Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Michigan; designer of the proposed Mackinac Bridge; and member of the Mackinac Straits Bridge Authority. Correspondence, newspaper clippings, blueprints and notes concerning the design and construction of the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan. Correspondents include: Mortimer E. Cooley and G. Donald Kennedy.

The James H. Cissel Papers, 1934-1943, contain approximately one linear ft. of materials and serve as an interesting account of the architecture and technology of bridge design in the 1930s and document a little known period in the history of the Mackinac Bridge. The papers are comprised of materials pertaining to Cissel's involvement with the design and construction of the proposed Mackinac Straits Bridge. The collection consists of correspondence, newspaper clippings, architectural and design studies, and blueprints. The original order of the collection has for the most part been maintained. Series in the collection include: Correspondence, Newspaper Clippings, Ferry Boat Data, Legislation, Mackinac Straits Bridge Project, Publications, and Blueprints.

Stewart F. Hicks graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1927 and worked as an engineer for the Michigan State Highway Department on bridge construction projects. The Stewart F. Hicks papers primarily document Hicks's work as a bridge project engineer during the construction of the Manistee Memorial Bridge as well as academic pursuits and early professional work.

The Stewart F. Hicks papers document Hicks' professional career as an engineer. The collection includes some materials related to his academic pursuits and early professional work, but the bulk of the collection relates to Hicks' work as a bridge project engineer on the Manistee Memorial Bridge. Materials relating to the Manistee Memorial Bridge project include correspondence to and from Hicks, daily reports prepared by Hicks, and project files including proposals, charts, blueprints, reports, and news regarding the bridge's dedication.