RG 30. Personal Papers

Scope and Contents The papers of Herbert and Josephine (Hamilton) Van Meter document Herbert Van Meter’s time as a student at Oberlin College (1933-1937), and his career as an Oberlin College Shansi Memorial Association (OSMA) representative in China and as a Navy chaplain during World War II. The collection also contains documentation concerning Josephine Van Meter’s career as a representative for Shansi in China, her position as a YWCA. instructor, and as Executive Secretary of OSMA...

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 Richard Lothrop Papers document Oberlin’s history in the later 20th Century through his writings, his service on the Oberlin City Council, and his relationships with the Oberlin College Librarian, the Archivist, family and friends, on and off campus. The writings include copies of Lothrop’s “Elm Street Thoughts” column written from the 1970s until 2003, and his “History of the Oberlin College Library,” a student publication (1967). Other materials include Oberlin City...

Scope and Contents The George Feick Papers consist of contracts, architectural plans and specifications for Oberlin College buildings as well as specifications for the Ohio State University Athletic Field. Also included are copies of biographical information about George Feick and Feick family members assembled by Archives staff. Architectural records by George Feick himself include details for parts of the interior of the Cox Administration Building, the Athletic Field Grandstand, and the Ohio...

Scope and Contents The papers of Rufus Cleveland Hovey, OC enrolled, consist of original letters written by Hovey to his family, Hovey’s Civil War journal, and a poem written by Hovey. His letters concern his intention to enroll at Oberlin College, his search for a teaching position, and his military service. The Civil War journal covers the period 1 January 1862 to 18 February 1862. An additional five letters were written by others concerning Hovey’s promotion to officer in the Union Army, his...

Scope and Contents The Ira Steinberg Papers (1959-1987) document the academic career of their creator, a member of the Arts and Sciences faculty of Oberlin College since 1961. The records span Steinberg's teaching career in the departments of Education (1961-1978) and Philosophy (1978-), including his chairmanship of the Department of Education (1975-1978). The records do not document his present activities as Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (1987-1994?). There is virtually no...

Scope and Contents The Wendell P. Russell Papers cover the period of his undergraduate career at Oberlin College, in which he was a key member of committees and organizations for Black Studies and the reevaluation of education at Oberlin, and as a research assistant for a Black Studies Seminar for program directors funded by the Ford Foundation. The bulk of the collection, in Series 4, documents the Black Studies Seminar held in Aspen, Colorado July 19-25, 1970. The Seminar was organized by the...

Scope and Contents The Laurence H. and Frances MacDaniels papers contain biographical and college-related files, correspondence, and photographs. The bulk of the material is correspondence (with indexes initially prepared by Ellen Speers), and most of the material documents their Oberlin connection up to 1920. Photographs, almost all dated before 1920, strongly complement the correspondence in that they capture visually their lives at Oberlin.The papers are organized around 10 records series....

Scope and Contents

This small collection, until 2016, only held materials from F. Champion Ward. That year, more materials were received, the bulk of which originated with Champion Ward’s wife, R. Duira Baldinger Ward. The collection has been rearranged into two subgroups. Subgroup I contains the original F. Champion Ward materials in the collection, plus additional correspondence received in 2016. Subgroup II holds materials from Duira Ward.

Scope and Contents The papers of Douglas and Shirley R. Johnson document the life and activities of a prominent couple in the public life of Oberlin and Northeast Ohio. The Johnsons are and continue to be deeply involved in local and statewide social concerns, with special emphasis on public right to know and fairness issues. To account for their respective spheres of life, the papers are arranged in two subgroups. Subgroup I consists of files relating to the Johnson’s personal life and work, while...