Photographs: Class Albums

Collection

Identifier: RG 32-003-003

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Class albums are photograph albums with portraits of the graduating members of a particular class year at Oberlin College, which sometimes include photographs of faculty members or the president of the College. The date range for these is 1858-1898, but some years are not represented. These albums replace the daguerreotype and ambroytpe group portraits of the preceding two decades as photographers adopted the methods of making multiple prints from wet or dry plate negatives.

The following class years are missing from the series: 1864, 1867, 1869, 1871, 1881, 1885. For these years the researcher should consult the loose photographs of graduates and former students in RG 32/3/1.

A related record group, Photograph Albums, is distinguished by comprising photographs that may have been taken during a student’s time at Oberlin College, but are not collections of the photographs of one senior class.

Dates

Creation: 1858-1898
Other: Date acquired: 1966

Creator

various (Person)
Platt, Alfred Cowles (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Conditions Governing Use

Those photographs taken for the college as works for hire belong to the college outright. Photographs from the late twentieth century and later with stamps from photographic firms are more likely to have requirements as to credit lines or restrictions; consult the College Archivist.

Extent

32.15 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

The class albums were transferred from the Office of the Secretary after the establishment of the Archives in 1966, with the exception of an album for the class of 1866 received from Susan Johnson in 2011, and an album for the class of 1898 received from Sally Kaminski in 2012.