Mission and History of the Center
Mission
To preserve and share Oberlin’s unique heritage and to make our community a better place to live, learn, work, and visit.
History
The Oberlin Heritage Center originated in 1903 as a progressive era community improvement group known as the Village Improvement Society. The organization went through various transformations and merged with other community groups over the years. It took on varied projects such as improving sanitation, planting trees, providing playgrounds, operating visiting nurse programs, and creating the town’s park system.
In 1964 the organization merged with the Oberlin Historical Society to form the Oberlin Historical and Improvement Organization (O.H.I.O.) It acquired various buildings and artifacts with a desire to protect them for future generations. In the late 1980s and early 1990s the Board began planning to professionalize what previously had been a small, volunteer organization. Patricia Murphy, the current Executive Director, was hired in 1993, initially as a part-time (and the only) employee. She has worked with the Board, staff, volunteers, members, and community to help the Oberlin Heritage Center become a highly regarded and award winning professional museum, historical society and historic preservation organization.
See our Fact Sheet and History Sheet for more information. Annual Reports since 2004.
