RG 30. Personal Papers

Scope and Contents The Richard D. Brown papers concern his teaching career and his efforts to initiate change in college policy. The collection includes term papers by students writing about their own family histories as part of the Anonymous Families History Project. In addition, the Brown papers contain drafts of a proposal for a study of policy making at the college. This particular file also includes correspondence between faculty and Brown’s own reflections on policymaking issues. Through the preparations...

Scope and Contents The Alice Jones Emery Papers primarily consists of materials relating to Emery’s position as Class Agent for the Oberlin College Class of 1891.The correspondence series, which constitutes the bulk of the collection, contains letters received from former classmates in response to Alice Jones Emery’s requests for individual class letters. Spanning a period of over twenty years, these letters handsomely document the warm friendship and spirit retained by Oberlin College graduates...

Scope and Contents

The papers consist of 12 letters from Lovancia Pease (1821-1912, enrolled 1839-1841) and classmates Rhodelia Cole and Fanny Hovey at Oberlin, 1839-1841; copies of five letters from her mother, Lucinda Pease, 1839-40; notes on Alice Welch Cowles' lectures, 1839; a printed essay, ca. 1868, focused on the "woman question" and titled "Lost Image Found," by Lovancia P. Lyman; a sketch of her life; photographs; genealogical information; song books; and other related items.

Scope and Contents The papers of Fred L. Steen document his career as a minister, his social interests, and his activities. The bulk of the papers concern his lengthy position as pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Oberlin. Steen’s correspondence contains letters from various individuals relating to his involvement with the Progressive National Baptist Convention, various elected officials, and many friends. The materials provide evidence of Steen’s commitment to his pastorship at Mount Zion Baptist...

Scope and Contents The papers of Sylvia H. Williams primarily document her role as a curator at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, 1971-1983, and as Director of the National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian Institution, 1983-1996. The biographical files, correspondence, clippings, writings, and awards and diplomas provide documentation concerning her education, her interest in art and African Art, her work at the Brooklyn Museum and the Smithsonian Institute, and her accomplishments as a successful...

Scope and Contents The papers of Jan Cooper predominantly comprised files from her work on the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns Committee (LGBCC), and the Oberlin Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Alumni (LGBA, later Oberlin Lambda Alumni) group of the Alumni Association. Those files were transferred to the respective record groups: Various College-Wide Committees, and the Alumni Association. One somewhat informal LGBCC report was kept in this collection in Series 4. Queer Studies Survey.The materials in...

Scope and Contents The papers of Sharon F. Patton primarily document her time as the John G.W. Cowles Director of Oberlin College's Allen Art Museum, 1998-2003, and her interest in African and African American Art.Her interest in collecting popular artwork is represented by four of her prints, salt and pepper shaker figurines, and a cotton novelty ornament all based on the subject of African-American stereotype popular artwork.Photographs given to Dr. Patton by Abe Goldsmith of his...

Scope and Contents The research materials of Nancy J. Pendleton comprise correspondence, photographs, research copies of documents, and maps. The bulk of the material is made up of research files used for Pendleton’s self-published 1997 book, Early Clintonville (and Grove City) and the Bull and Smith Families. These documents focus on the Bull and Smith families of Clintonville and Grove City, Ohio, and the state of Ohio at large. The collection spans back to 1814, with several...

Scope and Contents The papers of Janet Knapp Byles are modest in volume, and contain both personal and professional papers, several photographs and three scrapbooks. The content of the material largely focuses on Byles' life during and after attending Oberlin College.The bulk of the collection consists of photographs and scrapbooks, regarding Byles’ family, friends, class reunions and trips abroad. In addition to the photographs and scrapbooks, there are several writings by Byles regarding her...

Scope and Contents The George C. Westervelt Papers are divided into three series; Series I. Historical File; Series II. Correspondence; and, Series III. Scrapbooks and Notebooks. The historical file and scrapbook provide evidence of Westervelt’s role in the formation of Oberlin College’s first band. The correspondence series provides insight into Westervelt’s personal life, including information regarding family deaths and Westervelt’s personal financial difficulty.A separate notebook contains...