Oberlin Historical and Improvement Organization (O.H.I.O.) Records

This record group, consisting of three subgroups, documents the activities and efforts of Oberlin citizens to improve the town and to preserve its history. The first two subgroups represent the records of the predecessor organizations which merged to form O.H.I.O. in 1964.

Subgroup I contains the records of the Oberlin Village Improvement Society which was extant from 1903 to 1964.  Dating from 1909 to 1964, important record series are: constitution and by-laws, 1911-1943; minutes, 1903-1964 (not complete); correspondence, 1909-1956; treasurer's records, 1903-1964, and records of the Oberlin Park Board, 1911-1942. These files document Adelia Field Johnston's role and the Society's early plans for town improvement. The records of the three organizations which merged with the Society in 1915: Oberlin Christian Union, Mutual Benefit Association, and Associated Charities of Oberlin, are maintained as independent collections in Record Group 31.

Included in subgroup II, Oberlin Historical Society are documents centered around the historical properties the Society sought to preserve. Records date from the inception of the organization in 1958 to its subsequent merger as part of O.H.I.O. in 1964. Among the important series are constitution and by-laws, 1958-1960;  minutes, 1960-1964;  correspondence, 1960-1963; and files relating to the historical properties (the Little Red Schoolhouse and James Monroe House). The correspondence is mostly that of Mary Rudd Cochran (1881-1982) and Donald M. Love (1894-1974), which contains reminiscences about Cochran's great-aunt Julie Finney Monroe (1837-1930).

By far the richest segment of records exists for subgroup III, Oberlin Historical and Improvement Organization (O.H.I.O.), formed in 1964.  Documentation exists on the 1964 merger with the Oberlin Historical Society, and the Oberlin Village Improvement Society.  The series generally reflect the administrative arrangement of O.H.I.O., including records of the activities of the president, treasurer and secretary.  Key series include constitution and bylaws, 1964-1979; chartering and incorporating documents,  1958-1987;  and minutes of board of trustees' meetings, 1964-1989. The presidential series includes correspondence and reports from 1964 to 1984. Important subseries under the secretary's office include correspondence, 1964-1990; chronological files, 1965-1989; and historical files, 1961-1985. The treasurer's series includes correspondence, 1964-1987; annual reports, 1964-1985; building and property records of assets managed by O.H.I.O., 1965-1988; and accounts receivable and payable, 1961-1988.  To be found under special projects are files on the Charles Martin Hall Memorial Center, 1960-1970; publication projects, 1961-1984; and records of the Oberlin Area United Appeal, Inc., 1962-1983.  Series 8 contains printed material, including brochures and clippings, and photographs related to O.H.I.O. Hinges from the Charles Grandison Finney House comprise the artifacts in series 9.  A two-year strategic plan from 1998 finishes out the processed material up to accession number 1999/44, after which material was not interfiled, but placed in series 11 for late accretions. This series holds two accessions covering records dated 1992-2005, and includes restricted materials relating to the search for the O.H.I.O Historical Administrator, 1992-93.