Gustavus Ohlinger Papers, MSS-013

The Ward M. Canaday Center

for Special Collections

The University of Toledo

Finding Aid

Gustavus Ohlinger Papers, 1821-1987

MSS-013

Size: 5.25 linear feet

Provenance: received from John F. Ohlinger and Alice (Ohlinger) in 1981. Additions were made in 1982, 1983, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1998 and 2000.

The 1961 Honorary PhD, University of Toledo, was removed from MSS-275, Ward Canaday Financial Records, and added to MSS-013 (Box 4, Folder 19) in December 2015.

Access: open

Collection Summary: Collection includes journals, correspondence, literary productions, scrapbooks, printed materials, and photographs related to Ohlinger's civic, professional, and personal life. Some correspondence documents his high school years in Chefoo, China. A journal kept by Ohlinger from 1902 to 1905 chronicles his law career in Shanghai and his participation in post-Russo-Japanese War negotiations. "Our Summer Odyssey, August 1 to September 1, 1954," a journal/photo album of a European vacation, further documents some of Ohlinger's travels. Also included in this collection are papers generated and collected by various family members. The most extensive group is the papers of Ohlinger's sister, Constance Ohlinger.

Subjects: Civic Interests, Politics and Government, Social Welfare, and Travel

Related Collections: Ward M. Canaday Papers, MSS-072, Frank H. Canaday Papers, MSS-031

Processing Note: Each addition has been interfiled in the original collection.

Copyright: The literary rights to this collection are assumed to rest with the person(s) responsible for the production of the particular items within the collection, or with their heirs or assigns. Researchers bear full legal responsibility for the acquisition to publish from any part of said collection per Title 17, United States Code. The Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections may reserve the right to intervene as intermediary at its own discretion.

Completed by: Paul Gifford, 1982. Finding Aid Revised by April S. Dougal, 1990; Colleen Boff, 1993; Barbara A. Shirk, 1994 and 1996; Laura Micham, 1998; Maria Halovanic, 2000; last updated: December 2015

Biographical Sketch

Gustavus Ohlinger was born 15 July 1877 in Foochow, China, where his parents served as missionaries. He attended high school in Chefoo, China until 1898, when he came to the United States to further his education. After graduation from Law School at the University of Michigan, Ohlinger practiced law in Shanghai, China from 1902 to 1905 with T.R. Jernigan. It was also at this time that he traveled around the world. At the end of the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Ohlinger and Jernigans’ firm represented the Russian government in post-war negotiations.

In 1906, Ohlinger established an independent law practice in Toledo, Ohio. In 1909 he entered into the partnership of Rheinfrank and Ohlinger, and later resumed his independent practice until 1914. That year, Ohlinger joined the firm of Smith, Beckwith and Froelich which became Smith, Beckwith, and Ohlinger. In 1962, he resumed an independent practice in Toledo which he maintained until his death in 1972. Ohlinger specialized in federal law.

From 1918 to 1919, Ohlinger served as a captain in the United States Army with the Intelligence Division of the Army General Staff in Washington, D.C. during and after World War I. During the Second World War, he organized the Toledo Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol and served as a member of that unit until 1943.

During and after World War II, Ohlinger founded the Toledo United Nations Association (TUNA) as president of the organization. His other civic activities included: service on the board of governors of the American Association for the United Nations (1951-1955), membership on the Toledo Board of Education (1926-1934), the Ohio Bar Association, the National Commission of Organization for Peace, Phi Beta Kappa, and the Chamber of Commerce.

While living in Toledo, Gustavus Ohlinger practiced law and specialized in federal law; his clients included the Wabash and Ann Arbor Railroad Company. He also taught Civil Practice at the University of Toledo’s College of Law in the academic year 1960-1961, and was awarded a LL.D. that same year. Other Toledo committees he maintained membership with included the American Legion, the Masonic Order, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club.

