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The American Tour photograph album contains 96 Photographs of a tour taken of the United States and Canada, featuring the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago.

The American Tour photograph album (24 x 18 cm) contains 96 Photographs of a tour taken of the United States and Canada, featuring the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago. The photographic narrative follows a trip from Southampton, England, across the Atlantic to New York City; Richmond, Virginia; Chicago, Ill.; the Niagara region; Saratoga, New York; the Hudson River valley; and finally New York City and Coney Island, New York. Images from the trans-Atlantic trip include the dock at Southampton, the Steamship SS Paris at sea; the Sandy Hook pilot boat; views of the Statue of Liberty; and steerage passengers on an ocean liner. Several images of Richmond, Va., and rural homes in Amelia County, Va. appear. One view showing a three adults and one child on a wagon "leaving Sherwood" may be of the travelers. Numerous views of the Columbian Exposition grounds in Chicago are at the center of the album. Photographs of Niagara Falls and the Niagara River include an image of Clifford Calverley crossing the river on a tightrope. Other images include barges on both the Saint Lawrence Seaway and Hudson River; boating and scenery at Lake George; and ice houses and sailboats along the Hudson River. Photographs of New York City depict Wall Street; Brighton Beach and Coney Island; the Statue of Liberty; and Jersey City Ferry Boat "Orange." The album's half-bound brown cloth cover is stamped in gilt "American Tour. 1893."

The Amy Kelty photograph album contains approximately 333 photographs documenting the professional and personal life of Michigan woman Amy G. Kelty, including from her time spent as an instructor at the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial School.

The Amy Kelty photograph album contains approximately 333 photographs documenting the professional and personal life of Michigan woman Amy G. Kelty, including from her time spent as an instructor at the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial School.

The album (28 x 36 cm) has black covers and is itself in poor condition while the photographs are largely undamaged. Images of interest include pictures of Kelty's children Genevieve (1888-1953), Mary (1890-1964), and John Neil (1898-1980) engaged in various activities shown mostly from teenage to adult years; views of Mount Pleasant Industrial School buildings as well as school events with pupils and staff; views of buildings at Central State Normal School, the teaching college attended by Kelty and her daughters; views of Michigan Mining College which her son attended; and scenes from Kelty's later life including trips to the Grand Canyon, Black Hills, Alaska, Colorado, and Washington State as well as her graduation from the University of California at Berkley in 1925. Also present are earlier studio portrait photographs of various relatives from the 1880s and 1890s.

The Charles J. Merz photograph album contains approximately 147 images, the majority of which show places and people around the area of Detroit, Michigan, during the late 19th and early 20th-centuries.

The album (27 x 36 cm) has maroon faux leather covers with "Photographs" stamped on the front and shows signs of considerable wear, including a damaged spine and detached front cover. While the album contains some traditional formal portraits, the majority of the photographs of people are more candid snapshots in nature. Images are presented on 9 x 12.5 cm prints with four to a page. Most photographs were taken in the Detroit-area (presumably all or mostly by Merz), with images including pictures of Belle Isle Park, elevated perspectives of city streets, boats (such as ferries, sailboats, and cargo boats) on the Detroit River, scenes from the aftermath of the Buick and Sherwood factory fire, Elmwood Cemetery, bridges, railroads, carriages, and family and friends in informal settings, including one portrait of an individual dressed in blackface. Also of interest are 32 photographs related to a militia group, with images showcasing training sessions such as rifle practice and marching drills, tongue-in-cheek portraits of militia members posing humorously in front of their tents at camp, and four views of a military parade in Washington, D.C. near the U.S. Capitol. The militia group being documented was likely the volunteer militia known as the Detroit Grays; one photograph is captioned “Detroit Gray’s Camp Sylvan Lake” while “Detroit Grays” also appears on flags present in some of the images. It may be the case that Merz was a member of the Detroit Grays. There are also a few images taken in Chicago and Colorado, including views of Michigan Avenue and the Garden of the Gods.

Several details help provide a date range for this album. One caption below a photograph of young men with bicycles simply reads “1888,” while the Buick and Sherwood factory fire (the aftermath of which is depicted in several images) took place in 1892. A flag visible in one of the militia camp photographs also reads, “Detroit Grays Organized May 7, 1895,” and a picture of the side paddle ferry Greyhound indicates that it was part of the White Star Line, which acquired the Greyhound in 1902. Finally, the caption of a view of the Belle Isle Power House states that the site represented is “where the casino is today.” Since a casino was built at that location in 1907, this would suggest that the album may have been compiled a number of years after the photos were taken.

