1997/026, 1997/071, 1998/052, 1998/090 (unprocessed), 1998/131, 1998/143, 1999/003 (unprocessed), 1999/025, 1998/028, 1999/037, 1999/049, 1999/066, 2000/003, 2001/033, 2002/134, 2006/097, 2006/100, 2010/047, 2010/071, 2011/038, 2011/068, 2011/070 (separate inventory, digital surrogates), 2013/022, 2013/064, 2016/040, 2016/046, 2017/015, 2017/027, 2020/009.

Access Restrictions: Some drawings and records cannot be photographed or othewise copied; consult College Archivist. Brittle drawings are closed, as noted on inventory.

Acquisition Method: Most of the records were transferred from the Oberlin College Office of Facilities and Planning, with over half the records received between 2011 and 2016.

Related Materials:

College General (RG 0), Series 24. Buildings and Dedications

Office of the President (RG 2)

Office of the Secretary (RG 5)

Records of the Office of Business & Finance (RG 6)

Geoffrey Blodgett Papers (RG 30/263)

Cass Gilbert Papers (RG 30/124)

Clarence Ward Papers (RG 30/158)

City of Oberlin Records (RG 31/5)

Photographs: Buildings (RG 32/4)

Sound Recordings (RG 37)

Related Publications:

Guide to the Architectural Records in the Oberlin College Archives, by Roland M. Baumann, General Editor; Roland M. Baumann, Jessica G. Broadwell, and Michael Morgenstern, compilers (Oberlin: Oberlin College, 1996).

Architecture of Oberlin College, Oberlin College Archives website (Oberlin College Libraries, 2015).

Finding Aid Revision History: Revised March 2005 by Archives staff. Revised by Anne Cuyler Salsich, 2009, October 2010, November 2012, April and October 2013. Accession 2011/068 processed by Anne Cuyler Salsich, August 2014; additional accessions January and June 2016; July 2017, March 2018, November 2020

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Item:

