Images
Title
Images
Description
An assortment of historic and contemporary images.
Collection Items
Oberlin elementary school students outside Prospect School, 1905
This image is of a group of students arranged on the front steps of Prospect School. Prospect and Pleasant Street schools were identical buildings both built in 1887. Prospect served the west side and Pleasant the east side of town. Writing on the…
Our Common Center: Photos of Historic Oberlin
A collection of historic images of Oberlin collected by the Oberlin Heritage Center as part of a project called "Our Common Center."
Bench by the Road Memorial
The Toni Morrison Society launched the "Bench by the Side of the Road" project in 2006, on the occasion of novelist Toni Morrison's 75th birthday. The society places benches at sites important to African American history. The project developed in…
The Founder's Boulder
This boulder, one of the three on Tappan Square, was gifted to the college in 1933 by Edwin Hill, who found it on his farm. It honors the two founders of Oberlin, John J. Shipherd and Philo P. Stewart.
Class of 1882 Boulder
The Oberlin Class of 1882 gifted this boulder, taken from Plum Creek, to the college as their class gift. Today it sits in Tappan Square near the Memorial Arch off of North Professor Street.
2013-6, Oberlin Rock, Juneteenth
One of the three painted boulders on Tappan Square painted in honor of the Juneteenth celebration in 2013.
![Memorial Arch, "Blood of the Martyrs" photo](https://megansmitchell.org/DH694/files/thumbnails/27f88b3d86725aff4f5240fcdb5a7595.jpg "Memorial Arch, "Blood of the Martyrs" photo")
John Mercer Langston House
The John Mercer Langston House, built in 1855 and located on East College Street across from Eastwood Elementary School, was the home of John Mercer Langston and his family from 1856 until 1867. John Mercer Langston was an Oberlin graduate and…
Oberlin College Preparatory Class of 1855
A photo of an 1855 class from the Preparatory Department of Oberlin College. The college offered pre-college education in the Preparatory Department in the 19th and early 20th centuries. One of the students in the class (upper right) was Anthony…
Car with rock, Big Parade 2014
Photo from the Big Parade 2014. The Big Parade has been an Oberlin tradition since the early 2000s. Community residents and college students make floats, wear costumes, and march through Tappan Square.
Kendall Precision Drill Team Photo, Big Parade 2014
Photo from the Big Parade 2014. The Big Parade has been an Oberlin tradition since the early 2000s. Community residents and college students make floats, wear costumes, and march through Tappan Square.
People in costume, Big Parade 2014
Photo from the Big Parade 2014. The Big Parade has been an Oberlin tradition since the early 2000s. Community residents and college students make floats, wear costumes, and march through Tappan Square.
Bat float, Big Parade 2014
Photo from the Big Parade 2014. The Big Parade has been an Oberlin tradition since the early 2000s. Community residents and college students make floats, wear costumes, and march through Tappan Square.
Man walking goat, Big Parade 2014
Photo from the Big Parade 2014. The Big Parade has been an Oberlin tradition since the early 2000s. Community residents and college students make floats, wear costumes, and march through Tappan Square.
Tall Creature Costume, Big Parade 2014
Photo from the Big Parade 2014. The Big Parade has been an Oberlin tradition since the early 2000s. Community residents and college students make floats, wear costumes, and march through Tappan Square.
Kendall Lawn Chair Drill Team, Big Parade 2014
Photo from the Big Parade 2014. The Big Parade has been an Oberlin tradition since the early 2000s. Community residents and college students make floats, wear costumes, and march through Tappan Square.
Shark and Whale, Big Parade 2014
Photo from the Big Parade 2014. The Big Parade has been an Oberlin tradition since the early 2000s. Community residents and college students make floats, wear costumes, and march through Tappan Square.
Boys watching Big Parade 2014 from one of the Oberlin Rocks
Photo from the Big Parade 2014. The Big Parade has been an Oberlin tradition since the early 2000s. Community residents and college students make floats, wear costumes, and march through Tappan Square.
Orca, Big Parade 2014
Photo from the Big Parade 2014. The Big Parade has been an Oberlin tradition since the early 2000s. Community residents and college students make floats, wear costumes, and march through Tappan Square.
Big Parade 2014, Kendall Precision Lawn Chair Drill Team
The Kendall Precision Lawn Chair Drill Team at the Big Parade, 2014. Kendall is a retirement community in Oberlin. Every year residents come out and do a synchronized routine set to music with their lawn chairs.
Big Parade 2019 Photo Album
Candid photographs of participants and spectators in the annual community parade.
Chalk Walk, 2008, Oberlin in Chalk
Photo of a person drawing the Oberlin College logo in red chalk on a sidewalk.
