Ellen N. Lawson Papers, 1963-1993, 2011
| Oberlin College Archives
Administrative/Biographical History
Ellen NicKenzie Lawson (b. 1944) earned the B.A. degree from Swarthmore College (1966), the M.A.T. degree from Wesleyan University (1969), and the Ph.D. degree in American history from Case Western Reserve University (1977).
During the fall months of 1970 Lawson, along with four female students and one other math faculty wife, Cheryl Stevenson, lobbied senior administration for the first women's history course at Oberlin College. (Roberta Miller taught the first women's history course that spring semester.) At one point Lawson was a part-time instructor in the Oberlin College Department of History (1974-75), and taught a course that surveyed the history of 19th century American women. In the spring of 1974 Lawson was an interim special consultant to the Academic Dean responsible for the development of the Women's Studies program (between the departure of Associate Dean Zara Wilkenfeld and the arrival of Associate Dean Paula Goldsmid) in an effort to establish a more permanent women's studies program.
Ellen NicKenzie Lawson's interests in women's history, including African-American women, led her to establish, along with Marlene D. Merrill, the Women's History Project. In 1980, Lawson and Merrill spoke about their research on three women (later called “The Three Sarahs”) at Harvard University's Bunting Institute. Assisted by Marlene D. Merrill, Lawson wrote The Three Sarahs: Documents of Antebellum Black College Women (1984). In addition, Lawson's work with the Women's History Project led her to write an autobiography of Mary Elizabeth Johnston, educator and librarian (A.B. 1913, issued in 1937), titled Across the Stage: An Extra Clap (1983), which was distributed to 30,000 Oberlin alumni.
In addition to her teaching and writing activities at Oberlin, Lawson served as Assistant Academic Dean (1978-80) under Robert Longsworth, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In 1980, Ann Fuller (formerly wed to Oberlin College president Robert W. Fuller) and Ellen Lawson prepared a five-page questionnaire, which was sent to 120 Oberlin faculty wives who were involved at the College in the early 1970s. An interpretative summary of this report, "The faculty spouse and the women's movement," appeared in the faculty and staff newspaper, Observer, vol. 4:16 (28 April 1983), page 5. (The survey responses are in the Oberlin College Archives). In 1982 Lawson organized the first Midwest Regional Conference on Black Women's History for the Organization of American History (OAH). The conference was hosted by Oberlin College.
Lawson was also involved in the Oberlin community as a board member for the Oberlin Early Childhood Center and for the local chapter (Oberlin) of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Lawson served in other capacities outside of Oberlin. From 1980 to 1992, she worked as a free-lance writer, historian, and archivist in Northern Ohio. In 1987, she wrote an article titled "The Fathers of Photography: The Brothers Langenheim,” published in Pennsylvania Heritage, vol. 13:4 (Fall 1987), and donated slides of Langenheim daguerreotypes (1840-50) to the Oberlin College Archives. She also taught African-American history courses at Cuyahoga Community College and served as a Visiting Professor of African-American History at Cleveland State University. From 1992 to 1996, Ellen N. Lawson taught history at a number of institutions throughout Ohio, Washington, and Oregon.
At mid-life, Lawson switched from history to the visual arts and became a painter. She studied art for two years, 1996-98, at Clatsop College in Astoria, Oregon. Later, she took courses at Plymouth State College in New Hampshire, and the Corcoran School in Washington, D.C., and taught art at Corcoran Summer Camp and at Grymes Memorial School in Orange, Virginia. She also has held solo art shows. During the 2001-02 academic year she served as Adjunct Faculty at Germanna Community College, and taught history and economics at Liberty High 9chool in Fauquier County, Virginia, 2002-04. In addition, she taught African-American history in Coffeewood Prison.
Michael G. Henle (Swarthmore '65; Professor of Math, Oberlin College, 1970- ) and Ellen N. Lawson are the parents of Alea Henle of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Josh Medley of Boulder, Colorado.
For additional biographical information researchers should consult the curriculum vitae of Ellen N. Lawson, 2004.
Sources Consulted
Roland M. Baumann, editor, Guide to the Women’s History Sources in the Oberlin College Archives (Oberlin, OH: Oberlin College, 1990).
Curriculum vitae of Ellen Lawson, 2004.
