Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

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Collection

Ralph Rosenfeld papers, 1965-1966

35 items (in one folder)

Chairman of the Detroit, Michigan chapter of Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Correspondence, memos, schedules and other papers concerning the activities of Detroit, Michigan CORE.

Correspondence, memos, schedules and other papers concerning the activities of Detroit, Michigan CORE.

Collection

Hubert N. Robinson Papers, 1948-1984

1 linear foot — 2 oversize volumes — 1 oversize folder

Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Scattered correspondence, and clippings detailing his career, church programs and printed material; also photographs.

The papers of Bishop Hubert N. Robinson are divided into six series: biographical, correspondence, clippings and scrapbooks, programs, A.M.E. printed material, and photographs.

Collection

Robert L. Potts papers, 1923-2005 (majority within 1967-2002)

6.5 linear feet — 1 oversize volume — 1 oversize folder

Robert L. Potts was a community organizer, educator, and Episcopal priest. The Robert L. Potts Papers documents his many professional obligations, including his community endeavors in Detroit, his service within the Ann Arbor Public Schools, and his involvement with the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan.

The Robert L. Potts Papers documents his many professional obligations. It includes his community endeavors in Detroit, his service within the Ann Arbor Public Schools, and his involvement with the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. Speeches, reports and executive board meeting minutes constitute much of the archive.

The collection is arranged into four series: Personal/Family, Civic Organizations, Ombudsman, and Episcopal Priest. It is important to note that photographs and correspondence are nested within the various series.

Collection

William J. Norton papers, 1906-1987 (majority within 1916-1972)

4 linear feet — 1 oversize folder

Detroit, Michigan, social worker, executive vice president of the Children's Fund of Michigan, and chairman of various relief commissions during the depression. Materials relating to his welfare activities, his interests in mental health and the work of the American Red Cross, and his general interest in the field of social work; also papers detailing his activities with the Detroit Prismatic Club; essays concerning the legislation of prohibition in Michigan; and photographs and sound recordings.

The William J. Norton collection relates mainly to relating to his welfare activities, his interests in mental health and the work of the American Red Cross, and to his general interest in the field of social work. The collection has been divided into seven series: Biographical Material and Correspondence, Presentations and Essays, Articles, Fiction Writing, Social Work Organizations, Audio Tapes and Photographs, and Other Materials.

Collection

George Murphy papers, 1911-1961

15 linear feet — 1 volume — 1 oversize folder

Judge of the Recorder's Court in Detroit and Frank Murphy's brother; contain correspondence, legal briefs, newspaper clippings, and other materials concerning Detroit politics, 1935-1961, the grand jury investigation of Detroit street railways, 1936, arbitration of labor disputes, 1936-1941, investigation of the Charles Street housing project, 1939-1940, as well as materials illuminating the careers and personal affairs of both George and Frank Murphy, especially in relation to Detroit and the Philippine Islands.

The George Murphy papers, which encompass the years 1911 to 1961, are most comprehensive for the decade following 1932. During this period - the most politically active in Murphy's career - the correspondence is especially useful in illustrating George Murphy's role in his brother's emergence as a politician, especially his role as dispenser of patronage in the depression years. The papers, of course, illuminate the social function performed by the Recorder's Court and contain voluminous correspondence with state and federal judges, attorneys, prisoners, prison officials, probation officers, etc. Judge Murphy also maintained close contact with affairs in his home town, Harbor Beach. Included in the collection are significant materials on affairs in the Philippines during his brother's governorship there, particularly correspondence during the years 1933 to 1936 with his sister, Marguerite, Eleanor Bumgardner, and with leading Filipinos concerning conditions there.

Collection

Michigan-Ohio Regional Education Laboratory records, 1966-1969

10 linear feet

Minutes of board of directors, office files, tapes of educational programs and talks, and reports and publications.

The record group includes minutes of board of directors, office files, tapes of educational programs and talks, and reports and publications.

Collection

Michigan Historical Records Survey records, 1936-1942

47 linear feet — 68 microfilms

Reports and administrative records of WPA project to survey historical records in Michigan; includes correspondence, drafts of guides to county archives, proceedings of county boards of supervisors, field reports of workers, and copies of land patents for some counties; also material relating to the history of Blacks in Michigan.

