Oberlin Historical And Improvement Organization

Collections: the oberlin heritage center collects the material and intellectual culture of people in oberlin, ohio, and preserves it for the benefit of present and future generations. Ohc seeks objects, archival materials and photographs, ordinary and extraordinary, whose stories and meanings are rich, that have inherent worth, that both reflect and challenge the conventional wisdom, and that invite us to look deeper or broader. Ohc requires these objects and their documented contexts as evidence to illuminate and interpret the larger themes of oberlin history and environment. The collections form the foundation for research, scholarship, exhibition, public programs, and outreach. Included in the collections are historic buildings: the monroe house, jewett house and barn, and the little red schoolhouse.the oberlin heritage center interprets oberlin's history, in particular its strong activist traditions of abolitionism and women's rights, universal education, racism and civil rights, scientific innovation, the stories of the people associated with our two house museums and the schoolhouse, and the varied lived experiences of the people of oberlin. Research on all of these topics and others is ongoing and will help shape future interpretation and collecting.the oberlin heritage center's buildings and collections serve as a backdrop and the setting for interpreting major events and themes in the community's history. The collections on display in the jewett house and the little red schoolhouse should reflect what typical structures of their eras looked like. More specifically, the collections also showcase the daily activities of the people whose stories we tell. The collections on display in the monroe house currently interpret the history of the former inhabitants as well as oberlin's founding and early history. This is likely to change as staff consider making the monroe house suitable for self-guided tours and balance visitor interest, interactive elements, security flexibility, and interpretive goals that move beyond the traditional historic house model. Fine tuning the collections so that they interpret both the historic buildings and broader community stories is, and will continue to be, an ongoing process. For more information, request the oberlin heritage center collections plan.

Archives, research & publications: the organization's resource center includes holdings on oberlin history, family history, historic preservation and nonprofit organization and museum management. Staff members are available by appointment to assist those interested in researching local and family history, with a particular focus on descendants of families that settled in the oberlin area. Major research projects underway include the westwood cemetery inventory, the oberlin oral history project, and underground railroad research. The organization publishes books and booklets on historical topics from time to time, online resources, as well as its monthly newsletter and the oberlin heritage center annual report.

Preservation & history advocacy: ohc advocates for the preservation and interpretation of buildings, documents, stories, landscapes and more. Ohc collaborates with varied community partners and peer organizations to facilitate history projects and encourages the preservation and sharing of varied voices for a more holistic understanding of the past.