Subjects (links to similar collections) Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative Information
The Ellen N. Lawson Papers consist of Project and Research Files, including the Langenheim Daguerreotypes Research Files, Oral Histories of African-Americans, and the National City Bank Research Files. The collection also contains Women’s Studies Historical Files, including an interview with Hope Hibbard (audio cassette), Oberlin Faculty Wives Survey, and Barbara Seaman Correspondence; files relating to the Women’s Studies program at Oberlin College. Published and unpublished writings of Lawson, including “Children of the Amistad” (1989), “A History of Banking in Cleveland” (1994), and a number of articles written for a variety of publications are included in this collection.
The collection is divided into seven series: 1. Project and Research Files, 2. Women’s Studies Historical Files (certain files are restricted as noted by an asterisk on the inventory), 3. Files Relating to the Women’s Studies Program at Oberlin, 4. Writings (Published and Unpublished), 5. Oral History Interviews, 6. Correspondence, and 7. Copy Negatives.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1. Project and Research Files, 1974-93, 2011 (2.0 l.f.)
This series consists of the project and research files of Ellen N. Lawson. It is divided into three subseries: the Langenheim Daguerreotypes Research Files*, the National City Bank Research Files*, and Oral Histories of African-Americans*. The oral histories contain interviews by students (both transcripts and commentaries), “Moving On” (both research files and unpublished manuscript), audio tape interviews conducted by students, and videotape interviews conducted by students. Some files are restricted as noted on the inventory with an asterisk (*).
Series 2. Women’s Studies Historical Files * (RESTRICTED), 1972-84 (0.4 l.f.)
This series contains Women’s Studies historical files from the Schlesinger Library Transfer. There are copies of the Barbara Seaman Correspondence, 1978-79, documents regarding Women’s Studies at Oberlin College, 1973-83, documents pertaining to the Oberlin Early Childhood Center, 1974-80, Oberlin Faculty Wives Survey Questionnaires*, and an audio cassette interview with Hope Hibbard, 1984. Two files are restricted.
Series 3. Files Relating to Women’s Studies Program at Oberlin, 1968-87 (0.2 l.f.)
This series consists of documents pertaining to the Women’s Studies program at Oberlin College, 1968-87, including the Leah Freed Women’s Studies Memorial Prize, 1984-87, Oberlin Women Scholars notes, 1968-72, Recommendations, 1977-87, Special Consultant to Co-ordinate Women’s Studies, 1974, and miscellaneous Women’s Studies papers, 1975-87.
Series 4. Writings (Published and Unpublished), 1963-94 (1.10 l.f.)
This series is divided into three subseries: 1. Writings General, 2. Writings in Northeast Ohio Publications, and 3. Writings by Location/Region. A representative sample includes, “Against Fearful Odds: Clara Barton and American Philanthropy” (Ph.D. Dissertation, 1978), “Children of the Amistad,” 1989, Lenten Meditations, 1982-88, “Sarah Woodson Early: 19th Century Black Nationalist Sister,” 1981, New Cleveland Woman articles, 1988, Plain Dealer articles, 1987-92, Sun Press articles, 1987-90, writings from New Hampshire, 1978, writings from Oberlin, Ohio, 1979-84, and writings from Washington, D.C., 1976. All writings are contained within a single box. One file is restricted. See also Series 1, Subseries 1 for additional writings.
Series 5. Oral History Interviews, 1990 (0.10 l.f.)
This series contains an interview with George Langeler conducted in 1990.
Series 6. Correspondence, 1983-1992, 1996 (2 folders)
This series consists of two folders of correspondence with professional colleagues. One of these folders includes correspondence between Ellen Lawson and Peter Buckingham, Professor and History Chair at Linfield College (McMinnville, Oregon) and a student, April Davis, concerning her paper for a Women in U.S. History course.
Series 7. Copy Negatives, ca. 1980s (1 folder)
Comprises 3 sheets of 78 copy negatives of historical photographs and documents.
INVENTORY
Series 1. Project and Research Files, 1974-93, 2011, 2.0 l.f.