The Historical Records Survey record group documents the activities and the product of the legions of depression era workers who inventoried the records held in county courthouses, municipal offices some private repositories. The records include correspondence, drafts of guides to county archives, proceedings of county boards of supervisors, field reports of workers, and copies of land patents for some counties; also material relating to the history of Blacks in Michigan.

Originally the H.R.S. records transferred to the Michigan Historical Collections measured about 121 linear feet. After processing, the collection consisted of 26 feet of records relating to the H.R.S. and 65 feet of transcripts of county and municipal records. Of the remaining 30 feet, 29.5 feet of duplicate, extraneous, or insignificant materials were discarded (described in more detail further on) and approximately half of a linear foot of printed material was transferred to the library's printed collection.

The H.R.S. material has been divided into the following series:

  1. Survey of County Records
  2. Survey of Municipal Records
  3. Survey of Federal Records
  4. Survey of State Records
  5. WPA Project Files
  6. Manuscripts Survey
  7. Inventory of Negro Manuscripts
  8. Transcripts of County Records
  9. Transcripts of Municipal Records
  10. Photographs
  11. Historical Records Survey Correspondence
  12. Survey Forms of 1987 Survey of Records in Counties and Municipalities.
Collection

Henry J. Meyer and Suzanne M. Meyer Papers, 1867-2000 (majority within 1926-2000)

1.3 linear feet

Henry J. Meyer was a social worker and University of Michigan professor of sociology. Suzanne M. Meyer was secretary of the Ann Arbor Human Relations Commission, also assistant to the director of student activities and organizations at the University of Michigan. She was also involved both in the Tutorial and Cultural Relations Project and the Opportunity Awards Program. The collection includes professional papers and files relating to their travels and activities abroad.

Henry J. Meyer and Suzanne M. Meyer Papers include some material on his student days at the University of Michigan, files on his work for and controversial dismissal from the Washtenaw County Welfare Agency and his research and foreign travels. Suzanne Meyer's papers relate largely to he work with the Ann Arbor Human Relations Commission and her travels in Europe n 1950 and 1972. The Meyer Family collection is divided into three series: Henry Meyer, Travels and Foreign Activities, and Suzanne Meyer.

Collection

Dorothy McCauley papers, 1961-1989

1.5 linear feet (in 2 boxes)

Newsletters and minutes of executive committee of the Dav-Joy-Lin-Dex Community Council; newsletters of area block clubs; files relating to her community and organizational involvement; published materials; and photographs.

The McCauley collection consists of the records of the Dav-Joy-Lin-Dex Community Council but including as well files documenting McCauley's other community activities. Of most importance in understanding the work of the Council are its News Bulletins which date from 1960 to 1989. In addition to neighborhood news, the bulletins included notes about city government, particularly as they related to this local neighborhood. The News Bulletins were also the place where McCauley informed the community about the Council's various petition drives.

As executive secretary of the Council, McCauley wanted her group to act as a clearinghouse of information about matters of neighborhood concern. Her collection reflects this interest. Besides material about the Council, McCauley also preserved records about the various block clubs that made up the Council. The great bulk of these relate to the Dexter-Elmhurst Advisory Board, but there are also newsletters for the Glynn Court Block Club and the Calvert Civic Block Club.

Collection

Berenice Bryant Lowe Papers, 1880s-1980s

0.8 linear feet — 1 oversize folder

Battle Creek, Mich. historian and collector of rare books and manuscripts. Much of Lowe's research was devoted to the life and career of Black abolitionist Sojourner Truth. The collection contains material related to Sojourner Truth and includes biographies and bibliographies, book reviews, clippings, songs, images and photographs, etc. Other materials in the collection include letters of John G. Whittier, George W. Cable, correspondence of Lowe with writer Gerald Carson, diaries of Lowe's 1963 trip to Europe, as well as miscellanea and photographs.

The collection is arranged into two series. The Sojourner Truth (collected material) series includes biographies and compiled biographical information about Truth, bibliographies and book reviews, obituaries, tributes, newspaper articles, images of portraits, photographs, songs, and other information relating to the life of Sojourner Truth. Of special interest is a scrapbook that was kept by Frances Titus, Sojourner Truth's assistant.

Most of the Sojourner Truth files have been microfilmed except for a folder of material which came to the library after the 1965 filming. A few photographs that were microfilmed in 1965 were reported missing. These images are only available on the microfilm.

