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Collection

Anonymous photograph album, 1860s-1870s

1 albums (3 envelopes in folder)

The collection consists of carte-de-visite and tintype portraits of men, women, and children of all ages, most unidentified, taken by photographers mainly in Ann Arbor, Mich. The photographs were removed from an album. The first image in the album was of John Brown. Those identified portraits included Edward E. Bigelow, graduate of the University of Michigan Deptartment of Medicine and Surgery, 1867; John H. Serrels, graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, 1872; and Myatt Kyau, graduate of the University of Michigan Deptartment of Medicine and Surgery, 1882.

Collection

Anonymous University of Michigan Class of 1875 photograph collection, 1871-1875

1 envelope

Group and individual portraits of the University of Michigan medical students, Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity members, and staff.

Group portraits of the medical classes of 1875 and 1876; individual portraits of the law class of 1875; group portraits of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity members and of Chronicle staff; and individual portraits of University of Michigan janitors.

Collection

Appleton-Aiken family papers, 1806-1934

1.5 linear feet

The Appleton-Aiken papers contain letters and documents relating to the family of John Aiken and his wife Mary Appleton of Lowell and Andover, Massachusetts. The collection contains correspondence about textile mills at Lowell, collegiate education, and the development of the towns of Lowell and Andover, Massachusetts, and Brunswick, Maine. The family letters also include numberous personal references to Mary Aiken's sister, Jane Appleton, both before and after her marriage to the future 14th president of the United States, Franklin Pierce.

The Appleton-Aiken papers contain over 575 letters and documents relating to the family of John Aiken and Mary Appleton, his wife, of Lowell and Andover, Massachusetts. The collection contains correspondence documenting family life among the upper classes in Massachusetts in the early industrial age, and contains useful information on the textile mills at Lowell, collegiate education, and the development of the towns of Lowell and Andover, Massachusetts, and Brunswick, Maine.

The correspondence centers on the interests of a large and powerful family. Mary and John Aiken's children were all well-educated and wrote erudite letters. Many of the Appletons and Aikens were professionally involved in education, and several series of letters include valuable information on college life and curricula at mid-nineteenth century. Charles and William Aiken attended Dartmouth College in the 1840s and 1850s, and their letters are filled with an undergraduate's opinions on coursework, professors, and education. There are also several examples of secondary school writing assignments from John and Mary Aiken's children and grandchildren.

In a different vein, the letters of Alpheus Spring Packard written while he was professor of natural history at Bowdoin College, offer a unique perspective on the development of that institution, and particularly of its science curriculum. There are many other letters relating to Bowdoin College, since the entire Appleton family seems to have retained a strong interest in the college for years after the death of Jesse Appleton, its former president. For example, Mary Aiken's mother, Elizabeth, writes particularly interesting letters about the progress of the college after the death of her husband, in 1819. Also worthy of note are several letters written by Jennie Snow, whose husband was on faculty at the University of Kansas during the 1870s.

The Aikens were heavily involved in capitalizing textile mills throughout northern New England. A few items provide particularly interesting information on the mills at Lowell, including an October, 1836, letter in which Mary describes a walk-out and strike at the mill, and a letter from her brother, Robert Appleton (1810-1851), describing a shipment of cotton arriving at the mill in 1835 from London. Robert also inspected Governor William Badger's (1799-1852) new cotton factory at Gilmanton, New Hampshire. In 1871, Mary and John's daughter Mary describes a book, Lillie Phelps' The Silent Partner, designed to improve the condition of the mill "operatives." Two other items are of some interest for the study of mill life, one a letter from J. Whitney regarding the acts of sabotage against the mill performed by Edward Webb, an employee (1834 May 1) and the other a letter in which a woman suggests women learn sewing, a skill badly deteriorating under industrialization.

The collection includes a letterbook with 25 letters written by John Aiken to his family from Europe. He wrote these letters during one of his business trips to examine textile operations; along with general travel descriptions, he reported information about cloth production and marketing. Additionally, the collection contains a diary kept by John Aiken during this trip. In the volume, which covers the dates September 1, 1847, to December 20, 1847, Aiken briefly recorded his current location or recent travel, the weather, and any sightseeing or social activities that occupied his day. Aiken noted visits to tourist attractions, including the Tower of London and the Tuileries Garden, and also used the volume to track several financial accounts accrued throughout the period. Detailed notes at the back of the volume also reflect his keen interest in the textile industry and the mills he visited while abroad.

On a more general level, the Appleton-Aiken papers are an useful resource for studying family dynamics among the upper class. The letters are filled with discussions of family members, relations between husband and wife or parent and child, and include some interesting commentary on local religious life, revivals, church meetings, and family piety.

Two photographs have been transferred to the Clements Library's Graphics Division for storage. Photocopies of these are included in Box 6 in the folder containing Miscellaneous items.

Collection

Archer H. Brown photograph collection, circa 1872

1 envelope

Member of the University of Michigan Class of 1872 and iron businessperson. Consists of a photo of the Psi Upsilon house and group portraits of students.

The collection consists of a photo of the Psi Upsilon house and group portraits of students.

