Harold S. Wood Vice Presidential Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 03-003

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers of Harold S. Wood mainly document his activities as Vice President from 1944 to 1948. Included is documentation on his involvement in the fund-raising campaigns to finance new campus buildings and scholarships for students.

This collection consists of four record series: 1. Annual Reports of the Vice-President; 2. Correspondence (Donor Files); 3. Oberlin College Buildings and Grounds; and 4. Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association. These files though not significant in terms of quantity, report on role Wood played, along with other administrators, in the development of Oberlin College in the post-World War II era.

The single annual report outlines Wood's accomplishments one year while he served as Vice President. Wood's annotations are written on one copy of the report. Summary documents are complimented by his correspondence.

Wood's correspondence files, which offer detail on his activities in particular and Oberlin College's development efforts in general, under Presidents Ernest Hatch Wilkins and William E. Stevenson. The series is divided into two subseries: 1. Name Files and 2. Subject Files. The name files comprise a much larger volume of the material. Included are letters from Oberlin friends, faculty and alumni, such as Arthur Vining Davis, Lucien C. Warner, Hope Hibbard, and Mary Gerrish Sieberling relating to donations made to the college. The subject files, though modest, contain important correspondence documenting the many scholarships, grants and other funds established at Oberlin College. Several noteworthy files found here include the Glen Gray Scholarship, Harry N. Holmes Prize Fund, Seaman Scholarship Fund and the Orville Wright donation.

Historical materials that document the planning and financing of many new campus buildings are located in series 3. The research material is modest in scope and size, but the files help to document changes to the physical plant initiated under President Stevenson (1946-59) and carried forward by President Robert K. Carr (1960-70).

Wood's role on the Board of Trustees of the Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association is documented in the last series which contains various historical documents from meetings and activities relating to the Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association.

Dates

Creation: 1931-1950, undated
Other: Majority of material found in 1944-1948
Other: Date acquired: 12/27/1967

Creator

Wood, Harold S. (Harold Sanford), 1898-1989 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Biographical or Historical Information

Harold Sanford Wood (1898-1989), the son of Charles H. and Minnie Tuttle Wood, was born in Hartford, Connecticut. He received his A.B. from Oberlin College in 1923. He married Elisabeth Bartlette Thomas (1900-1988) who was enrolled at Oberlin from 1919-22, and 1923. He did graduate work at the University of Michigan (1925-26), but was to complete an A.M. degree at The Ohio State University in 1937. Wesleyan University (Connecticut), where Wood was employed, awarded him an honorary degree in 1939.

Wood began his career at The Ohio State University as a physical education teacher and the Director of Intramural Athletics (1928-37). He rose to the rank of Associate Professor (1934), but left Ohio State to accept the post of Chairman of the Physical Education Department and Director of Athletics at Wesleyan University (Middletown, Connecticut) in 1937. He stayed at Wesleyan until 1944 when Oberlin College appointed him Vice President.

Wood was apparently the first person to hold the title of Vice President (a newly created position) at Oberlin College. His predecessor, William F. Bohn, had been a secretary (1905-13) and assistant (1913-44) to two presidents. Wood also served two presidents, Ernest H. Wilkins (1927-46) and William E. Stevenson (1946-59) during his tenure. His responsibilities at Oberlin were mainly the solicitation of funds, including the raising of funds to erect new dormitories on the growing Oberlin College campus. In addition, he also served on the Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association’s Board of Trustees.

In June 1948, Wood’s four year appointment as Vice President ended by mutual agreement. Wood moved on to become Vice-President at Beloit College (1949).

Harold S. Wood died on August 23, 1989. He was survived by one daughter, Patricia.

Note written by Lisa Hicks

Extent

2.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

The records of Harold S. Wood were transferred to the College Archives from the storage room in the President's office located on the third floor of the Administration Building on December 27, 1967.

Accruals and Additions

Accession No: 28.

Related Materials

For related information the researcher is encouraged to consult the records of other presidential assistants such as William F. Bohn (3/1), Charles Whiting Williams (3/2), Thomas E. Harris (3/4), and Bayley F. Mason (3/5). The presidential records of Henry Churchill King (2/6), Ernest Hatch Wilkins (2/7), William E. Stevenson (2/8), and Robert W. Fuller (2/10) may also be helpful. For more information on Wood consult his staff file (28/3, Box 88).