Oberlin Shares History as a Sanctuary for People in Need

Bruce Walton of The Chronicle-Telegram in Elyria, OH reported on Oberlin College’s Sanctuary Project in "Oberlin College gets grant to detail history."  Walton writes that the project will share the history of the college and the city’s role as a sanctuary for people in need.

You can also read Hillary Hempstead's Campus News article, "Oberlin College Receives Grant Supporting the Oberlin Sanctuary Project," for more details on the award of $10,000 from the Council of Independent Colleges Humanities Research for the Public Good program.  The funds will "...expand and extend Oberlin’s existing work around the concept of sanctuary. To that end, the college and city’s commitment to providing shelter for and affirming the humanity of individuals at key points of U.S. history will be highlighted through undergraduate research, the creation of a traveling exhibit, and online educational resources."

The Oberlin Sanctuary Project web pages currently include five exhibits, resources for teaching about Oberlin as a Sanctuary, and links to additional resources in Oberlin's Archives.

• 1830s: The Lane Rebels  
• 1840s-1863: The Underground Railroad and Oberlin  
• 1940s: Nisei at Oberlin, World War II Years  
• 1964: Carpenters for Christmas  
• 1970: Kent State University Shootings and Oberlin College   

More information about Humanities Research for the Public Good and a list of the participating colleges is available on the Council of Independent Colleges website.

The initiative is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and supports projects at 25 institutions in the initial 2019 academic year.  It is designed to: 

• Connect independent colleges and universities with cultural and civic organizations in their local areas for the benefit of both students and the public;
• Make better use of existing campus collections for teaching, undergraduate research, and public engagement;
• Enhance the research, collaboration, and communication skills of students in humanities disciplines;
• Encourage humanities faculty members and the staff members of campus libraries, archives, and museums to apply their expertise to issues of public policy and community concern; and
• Increase public interest in and appreciation of humanities research.