Biographical Outline

1877	Born on 15 July in Foochow, China. Son of Franklin and Bertha (Schweinfurth) Ohlinger
1899	Attended University of Michigan
1902	Graduated from the University of Michigan with an A.B. and LL.B.
1902-1905	Practiced law in Shanghai, China, in partnership with T. R. Jernigan. In 1904 represented the Russian government at the war settlement and reparations negotiations. Also traveled around the world at this time.
1906	Returned to United States and established independent law practice in Toledo, OH
1914	Joined the firm of Smith, Beckwith, and Froelich. Married Helen Emma on July 11. Three children from union: John Franklin, Lucy Jane, and Mary Alice.
1916	Author of books: Their True Faith and Allegiance and The German Conspiracy in American Education (1919)
1918	Testified before the judiciary committee of the U.S. Senate in arguments for the repeal of the incorporation of the National German-American Alliance.
1918-1919	Served as a captain in the U.S. Army during and after WW I, served with the Intelligence Division of the Army General Staff in Washington, D.C.
1926	Appointed to the Toledo Board of Education, serving as vice president and president
1931-1937	Lectured at the University of Michigan Law School.
1937-1944	Specialized in federal law, clients included the Wabash and Ann Arbor Railroad Co.; represented Bolles v. the Toledo Trust Co. up to the Supreme Court.
1948-1955	Founder of the Toledo United Nations Association, serving as president.
1951-1955	Served as a member of the board of governors of the American Association for the United Nations.
1960-1961	Visiting professor of civil practice at the University of Toledo College of Law.
1972	Died on June 12 in Toledo, Ohio.

Note: For additional biographical information, see the National Cyclopedia of American Biography, v. 58.

Scope and Content Note

This collection is arranged in nine series: Journals, Correspondence, Literary Productions, Tape Recordings, Scrapbooks and Scrapbook Materials, Printed Materials, Photographs, Ephemera, and Family Papers. The Journals series consists of a journal kept by Gustavus Ohlinger documenting his world travels from October 1902 to October 1905. The wedding journal of Gustavus and Helen may also be found in this series along with an Ohlinger family journal dating from 1913-1934.

The Correspondence series includes four subseries. Outgoing correspondence encompasses the period from 1891 through 1967 inclusively; one highlight of this subseries is the “Chefoo letters,” written by Gustavus Ohlinger and addressed to his parents. Both the originals and photocopies of the originals may be found in the collection. Incoming correspondence comprises the bulk of this series. It is arranged alphabetically, then chronologically within each folder. One digression from this arrangement is the series of correspondence between Theodore Roosevelt and Ohlinger. The Roosevelt correspondence includes communications from Roosevelt’s office, from Roosevelt himself, from Ohlinger to Roosevelt, and from T. Roosevelt, Jr. to Ohlinger. The third subseries are comprised of letters of introduction written for Ohlinger in 1903. The final subseries contain the personal correspondence of the Ohlinger family. These are divided by family relations with correspondence between Gustavus and his parents in one folder,; Gustavus, his wife Helen, and his sister Constance in another folder; and the correspondence between Gustavus and his three children (John, Lucy and Alice) in yet another folder. There is also a folder of miscellaneous family correspondence in this subseries.

Literary productions in the Ohlinger collection include draft and manuscript copies of articles; published articles written by G.O. as well as publications by others; research notes (1891-1966); speeches and readings (1924-1965); course outlines created by Ohlinger when he taught at the University of Toledo (1960), along with other writing projects.

The next series is comprised of Tape recording. Various memories and recollections of Mr. Ohlinger are recorded. These include his childhood and early schooling in China, and his time spent between China, Africa and the United States. One of the recordings also documents Mr. Ohlinger’s interview with young Winston Spencer Churchill in 1901.

The Ohlinger papers also include Scrapbooks and Scrapbook Materials. “Our Summer Odyssey, August 1 to September 1, 1954,” is a combined journal and photo album of his trip to Europe. Also included in this series is a scrapbook of newspaper clippings dating from 1912-1926.

Printed Materials includes newspaper clippings that cover a wide range of topics and interests. This series also includes certificates and licenses, materials from South Africa and China, items from the Toledo United Nations Association, the Toledo War Chest, and a file of miscellaneous materials.

