Oberlin File (Collection), 1823- | Oberlin College Archives

Records are arranged into the following series:

I.  Genealogical Records/Family Histories

II.  Letters

          A.  Oberlin Students

          B.  Oberlin Staff/Spouses/other affiliates

          C. Others

III.  Lectures, Presentations, and Talks

IV.  Miscellany

          A.  College Miscellany

          B.  Non-College Miscellany

V.  Newspapers and Periodicals

          A. Newspapers

          B. Periodicals

VI.  Deeds and Other Legal DocumentsVII.  Writings By Oberlinians

          A.  Published Writings

          B.  Unpublished Writings

                    1. Reminiscences of Former Students and Oberlin Residents

                    2. Articles and Essays

                    3. Plays/Productions

                    4. Poems

VIII.  Writings About Oberlin (by others)

          A.  Published Writings

          B.  Unpublished Writings

                    1. Articles and Essays

                    2. Theses and dissertations

                    3. Plays

IX.  Account Books

X. Diaries, Scrapbooks, and Albums

          A. Autograph Albums

          B. Diaries

          C. Scrapbooks

          D. Photograph Albums

XI. Broadsides, Handbills, Circulars, and Advertisements

XII. Songs, Music, and Lyrics

          A. Oberlin College Songs and Yells

          B. Non-College Songs

Description of Categories

I.  Genealogical Records/Family Histories, c. 1823-1991

Published and unpublished family histories provide accounts of the daily lives of families with some connection to Oberlin College or to the town of Oberlin. Generally, accounts are recent reminiscences on the part of descendants. Includes genealogical charts. Materials are arranged alphabetically by family name.

II.  Letters By Oberlin Students, By Former Staff, and Others

Original manuscript letters and copies of letters written by Oberlin students to their families and friends.  The documents are arranged chronologically in order to provide a consecutive account of student life at Oberlin from 1836 to ca. 1940. Letters are largely written at the time of a student’s attendance at Oberlin College, or from the missionary fields of China (Susan Rowena Bird, 1900), India (Margaret Hammaker, 1925-47, Thornton and Charlotte Penfield, 1866-71) and Japan (Edith E. Husted, 1931-38). Student letters discuss matters of import to the writers, such as academic subjects, Bible reading, dress, family activities, living arrangements, sickness, social events, and weather.

Letters by former Oberlin staff members and the spouses of Oberlin staff members.  Several of the documents were written by former Oberlin students from the Civil War fields of battle (James McCleery, 1861, 1863, 1864; Edward N. Upton, 1864-65; and James D. Cook, 1864-65). A letter by Mrs. Thomas L. Nelson describes an 1878 lecture-demonstration of the telephone given at Oberlin's First Congregational Church.

Section C contains letters of individuals with no direct affiliation with Oberlin. Included here is a letter of John Brown, dated 16 February 1857, in which he explains his intentions to his “brother & sister Adair.”

III.  Lectures and Addresses

Included are typescript drafts of baccalaureate addresses, speeches, talks, and other like presentations made at Oberlin College or in the town of Oberlin.  In general, these documents relate to some aspect of Oberlin history. Files are arranged alphabetically by author.

IV.  College and Non-College Miscellany

Miscellaneous materials, arranged alphabetically, are subdivided into "College" and "Non-College" miscellany. College Miscellany includes items holding some relationship to Oberlin College, either through their creator or through their subject matter, such as documenting student-life activities. "Non-college" miscellany includes materials relating often to the town of Oberlin.  For example, the files of Cassie Chadwick document the 1904-05 Oberlin National Bank, record scandal, the business cards of local merchants, and account for the World War II ration books used by Oberlin residents. Several files relate to John Frederick Oberlin and the 250th anniversary of his birth.

V.  Newspapers and Periodicals

Includes originals and copies of newspapers and Periodicals containing articles about Oberlin.  Several miscellaneous papers printed in Oberlin are included among these titles. One newspaper, The Ohio Seventh, was published by Oberlinians in the 7th Regiment, Ohio Volunteers, at Weston, Virginia.  It is in mint condition.  Newspapers and periodicals are separated and files are arranged alphabetically by title and not by place of publication.

VI.  Deeds and other legal documents

Deeds and legal documents are filed chronologically. Materials include deeds of sale, mortgage notes, petitions, and other records relating to the early history of Oberlin College. Included is the original Covenant of the Oberlin Colony (1833); the deed of the 1836 sale by which Street and Hughes transferred property to Oberlin College (Collegiate Institute before 1850; and a field survey of Oberlin (1834).

VII.  Writings By Oberlinians

Writings by Oberlinians are divided into published and unpublished historical materials.  The authors are either Oberlin faculty and staff or Oberlin students after they have graduated.  Classroom papers written by students are to be found under Student Papers (19/5).  Within each category, writings are filed alphabetically by author's surname and are defined as a former Oberlin student, degree recipient, or Oberlin resident.  Writings include articles, essays, and plays on numerous subjects, all of which relate to Oberlin College or the town. The earliest such piece is an 1855 graduation essay by Mary Lamberton.

VIII.  Writings About Oberlin

Writings about Oberlin, written by those without a direct Oberlin connection, include both published and unpublished articles, reports, plays, and several theses and dissertation manuscripts. Topics addressed include quilting in Oberlin, orientation days at the college, racial relations in Oberlin, black baseball player Moses Fleetwood Walker, the "Oberlin Settlement" in Dakota Territory, and the Rev. Potto Brown, an English friend of Charles Grandison, Finney. Writings are arranged alphabetically by author's surname.

IX.  Account Books

Account books include examples of financial record keeping. The subjects of the accounts include daily college expenses of students, education expenses compiled by parents, and family ledgers.

X. Diaries, Scrapbooks, and Albums

Diaries, Scrapbooks and Albums are divided into four subseries. Autograph Albums include guest books, memory books, and other albums where the volume primarily contained names and/or sayings of contemporary individuals. Diaries include journals, diaries, and other collections of written happenings in the life of one person. Scrapbooks include collections of newspaper clippings, photographs, printed materials, and other mementos relating to the experiences of one person or a group of people. Photograph albums are also included. Many individuals who compiled items in this series have connections with Oberlin either as students or townspeople. Users consulting this series should also examine items in the Student Life series Scrapbooks and Diaries (RG 19/4).

XI. Broadsides, Handbills, Circulars, and Advertisements

This series contains broadsides, handbills, circulars, and advertisements relating to a variety of events and movements. Included here is a notice announcing sermons given by Charles G. Finney, a handbill announcing the release of the Oberlin-Wellington rescuers from jail, and items relating to the topic of race on campus, among others.

XII. Songs, Music, and Lyrics

Songs, Music, and Lyrics are divided into those relating to Oberlin and non-Oberlin subseries. Oberlin College songs include several items used as alma mater songs along with others used at commencement or sporting events. Non-Oberlin songs include songs and lyrics written by individuals who may have been connected with Oberlin, but whose work here has no connection with the institution.