Fred H. "Tip" Maddock Papers, 1933-1953, undated | Oberlin College Archives

By Prue Richards, Kenneth M. Grossi, Ellie Leonhardt

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Collection Overview

Title: Fred H. "Tip" Maddock Papers, 1933-1953, undated

ID: RG 30/068

Primary Creator: Maddock, Fred H. (Tip) (1874-1951)

Extent: 0.8 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 10/30/1972. More info below under Accruals.

Forms of Material: manuscripts, records (documents)

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The papers of Fred H. "Tip" Maddock consist entirely of materials related to the history of Oberlin, Ohio. The collection includes handwritten lists of street addresses, typed city directories, handwritten notes, and other materials that were compiled into notebooks by Maddock. The notebooks were compiled between 1933 to 1951 and they contain information concerning Oberlin businesses, buildings, the Telegraph School, the Chamber of Commerce, and local history. The time period covered is 1833-1953, with some undated materials.

Collection Historical Note

Fred Howard "Tip" Maddock, well-known citizen of Oberlin for many years, was born in Lake Breeze (Sheffield), Ohio on January 25, 1874. He moved to Oberlin in 1894 to attend the Oberlin Business School. In 1895, Maddock became an Express Agent, selling train tickets from an office in the old corner Inn building for 22 years, and thus met almost everyone in town. In 1918 he quit this job in order to enlist in any branch of the military that would take him in order to help the war effort during World War I. However, after being informed that, at age 44, he was too old to enlist, Maddock returned to Oberlin and was employed by the Cleveland and South Western Railroad Company. In addition, he managed the Electrical Package Agency and became the operator of a taxi line. In 1933, as a result of a serious car accident, Maddock became bed-ridden, and for the next 18 years devoted himself to collecting all available information on Oberlin history. His particular interests were Oberlin businesses and the commercial buildings in the downtown Oberlin. In preparing his will in July of 1951, Maddock thought first of Oberlin. After his death on Sept. 20, 1951, a reading of the will revealed that he wished the proceeds of his estate to go to complete his history of proprietorships and occupancy of downtown Oberlin businesses; a history of the old Cleveland and South Western Railroad Company; and, his history of the Oberlin Rod and Gun Club. Maddock never married, and was survived by one brother, Bill, and two nephews.

Sources Consulted

Fred H. "Tip" Maddock papers (30/68); Oberlin News Tribune Sept. 20, 1951 and October 4, 1951.

Administrative Information

Repository: Oberlin College Archives

Accruals: Accession No: 181, 1976/27A

Access Restrictions: Unrestricted.

Acquisition Method: The papers of Fred H. "Tip" Maddock were transferred by deed of gift from Mrs. Mabel Jameson. Additional materials were received from Jack Glazier in 1976.

Finding Aid Revision History: Processed by Prue Richards, Kenneth M. Grossi, and Ellie Leonhardt, May 1999.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[All]

Box 1

Item 1: Notebook #1, ca. 1941-1948, undated: Newspaper clippings regarding Oberlin and Cleveland sports history. Robert M. Hutchins, 1941-1948.
Item 2: Notebook #6, 1833-1950, undated: 1) Letters & clippings regarding Sheffield, Ohio, area history; 2) information about Oberlin: newspapers & publications, 1839-1950; telegraph school, 1862-1927; telephone system, 1881-1940; Chamber of commerce, 1895-1920; banks, 1863-1950; flour and grist mills, 1833-1897; blacksmithing, 1833-1950; coal and ice, 1866-1950; concrete, greenhouses, and flower shops; dray-truck and merchants delivery, 1848-1850; shoe stores, 1849-1872; fires, 1848-1893; description of East College Street from South Main to South Pleasant, 1848-1950; addresses of people named Maddock, 1891-1950; miscellany
Folder 3: Notebooks #7-8, 1873-1948: Oberlin Directories
Folder 4: Notebooks #7-8, 1873-1948: Oberlin Directories
Folder 5: Notebooks #7-8, 1873-1948: Oberlin Directories
Folder 6: Notebook #10, 1886-1927: Chronological record of events, 1886-1927 (includes Cassie Chadwick affair, ca. 1903-1904; gas history, 1907-1924); at the end are names and dates of businesses grouped by type of business
Folder 7: Notebook #10, 1886-1927: Chronological record of events, 1886-1927 (includes Cassie Chadwick affair, ca. 1903-1904; gas history, 1907-1924); at the end are names and dates of businesses grouped by type of business
Folder 8: Notebook #12, 1898-ca. 1940s: Newspaper clippings, ca. 1940s, regarding Fred H. Maddock and varied Oberlin events; bicycling; correspondence, 1898-1933
Folder 9: Notebook #12, 1898-ca. 1940s: Newspaper clippings, ca. 1940s, regarding Fred H. Maddock and varied Oberlin events; bicycling; correspondence, 1898-1933
Item 10: Notebook #19, 1944-1949: Clippings regarding Ohio localities other than Oberlin

Box 2

Folder 1: Centennial Building, 1941
Folder 2: History of Buildings on North Main Street Between East College and East Lorain, 1949: Covers each builidng and its occupants until 1950.
Folder 3: Camp (1873), Chapin (1928) and Souvenir (1909) Histories, undated: Includes miscellany.
Folder 4: Grove Patterson, 1941-1953
Folder 5: Oberlin Businesses, undated: Lists of names and dates of persons and businesses that were in the Oberlin business section grouped by location or kind of business.
Folder 6: Oberlin Businesses, undated: Lists of names and dates of persons and businesses that were in the Oberlin business section grouped by location or kind of business.