Series List

S1	Journals
	1902-1934
	Arranged by type and chronologically
	Personal journal of G.O (dismantled for conservation purposes): 1902-1905, Ohlinger Wedding Journal: 1914, and Ohlinger Family Journal: 1913-1934.

S2	Correspondence
	1891-1967
	Arranged alphabetically then chronologically
	Divided into four subseries: Outgoing, Incoming, Letters of Introduction, and Ohlinger Family Correspondence. The first two are arranged alphabetically according to correspondent then chronologically within each folder while the last two are chronological. Of particular note is a group of letters from Theodore Roosevelt dating 1915-1918, other significant correspondents include Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Ellery Sedgewick, Charles M. Sheldon, Waren G. Harding, and John F. Kennedy.

S3	Literary Productions
	1891-1966,
	Arranged chronologically
	Divided into six subseries: Articles, Publications by G.O., Publications by Others, Research Notes, Speeches and Readings, and Various Writings. The first consists of manuscripts and outlines of articles and the second contains the published version of these articles. The last three subseries document the process and evolution of various other writing projects undertaken by G.O.

S4	Tape Recordings
	1884-1965
	Arranged chronologically
	Contains recordings made by G.O. describing his childhood and schooling in China, And visits made to Michigan (Ann Arbor, 1901), Africa (1902), the Philippine Islands and around China (1904-1905), and Toledo (1906).

S5	Scrapbooks and Scrapbook Materials
	1954
	Arranged chronologically
	Titled "Our Summer Odyssey, August 1 to September 1, 1954," this combination Journal and photo album is two volumes in length.

S6	Printed Materials
	1909-1949
	Arranged chronologically
	Contains newspaper clippings as well as certificates, licenses, and materials related to South Africa, China, the Toledo United Nations Association, the Toledo War Chest, and other materials collected by G.O.

S7	Photographs
	1901-1968
	Arranged chronologically
	Includes Ohlinger family pictures (1901-1968), six volumes pictures taken on G.O.'s (and family's) tour of China and South Africa1902-1905,) and various photos taken or collected by G.O. (1935-1936).
S8	Ephemera
	1902-1956
	Arranged chronologically
	Consists of postcards and greeting cards sent to and collected by G.O. and family.

S9	Family Papers
	1821, 1901-1988
	Arranged according to family member (and document type)
	Contains an extensive group of papers related to Constance Ohlinger (sister of G.O.), along with papers of John F. Ohlinger (son of G.O.), Gertrude Rinehart, and Lucy Ohlinger as well as affidavits of American citizenship (1926-1966).

Arrangement

Box	Folder	Folder Title

		S1. Journals
1	1	1902
	2	1903
	3	1903
	4	1903-1905
	5	Ohlinger Wedding Journal, 1914
	5a	Lucie and Johnnie Wedding Journal, 1941
	6	Ohlinger Family Journal, 1913-1934

		S2. Correspondence
		Outgoing
	7	"Chefoo Letters" (originals), 1891-1892
	8	"Chefoo Letters" (photocopies), 1891-1892
	9	1905-1906
	10	1906-1950
	11	1951-1967
		Incoming
	12	A, 1914-1966
	13	Adee, Alvey A., 1902
	14	Allen, H.N., 1914-1966
	15	Angell, James R., 1902
	16	Anti-Saloon League, 1918
	17	B, 1915-1963
	18	Bates, Henry M., 1929-1950
	19	C, 1913-1962
	20	Campbell, Henry C., 1916-1917
	21a	Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlement, 1903
	21b	Cooper, John Sherman, 1960 and 1961
	22	D, 1915-1952
	23a	E-F, 1913-1964, n.d.
	23b	Flues, A. Gilmore, 1942
	24	G, 1913-1961, n.d.
	25	H-J, 1916-1967, n.d.
	26	Hagedorn, Hermann, 1917-1951
	27	Harding, Warren G., 1918
	28a	Havinghurst, Freeman C., 1925-1930
	28b	Hinton, William H., 1954
	29	Hutchins, H.B., 1902-1927
	30	K-L, 1915-1966
	31	Kelly, Fred C., 1924-1950
	31a	Letters from classmates at University of Michigan
	32	Kennedy, John F., 1961
	33	M, 1914-1967

