William S. Chambers Papers
Scope and Contents
The records consist of nine scrapbooks (out of a collection of 47 referred to in one of the last articles in the 1942 scrapbook) containing material about athletics at Oberlin High School, Oberlin College, Syracuse College and schools in Lorain County and around Ohio. They represent the years 1907-42, but lack 1924-38. The contents consist of mostly undated newspaper clippings, programs, tickets, cards (including wedding invitations of former O.H.S. and O.C. athletes and students, sports banquet invitations, birth announcements, and later marriage announcements).
The collection reflects Chambers' loyalty and strong interest in his former athletes as people, as he followed them all through their lives and careers wherever they move and whatever their professions. It documents the former athletes and coaches respect for and genuine affection for Bill Chambers. The collection also provides very dense documentation of the evolution of the general attitude toward and importance of athletics in the Oberlin and the college community, from the time it was the OC Congregationalists to the, now, Yeomen; and from when the OHS colors were navy and maroon to the now royal blue and red. Photos reveal the changes in sports equipment and uniforms etc. Even the menus from sports banquets reveal something about their times. And, perhaps most telling, is a comment from Bill Chambers in 1941 or so, saying he hadn't been to any games in years. Chambers felt that the athletes didn't have any "pep" anymore, and that meant more to him than anything.
Dates
- Creation: 1907 - 1942
- Creation: Majority of material found in 1907-1923
- Other: Date acquired: 10/01/1981
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Unrestricted.
Biographical Sketch
William Sanford Chambers (1878-1942) was born at 199 E. Lorain Street, Oberlin, in the house that was his residence during his entire life. He was born to Garrison Sr. (1821-1904) and Margaret Ann Harper Chambers (1839-1913) and had three full siblings: Cynthia Ann (1877-1959), Thomas G. (1879-), and Garrison Lloyd (1880-1913), as well as 6 half-siblings from his father. A day laborer in his younger days and later a gardener, he was a man with artistic ability and a quite extensive knowledge of flowers. But his great love was athletics and the guiding of young men. Partially disabled so he could not himself participate actively in sports, Bill acquired an encyclopedic knowledge of them--football, baseball and track particularly--and became a keen judge of athletic ability. From the 1890s to the 1920s he served as trainer, and often as unofficial coach, of many of Oberlin High School and Oberlin Colleges teams. When Bill Chambers died in November, 1942, a newspaper reporter, obviously reflecting his own personal loss, gave an indication of what this man had meant to Oberlin when he wrote that "over a period of a quarter century his influence for good among the young men of the village, and among the athletes of Oberlin Academy and Oberlin College, was greater than that of any other individual, regardless of rank or position."
Source Consulted
Student file of William S. Chambers (RG 28).
Extent
2.50 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Method of Acquisition
The scrapbooks were received from the Library's Special Collections Department in 1981 [1981/23].
Accruals and Additions
Accession No: 1981/23.
- Title
- William S. Chambers Papers Finding Guide
- Author
- Prue Richards, Rebecca Johnson
- Date
- 1999 March 29
- Description rules
- Rules for Archival Description
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 1999 March: Processed by Prue Richards and Rebecca Johnson
- 2005 February: Revised by Archives staff.
- 2024: Prepared for migration by Emily Rebmann and Lee Must.
Repository Details
Part of the Oberlin College Archives Repository
420 Mudd Center
148 West College Street
Oberlin OH 44074-1532 US
440-775-8014
440-775-8016 (Fax)
archive@oberlin.edu