Merz himself is identified in a photograph showing him holding a box camera and standing next to two other young men on a city street. He is identified in the caption as “Charles J. Merz Photographer,” and stands alongside two other young men identified as "Charles Rapp" and "Gus Hartman." A self-portrait of an unidentified young man and his camera taken in a mirror could also possibly be Merz, and he appears to show up in other photographs as well. He may also be pictured some of the militia photos, but due to the general lack of captions it is difficult to be certain. Two unused pages at the end of the album are covered with childish doodling, including one drawing adjacent to the inscribed name “Olive Merz”, Charles’s daughter, which would suggest that the album was once in the possession of the Merz family.

The Chicago photograph album contains pictures of buildings, park landscapes, and people in Chicago, Illinois; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Detroit, Michigan. Items include interior and exterior views of a Chicago home, portraits of small groups of individuals, views of gardens in John Ball Park (Grand Rapids, Michigan), and a photograph of a steamboat in the Detroit River.

The Chicago photograph album (14cm x 18cm) contains 24 photographic prints, each placed in a 9cm x 11.5cm window. The first item is an exterior view of a home located at 5828 Indiana Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, and the following eight items are interior views of parlors and a dining room; one shows a woman sewing. The album includes six photographs of John Ball Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with various garden scenes and a shot of two women in a small horse-drawn carriage, and one photograph of the steamer "The North Land" passing Belle Isle near Detroit, Michigan. One item features the Michigan Soldiers' Home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and another shows a woman feeding a group of birds there. The remaining six items are informal group and individual portraits taken in Washington Park (Chicago, Illinois) (2 items), Palmer Park (Detroit, Michigan) (1 item), "Our Back Yard" (Chicago, Illinois) (1 item), and unidentified outdoor locales (2 items); two men posed by a bicycle in Washington Park. The album's cover is decorated with a colored floral pattern, with a gray geometric pattern near and covering the spine.

The Chicago to Colorado photograph album contains approximately 210 photographs taken by an unidentified photographer related to a tour from Chicago, Illinois, to Colorado and back again through Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Chicago to Colorado photograph album contains approximately 210 photographs taken by an unidentified photographer related to a tour from Chicago, Illinois, to Colorado and back again through Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The album (26 x 32 cm) has black paper covers and a manuscript note inside the front cover that reads: "Tour of 1903." Chicago-related photographs include a commercial street view, the Chicago River, and Lincoln Park. The following 191 photographs were taken in various locations around Colorado, including 20 images of commercial streets, residential streets, and parks in Denver and Colorado Springs; an early motorized sightseeing bus on a Colorado Springs street; and scenic views documenting visits to the Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, and the Gunnison River.

Several photographs show the main building and a small cabin at Sprague's Ranch in Moraine Park, Colorado. The travelers, a party of two men and a woman, are shown fishing, posing beside their platform tents, and sightseeing with larger groups. Also shown is the dramatic scenery of Ouray, Colorado, with views of the mountains, the box canyon, Silver Plume mines, and street scenes which include a stagecoach and loaded burros. Following several photographs of hotels in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and a view of the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas, there are three images that show streets in Milwaukee, including the Schlitz Brewery, as well as two additional images of Chicago street scenes.

This journal contains Clarence G. Nicholson's recollections about his trip from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois, in September 1893. Nicholson described his daily activities during the journey west, in Milwaukee, and at the World's Columbian Exposition. The volume contains numerous commercial photographs, advertisements, and other items related to Nicholson's travels.

This journal (32cm x 27cm, 433 pages) contains Clarence G. Nicholson's recollections about his trip from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois, in September 1893. The narrative was written in 1894. Nicholson described his daily activities during the journey west, in Milwaukee, and at the World's Columbian Exposition. The volume contains numerous commercial photographs, advertisements, and other items related to Nicholson's travels. Nicholson's manuscript travel narrative occupies around 328 pages with ephemeral items pasted in. He wrote at length about the scenery during his railroad trip, often mentioning meals and accommodations. This first part of the volume includes watercolors, photographs, clippings, and advertisements depicting Pennsylvania scenery. While in Milwaukee, Nicholson and the other travelers visited breweries, art galleries, and other points of interest; he also wrote about the differences between the Midwest and the East Coast and about the city's artistic culture. Accompanying visual materials show Milwaukee buildings, examples of local beer bottles, and works of art. On September 23 or 24, the party split, with Nicholson and his father heading for Chicago, where they spent the next week.

Nicholson's recollections of his experiences at the World's Columbian Exposition comprise the bulk of the text, accompanied by a variety of illustrations. He describes in detail numerous state, international, and thematic buildings; exhibit halls and displays; sights along the Midway Plaisance; and the fairgrounds. He and his father also visited other areas of Chicago. Clippings, advertisements, and other ephemeral items are included throughout the volume, including numerous commercial photographs and illustrated views of the World's Columbian Exposition. Other items include exposition admission tickets, a menu, and a group of synthetic cords. Visual materials show the interiors and exteriors of large exhibit halls, state and international buildings, the Peristyle, the Ferris Wheel, and exhibits along the Midway Plaisance; a few photographs and prints show the grounds illuminated at night. The final pages of the journal contain Nicholson's thoughts upon leaving the exposition for the final time and a brief description of his return trip to Philadelphia.