The Other Materials series contains items concerning Lowe's various activities and interests, including Battle Creek history and personalities, her travel diaries, and materials related to her friendship with writer Gerald Carson. Also included collected autographs and papers of individuals, including authors John Greenleaf Whittier and George Washington Cable. Also of note are letters of D. J. Van Schnell who wrote to members of the Oldfield family that contain watercolor drawings indicative of English life in the late 1930s and the early years of the World War II.

Collection

Joe Louis scrapbooks and papers, 1935-1941, 1948-1951

93 volumes — 0.2 linear feet — 1 oversize folder

Champion prize fighter of Detroit, Michigan. Scrapbooks, 1935-1941 (arranged chronologically by bout), and clippings, articles, and fan letters, 1948-1951, relating to his career as a boxer.

The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings and magazine articles in the period of 1935-1941. The volumes include full-length articles, brief sketches, cartoons and newspaper photographs detailing each fight, the preliminaries, Louis' opponent, the bout itself, and post-fight assessments. The volumes are numbered 1-94; volume 48 was not received.

Collection

Norma F. Kraker Papers, 1961-1972

1 linear foot

Ann Arbor, Michigan, civic activist involved with housing and civil rights issues and organizations. Subject files relating to her work with the Ann Arbor Citizens Committee for Fair Housing Legislation and its successor organization, the Ann Arbor Committee for Housing Legislation; also files relating to the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, the Ann Arbor Human Relations Commission, and the Off-Campus Housing Bureau of the University of Michigan Office of Student Community Relations.

The Norma F. Kraker Collection consists of five series relating to her many public responsibilities. The series in the collection include: Ann Arbor Committee for Fair Housing Legislation; Ann Arbor Housing Commission; Ann Arbor Human Relations Commission; Model Cities Program; and the University of Michigan, Office of Off-Campus Housing.

Collection

Paul G. Kauper papers, 1925-1974

42 linear feet — 12.6 GB (online)

Online
Professor of law at the University of Michigan. Papers include correspondence, course materials, and professional files reflecting his interest in constitutional law, university affairs, and legal questions of religious liberty and church-state relations; and manuscripts of writings, speech and conference files, reprints and copies of articles, and photographs.

The Paul G. Kauper his teaching and research as a member of the Law School faculty, professional activities and community service on various commission and committees. Basic biographical information can be found in the Topical File in box 17.

The papers include correspondence, course materials, and professional files reflecting his interest in constitutional law, university affairs, and legal questions of religious liberty and church-state relations; and manuscripts of writings, speech and conference files, reprints and copies of articles, and photographs.

Collection

Joseph L. Hudson Papers, 1967-1983 (majority within 1967-1969)

0.5 linear feet

Online
Detroit (Mich.) businessman and chairman of New Detroit Committee, organization established after the 1967 Detroit Riot to investigate and remedy the causes of that civil disturbance. Correspondence, reports, speeches, articles, photographs, and printed material relating to the riot and to his work with New Detroit.

The papers of Joseph L. Hudson, Jr., date from 1967 to 1983 and measure 6 inches. The collection consists entirely of material relating to the New Detroit Committee, which Hudson chaired during its first year of existence.

The collection includes correspondence relating primarily to the composition of the Committee; membership lists; notes made by Hudson; speeches and articles by Hudson and by Kent Mathewson, who was chief executive officer of New Detroit; press releases and periodic progress reports of New Detroit; photographs; and newspaper clippings about the, riot and about New Detroit. Most of the material dates from the period 1967 to 1969, but a few progress reports from the 1970s and 1980s and a 1983 General Fact Book regarding New Detroit are also included.

The papers reflect the difficulties faced by Hudson and the Committee in trying to create an organization that included representatives of the white "establishment" and grass roots black organizations. It was necessary for the Committee to be responsive to the needs of various sectors of the community ranging from prominent white businessmen to militant blacks. A folder entitled "Important Considerations" contains a frank assessment--apparently by Hudson--of the credibility problems the Committee would face within the black community and outlining steps to be taken to mitigate such problems. The collection is also useful in documenting attitudes and divisions within the black community over the direction that should be taken in rebuilding Detroit. Included is correspondence of the Federation for Self-Determination, a militant black organization that rejected a grant from New Detroit and severed its relations with the committee early in 1968 because it found unacceptable the stipulation that a New Detroit Committee member oversee the project. Also included is correspondence of the more moderate Detroit Council of Organizations, which accused the New Detroit Committee of catering to militant blacks and ignoring the desires of moderate blacks.

