Museum Collections
The Oberlin Heritage Center collects material objects whose origins and histories help tell the history of Oberlin and its activist traditions of abolitionism, temperance, co-education, missionary outreach, progressivism and women’s rights, and the stories associated with our two house museums and the schoolhouse from 1833 to the mid 20th century.Use of the historic objects collections of the Oberlin Heritage Center for research is available by appointment only. Call Prue Richards at 440-774-1700 or e-mail history@oberlinheritage.org.
Collections include but are not limited to:
- Furniture
- Tools
- Dolls and Doll Accessories
- Toys
- China
- Domestic Appliances
- Textiles and Costumes
Donations to be considered for addition to the permanent collections must have a pertinent Oberlin story to tell, or Oberlin connection such that they will be used, if not for display in our period house museums, for research and/or teaching, or for special exhibits telling Oberlin stories of the 20th century.
We are now redecorating the Monroe House parlor to reflect the way Mrs. Julia Monroe decorated it c. 1885. If you are interested in contributing to this exciting project, or in learning what artifacts the Oberlin Heritage Center is looking for to help support our stories, check the Parlor Project page.