This photograph album contains carte-de-visite and tintype portraits of unidentified individuals taken primarily in Ionia and Clinton Counties, Michigan, in the mid- to late 19th century.

This photograph album (15cm x 12cm) contains 27 carte-de-visite and 15 tintype portraits of unidentified individuals taken in the mid- to late 19th century. Only one subject, Mr. J. C. Sessions, is identified. The studio portraits mostly show adult men and women of various ages, sometimes photographed in couples and, on two occasions, with children. A few portraits of individual children are included, including two of a young boy who was also photographed at a later date. The album has a green cover with a raised geometric design; a metal clasp that was once affixed to the volume is no longer extant.

The Marguerite H. Voll photograph album includes 87 photographs documenting family activities and various events in Plymouth, Wisconsin, as well as Chicago, Illinois.

The Marguerite H. Voll photograph album includes 87 photographs documenting family activities and various events in Plymouth, Wisconsin, as well as Chicago, Illinois.

The album (28.5 x 35 cm) has black cloth with “Photographs” stamped in gold on the front cover. Images include portraits of the Bade, Schram, and Fiedler families as well as views of parades in Chicago (including a Barnum & Bailey Circus parade), group portraits of the Plymouth Hook and Ladder bicycle team, the Sheboygan County Fair, natural landscape scenes, cars, trains, farming, and photographic reproductions of sentimental art. Of particular note is a portrait of Marguerite Bade riding a floor sweeper as an infant in 1909.

The Olney family photograph albums consist of a four-volume set containing approximately 222 photographs depicting family, friends, and neighbors of Clyde Charles Olney, a photographer and bookkeeper based in Columbiaville, Michigan, and Chicago, Illinois.

The Olney family photograph albums consist of a four-volume set containing approximately 222 photographs depicting family, friends, and neighbors of Clyde Charles Olney, a photographer and bookkeeper based in Columbiaville, Michigan, and Chicago, Illinois.

Volume one (14.5 x 20 cm) has black cloth covers and contains 30 snapshots. Images of note include views of the Tug River Coal & Coke Co. in West Virginia, the Columbiaville Band in uniform, the interior of a men’s winter camp, and two women dressed as men.

Volume two (15 x 21 cm) has black cloth covers and contains 94 snapshots. Images of note include views of a parade in Neenah, Wisconsin, a farm and hotel in Columbiaville, the interior of a house in Chicago, and a humorous staged scene of two men waking up in a brass bed together. Several family members on both the Raymond and the Olney sides are identified in a number of photographs, including one of Clyde Olney’s mother Belle. Also present are pictures of "High Steppin' Hallie" dancing in a plaid dress, Clyde Olney playing what appears to be a banjo, and "Dad" Charles Olney.

Volume three (14.5 x 19 cm) has black cloth covers and contains 45 snapshots. Images mainly show Olney’s wife Augustha (aka “Muddy”) and their daughter Mary as an infant in Chicago. Several pictures of Clyde, Muddy, and Mary together are included as well as some that show "Grandma" and Daisy Olney. The album ends with photographs of "Grandpa, Grandma Olney, Mary and Muddy" as well as Hallie Olney in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Volume four (14.5 x 19.5 cm) has black cloth covers and contains 53 snapshots. Images of interest include pictures of Daisy and Hallie Olney in front of a piano around 1895, an older looking Daisy in front of a different piano, a Columbiaville-based photographer named William J. Leisaw eating watermelon, and another photograph of the Columbiaville Band in which each person is identified and labeled (including Charles Vermilya, younger brother of Clyde’s mentor photographer Albert L. Vermilya.)

The Pageant of the Dunes photograph album contains 92 photographs including snapshots of scenery in and around the vicinity of Chicago, Illinois, as well as images of the “Pageant of the Dunes” event held in Port Chester, Indiana, in 1917.

The Pageant of the Dunes photograph album contains 92 photographs including snapshots of scenery in and around the vicinity of Chicago, Illinois, as well as images of the “Pageant of the Dunes” event held in Port Chester, Indiana, in 1917.

The album (19 x 29 cm) is string-bound and has black paper covers and pages. Contents begin with images of Chicago scenery including views of Navy Pier, Edgebrook, and the Chicago River while the following section features several images showing statues of World War I soldiers in the display window of Marshall Field's department store. Photographs in the section captioned “Pageant of the Dunes, 1917” consist of images of crowds as well as actors and actresses, including some dressed as Native Americans. Three photographs dated to 1918 are also present.