Several photographs of the July 27, 1967 meeting of community leaders are contained in the collection.

Collection

Charles F. Holman Papers, 1973-1986

1.3 linear feet

Detroit, Michigan, attorney and legal counselor; files reflecting his activity in the Michigan State NAACP

Mr. Holman's papers primarily reflect his activity in the Michigan State NAACP. The papers consist of 1.3 linear feet of material containing letters, memoranda, minutes, reports, and printed material documenting Holman's work in the state and national NAACP organizations.

The papers are organized in three series: Correspondence, arranged chronologically, 1973 and 1977-1986; NAACP Files, 1970-1986, arranged alphabetically; and Topical Files, 1978-1986, arranged alphabetically. Since the files are closely interrelated, the researcher is encouraged to review the files in all three series.

Collection

Jay G. Hayden scrapbooks, 1916-1965

8 linear feet (46 volumes.)

Newspaper articles and columns by Detroit News Washington correspondent, include extensive comment on national politics and foreign relations, particularly as they relate to Michigan

Scrapbooks, 1916-1965, of Jay G. Hayden, Washington correspondent for the Detroit News, contain extensive comment on national politics and foreign relations, particularly as they relate to Michigan. Personal subjects include: Sherman Adams, Smith W. Brookhart, Prentiss M. Brown, William Jennings Bryan, James F. Byrnes, Benjamin N. Cardozo, James Couzens, George Creel, Charles DeGualle, Edwin Denby, Lewis Douglas, John Foster Dulles, Dwight D. Eisenhower, James A. Farley, Henry Ford, Felix Frankfurter, John Glenn, James Hoffa, Herbert Hoover, Lyndon B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy, Nikita Khrushchev, Robert M. LaFollette, Douglas McArthur, Joe McCarthy, Andrew Mellon, James Meredith, Billy Mitchell, Frank Murphy, Truman H. Newberry, Richard M. Nixon, Sam Rayburn, Owen J. Roberts, Nelson A. Rockefeller, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Frank L. Smith, Joseph Stalin, Harlan F. Stone, Harry S. Truman, Arthur H. Vandenberg, William S. Vare, Henry A. Wallace and Leonard Wood.

Collection

Malcolm Keith Hatfield papers, 1930-1961

3 linear feet

Berrien County judge; correspondence and other papers largely relating to topic of juvenile delinquency.

The collection includes correspondence, an autobiographical sketch in fictional form, manuscripts of articles and short stories, speeches, and scrapbooks. The collection has been arranged into the following series: Correspondence; Juvenile Delinquency; Miscellaneous; Short Stories; and Photographs.

Collection

Gwendolyn Midlo Hall papers, 1939-1998 (majority within 1968-1995)

5.5 linear feet

Professor of history, civil rights activist, scholar of African American history. Family and professional correspondence, newspaper clippings, articles, reviews, and printed material reflecting her political activism, her interest in black history, the case of Robert Williams, and her scholarly interests.

The Gwendolyn Midlo Hall Papers, 1939-1998, are comprised of materials documenting the professional and personal life of a historian and civil rights activist. The collection is divided into four series: Personal and Biographical, Academic Career, and Writings.

Collection

Greater Lansing Urban League records, 1964-1976

2 linear feet

Affiliate chapter of the National Urban League. Annual reports, minutes of board of directors, and subject files concerning the work of the league in matters of employment and other community services; also speeches and other files of Charles H. Mitchner, executive director.

The Greater Lansing Urban League records have been arranged into two series: Organizational Records and Programs and Topical Files. The Organizational records series consists of the minutes of the board of directors, audits, and annual and other reports. The Programs series includes files on the different activities of the League in matters of jobs, education and housing. This series also includes speeches and other files of Charles H. Mitchner, executive director of the League chapter.

Collection

Michael A. Gorman papers, 1920-1958

2 linear feet

Editor of the Flint Journal. Correspondence and topical files concerning his newspaper career in Flint, the role of the Flint Journal in the development of the city, the General Motors sit-down strike of 1937, and the position of automobile industry to Flint; and photographs.

The Gorman papers reflect the relationship between a local newspaper and the community it served. The collection comprises two linear feet of correspondence and topical files from the period 1928 to 1958. Representing but a selection of Gorman's original files, this remnant appears to include correspondence which Gorman considered to be most important. The correspondence includes substantive material as well as letters of autograph value only.