RG 30. Personal Papers

Scope and Contents Material at the Oberlin College Archives (Accession 1983/41) The material given to the Oberlin College Archives consists of clippings, programs, writings by and about William Grant Still and Verna Arvey, a book of Still’s music, press kits and publicity for the opera “A Bayou Legend,” photographs, a copy of an oral history with William Grant Still for the California Black Oral History Project at California State University, Fullerton in 1967, and...

Scope and Contents Consisting of both the personal and professional papers generated and gathered in the course of his life, the Fred Eugene collection documents the life of a man raised in the American West with a strong appreciation for natural history and biology. He subsequently traded in these interests for a career in physical education. The papers reflect his education in the West, at Oberlin College, and at The College of Physicians and Surgeons. Leonard used his education, particularly his medical...

Scope and Contents The papers of Frank T. Cooke document his personal interest and professional career in photography. Many photographs of college buildings and houses in Oberlin are included in the collection. The pages of a disbound photographic album show Cooke and his family at Oberlin Beach along Lake Erie and demonstrate his concern for the eroding of the beach. Additional photographs were taken in several cities in Ohio, including Huron and Milan. Notably, the photographs in the later accession...

Scope and Contents The papers of the Cochran Family primarily consist of correspondence, family records, photographs, research files, and writings. The corpus of the collection is formed around William C. Cochran (1848-1936), who organized files relating to the Cochran family and who personally collected historical research files used to support his writing. The bulk of the series material is related to William C. Cochran and his immediate family. Included is documentation on the life and time of his...

Abstract

The Irving Wight Metcalf papers chronicle Metcalf's days as a seminary student at Oberlin College, his interest in fellow members of the class of 1878, and his subsequent career as a minister and later a businessman.

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 class...

Scope and Contents The Robert P. Fountain Papers document his career as a singing teacher and director of choral music, and to a lesser degree his early life. The bulk of his papers consist of thirteen scrapbooks, most of which his son, Robert H. Fountain, assembled. According to Bob, “the scrapbooks are full of how my father’s talents, drive, and personality affected those who studied with him, performed under his direction, attended performances, or knew him as a human being.” Included here, too, are two...

Scope and Contents This small body of materials, which spans the years 1909 to 1957, documents James H. Hall's academic career as a student of music and as an instructor. It provides insight into his work as a writer, composer and musician. A series of detailed, reflective letters written home during a year's stay in Europe (1937-38) reveals the nature of his relationships with family members, friends, and colleagues. Hall's early aspirations and his love of music are illustrated by the contents of...

Scope and Contents

The papers consist entirely of newspaper clippings, which document the local events of Lorain County, Amherst and Oberlin in particular. Aside from the first few obituary clippings in volume 1 of the scrapbooks that contain information about the deaths of the Albrechts’ two sons, there is scant documentation concerning Kathryn Albrecht and her family.

Scope and Contents The papers of Walter King Bailey document his activities—particularly athletic ones—while a student at Oberlin College and his involvement in development issues during his tenure as a trustee of the College later in his career. His letters include reference to the 1916 controversy involving a Greek fraternity. Several letters also relate conversations with Irvin Houck and address the controversy surrounding the naming of Carr Pool. These letters demonstrate the depth of involvement Bailey...