Collections

Grand Rapids, Michigan manufacturing company executive, astronomer. Technical correspondence, 1949-1992, relating to astronomical studies, particularly concerning the moon; correspondence, 1980-1981, used in preparation of his book, "The deadly fuze: a secret weapon of World War II;" speeches on astronomical subjects and pertaining to his interest in product liability reform; and unpublished autobiography.

The Baldwin collection consists of general correspondence and technical correspondence relating to astronomical topics and to the publication of his book The Deadly Fuze. There are also speeches, biographical and autobiographical material, and various materials relating to the proximity fuze. The collection largely consists of photocopies of original materials.

Physicist, University of Michigan professor, dean of the graduate school; correspondence, writings, speeches, organizational files, audio-visual materials.

Although the Ralph A. Sawyer collection includes materials relating to all phases of his career, beginning with his studies at the University of Chicago in 1918-1919, the strength of the files are for those activities outside of the University of Michigan, notably his work with the U.S. Navy laboratories, Joint Task Force One, the American Institute of Physics, and the Optical Society of America. Files dealing with his University of Michigan activities are less complete as these materials will be found with the records of those units which Sawyer headed.

Michigan congressman and senator, head of the U.S. Office of Price Administration; papers include correspondence, legislative files, speeches, political files, business and legal records, diaries and scrapbooks, visual materials, and sound recordings.

The Prentiss M. Brown Collection is rich and full and offers researchers materials on a variety of local and national topics reflecting the diversity of the man's private and public life. The earliest item in the collection is a letter book dated 1902-04 of James J. Brown, like his son a prominent St. Ignace attorney. The collection then picks up Prentiss M. Brown's entrance to the legal profession in 1917, traces his rise to public office, his work in Congress and with the O.P.A., and then concludes with his later business interests and his crusade upon behalf of the Mackinac Bridge.

The Brown Collection comprises approximately twenty-eight feet of correspondence, letterbooks, scrapbooks, diaries, speeches, topical and legislative files, photographs and phonograph records, and legal case files and business records. Covering the period 1917 to 1973, the papers concentrate most heavily in the years 1932-1942 when Brown was in the U.S. Congress. The greatest gap in the collection is in the period of the 1920s when Brown was making his first bids for political office. Also missing are any extensive files for the time of Brown's O.P.A. directorship. What the collection has on the O.P.A. are largely speeches, scrapbooks, and congratulatory letters.

Architect, inventor and educator, director of the Brooklyn Museum, and dean of the College of Architecture and Design of the University of Michigan. Notebooks, articles and reports relating to his work as museum director in Brooklyn, New York, and at the Pennsylvania Museum of Art, articles and notebooks, 1922-1924, concerning his work as Home Secretary of the Canton Christian College, Canton, China, and other materials relating to his work with the War Production Board during World War II, his architectural projects and inventions; and photographs.

The Youtz papers consist of notebooks, articles and reports relating to his work as museum director in Brooklyn, New York, and at the Pennsylvania Museum of Art, articles and notebooks, 1922-1924, concerning his work as Home Secretary of the Canton Christian College, Canton, China. Other papers include materials relating to his work with the War Production Board during World War II, his architectural projects and inventions, and photographs. The papers are arranged into three series: Biographical/Personal; Career Materials; and Published Materials.

Lansing and Ann Arbor, Michigan families; correspondence, photographs, clippings, and other family documents.

Although titled the Pattengill family papers, this accumulation is also the records of the Foster, Sharpsteen, and Woodward families. The historian of the family was undoubtedly Theodore G. Foster and his wife Margaret Foster (née Pattengill). Through these donors, the library received different family collections that have been separately cataloged, although they obviously contain inter-related materials. These other collections, also housed at the Bentley Historical Library are Theodore Foster papers (1835-1862); Henry R. Pattengill papers (1861-1939); and the Margaret Pattengill Foster papers (1903-1961).

This grouping of family materials is actually more about the Foster line of the family than Pattengill or Sharpsteen. The papers have been arranged by name of family: Foster, Pattengill, and Sharpsteen, with an additional series of various family members and miscellaneous. Within each family, the materials have been maintained as arranged by the donor into separate files for individual family members. Of particular interest are the papers of Seymour Foster who was postmaster of Lansing and active in preserving the memory of his brother Charles T. Foster who was killed during the Civil War. The Grand Army of the Republic named one of its veterans post in Charles T. Foster's name. Also included is a volume of transcribed correspondence of Theodore Pattengill Foster, describing his time as a soldier during World War II.

The collection is also of value for the genealogical research materials accumulated on the Foster, Pattengill, Springsteen, and Woodward families.