2	1	Macmillan Company, 1916-1925 (includes manuscript copy of Their True Faith and Allegiance, contract)
	2	Maher, Amy, 1935 and 1941
	3	Marshall, Edwin J., 1935-1937
	4	N-O, 1914-1953
	5	P-Q, 1915-1953
	6	Patterson, Grove, 1925-1954
	7	Pearson, George W., 1950
	8	R, 1902-1962
	9	Ras, H.N., 1901-1902 (in German)
	10	Reams, Frazier, 1930-1955
		Roosevelt, Theodore (Office of)
	11	n.d.
	12	1916
	13	1915
	14	1916
	15	1917
	16	1917
	17	1917
	18	1918
	19	1918
	20	1918
	21	1918
	22	1918
		Roosevelt, Theodore (from G.O.)
	23	1916-1918 (photostats)
	24	1917
	25	1917
	26	n.d. (telegram copy)
	27	Roosevelt, Theodore Jr., 1919
	28	Rotary Club of Toledo, 1923-1936
	29	Rush, Richard H., 1937-1950
	30	S, 1913-1966
	31	Sedgewick, Ellery, 1914-1920
	32	Sheldon, Charles M., 1923-1936
	33	Spitzer, John, 1940-1942
	34	T-V, 1914-1966
	35	Toledo War Industries Commission, 1918 (includes constitution)
	36	W, 1913-1953
		W.H. Anderson Company
	37	1959-1961
	38	January, 1965-March, 1966
	39	April, 1966-January, 1968
	40	Y-Z, 1917-1951
	41	Misc. incoming correspondence (initials or first names only)
		Letters of Introduction
	42	Written for G.O., 1903
		Ohlinger Family Correspondence
	43	1891-1933 (G.O. and parents)
	44	1908-1949 (G.O., Helen, and Constance)
	45	1922-1982, n.d. (G.O., John, Lucy, and Alice)
	46	Misc. family correspondence, 1896-1936


		S3. Literary Productions
		Articles
	47	Manuscripts and outlines, 1934-1937, n.d.
		Publications by G.O.
	48	The Washing Sword Pavilion, 1891 (first publication)
	49	"Winston Spencer Churchill: A Midnight Interview" Michigan Quarterly Review, Spring 1966 Michigan Quarterly Review, Summer 1966
	50	“Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction in China,” Michigan Law Review, 1906
	51	“Some Leading Principles of Chinese Law,” Michigan Law Review, 1910
3	1	“The Practical Basis for Republican Institutions for China” The Popular Science Monthly, 1912
	2	“Kiao-Chau,” The World’s Work, 1914
	3	“Japan’s Opportunity in China,” America to Japan, 1915
	4	“Tsingtau: The Sequel to Port Arthur,” The Atlantic Monthly, 1915
	5	“German Propaganda in the United States,” The Atlantic Monthly, 1916
	6	“The National Army,” The Atlantic Monthly, 1918
	7	Testimony of Gustavus Ohlinger, National German-American Alliance, 1918
	8	“The Power of the Written Assertion,” Michigan Law Review, 1926
	9	“Some Comments on the Reserved Power to Alter, Amend and Repeal Corporate Charters,” Michigan Law Review, 1931
	10	“Some Problems Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,” The Ohio Law Reporter, 1940
	11	Problems of Jurisdiction and Venue, 1941
	12	“Jurisdiction, Venue and Process as to Counterclaims and Third-Party Claims; Rules 13 and 14 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure” The Federal Bar Journal, 1945
	13	“Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure” Ohio State Law Journal
	14	The German Conspiracy in American Education
		Publications by Others
	15	The Mere Man and His Problems, 1924
	16	Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, 1919 and Robert Hardy’s Seven Days, 1900
		Research Notes
	17	1932-1934
	18	1935-1936
	19	1956-1958, n.d.
		School Integration Case (Little Rock), 1957-1958
	20	1 of 2
	21	2 of 2
	22	Notes on Consular Jurisdiction in China
		Speeches and Readings
	23	[1924]-1935
	24	1936-1942
4	1	[1942]-1945
	2	1944-1946
	3	1947-c.1965, n.d.
		Various Writings
	4	University of Toledo course outlines, 1960
	5	Anglo-Chinese College Material, 1920-1957
	6	The Christian Society of Korea--(A Short History: 1890-1960)
	7	"American First and Other Fallacies
	8	"Germans in China"
	9	"A Layman Replies to a Banker"
	10	Miscellaneous