[Item 1: Air Route Traffic Control Center],
[Item 2: Allen Memorial Art Museum and Additions],
[Item 3: Allen Memorial Art Museum and Addition Proposals],
[Item 4: Allencroft],
[Item 5: Apartments, Oberlin],
[Item 6: Apollo Theater],
[Item 7: Arboretum],
[Item 8: Art Department, Geodesic Domes, 1971],
[Item 9: Art Department "Domes", 1983],
[Item 10: F.B. Artz Residence],
[Item 11: Asia House (Shipherd)],
[Item 12: Athletic District Master Plan],
[Item 13: Athletic Fields],
[Item 14: Bailey (French House)],
[Item 15: Baldwin Cottage],
[Item 16: Bandstand, Clark],
[Item 17: Barrows Hall],
[Item 18: Barrows House Renovation],
[Item 19: Bell/Clock Tower Proposal],
[Item 20: Bench by the Road, Oberlin],
[Item 21: Bosworth Hall/Theological Quadrangle],
[Item 22: James Brand House],
[Item 23: Burton Hall],
[Item 24: Cabinet Hall],
[Item 25: Carnegie Library and Addition],
[Item 26: Carnegie Renovation],
[Item 27: Central Heating Plant],
[Item 28: Raymond Cerf Residence],
[Item 29: Chinese Temple],
[Item 30: City Hall],
[Item 31: Coeducational Memorial Gateway],
[Item 32: College Chapel],
[Item 33: College Park Addition],
[Item 34: Commencement Seating Plans],
[Item 35: Conservatory of Music],
[Item 36: Conservatory of Music Library Addition],
[Item 37: Council Hall],
[Item 38: Cox Administration Building],
[Item 39: Crane Pool],
[Item 40: Dascomb Hall],
[Item 41: Dormitories],
[Item 42: East Hall],
[Item 43: C.S. Ellsworth Residence],
[Item 44: Embassy Hall],
[Item 45: Environmental Studies Center, A.J. Lewis],
[Item 46: Faculty Apartments],
[Item 47: Fairchild Hall],
[Item 48: C.K. Fauver Apartments],
[Item 49: Field House, Heisman Club],
[Item 50: Field House, Jones, & Stadium],
[Item 51: Finney Memorial Chapel],
[Item 52: Firelands Retirement Center],
[Item 53: First Congregational Church],
[Item 54: French Hall],
[Item 55: Gasholder House],
[Item 56: Peter B. Lewis Gateway Center],
[Item 57: General Telephone Company],
[Item 58: Graduate School of Theology],
[Item 59: Thomas Wesley Graham House],
[Item 60: Hales Memorial Gymnasium],
[Item 61: Hall Memorial Auditorium],
[Item 62: Hall Memorial Gateway & Outdoor Theater],
[Item 63: Harkness Hall],
[Item 64: Dr. E. Hawkins Residence],
[Item 65: Heating Plant],
[Item 66: Herbarium (Botany Building Annex)],
[Item 67: Intermuseum Conservation Association],
[Item 68: Jameson House],
[Item 69: Johnson House],
[Item 70: Johnston Memorial],
[Item 71: Johnston Park Playground],
[Item 72: Jones Fieldhouse and Stadium],
[Item 73: Kade (German) House],
[Item 74: Keep Cottage],
[Item 75: Kettering Hall of Science],
[Item 76: Kettering Library],
[Item 77: King Memorial Building],
[Item 78: Koppes-Norris House],
[Item 79: J.B. Landfield House],
[Item 80: Landscape Architecture],
[Item 81: Landscape Sculpture Plan],
[Item 82: Langston Hall],
[Item 83: Langston Middle School],
[Item 84: A.J. Lewis Center for Environmental Studies],
[Item 85: Lord Cottage],
[Item 86: Mallory House (Shansi House)],
[Item 87: Medical Arts Building],
[Item 88: Memorial Arch],
