Esther A. Close & Mary Maud Mann Papers

Esther Annette Close

Esther Annette Close was born on June 25, 1866, in Sullivan, Ohio, the daughter of Rhoderick Moe and Rosetta Maria (Mann) Close. She graduated from Oberlin High School in 1884. She attended the Oberlin Conservatory from 1884-88 and again from 1894-95. She received her Ph.B. (bachelor of philosophy) degree from Oberlin in 1893.

Several of Close’s relatives attended Oberlin, including her brother Henry Mead Close. Henry Close was enrolled in Oberlin Conservatory from 1891-92.

From 1888-94, Esther Close taught music at several schools, including the Ballard Normal School in Macon, Georgia. Upon her return to Oberlin, she worked as a library assistant at Oberlin College from 1894-1902 and again from 1907-33. She retired in 1933.

Close lived a vast majority of her life in Oberlin. She was an active member of the Congregational Church, the Oberlin Women’s Club and the Oberlin Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Her favorite hobby was genealogy and she traveled around the U.S. to research her family’s history.

According to an obituary clipping in Mary Maud Mann’s student file, Mary (known as Maud) and Esther were cousins. One of Close’s genealogical projects included transcribing Mann’s journals.

Close died on February 1, 1956 in Oberlin. Survivors included two nieces, both of whom were Oberlin graduates: Vidian Jack ’22 of Buffalo, New York, and Mrs. R. Wionna Wherley ’31 of Stone Creek, Ohio.

Mary Maud Mann

Mary Maud Mann, known as Maud, was born December 1, 1859 in Sullivan, Ohio. She was a student in the Oberlin Conservatory preparatory from 1886-1888.

Maud taught music for several years in Ohio. After moving to Wellington, Ohio, in 1901, she became heavily involved in philanthropy, which included volunteering at church, visiting the sick and shut-ins and temperance work.

She married Rhesa Close Houghton (July 10, 1842–Jan. 19, 1928) on March 19, 1921. Rhesa also attended Oberlin’s preparatory school from 1866-67. The couple resided in Wilmington, Illinois, for numerous years.

Maud died November 5, 1938, in Illinois.

Sources Consulted

Student file of Esther Annette Close (RG 28).

Selected files from Esther A. Close & Mary M. Mann Papers Collection (RG 30/217).

Student file of Mary Maud Mann (RG 28).