Stan Berriman Collection, 1884-2003
approximately 4 cubic ft. (in 9 boxes, 2 folders, 2 Oversized Volumes)
The collection consists of his scrapbooks, typed notes, typed 3x4 and 5x8 inch notecards, reel-to-reel tapes, a 16 mm film, and slides. The vast majority of the collection, particularly the note cards and slides document Michigan historic markers, historic sites, events, counties, townships, Chippewa Indians, and school trips to the Upper Peninsula, the Straits area, and Grayling, Michigan. Also included are the 1884 and 1885 tax assessor’s assessment books for Jerome Township (Midland County). The assessor’s volumes are not records of permanent historic value, but have been maintained as examples in this collection. [Midland County’s Clerk and Treasurer’s historic financial and clerical records are also housed (on deposit) at the Clarke.] Midland County (Mich.) history is well represented in this collection.
The collection is organized by format and size: letter-sized (or smaller) materials in boxes, note cards according to their size, and legal- and oversized materials at the end. Letter-size (or smaller) materials are organized alphabetically by title or topic, and then by size, and /or chronologically as needed.
Overall, the collection is in good shape. The plumber’s account book and copy of the Declaration of Allegiance are quite acidic and brittle and should be used with care. There is a slightly musty smell to the collection, so researchers with allergies or asthma may wish to take precautions while using the collection.
Processing Notes: The collection originally included about 21 cubic feet of material. Of this, maps, books, children’s literature, and textbooks were separately cataloged. Mass-produced out-of-state slides, unidentified reel-to-reel tapes, all duplicates, and out-of-state postcards were withdrawn from the collection during processing. A substantial number of Michigan postcards were merged into the Clarke’s Michigan Postcard collection. Family vacation slides were returned to Mr. Berriman's daughter, Beth DeWitt, as per her request. The collection was donated by Beth DeWitt, on behalf of all of Mr. Berriman's children in their father's memory and honor.