Subseries 1. Langenheim Daguerreotypes Research Files
Box 1
Langenheim Daguerreotypes Research Files
Correspondence (Incoming), 1983-87
Correspondence (Outgoing), 1984-90
Ellen Lawson, geborene Langenheim, aus Loveland,
Colorado, USA, ist stolz auf ihre Familienwurzeln,
by Hans-Günter Appuhn, photos from the
collection of Ellen Lawson, April 2011
Legal Documents, 1983 (copies 1931, 1956)
Research (copies), 1974-1983
Pennsylvania Arts and Sciences, vol. IV, no. 1, 1939;
vol. V, 1941 (2f)
Pennsylvania Heritage, vol. XIII, Fall 1987 (incls.: cover
story "Fathers of Modern Photography: The
Brothers Langenheim", correspondence
and footnotes)
Slides – collection sold to Rinehart, 1983 (2f)* (Restricted)
Slides of daguerreotypes not sold to Rinehart* (Restricted)
Subseries 2. National City Bank Research Files
Box 2
National City Bank Research Files
Chapters 1-3, 1991 (3f)
Research, 1991* (Restricted)
Research: A Century of Progress, 1945
Publications, 1989-91
Hagley Museum (Business History), 1988-91
Subseries 3. Oral Histories of African-Americans* (restricted)
Box 3
Oral Histories of African-Americans*
"Moving On" Unpublished Manuscript, 1993
"Moving On" Research Files (incls. signed
releases, student papers, notes, etc.) 1992 (5f)
Box 4
Interviews by Students (Transcripts & Commentaries)*
(Alphabetical by Subject of Interview)
Allen, Bettye, 1992
Antoine, Juanita L., 1992
Arrington, Shirley McCallister, 1992
Baker, Mary E., 1992
Banks, Marietta, 1992
Barnes, Marion J., 1992
Benton, J.T., 1992
Blankenship, Edward Franklin, 1992
Boddie, Betty H., 1992
Bond, Jr., Dr. Roger, 1992
Booker, Lulu, 1992
Cannon, Tommie Louise, 1992
Carter, Beulah, 1992
Caves, Hubert, 1992
Ceasor, Ebraska Dalton, 1992
Charles, Ivory, 1992
Clark, Sr., Alonzo A., 1992
Cloud, Barbara A., 1992
Coleman, David A., 1992
Cooper, Willie, 1992
Copeland, Henry, 1992
Crenshaw, Nettie L., 1992
Croocket, Alice Louise, 1992
Davis, Corrine Whitehead, 1992
Davis, Rev Kessler, 1992
Dozier, Sister Anna, 1992
Foy, Mrs., 1992
Gannon, James T., 1992
Gibson, Jimmy Lee, 1992
Glenn, Hershel and Callella, 1992
Hall, Mrs. Rita, 1992
Harris, Sr., Eddie C., 1992
Hines, Edward, 1992
Hopkins, Milton, 1992
Jamison, Lt. Col. Clarence C., 1992
Jefferson, Florie, 1992
Johnson, Dorothy, 1992
Jones, Mary Emma, 1992
King, Emery, 1992
King, Frank Douglas, 1992
Lewis, Keith, 1992
Love, J.T., 1992
Matthews, Ruthie, 1992
McGant, Arthur F., 1992
Menefee, Thomas Clark, 1992
Mitchell, Vernon and Alice, 1992
Moore, Mrs. Ann Duncan, 1992
Morrow, Adell Forthner, 1992
Mullins, Deacon Coleman, 1992
Newsome, William Noah, 1992
Oliver, James, 1992
Paige, Betty, 1992
Pointer, Geraldine, 1992
Powell, Betty Jo, 1992
Purdue, Leonard, 1992
Ragland, James, 1992
Reed, Lottie, 1992
Reid, James R., 1992
Ruffin, Elizabeth, Mary, and Rebecca, 1992
Seay, Charles, 1992
Smith, James Howard, 1992
Stegall, Sr., Roland, 1992
Stovall, Louis, 1992
Surell, Paul J., 1992
Terry, Lula, 1992
Wells, Willie Louise, 1992
West, James Lawrence, 1992
Wilson, Earl, 1992
Wimberly, Israel, 1992
[no last name], Frank, 1992
Box 5
Audiotape Interviews by Students (Cassette)
Coleman, Eva, n.d.
Hall, Rita (w/ Kim Chrosniak),
22 February 1992
McBean (?), Gertrude (w/ Peymanch
Nakoogan), n.d.
Unidentified tape, n.d.
Computer Discs (Floppy)
Discs (21) [format unspecified, contains
text of interviews]
Box 6
Videotape Interviews by Students (VHS)
(Alphabetical by Subject of Interview)
Bailey, Addie, 1992
Gates, Audrey, 1992
Gleason, Louis A, n.d.
Hawje, Kenny (Tony Maniglia), n.d.
Lewis, Addie, 1992
Mayer, Mary P, 1992
McCreary, Pastor, 1992
Roscoe, James, 1992
Smith, W., 1992
Stokes, Congressman Louis B., 1992
Wright, Rev. Joseph, 1992
Women in Lorain, Ohio, 1992
Biographical information on interviewees
Series 2. Women's Studies Historical Files* (restricted), 1972-84, 0.4 l.f.
