Mabel Louise Shaw Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-170

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers consist mainly of letters Mabel wrote to her family while a student at Oberlin College. She lived in Stewart Hall, Lord Cottage and Talcott Hall, and thus tells of life in a girls dormitory. The subjects she writes about include parties and “spreads,” her friends, a few teachers (Professor of German, Arletta M. Abbott, for example), rules broken (4-8-06), lectures by Dean of College Women, Florence M. Philip (1908), being entertained by two faculty wives (3-4-08), a winning debate and the celebration that followed, plays, stunts, literary society activities, trouble in a sociology class caused by a student assistant, celebration after a debate (3-7-09), and the senior prom (5-9-09). There are also several letters written from Cortland (1908) plus a few letters that Mabel received from members of her family.

Note: Entry taken from William E. Bigglestone’s unpublished “[preliminary] Guide to the Oberlin College Archives,” which was prepared as individual entry sheets in a three-ring binder during the early 1980s.

Dates

Creation: 1906 - 1909
Other: Date acquired: 1984 June 27

Creator

Shaw, Mabel Louise (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Biographical Sketch

Mabel Louise Shaw (1886-1924) was born and raised near Cortland, Ohio. After receiving her AB degree from Oberlin (1909) she took summer graduate work at three universities. She was principal of the Cortland high school for two years and taught high school English at Warren, Ohio, for ten years. She married Mark M. Dray in 1921.

Extent

0.40 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

After Mr. Dray’s death in 1984, the letters were found by a Hiram College professor in the Dray home in Warren, Ohio. Shortly thereafter the letters were given to Oberlin. For more information about Mabel L. Shaw Dray and the discovery of her letters see first folder in box.