Collection

Arnold-Safford family papers, 1856-1992

1 linear foot

Orlan Arnold was an environmental chemist who conducted research on water and air pollution. Virginia Safford Arnold was a pianist and music teacher. The collection includes correspondence, professional papers, biographical material, press clippings, and photographs relating to life and careers of Orlan Arnold and Virginia Safford Arnold. Also included are genealogical and other materials for the Albright, Crawford, Safford, and Sunderland families.

The Arnold-Safford family papers contain photographic materials and mementos dating from as early as 1856, but the majority of the collection is comprised of materials from the beginning of the twentieth century through the late 1930s. The collection is divided into four series: Orlan Arnold Papers, Virginia Safford Arnold Papers, Genealogical Research, and Family Photographs and Mementos.

Collection

Arnold Transit Company records, 1854-1987 (majority within 1900-1970)

14.8 linear feet (in 16 boxes) — 24 oversize volumes

The Arnold Transit Company is the longest operating ferry line on the straits of Mackinac. Founded in 1878 by George T. Arnold, the line continues to transport thousands of passengers and tons of freight every year. The record group consists primarily of early financial records, various property interests of Arnold Transit, and the estates of the Arnold family.

The record group consists primarily of early financial records, dating back to 1850, before the company was founded. Other records document the various property interests of the Arnold Transit Company (ATC), and the estates of the Arnold family. The vessels themselves are represented through various certificates, manifests, and logs. Historical advertisements of Arnold Transit have been preserved, as well as promotions of the straits of Mackinac and surrounding area in general. Architectural plans, documents of area organizations, information on competing lines, and a fair number of photographs round out the collection.

The record group is comprised of seven series: Administration, Union Terminal Piers, Topical Files, Area Organizations, People, Visual Materials, and Vessels.

Collection

Arthur B. Hathaway papers, 1863-1881

1 folder

Online
Resident of Owosso, Mich., who served in the 9th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War; later lived in East Saginaw, Mich. Papers relating to his Civil war service, correspondence relating to purchase of timber lands, and photographic portrait of Hathaway in uniform.

Papers relating to his Civil war service, correspondence relating to purchase of timber lands, and photographic portrait of Hathaway in uniform.

Collection

Arthur Brown family papers, circa 1873-1945

1 linear foot

Ann Arbor, Michigan, family. Correspondence, other papers and photographs of Arthur Brown, Ann Arbor attorney and mayor, and officer and director of the Washtenaw Abstract Company; also papers of his wife, Cora Pulcipher Brown, largely concerning work with Americanism Committee of the Daughters of the American Revolution during World War II.

The Brown family collection is unfortunately a fragment of materials with very few of the papers created by either Arthur or Cora Brown surviving. What remains relate almost exclusively to the legal career of Arthur Brown, in particular to his service to various persons as a collector of bad debts, and to Cora Brown's work with the Americanism Committee of the Daughters of the American Revolution during World War II.

Collection

Arthur J. Tuttle Papers, 1849-1958 (majority within 1888-1944)

108 linear feet — 1 oversize folder

U.S. District Court Judge, Eastern District of Michigan; Federal trial court case files, personal and professional correspondence, scrapbooks, University of Michigan student notebooks, and other materials concerning legal activities, Republican Party politics, prohibition, the election of 1924, Sigma Alpha Epsilon affairs; also family materials, including grandfather, John J. Tuttle, Leslie, Michigan, Ingham County official and businessman; and photographs.

The Arthur J. Tuttle Papers are arranged in 13 series: case files, opinions and jury instructions, topical office files, conciliation commissioners, criminal files, correspondence, letterbooks, scrapbooks, University of Michigan, financial matters, miscellaneous biographical materials, Tuttle family materials, and visual materials.

Collection

Arthur W. Haydon diaries, 1865-1879, 1888-1915

1.5 linear feet (34 volumes and 1 folder)

Student at the University of Michigan, 1865-1867, later Decatur, Michigan, sheep breeder. Diaries describing student life at the University of Michigan, 1865-1867; later diaries include brief comments on weather and mundane daily events and activities; and photographs.

The Arthur W. Haydon collection consists almost exclusively of diaries kept by Arthur from 1865 to 1878 and 1888 to 1915. The diaries are simply collections of Arthur's thoughts. The earliest entries are more fulsome than those for his later life.

Of particular interest are the two volumes, 1865-1866 and 1866-1878. The first of these was written while Arthur was away at school in Ann Arbor. He attended the University of Michigan for two years, 1865/66 and 1866/67. The entries show Arthur's love of school. Not only does he describe his days with great detail and emotion, but the style in which they are written reveals a young man who truly enjoys life. There are no diaries for the years 1879-1887. After 1878 there is a volume for each. The prose becomes much simpler. Haydon describes the weather for the day, the chores he performed, and the everyday events of his life, Only occasionally are the diary entries for these years revealing of Haydon's thoughts and emotions.

In addition to the diaries there is a folder containing miscellaneous newspaper clippings he saved about events important to him as well as a few family mementos. The photographs are of his house and farm buildings.