[Item 89: Men's Building (Wilder Hall)],
[Item 90: Men's Campus],
[Item 91: Men's Club Proposals],
[Item 92: Men's Gymnasium Proposals],
[Item 93: Metcalf Residence],
[Item 94: Metcalf Summer Cottage],
[Item 95: Mudd Learning Center],
[Item 96: Natural History Building (Proposed)],
[Item 97: Nichols Memorial Gateway],
[Item 98: Noah Hall],
[Item 99: North (Langston) Hall],
[Item 100: North Campus Dining Facility],
[Item 101: City of Oberlin Bike Path],
[Item 102: Oberlin City Hall],
[Item 103: Oberlin Fire Station],
[Item 104: City of Oberlin "General"],
[Item 105: (City of Oberlin) Gilford Instruments Laboratory],
[Item 106: (City of Oberlin) Gilford Residence],
[Item 107: Oberlin High School (Langston Middle School)],
[Item 108: City of Oberlin Municipal Light & Power Systems],
[Item 109: City of Oberlin Public Housing],
[Item 110: Oberlin Public Library],
[Item 111: City of Oberlin Railroad Station Grounds],
[Item 112: City of Oberlin Sanitation System],
[Item 113: City of Oberlin, Vine Street Park],
[Item 114: City of Oberlin Waterworks],
[Item 115: Oberlin College Campus Layout & Landscape],
[Item 116: Oberlin College Proposals],
[Item 117: Oberlin Village Gas & Electric Company],
[Item 118: Oberlin Golf Club],
[Item 119: Oberlin Inn],
[Item 120: Oberlin Properties: Lot 95],
[Item 121: Oberlin Shansi Memorial Schools in China],
[Item 122: Ohio State Athletic Field],
[Item 123: Outdoor Theater],
[Item 124: Park House],
[Item 125: Peters Hall & Renovation],
[Item 126: Phillips Gymnasium],
[Item 127: Physical Education Facility],
[Item 128: Physics Laboratory],
[Item 129: Planning: Campus],
[Item 130: Planning: Landscape],
[Item 131: Pope Residence],
[Item 132: President's House],
[Item 133: Pyle Inn],
[Item 134: Residences: Butler, Kennedy, Seaman, Steiner],
[Item 135: Rice Memorial Hall],
[Item 136: Rice Memorial Hall Library],
[Item 137: Russia Township],
[Item 138: Science Building Proposals],
[Item 139: Science Center],
[Item 140: Science Quadrangle],
[Item 141: Second Church],
[Item 142: Severance Hall],
[Item 143: Shurtleff Cottage],
[Item 144: Society Hall],
[Item 145: Soldiers Monument],
[Item 146: South Hall],
[Item 147: Spear Library],
[Item 148: Stadium (Savage)],
[Item 149: Stand Pipe],
[Item 150: Station Square],
[Item 151: Stevenson Hall],
[Item 152: Stewart Hall],
[Item 153: Student Health Services],
[Item 154: Sturges Hall],
[Item 155: Talcott Hall],
[Item 156: Tank Hall],
[Item 157: Tappan Square],
[Item 158: Theology Quadrangle],
[Item 159: Town Hall],
[Item 160: U.S. Post Office, Oberlin],
[Item 161: Vatican],
[Item 162: Warner Concert Hall],
[Item 163: Warner Gymnasium],
[Item 164: Warner Hall (Conservatory)],
[Item 165: Water Treatment Plant],
[Item 166: Webster Hall],
[Item 167: Weltzheimer/Johnson Residence],
[Item 168: Wilder Hall],
[Item 169: Women's Dormitories],
[Item 170: Women's Hall],
[Item 171: World War II Memorial Garden],
[Item 172: Frank Lloyd Wright],
[Item 173: Wright Laboratory of Physics],
[Item 174: Minoru Yamasaki],
[All]

