This is a well-documented research collection of Beaver Island history, concentrating on the Irish Catholics and, secondarily the Strangite Mormons, who settled there, as well as other aspects of Beaver Island history. It is divided simply by format into two series: Papers and Notecards. Topical materials (in folders) within the Papers and the topics of the Notecards are in alphabetical order.
The Papers, 1907-1996 (Scattered), and undated, consist mainly of Helen’s research notes and drafts of manuscripts, as well as collected reference materials and photographs, for her Irish Book, and papers or speeches on various aspects of Beaver Island area history, including: land [property], Native Americans, Irish, Strangite Mormons, fishing, boats, statistics, culture, and genealogy.
There are a few manuscript drafts, typed papers, and research notes on Crinoids (fossils) and the Sugar Creek of Montgomery County, Indiana.
Also included are Biographical Materials, 1990, 1996-1997, and undated (1 folder), which includes Photographs of Helen. There is Correspondence from various people asking Helen to do genealogical research for them or answer genealogy questions, and/or supplying her with genealogical information and other materials for her research (6 folders). There is also Correspondence, 1969-1974, regarding manuscripts she submitted to journals for publication (1 folder).
The 5”x8” Notecards (3 boxes) document her research on the following topics: Beaver Island Vital Statistics, Ireland, Emigration/ “Trip Over”; Beaver Island History; Boats/Fishing; [data from] the Michigan Census, 1850-1910; and Mormons. The Notecards are in the process of being transcribed by a Central Michigan University professor.
A map of Beaver Island and a book about Arranmore (Ireland), which were part of Helen Collar’s reference materials, were cataloged separately.
Biography:
Helen Hoffman Collar, Beaver Island, Michigan, historian, researcher, and author, first summered on Beaver Island with her parents and sister in June of 1915. For 79 years thereafter, she spent her summers on the island.
The daughter of a school superintendent, Helen was born in 1902. She grew up in Springfield, Illinois. Helen studied geology at the University of Chicago, from which she graduated in 1924. In 1925 she began working in the Wisconsin oil fields.
Her husband was the victim of hit-and-run accident when Helen was in her 30s. Afterwards, Helen supported her children and herself from the income of an Indiana farm that she and her husband had purchased during the Depression, and with the sales of fine linens that Helen designed and wove on her loom in the living-room.
Each summer she returned with her children to Beaver Island. While there, in the late 1940s, Helen began researching the history of the Irish fishing families who lived on the Island after the Strangite Mormons era. Her work took her to the National Archives, the Charlevoix County courthouse, and Arranmore Island (Ireland), from which many of the Irish settlers emigrated, to verify facts gleaned from informal interviews conducted during tea time with the descendants of the early Irish settlers. Eventually her research topics came to include the Mormons, Irish, and Native Americans of the Island, their culture, genealogy, history, statistics, and personal stories, as well as crinoids (fossils) and Sugar Creek of Montgomery County, Indiana. Helen also studied art and history, traveling from Auvergne to Afghanistan.
Helen’s historical research was published in Michigan and Beaver Island historical journals. She also donated her drawings of Island pioneers, made from faded family photographs, and family genealogies that she researched to the Beaver Island Museum.
In honor of her life and research efforts, the Beaver Island Museum’s new addition was named the Helen Hoffman Collar Archival Center in 1990.
Helen died on January 9, 1996. She was survived by her son, daughter and son-in-law, and four grandchildren. A memorial fund, to help support the programs, projects, and operations of the Beaver Island Historical Society, was established in Helen’s name by her daughter, Mrs. Ann (David) Broder.
