Skip to main content

Ruth Easton Papers

 Collection
Identifier: RG 30-098

Scope and Contents

Ruth Easton’s personal financial records dating from 1952 until after her death in 1957 make up the greater part of this collection. Her guardian and later executor of her estate, Robert Barr, Assistant Secretary of the College, presumably kept most of these materials. Evidence of a five hundred dollar gift to Oberlin College from her estate for the Ruth Easton Scholarship Fund exists in the form of an acknowledgement slip dated April 19, 1958.

The collection is divided into three series: I. Biographical File, II. Correspondence, III. Financial records.

Dates

  • Creation: 1952 - 1958
  • Other: Date acquired: 12/21/1976

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Biographical Sketch

Ruth Easton was born in Chesterland, Ohio on May 2, 1886, the daughter of Charles Fremont (1855-1931) and Abbie Kelly Spencer Easton (1859-1908). She received her preparatory education in the Chesterland public schools and the Oberlin Academy where her father was a tutor in mathematics for two years.

After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Oberlin College in 1910, Miss Easton taught high school at Chesterland High School (1910-11), Herkimer, New York (1911-12), and Bloomfield, Ohio (1912-13). In 1913, she returned to Oberlin College where she was an assistant in the Secretary's Office under George Morris Jones (d. 1948) until her retirement in 1952. Her devotion to her work and her knowledge about the corporate affairs of the college rendered her invaluable. During 1930-31, she was also an assistant in the Office of the Registrar. She was a member of the Ladies Literary Society, an historic Oberlin College women's literary society.

Ruth Easton died in New London, Ohio on October 18, 1957. She was survived by a nephew, Jamin Rich Easton Jr (1918-1980AB 1941). Her brother, Jamin R Easton, (1890-1954, acad. 1907-09) and her cousin, Vernon George Clark, (1883-1953, acad. 1905-07) also attended Oberlin College. In 1958, Oberlin College received a gift from her estate for the Ruth Easton Scholarship Fund.

Sources Consulted

Easton, Ruth. Oberlin College, 1948 Alumni Catalogue Report Blank.

Easton, Ruth. 1934 Quinquennial Report Blank, Oberlin College. March 11, 1935.

"Memorial Service for Miss Ruth Easton." Oberlin College News Bureau. October 21, 1957.

"Memorial Service Slated Friday for Ruth Easton". Elyria, Ohio Chronicle Telegram. October 23, 1957. n.p.

"Memorial Service Tomorrow Set for Miss Ruth Easton." Oberlin, Ohio News Telegram. October 24, 1957. n.p.

"Miss Ruth Easton." Elyria, Ohio Chronicle Telegram." October 19, 1957. n.p.

Obituaries. Oberlin College Alumni Magazine. March, 1958. n.p.

(Note: Copies of the above sources are located in the Staff and Student Files of Ruth Easton, RG 28.)

Note written by Juhasz, Chris.

Extent

0.20 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Method of Acquisition

The papers of Ruth Easton were received in the Oberlin College Archives with the records of the Secretary’s Office on December 21, 1976.

Accruals and Additions

Accession No: 1976/038.

Related Materials

Former Faculty, Staff and Trustees [RG 28/3].

Graduates and Former Students [RG 28].

Title
Ruth Easton Papers Finding Guide
Author
Chris Juhasz
Date
08/01/2002
Description rules
Rules for Archival Description
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Oberlin College Archives Repository

Contact:
420 Mudd Center
148 West College Street
Oberlin OH 44074-1532 US
440-775-8014
440-775-8016 (Fax)