RG 30. Personal Papers

Scope and Contents The Bigglestone personal papers reflect William E. Bigglestone's interest in Oberlin history, with a special interest in the Oberlin Black community, and Oberlin during the mid-to-late 19th century. He was preoccupied with focusing on Oberlin's early themes (such as a place of refuge for enslaved people in pursuit of freedom, Black servicemen in the Civil War, and Oberlin College as an integral part of the town) and getting the record straight. The collection highlights Bigglestone’s...

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 Robert Weinstock papers, which heavily focus on Weinstock's scholarly activity outside the classroom, largely consist of his correspondence with colleagues and with the editors of various physics journals. Weinstock regularly reviewed books, instructional texts and manuscripts submitted for publication in the American Journal of Physics, and his own work was published recurrently in several prominent physics journals. His professional...

Scope and Contents This collection is arranged in four series: 1. Biographical File; 2. Writings; 3. Research Files; and 4. Photographs. Consisting primarily of writings and research files, A. Claire Siddall’s papers document his scholarship and contributions to the field of medicine. This collection contains Siddall's writings on the early history of medical practice in the city of Oberlin, Ohio, and articles on women’s health. The balance of this collection is made up of photographs of Oberlin...

Scope and Contents The Nat Brandt Papers primarily document Brandt’s research and writing on three Oberlin related topics: the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue of 1858; the Oberlin missionaries who were killed during the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900; and, Oberlin College Football (late 1890s) and John Heisman as coach of the team.  The titles of Brandt’s books are identified in the series descriptions below.  Many of the documents in the collection are photocopies of the original materials that were used by...

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 notes...

Scope and Contents The papers of William H. Warren are comprised of materials collected by Warren that document the efforts of the World War II Memorial Sponsoring Committee to plan, design, and fund the World War II memorial on the Oberlin College campus. Warren served as the chair and guiding force of the committee from its inception in 1995. Received in two accessions in 2001–with one later addition in 2003–the materials document the work of the committee as a group and of Warren as an individual to...

Scope and Contents The papers of Guy Stevens Callender consist of materials that primarily relate to the economic history of the Upper Midwest. Notes exist on “internal Improvements in Ohio”; on the “early History of the Canal”; and on economic developments in the State of Illinois (six folders).  These notes may have been part of the 1915 book purchase. The book purchase itself is documented in the records of the Oberlin College Library and in the personal papers of director Azariah Smith Root. This...

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The papers of Stanley Harkness deal mainly with the works of Samuel Butler and consist of manuscripts written by Harkness, reviews of Butler’s works and writings about him, and other types of criticism. Aside from a short obituary, the collection gives no information about the life of Stanley Harkness, save his overwhelming interest in Samuel Butler.

Scope and Contents The papers of Clyde Holbrook, Danforth Professor Emeritus of Religion, consist primarily of lecture notes and writings from eight classes that he taught in Oberlin College’s Department of Religion from 1958 to 1985. The collection does not include any correspondence or other personal papers relating to Holbrook’s campus and community activities. According to Mrs. Holbrook, her late husband did not retain his own correspondence files. The biographical series contains some documentation...