Miscellaneous Professional Files
Scope and Contents
The collection contains both personal and professional papers of David L. Anderson. Personal papers include correspondence and items relating to Anderson's ministry, family, Navy service, health and car insurance, investments, and retirement. Professional papers exist for activities directly relating to Oberlin, and for external professional involvement. Included are correspondence, memoranda, notes, class syllabi, students' papers and exams, lecture outlines, drafts and final copies of books and articles written by Anderson, equipment and business trip records, grant applications, professional literature, and some photographs.
The David L. Anderson papers are arranged in ten series: I. Biographical Files, II. Harvard Classroom Records, III. Correspondence, IV. Committee Files, V. General Files, VI. Instructional and Student Files, VII. Ministerial Files, VIII. Miscellaneous Professional Files, IX. Writings File, and X. Drawings and Photographs.
These ten series contribute to the documentation of Anderson's adult life. Two series, I. Biographical Files and IV. Correspondence, span the entirety of these years. Anderson's undergraduate and graduate years at Harvard University are documented by classroom notes, laboratory reports, and assignments in series II, and by correspondence. A little light is shed on his time at Los Alamos and in the U.S. Navy during World War II largely through his service papers, and through Anderson's recollections recorded in newspaper articles, Harvard alumni bulletin autobiographies, and correspondence. Researchers are bound to long for more documentation relating to Anderson's involvement in the development of the atom bomb, an achievement with profound influence on world history, science, and culture.
Anderson's years living in Oberlin, Ohio, are documented thoroughly in several series. Again, his personal and family life are revealed through correspondence. "Extracurricular" service to Oberlin College and to the wider academic community is evident in the extensive committee files of series III, in the miscellaneous professional files of series VIII, and in the writings found in series IX. The bulk of Anderson's professional duties at Oberlin College—as an advisor, administrator, and instructor—are recorded in Series VI.
Instructional and Student Files. Finally, Anderson's "second" career as an Episcopal priest is informed by Series VII. Ministerial Files. This series contains several folders of sermons made by Anderson through the years, at Christ Church in Oberlin, at college "Chapel Talks," and as a guest speaker at other churches and colleges.Dates
- Creation: 1915-1997
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1948-1984
- Other: Date acquired: 09/15/1970
Creator
- From the Collection: Anderson, David L. (1919-1996) (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Certain restrictions apply as noted on inventory.
Extent
From the Collection: 17.95 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Physical Location
This series, arranged alphabetically by folder title, contains information pertaining to Anderson's work as a consultant, visiting teacher, lecturer, and conference attendee. The papers also document his work at Oberlin College from correspondence with Professor Lloyd W. Taylor, chairman of the Department of Physics, about Anderson's appointment in 1948 through departmental and self-evaluations over subsequent decades. Of interest are the folders titled "Professional Opportunities," which contain the correspondence of other colleges attempting to lure Anderson away from Oberlin College. Anderson's work as a consultant for the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools is also covered in this series, as are his sabbaticals at Harvard University, at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and in Kenya.
Repository Details
Part of the Oberlin College Archives Repository
420 Mudd Center
148 West College Street
Oberlin OH 44074-1532 US
440-775-8014
440-775-8016 (Fax)
archive@oberlin.edu