Caroline Haven Ober papers, 1885-1929

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Ober, Caroline Haven
Title
Caroline Haven Ober papers
Dates
1885-1929 (inclusive)
Quantity
approximately 9.5 cubic feet
Collection Number
0775
Summary
Correspondence, financial records, reports, speeches, writings and other materials of a former faculty member in the University of Washington Department of Romance Languages
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Caroline Haven Ober was born in 1866 in Beverly, Massachusetts. Ober went to Wheaton Seminary before receiving her degree from the Massachusetts Normal School in 1884. After graduation, Ober began an extensive teaching career at many institutions such as Wheaton Seminary (1884-1886), a public school of Palisade, Nevada (1886-1887), instructor of Modern Languages at Bozeman Academy (1887-1888), and Regent and Vice-Director of the Argentine Normal School in Buenos Aires (1889-1893). When Ober returned to the United States from Argentina, she taught at the Trinidad High School in Colorado (1894-1895) and then a San Diego High School (1896-1897) before accepting a teaching position at the University of Washington in 1897.

At UW, Ober taught Romance Languages at UW from 1897-1903 until she created and was the head of the Department of Romance Languages and Literature. Within the Department of Romance Languages and Literature Ober continued to teach Spanish from 1903-1924. Aside from teaching, Professor Ober became interested in the Far East and in assisting foreign students. She made eight trips to China and Japan, the first being at the request of Seattle’s Chinese community to investigate China’s educational system. Ober was accused by the United States Immigration office of smuggling Chinese citizens into the US by registering them as students to obtain quick visas. Controversy aside, Ober did play a big part in assisting many Chinese students to study at UW, sometimes escaping violence or uprisings. Professor Ober found herself in one of those very rebellions when she was touring a school in Canton (Guangzhou) as the school grounds were shook by nearby bombing. For her efforts, she was invited to join the China Club of Seattle in 1918.

Outside of her career, Ober maintained multiple pen pals all around the world and collected the stamps. Caroline Haven Ober passed away in 1929 in Seattle.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence, financial records, reports, speeches, writings and other materials.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's copyrights not transferred to University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 3 accessions:

  • Accession No. 0775-001, Caroline Haven Ober papers, 1885-1929
  • Accession No. 0775-002, Caroline Haven Ober papers, 1927-1928
  • Accession No. 0775-003, Caroline Haven Ober papers, 1929

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 0775-001: Caroline Haven Ober papers, 1885-1929Return to Top

9.5 cu ft.

Scope and Content: Correspondence, financial records, reports, speeches and writings.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Mrs. C.C. More Estate, 1967-09-13

Description
Caroline Haven Ober papers

Accession No. 0775-002: Caroline Haven Ober papers, 1927-1928Return to Top

1 folder

Scope and Content: Correspondence; 1927-1928.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Description
Caroline Haven Ober papers

Accession No. 0775-003: Caroline Haven Ober papers, 1929Return to Top

1 folder

Scope and Content: Notes from an interview, 1929; ASUW activities ticket, no date; correspondence, 1897, 1929.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Sylvia C. Jones, 1994-02-01

Description
Caroline Haven Ober papers

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • More, Charles Church, 1875-1949
  • Ober, Caroline Haven--Archives
  • Ober, Ralph

Corporate Names

  • China Club of Seattle
  • University of Washington. Department of Romance Languages
  • University of Washington. Department of Romance Languages and Literature--History--Sources
  • Vashon College (Burton, Wash.)
  • Vashon College and Academy (1892-1912)
  • Young Men's Christian Association

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • University of Washington. University Archives