This collection consists of personal information and correspondence of Daisy Bazzett, 1933-1936, 1937, 1938, and undated, 1.75 Cubic Feet (in 4 boxes). The collection is organized by date and each folder alphabetically.
Bazzett, Correspondence: The majority of the collection consists of letters sent from Daisy to Ellis Bazzett while she attended CSTC 1932-1936. Her letters begin in the fall of 1933, and detail her daily life at CSTC in the 1930s. Materials include: letters, postcards, and newspaper clippings. Topics covered include information about life at CSTC, such as the dorms, classes, and social life. Daisy made frequent mention of dances and social events organized by the literary societies which she invited Ellis to, and to different things that she and her roommate Helen did, such as buying a radio, or typing up papers for girls in the dorm on a typewriter. These letters also document the growing seriousness of the relationship between Daisy and Ellis, even discussion of marriage as she approached graduation. Daisy was a very engaging writer and her humor really shines through in her letters to Ellis. Some collection highlights include a letter dated January 10th, 1935, which has an illustration with the inscription “dropping you a line.” Letters such as one dated May 21st, 1935 describe the more difficult aspects of being active on campus, as Daisy writes “Its hell being President of a club of catty women.” Later letters reveal more about Daisy’s relationship with Ellis. On October 1st, 1935 she sent Ellis a letter where she had copied Elizabeth Barret Browning’s Sonnet 43 from 1850, which begins “How do I love thee…” In March of 1936, Daisy sent Ellis a kiss through the mail, her red lipstick staining the letter. Also significant is information relating to graduation, including an invitation to graduation activities that lasted from June 5th through the 22nd.
Miscellaneous Materials: This portion of the collection mostly includes correspondence received by Daisy or Ellis, sent by Ellis, photographs, or auxiliary collections material. Materials include: biographical material from Daisy titled “Notes from my Nineties,” a series of photographs, correspondence to Ellis, as well as Miscellaneous letters and notes to Ellis. Completing the collection are notes on the correspondence from Timothy Bazzett, Daisy and Ellis’ son. Topics mentioned include: Daisy’s life on the Whalen farm in Oakley, her life at Central, and anecdotes about her life with Ellis; Ellis’ work correspondence, and letters that he and others wrote to Daisy. The photographs include a photograph of Ellis, photographs of Daisy and Helen with other friends on campus, and photographs from the wedding of Daisy’s brother, Clarence, in which Daisy and Ellis also appear “Notes from My Nineties” by Daisy Bazzett was copyrighted in 2008 by Rathole Books.
Processing Note: During processing .25 cubic feet of peripheral materials and envelopes were removed from the collection. Acidic materials were photocopied and the originals were withdrawn from the collection.
Biography:
Daisy Cecelia Bazzett née Whalen was born in Oakley, Michigan, on June 25th, 1916 to William Whalen and Lettie Jane Whalen née Mickles. She had two older brothers, Harold Whalen and Clarence Whalen. Daisy began her first year at Central State Teaching College (CSTC, later Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan) in the fall of 1932, and met her future husband, Ellis Bazzett, in Oakley, Michigan in 1933. Daisy attended Central State from 1932 to 1936, keeping up an almost daily correspondence with Ellis from 1933 to 1936.
Daisy was an English major at CSTC, with a minor in History. She was also in the Honors program and President of Ronan Round Table, a literary society that was a forerunner of sororities. While at CSTC, Daisy lived in Ronan Hall with her friend and roommate Helen Critchell for all four years. Daisy attended CSTC on an academic scholarship that was renewed every semester. She was very active in campus life, a member and, eventually, the President of Ronan Round Table. She attended many dances, and organized many social events as well.
Daisy and Helen both found teaching positions teaching within six months of graduating from CSTC. After teaching in Remus, Michigan, for a year, Daisy married Ellis Bazzett in 1937. They moved to Detroit, where they lived near relatives of Ellis for a few years before moving to Chicago. In 1943 they moved to a farm outside of Potterville where they lived with their six children, Rich, Bill, Bob, Tim, Mary, and Chris, before relocating closer to Reed City in 1945. Ellis and Daisy helped to build St. Philip’s Catholic School in Reed City, where their children attended school through the eighth grade. Ellis died in 1989, and Daisy died on April 8th, 2013. (This information is from the collection and a statement included with the donation.)