2016-11-29, Oberlin Rock, Ring the Bells that Still Can Ring
The Oberlin Rock painted with the phrase, "Ring the Bells that Still Can Ring," in the aftermath of the 2016 election victory of Donald Trump
1963, Oberlin Rock, Easter Bunny
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2005-05, Oberlin Rock, Bob the Builder
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2010-03-07, Oberlin Rock, Dr. Seuss Day
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages.
1962-12, Oberlin Rock, Santa
A photo from 1962 of five first year students with the rock they decorated as Santa Claus. At that point, decorating the boulders on Tappan Square was still considered an act of vandalism and the Oberlin Tribune reported on December 18, 1962 that the…
2006-09-06, Oberlin Rock, Stripey
Two pictures from 2006 of the Class of 1898 boulder painted with black and white stripes.
2008-06-01, Oberlin Rock, The Old Guitarist
Three pictures of a rock depicting Pablo Picasso's 1903 work, "The Old Guitarist," painted by two members of the Oberlin High School Art Club on May 29, 2008
Class of 1898 digging up the 1898 boulder
A photo of men from the Oberlin College class of 1898 digging up the boulder that now sits on Tappan Square across from the Conservatory.
Class of 1898 Boulder
The boulder that the Class of 1898 pull out of Plumb Creek, dragged to Tappan Square, and presented as a gift to the college. The plaque reads: GLACIAL BOULDER OF GRANITOID GNEISS FROM EASTERN CANADA EXCAVATED FROM TEN FEET BELOW THE SURFACE AT THE…
Tappan Square Boulder Excavation by the Class of 1898
A photo of the boulder that was excavated by the Oberlin College Class of 1898 and placed on Tappan Square, across from the Conservatory. The class presented the boulder as their gift to the college. Since 1962, the 1898 boulder has been one of the…
1967, Oberlin Rock, Property of Oberlin College
One of the many painted versions of the Class of 1898 Boulder taken during the 1967-1968 academic year.
2009-11-21, Oberlin Rock, Suzanne for President OCOPE
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2010-5-4, Oberlin Rock, George and Julia at Kulas
Advertisement for a concert at Kulas Hall in May 2010
2010-7-5, Oberlin Rock, OSAS Fabulouso
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2010-6, Oberlin Rock, Hug Me I'm Emo
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2010-8-8, Oberlin Rock, Arby G.
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2010-5-31, Oberlin Rock, Thousands Died for our Freedom
Oberlin Rock painted in honor of Memorial Day 2010
2010-8-30, Oberlin Rock, Exco 119
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2010-9-3, Oberlin Rock, Welcome Back My Minions
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2010-6, Oberlin Rock, Good-bye Prospect, Hello Langston!
Oberlin High School Class of 2017 celebrates their graduation from Prospect Elementary School and their advance to Langston Middle School by decorating all three Tappan Square rocks.
2010-7-9, Oberlin Rock, Credo
Several pictures of rocks painted by participants in the 2010 Credo summer music program for young musicians.
2011-12-19, Oberlin Rock, We Rock
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2011-11-7, Oberlin Rock, Happy Birthday Michael
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2011-12-29, Oberlin Rock, AIDS Week
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2011-11-03, Oberlin Rock, Happy Birthday Abby
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2011-12-5, Oberlin Rock, Bienvedos
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2011-11-11, Oberlin Rock, We are the 99 Percent
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2011-12-22, Oberlin Rock, Happy 40th Dad
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2012-2-5, Oberlin Rock, Thundercat
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2011-11-7, Oberlin Rock, Happy Birthday Michael
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2012-2-4, Oberlin Rock, Yalta
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2012-2-5, Oberlin Rock, Elephant
Oberlin Rock painted with an elephant. These words are painted inside the elephant: Congratulations on the acquisition of your pachyderm Mr. Barnum, 2-3 1882.
2011-11, Oberlin Rock, Space Journey
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2012-2-14, Oberlin Rock, Memorial to Emma Rose Coleman
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2012-2-9, Oberlin Rock, Happy Birthday Katie
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2012-2-23, Oberlin Rocks, Happy Birthday Maya
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2012-3-1, Oberlin Rock, Jung Choi
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2012-3-15, Oberlin Rock, Happy Birthday Hannah
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2008-9-15, Oberlin Rock, Welcome
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2013-1-3, Oberlin Rock, How We Find It
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2010-10-30, Oberlin Rock, Vote November 2
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2009-11-3, Oberlin Rock, Tracy for President of OCOPE
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2012-8-12, Oberlin Rock, Lost Cat
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2008-11-4, Oberlin Rock, Obama 2008 Election Day
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2011-11-5, Oberlin Rock, The Revolution is Coming
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2012-1-20, Oberlin Rock, the Rubin Institute
One of three boulders on Tappan Square that is regularly painted with messages. The title of the image conveys the sentiment.