Box 1
Women's Studies Historical Files (Schlesinger Library Transfer)
Barbara Seaman Correspondence (Copies), 1978-79
Status of Women at Oberlin College, 1972-82
Women's Studies at Oberlin College, 1973-83
Work on Matilda Joslyn Gage, 1974-75
Oberlin Early Childhood Center, 1974-80
Oberlin Early Childhood Center (minutes &
reports), 1978-80
Oberlin Early Childhood Center, Alverta Smith
Interview, 1979
Oberlin Faculty Wives Survey, 1980
Oberlin Faculty Wives Survey Questionnaires (2f)*
Mary Elizabeth Johnston, 1982
Hope Hibbard Interview (incl. cassette), 1984 (2f)
Series 3. Files Relating to Women's Studies Program at Oberlin, 1968-87, 0.2 l.f.
Box 1
Files Relating to Women's Studies Program at Oberlin
Leah Freed Women's Studies Memorial Prize,
1984-87
Oberlin Women Scholars (notes), 1968-72 (3f)
Recommendations, 1977-87
Special Consultant to Co-ordinate Women's
Studies, 1974
Women's Studies (Miscellaneous Papers),
1975-87
Series 4. Writings (Published and Unpublished), 1963-92, 1.10 l.f.
Subseries 1. Writings, General
Box 1
Writings (Published and Unpublished)
"Across a Stage: The Extra Clap" (Mary Elizabeth
Johnston), 1983 (7 copies)
Mary Johnston Research (incl. photographs), 1982
"Against the Fearful Odds: Clara Barton and American
Philanthropy" (Ph.D. dissertation), 1978
Clara Barton Articles and Research, 1978-91
"The Antebellum 'Talented Thousandth,'" 1983 (3 copies)
"Cape Cod Child" (Childhood in Poems), 1988
"Children of the Amistad", 1988-89
Marketing, 1987-89
Treatment, 1987
"Cookies, Whales, and Turtle Tales" (Children’s Book),
1986 (2 copies)
Original Illustrations by Ann Olson, 1986
Research and Background, 1963-1991
"A History of Banking in Cleveland," 1994 (Acc. 1995/10)
Instructor Magazine, 1987-88
Lenten Meditations, 1982-88
The Majority Finds Its Past (reference to ENL), 1979
Ms. for Children (Margru, Stanton, Woodson,
Stanley), 1988-89
"Moving On" SEE: Series 1. Research Files, Subseries 3
Organization of American Historians Newsletter, 1989-90
Religious Publications, 1987-89
"Sarah Woodson Early: 19th Century Black Nationalist
Sister" (UMOJA), 1981
Screen Treatments, 1985-90
"The Strange Case of Delia Webster" (Play), 1988
Study Guide ("From Slavery to Freedom), 1990*
Swarthmore Alumni Issue, 1971
The Three Sarahs (reviews, misc.), 1980-88
Subseries 2. Writings in Northeast Ohio Publications
Box 1 (cont.)
Writings in Northeast Ohio Publications
Case Western Reserve Alumni Magazine Articles,
1986-87
Crain's Cleveland Business Articles, 1987
MacNewletter, 1988
Mid American Boating Articles, 1988
New Cleveland Woman Articles, 1988
Plain Dealer Articles, 1987-92
Spectrum (Lorain County Arts Council), 1987-88
Sun Press Articles, 1987-90
Freelance Brochure, c.1987
Miscellaneous Articles, 1988-89
Subseries 3. Writings by Location/Region
Box 1 (cont.)
Writings by Location/Region
Falmouth, Massachusetts, 1981
New Hampshire, 1978
Oberlin, Ohio, 1979-84
Seattle, Washington, 1985-86
Washington, D.C., 1976
Series 5. Oral History Interviews, 1990, 0.10 l.f.
Box 1 (cont.)
Oral History Interviews
George Langeler Interview, 1990 (2f)
SEE ALSO: Series 1. Research Files, Subgroup 3
Series 2. Women’s Studies Historical File
Series 6. Correspondence, 1983-1992, 1996 (2 folders)
Box 1 (cont.)
Buckingham, Peter H., 1996
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1983-1992
Series 7. Copy Negatives, ca. 1980s (1 folder)
Box 1 (cont.)
Copy negatives (78) of historical photographs and documents, ca. 1980s