Santer’s papers, 1978, 2018, and undated, mostly consist of two major series, State of Michigan boundaries information and the drafts of his book, the Great Lakes Basin, 1984-1986. Remaining materials in the collection include one folder each of: Biographical Materials, 2003, 2006, and undated; Articles and Presentations (copies), 1990, 2005; and a VHS Videotape, Monuments on the Landscape: Indication of a Changing Spirit in the Great Lakes Basin, for the Mecosta County Council for the Humanities, 1987. The collection is in good physical condition. Many of the materials are photocopies or reference materials. The collection is organized alphabetically and chronologically.
The largest series, including almost all of Santer’s correspondence, reference materials, a cookie cutter, presentation and meeting materials, Michigan Senate and House bill materials, petition, and samples concerning boundaries, borders, and maps document his ongoing, long-term efforts to convince Michigan legislators to legislatively acknowledge the current legal boundaries of Michigan, particularly on the Great Lakes, on all graphics and images. A Michigan boundaries map calendar in the collection was created by Michigan State University Geography 426 students in Spring 2005. Most of his correspondence, three folders, 1978, 2018, concerns general discussion about Great Lakes boundaries with Michigan politicians, government department personnel, organizations, and publishers. One folder of correspondence specifically concerns the boundaries of Michigan on drafts of the official Michigan quarter, 2002-2006.
His handwritten chapter drafts for his book, the Great Lakes Basin, 1984-1986, which he submitted to Michigan State University Press (MSU) in 1986, compose the next largest series. Chapter 6 drafts were not donated to the Clarke.
Research may also be interested in his collection focused on Mecosta County, Michigan, history at Ferris State University Archives.
Processing Note: 1 cubic foot of duplicates, reading materials, out-of-scope materials and acidic newspaper clippings were withdrawn during publication as well as six duplicate publications. Acidic clippings were photocopied and the copies were added to the collection. As per Santer’s request, all draft pages of his book were photocopied and the photocopies were returned to him. Five additional publications were separately cataloged. Lastly, three Big Rapids items were transferred to Ferris State University Archives.
Biography:
Richard A. Santer is a proud descendant of Redford Township, Michigan, ancestors and a Toledo War participant. After graduating from Redford High School (1955), he earned his undergraduate and Master’s degrees in geography at Eastern Michigan University and the University of Iowa, and his doctorate in geography at Michigan State University (1970) under the Cold War-Vietnam Era GI Bill.
In 1969 Santer began teaching geography at Ferris State University (FSU). In 1972 he joined an interdisciplinary team of faculty in the newly established FSU Environmental Management Studies Center. One of his first activities was to accompany a faculty-student team to assist in the planning and implementing the clean up after the devastating Susquehanna River Flood of 1972.
Santer published a geography of Michigan, Michigan: Heart of the Great Lakes (1977), reviewed as the best geography text in over 60 years. In 1983 he wrote his Michigan geography textbook, Geography of Michigan and the Great Lakes Basin, which he substantially expanded and revised in 1993. Santer wrote the opening chapter in the sesquicentennial history of Michigan, Michigan: Visions of Our Past (1989). Also, he contributed to The Sayings of W.N. Ferris, to several major encyclopedias, and co-edited the Autobiography of Woodbridge N. Ferris (1995).
One of his ongoing, long-term efforts was to convince Michigan legislators to legislatively acknowledge the current legal boundaries of Michigan, particularly on the Great Lakes, on all graphics and images. His involvement in this topic began when he received a question about the boundaries in 1978. His interest resulted in a 2004 petition, and his testifying about and reviewing the text of a number of Michigan House and Senate bills.
His notable contributions to FSU are many. Santer was an early contributor to and developer of the FSU Arts and Lectures Committee. He secured funding for the construction of bicycle paths north and south of Big Rapids along former US 131. Santer was instrumental in the creation of the Ferris Nature Preserve, which grew to include the Biological Study Area and Conservation Area at Rogers Height. He served as chair of the FSU Centennial Task Force. Also, Santer was instrumental in the installation of Mr. Ferris on the FSU campus and established the Centennial Dining Room.
Santer’s honors include being selected by his peer faculty as a Distinguished Teacher (1981). He was also one of the initial 28 Distinguished Faculty Member (1982). When he retired in 1996 as Professor of Geography Emeritus, Santer was selected as FSU Commencement Speaker and the 22-acre main campus Nature Preserve was named in his honor. Michigan History named him as Michigan’s Great Lakes island guru for identifying its 384 named islands.
In his retirement Santer published in Michigan History magazine and the Chronicle of the Historical Society of Michigan. He is currently researching the State’s named bays and the Amish in Michigan.
Married for over 49 years to his wife, Ruth, Santer has two daughters and five granddaughters. (This information is from the collection.)