Rotary Club of Oberlin Records

Collection

Identifier: RG 31-016

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Records of the Rotary Club of Oberlin document the community service activities of that group from 1938-2006, including its involvement in scouting, educational scholarships, and exchange programs, and its participation in worldwide service activities of Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation. The collection is organized in eleven series: 1. Constitution and Bylaws; 2. Minutes; 3. Correspondence; 4. Financial Records; 5. Membership; 6. Service Activities; 7. Programs; 8. Publications; 9. Reports; 10. Historical File; 11. Photographs.

Dates

Creation: 1938-2006, undated
Other: Date acquired: 10/07/1988

Creator

Rotary Club of Oberlin (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted

Administrative History

The Rotary Club of Oberlin was chartered on May 7, 1938 as a community service organization of local business and professional leaders. Its stated purposes are to promote fellowship among members of the community involved in a variety of occupations, to promote the ideal of community service and of viewing one's profession as an opportunity to serve, and to advance "international understanding, good will, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional [individuals] united in the ideal of service."

Members in good standing of the Rotary Club of Oberlin nominate citizens of the community for membership, which is granted in such a way that all sectors of the local business and professional community are represented. Areas of service for Oberlin Rotarians over the years have included sponsoring Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, supporting sports and recreation activities for children and youth, offering scholarships, and funding exchange students at the high school and college level. Rotary Club of Oberlin works in tandem with Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation in worldwide efforts to support education and eradicate diseases such as polio in the Third World.

The Rotary Club of Oberlin is governed by a twelve-member elected Board of Directors that serve for one-year renewable terms. The Board elects a president from among its members, with the retiring president serving as vice-president for one year and exofficio member of the Board. The Board also appoints a secretary-treasurer who mayor may not be an elected member of the board; if not, he serves ex-officio as well.

Sources Consulted: Rotary Club of Oberlin Records (RG 31/16).

Note written by Lisa Pruitt.

Extent

1.60 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

Records of the Rotary Club of Oberlin were received in one lot from Richard J. Hetsko, Oberlin, on August 22, 1988, through Rose Wolf, director of the Oberlin Public Library, following conversations with the College Archivist. Most of the documents were glued into two large scrapbooks. For preservation purposes, these were disassembled as much as possible without damaging the documents. Individual items were placed in acid-free folders in the appropriate series. Additional publications have been added since 1988.

Accruals and Additions

Accession Nos: 1988/100, 2004/015

Related Materials

See the Miscellaneous Manuscripts Record Group (RG 45/2) for two removed items: "Objects of Rotary" and "Resolution by the Ohio State Senate to Recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Oberlin Rotary Club."