As part of Ohio's Archives Month celebration, each year a theme is chosen to raise awareness of archival materials and institutions. This year's theme was chosen to commemorate events leading to the Civil War and the 150th anniversary of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry (October 16-18, 1859).
Prior to the Civil War, Western Reserve College was CWRU's only predecessor institution in existence. The College was located in Hudson, Ohio.
The Western Reserve College campus in Hudson, Ohio.
In 1832-1833, Western Reserve College became immersed in the debate between the Abolitionist and Colonization movements. University Historian, Richard Baznik, describes the conflict in The College and Abolitionism. College faculty and trustees who were active in the controversy included Harvey Coe, Beriah Green, David Hudson, Caleb Pitkin, Charles Storrs, Elizur Wright, Jr., and Elizur Wright, Sr.
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Beriah Green |
David Hudson |
Caleb Pitkin |
Elizur Wright, Jr. |
Sources in the University Archives which document abolitionism include:
Records and Papers of Administrators, Trustees, and Faculty:
Records of Charles B. Storrs, President, Western Reserve College
•Student petition supporting faculty abolitionist activities, 1832
Papers of Charles B. Storrs
•Journal, 1832-1833, describing College activities, including abolitionism
Papers of Beriah Green
•Sermons on abolitionism, 1832
Papers of Elizur Wright, Jr. and Elizur Wright, Sr.
•Correspondence, 1832-1839, describing family and College activities, including abolitionism
•Letter from Elizur Wright, Jr. to Charles B. Storrs, 8/1833, describing abolitionism events and speeches
Papers of Carroll Cutler
•Correspondence about abolitionism
Records of Charles F. Thwing, President, Western Reserve University
•Sermon preached by Edward A. Park, pastor of the First Church in Braintree, Massachusetts, at the funeral of Western Reserve College President Charles B. Storrs
Records of Governing Bodies:
Records of Western Reserve College Board of Trustees
Records of Western Reserve College Faculty
Records of Western Reserve College Prudential Committee
Publications:
Cutler, Carroll. A History of Western Reserve College During Its First Half Century, 1826-1876 (Cleveland: Crocker's Publishing House, 1876).
Waite, Frederick C. Western Reserve College: The Hudson Era (Cleveland: Western Reserve University Press, 1943).
Other Archival Records:
Records of Commencement, Western Reserve College
•Published version of Frederick Douglass' 1854 address to the College literary societies
•Newspaper account of Frederick Douglass' address
Visit the Society of American Archivists website for more information about Archives Month. |