2008-3-3, Oberlin Rock, Three rocks painted with the Obama Logo
All three of the Oberlin rocks were painted in support of Barack Obama on the day of the Ohio primary in 2008
Wilson Bruce Evans House
Wilson Bruce Evans and his brother, Henry Evans, were free African-Americans who lived in Oberlin. They built this house in 1855-1856 for Wilson Bruce Evans and his family. Wilson Bruce Evans was an abolitionist who participated in the 1858…
Oberlin Wellington Rescuers a the Cuyahoga County Jail, April 1859
Photo of 20 of the 37 men indicted for freeing an alleged escaped slave from his captors in Wellington, Ohio in 1858. Pictured from left to right: Jacob R. Shepherd, O.S.B. Wall, poring Wadsworth, David Watson, Wilson Bruce Evans, Eli Boise, Ralph…
John Jay Shipherd's Tombstone
A photo of the tombstone of John Jay Shipherd, one of the founders of Oberlin, from his burial place in the Olivet City Cemetery in Olivet, Michigan.
"Partial View of Oberlin-1838"
!["Partial View of Oberlin-1838"](https://megansmitchell.org/DH694/files/thumbnails/df6f8b08d994b69ff689e0664c973f35.jpg ""Partial View of Oberlin-1838"")
An 1837 sketch of the community of Oberlin, which had been established only four years earlier in 1833.
Protesters on the corner of Tappan Square
At College and Main St., Oberlin OH. Subjects of protest include the War in Afghanistan, and oil well fracking.
Oberlin College & Community [Ohio Historical Marker ]
![Oberlin College & Community [Ohio Historical Marker ]](https://megansmitchell.org/DH694/files/thumbnails/53085c7f6e63931ede65a5772dec567a.jpg "Oberlin College & Community [Ohio Historical Marker ]")
Ohio Historical Marker describing the founding of Oberlin College and Community, located near the Little Red Schoolhouse.
Sorting things out
Contingent from Fairchild Co-op marches with its mascot, the Humynatee, in Oberlin's Big Parade, May 2, 2009.
Chalk Walk, 2014, #7
A chalk drawing of jazz singer Billie Holiday from the 2014 Oberlin Chalk Walk.
Chalk Walk, 2014, #9
"Beer--because no great story ever started with salad." Chalk Walk drawing, 2014
Chalk Walk, 2014, #6
Chalk mural of Maya Angelou with a quote from "Still I Rise" from the Oberlin 2014 Chalk Walk sponsored by the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts
Chalk Walk, 2014 #4
Spongebob Squarepants drawing, 2014 Chalk Walk. Sponsored by the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts
Chalk Walk, 2014, #5
Drawing from 2014 Chalk Walk, sponsored by the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts
Chalk Walk, 2014, #3
Colorful pictures on the sidewalk during Oberlin's 2014 Chalk Walk, sponsored by the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts.
Chalk Walk, 2014, #2
Decorations on the metal fence outside the FAVA Art Building during the 2014 Oberlin Chalk Walk.
Chalk Walk, 2014, #1
A sidewalk chalk drawing of two fish from the 2014 Oberlin Chalk Walk, sponsored by the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts.
John Frederick Oberlin Monument
This granite monolith located on the Oberlin College campus commemorates Oberlin's namesake, who was a pastor in the France in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The monument incorporates an optical effect that Oberlin used in his pastoral…
Memorial Arch, 1990
The Memorial Arch, erected in Oberlin's Tappan Square in 1903, is the only monument to the United States that relates to the history of the Boxer Rebellion, an anti-imperialist uprising in China. In 1900, thirteen American missionaries and five of…
Co-education Centennial Memorial Gateway
In 1837, Oberlin became the first college to admit women on an equal basis with men. This memorial was erected in 1937 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of co-education. Inscribed with the text, "This gateway commemorates the enrance of women into…
Haskell Fountain
This marble and bronze fountain memorializes Katharine Wright Haskell, an 1898 graduate of Oberlin College. Wright was the sister of Wilbur and Orville Wright and she assisted them in their pursuit of flight. She became the second woman ever to serve…
Martin Luther King Jr. Monument
The city of Oberlin dedicated this memorial to Martin Luther King Jr. in 1987 at the same time as they changed the name of the park where it is located from Vine Street Park to Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Famed civil rights leader Martin Luther…
Harper's Ferry Memorial
This memorial, originally placed in Westwood Cemetery sometime around 1865, honors the two Black Oberlin residents who were died as a result of John Brown's 1859 raid on a US arsenal in Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Brown and his followers were…
Nichols Memorial Gateway
This gateway was erected as a memorial to John Herbert Nichols, a longtime director of Oberlin College's Athletic Department, on the occassion of his 1955 retirement. It marks the entrance to Oberlin's athletic fields.
Memorial Arch, 2004
A picture of Oberlin's Memorial Arch from September 27, 2004. The arch, erected in memory of American missionaries killed in the 1899 Boxer Rebellion in China, was built in Oberlin because most of those killed were Oberlin alumni or their families.…