		S4. Tape Recordings
	11	Recollections of early schooling in China, 1884; Churchill’s visit to Ann Arbor and interview, 1901; Return to China, 1902
	12	Recollections of Africa, 1902 aftermath of war; on to Manilla, Philippine Islands; Shanghai, China, 1904-1905; Toledo, 1906
	13	Childhood in China; Ann Arbor-Africa, 1965. Includes CD version.
	14	Shanghai and return to United States, 1965. Includes CD version.

		S5. Scrapbooks and Scrapbook Materials
		“Our Summer Odyssey, August 1 to September 1, 1954,” (Journal/photo album)
	15	1 of 2
	16	2 of 2
	17^	Scrapbook of newspaper clippings (See appendix for list), 1912-1926

		S6. Printed Materials
	18	Newspaper clippings
	19	Awards, Certificates and Licenses, 1909-1948, 1961
	20	South Africa and China, 1903-1905
	21	TUNA and Related, 1945-1949
	22	Toledo War Chest, 1918, n.d.
	23	Miscellaneous
	24	Ohlinger Family Newsletters, 3 issues
	25	Commerce Club News

		S7. Photographs
		Taken on World Tour (So. Africa and China), 1902-1905
5	1	1 of 6
	2	2 of 6
	3	3 of 6
	4	4 of 6
	5	5 of 6
	6	6 of 6
	7	Ohlinger and Family, 1883-1968
	8	Miscellaneous, 1935-1936

		S8. Ephemera
	9	Post cards, greeting cards, and memorabilia, 1902-1956

		S9. Family Papers
	10	Affidavits of American Citizenship, 1926-1966
	11	Ohlinger Family History
	12	Ohlinger, Constance, 1911-1929
	13	Ohlinger, John F., 1915-1988
	14	Ohlinger, John F., correspondence, clippings, resume, short stories
	15	Rinehart, Gertrude, 1901
	16	Ohlinger, Lucy, 1932
	17	Receipts, etc., 1913-1957
	18	John Schweinfurth, sermons in German, 1821
	19	Franklin Ohlinger, two books translated by him into Chinese, 1907
	20	Alice Ohlinger Weaver, travel log of her trip to New York, March, 1937
	21	G.O., biographical file from Toledo Public Library local history room, 1919-1972
	22	G.O., UT Notables Exhibit Labels
	23	Ohlinger, Constance, Legal Documents, 1920's, 1966, 1973, 1987
	24	Ohlinger, Constance, Correspondence and Recollections of a Trip to Europe, ca. 1925
	25	Ohlinger, Constance, Correspondence to family, 1925-1957
	26	Ohlinger, Constance, Correspondence, business and personal (incoming and outgoing), 1929-1974
	27	Ohlinger, Constance, Correspondence with institutions about donations of family possessions, 1954-1973
	28	Ohlinger, Constance, Printed Material, Newspaper clippings, 1934, 1935, 1938, 1948, 1984, 1987, n.d.
	29	Ohlinger, Constance, Pilot logs and membership cards, 1944-1957
	30	Ohlinger, Constance, Photographs, Aviation Club, ca. 1946
	31	Ohlinger, Constance, Photographs, Various, 1907-1980's
	32	Ohlinger, Constance, Ephemera, 1935-1973, n.d.

^ Located on oversize shelf