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The Clinton W. Parker papers consist of letters to and from Parker, a Christian Scientist drafted into the military during World War I. The letters focus on Parker's faith, social activities and camp life.

The number of letters from friends, family members and business associates suggests that Clinton W. Parker corresponded with several people. Letters to his mother, Alma, were written at least once a week and comprise the bulk of the collection. A 12 page letter from Carroll, Clinton's brother, to his mother answers most of the questions and concerns about his well being and activities during the war (11/9/18).

The collection is a source of information of social and religious activities during the war. Clinton was a Christian Scientist and writes to his mother about his participation in services, his beliefs about illness and his attitudes developed based on these beliefs. The letters during the fall of 1918 when the camp was quarantined for the flu are particularly relevant. Letters from friends also include information about Christian Science activities.

Despite his duties at camp, Clinton maintained an active social life. His letters describe dinners, entertainment, and visits to several homes and hotels. He never tells his mother how he meets these associates or whether they are connected with his religious activities.

Camp life is another focus of the letters, however, the content consists mainly of his attitude about camp life rather than about the training. Opinions are guarded until the war ends and threats of censorship are decreased. Letters during the early fall describe the plans for building in the camp as it is being prepared to be a permanent military installation. His promotions are also a topic of his letters. His final promotion to Regimental Sergeant Major is a source of pride. Following this promotion Clinton received congratulations from a friend, "You sure deserved it and when a white man came in you got it" (1/10/19).

Clinton also corresponds with the officers of the Dime Savings Bank, where he worked before and after the war. The letters inform the bank about his status and finally request assistance for help in being released from the army (1/21/19).

A number of documents and memos from the army are included. The earliest dated document in the collection is a "Pledge of Loyalty" to the United States signed by Clinton and several other men. Other documents include notices from the Local Board informing him of his status, rosters of the men at Camp Hancock, a memo about the rumors of peace, and instructions for obtaining travel allowances for discharged men.

Theses written by University of Michigan Medical School students; subjects concern the theory and treatment of specific diseases, as well as the psychology of medicine, attitudes toward women and child rearing, the social standing of the physician, and medical practices during the mid-nineteenth century.

Moses Bond's journal contains a memoir of his life from 1786 to 1815, including accounts of his early apprenticeship, vivid descriptions of his sailing career, and his wife's death in childbirth.

Of the 35 pages in Moses Bond's journal, the first twelve are devoted to basic arithmetic problems. These include word problems, most involving investment. The journal proper begins on page 13 with a title page. Though Bond wrote the journal in 1808, he is recounting events that date from 1786 to 1808. The memoir is 22 pages long. In 1814, Bond added a half page about the death of his wife in childbirth.

On the first two pages, Bond writes briefly about his apprenticeship; Osgood Carleton, the well known mathematician who taught him navigation; and Edward Preble, a merchant in Boston who was part owner of the ship Levant. The remainder of the memoir contains an account of his sailing career aboard the ships Levant, and Adamant from 1806 to 1808. Bond recorded the many places he visited in Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, and India, and sometimes provided detailed descriptions, especially for Cape Aden in the Arabian (or Persian) Gulf, and the ancient city of Tarragona in Spain. He also mentions various cargoes the ship carried, mostly sugar, coffee, wine, and spirits.

Bond wrote about many events, including stormy weather, pumping water from the leaky ship, loading and unloading cargo, and nearly running aground. One time the ship "pitched away our fore top mast with my friend H. Oxnard at the head of it, he however luckily held in the rigging and saved himself without any injury." He also mentioned how they were received by different countries and the lengths of time they had to spend in quarantine. On a visit to Barcelona, in possession of the French, they had to pay a fee to avoid being tried for "breach of the Edict of Napoleon." At one point, the ship was seized and searched by Spanish privateers, and another time they were captured by a Maltese privateer, and taken to Malta.

Bond's own feelings are reflected in the events he recounts. For example, he describes the privateers as overbearing wretches employed "to annoy the Enemy for want of other employment." He also wrote emotionally about the deaths of his sister and friend William C. Fuller, both of whom died while he was at sea. In December, 1814, six years after he wrote the memoir, Bond recorded the account of his wife's death on Dec. 5. "Sad remembrance will bleed at every pore in recounting the sufferings of that dear woman."