Item 1: Air Route Traffic Control Center
Item 2: Allen Memorial Art Museum and Additions
Item 3: Allen Memorial Art Museum and Addition Proposals
Item 4: Allencroft
Item 5: Apartments, Oberlin
Item 6: Apollo Theater
Item 7: Arboretum
Item 8: Art Department, Geodesic Domes, 1971
Item 9: Art Department "Domes", 1983
Item 10: F.B. Artz Residence
Item 11: Asia House (Shipherd)
Item 12: Athletic District Master Plan
Item 13: Athletic Fields: See also: Fieldhouse and Stadium.
Item 14: Bailey (French House)
Item 15: Baldwin Cottage
Item 16: Bandstand, Clark
Item 17: Barrows Hall
Item 18: Barrows House Renovation
Item 19: Bell/Clock Tower Proposal
Item 20: Bench by the Road, Oberlin
Item 21: Bosworth Hall/Theological Quadrangle
Item 22: James Brand House
Item 23: Burton Hall
Item 24: Cabinet Hall
Item 25: Carnegie Library and Addition
Item 26: Carnegie Renovation
Item 27: Central Heating Plant
Item 28: Raymond Cerf Residence
Item 29: Chinese Temple
Item 30: City Hall
Item 31: Coeducational Memorial Gateway
Item 32: College Chapel
Item 33: College Park Addition
Item 34: Commencement Seating Plans
Item 35: Conservatory of Music
Item 36: Conservatory of Music Library Addition
Item 37: Council Hall
Item 38: Cox Administration Building
Item 39: Crane Pool: See also: Hales Memorial Gymnasium.
Item 40: Dascomb Hall
Item 41: Dormitories
Item 42: East Hall
Item 43: C.S. Ellsworth Residence
Item 44: Embassy Hall
Item 45: Environmental Studies Center, A.J. Lewis
Item 46: Faculty Apartments
Item 47: Fairchild Hall
Item 48: C.K. Fauver Apartments
Item 49: Field House, Heisman Club
Item 50: Field House, Jones, & Stadium
Item 51: Finney Memorial Chapel
Item 52: Firelands Retirement Center
Item 53: First Congregational Church: Original plans closed.
Item 54: French Hall
Item 55: Gasholder House
Item 56: Peter B. Lewis Gateway Center
Item 57: General Telephone Company
Item 58: Graduate School of Theology
Item 59: Thomas Wesley Graham House
Item 60: Hales Memorial Gymnasium
Item 61: Hall Memorial Auditorium
Item 62: Hall Memorial Gateway & Outdoor Theater
Item 63: Harkness Hall
Item 64: Dr. E. Hawkins Residence
Item 65: Heating Plant
Item 66: Herbarium (Botany Building Annex)
Item 67: Intermuseum Conservation Association
Item 68: Jameson House
Item 69: Johnson House
Item 70: Johnston Memorial
Item 71: Johnston Park Playground
Item 72: Jones Fieldhouse and Stadium
Item 73: Kade (German) House
Item 74: Keep Cottage
Item 75: Kettering Hall of Science
Item 76: Kettering Library
Item 77: King Memorial Building
Item 78: Koppes-Norris House
Item 79: J.B. Landfield House
Item 80: Landscape Architecture
Item 81: Landscape Sculpture Plan
Item 82: Langston Hall: See also: North Hall.
Item 83: Langston Middle School
Item 84: A.J. Lewis Center for Environmental Studies
Item 85: Lord Cottage
Item 86: Mallory House (Shansi House)
Item 87: Medical Arts Building
Item 88: Memorial Arch
Item 89: Men's Building (Wilder Hall)
Item 90: Men's Campus
Item 91: Men's Club Proposals
Item 92: Men's Gymnasium Proposals
Item 93: Metcalf Residence
Item 94: Metcalf Summer Cottage: Ripley Point, ME.
Item 95: Mudd Learning Center
Item 96: Natural History Building (Proposed)
Item 97: Nichols Memorial Gateway
Item 98: Noah Hall
Item 99: North (Langston) Hall
Item 100: North Campus Dining Facility
Item 101: City of Oberlin Bike Path
Item 102: Oberlin City Hall
Item 103: Oberlin Fire Station
Item 104: City of Oberlin "General"
Item 105: (City of Oberlin) Gilford Instruments Laboratory
Item 106: (City of Oberlin) Gilford Residence
Item 107: Oberlin High School (Langston Middle School)
Item 108: City of Oberlin Municipal Light & Power Systems
Item 109: City of Oberlin Public Housing
Item 110: Oberlin Public Library
Item 111: City of Oberlin Railroad Station Grounds
Item 112: City of Oberlin Sanitation System
Item 113: City of Oberlin, Vine Street Park
Item 114: City of Oberlin Waterworks
Item 115: Oberlin College Campus Layout & Landscape
Item 116: Oberlin College Proposals: Unidentified proposed buildings.
Item 117: Oberlin Village Gas & Electric Company
Item 118: Oberlin Golf Club
Item 119: Oberlin Inn
Item 120: Oberlin Properties: Lot 95
Item 121: Oberlin Shansi Memorial Schools in China
Item 122: Ohio State Athletic Field
Item 123: Outdoor Theater
Item 124: Park House
Item 125: Peters Hall & Renovation
Item 126: Phillips Gymnasium: Interior.
Item 127: Physical Education Facility
Item 128: Physics Laboratory
Item 129: Planning: Campus
Item 130: Planning: Landscape
Item 131: Pope Residence: Dormitory.
Item 132: President's House
Item 133: Pyle Inn
Item 134: Residences: Butler, Kennedy, Seaman, Steiner
Item 135: Rice Memorial Hall
Item 136: Rice Memorial Hall Library
Item 137: Russia Township
Item 138: Science Building Proposals
Item 139: Science Center
Item 140: Science Quadrangle
Item 141: Second Church
Item 142: Severance Hall
Item 143: Shurtleff Cottage
Item 144: Society Hall
Item 145: Soldiers Monument
Item 146: South Hall
Item 147: Spear Library
Item 148: Stadium (Savage)
Item 149: Stand Pipe
Item 150: Station Square
Item 151: Stevenson Hall
Item 152: Stewart Hall
Item 153: Student Health Services
Item 154: Sturges Hall
Item 155: Talcott Hall: Originals closed.
Item 156: Tank Hall
Item 157: Tappan Square
Item 158: Theology Quadrangle
Item 159: Town Hall
Item 160: U.S. Post Office, Oberlin
Item 161: Vatican: Dormitory. See also: Pope Residence.
Item 162: Warner Concert Hall
Item 163: Warner Gymnasium
Item 164: Warner Hall (Conservatory)
Item 165: Water Treatment Plant
Item 166: Webster Hall
Item 167: Weltzheimer/Johnson Residence
Item 168: Wilder Hall
Item 169: Women's Dormitories
Item 170: Women's Hall
Item 171: World War II Memorial Garden
Item 172: Frank Lloyd Wright
Item 173: Wright Laboratory of Physics
Item 174: Minoru Yamasaki