Organist and professor of music at the University of Michigan, and other members of the Christian family; correspondence, clippings, concert programs, and other papers re his teaching, concert career, European student days, etc.

The Palmer Christian collection is comprised of four series: Correspondence and other papers; Programs and reviews of recitals; Madrigals; and Photographs. The correspondence is noteworthy for long-term correspondents such as symphony conductor Eric De Lamarter who regularly communicated with Christian for over twenty year period beginning in 1925 and from Eugene Ormandy. During World War II, Christian received many letters from former students then serving in the military.

Owen J. Cleary was an attorney, president of Cleary College in Ypsilanti (1940-1960), Michigan secretary of state (1953-1954), and chairman of the Republican State Central Committee (1949-1953). The collection includes correspondence, scrapbooks and clippings, organizational files, and Republican Party files.

The collection documents the later period of Cleary's life, mainly from 1945 to 1959. The series include Correspondence; Scrapbooks and clippings; Organizational interests; and Political files.

The great bulk of the collection consists of correspondence dated from 1945 to 1959 and documenting his work as Republican State chairman (1949-1953), his tenure as Michigan secretary of state (1953-1954), and his various other civic, political, and business involvements. There is included with this finding aid a selective index to Cleary's correspondents.

The Otto Fisher collection includes photographs of Michigan Wing # 63 Civil Air Patrol personnel and aircraft during World War II.

A student at the University of Michigan, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (Class of 1943). Includes a World War II era scrapbook containing event programs, photographs, publications, various dance, identification, membership, report, and registration cards, reserve officer training ephemera, and other materials reflecting on U-M student life and activities. The collection also contains several loose World War II era U-M student publications, and college football programs.

Schwartz' unbound World War II era leather scrapbook has a silver embossed image of a WWII aircraft on the front cover. It contains University of Michigan dance, identification, registration, and report cards, as well as organizational membership cards to the Michigan Union and the B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation. The scrapbook also contains commencement exercise and event programs including one from the University Musical Society advertising a solo performance by Marian Anderson; invitation(s) to join the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity (ZBT) and to attend their functions, as well as tickets, schedules, and programs pertaining to U-M football games. Of particular note are ZBT ephemera including a grey wool cap (possibly from Cap Night festivities) and a ZBT house key. Also to note are items pertaining to Schwartz's time spent in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), such as his 1942 training certificate, and ROTC insignia. In addition to these items is an August 1, 1943 WWII Food Rations Chart with point values for meat, fish, dairy, and fat; a page of humorous air raid instructions; and news clippings and newspapers, mostly focusing on WWII related events.

The scrapbook also contains issues of publications including The Michigan Daily, The East Wind, the Garg, The Baby Gargoyle, The Phi-Losopher , The Foo-Losopher of 1941, Phi Junior, and a ZBT newsletter that served as a substitute publication for The Phi-Losopher during the war. Other publications to note include Controversy: A Quarterly of Ethical, Philosophical, and Religious Opinion, and a Michiganetiquette handbook on how to conduct oneself socially on campus.

Included within the scrapbook are photographs of student organization groups such as the Student Religious Association (SRA) (each photograph includes an image of an African American member), Zeta Beta Tau fraternity brothers, various formal dances, and Angell Hall. The collection also contains several loose World War II era Michigan Daily newspapers;Garg magazines; and two football programs: Michigan vs. Ohio State andMichigan vs. Northwestern.

The Myron E. Moore papers pertain to Moore's experiences in the United States, Iran, and India while serving in the United States Army's 7th Postal Regiment during World War II.

The Myron E. Moore papers pertain to Moore's experiences in the United States, Iran, and India while serving in the United States Army's 7th Postal Regiment during World War II. He began writing letters home to his mother, Sadie R. Moore, while in training with the 524th Postal Unit at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in the late summer of 1942. He underwent intense preparation for chemical warfare and other general combat duties and confirmed rumors of conflicts between northern and southern soldiers, though he reported that attitudes on his own base were generally amicable (September 2, 1942). In October 1942, Moore joined the 7th Postal Regiment at Camp Blanding, Florida, where he informed his parents of his unit's preparations to travel overseas.

In early 1943, Moore's unit deployed to Iran, where he assisted in routing military mail. Throughout his service, he discussed the relaxed attitude within his unit and shared details about his leisure activities and the army's mail operations. Though he looked forward to his return to the United States, Moore took comfort in opening frequent packages from home and listening to the music of Glenn Miller. By January 1945, the unit had been transferred to India, and Moore spent much of 1945 at Camp Lee, Virginia, and Camp Edwards, Massachusetts. He was discharged in November or December 1945. In addition to Moore's letters home, the collection has a printed patriotic message from Franklin D. Roosevelt to army troops preparing to head overseas.