Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

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Start Over You searched for: Repository University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library Remove constraint Repository: University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library Collection Democratic Party of Michigan records, 1932-2013 (majority within 1950-2012) Remove constraint Collection: Democratic Party of Michigan records, 1932-2013 (majority within 1950-2012)
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Collection

Democratic Party of Michigan records, 1932-2013 (majority within 1950-2012)

202 linear feet — 1 film reel — 36.4 GB (online)

Online
Files of state chairs, Neil Staebler, John J. Collins, Zolton Ferency, Sander Levin, James McNeely, Morley Winograd, Olivia Maynard, Richard Wiener, F. Thomas LeWand, Gary Corbin and Mark Brewer; files of deputy state chair, Billie S. Farnum, vice chairs Adelaide Hart and Olivia Maynard, and vice chair Robert Mitchell; files relating to state constitutional convention, and to state and national political campaigns, since 1950; sound recordings, visual materials, and digital files.

The records of the Democratic Party of Michigan have come to the library in several accessions beginning in 1967 and periodically thereafter. The record group is comprised of files mainly from the Lansing office of the Democratic Party of Michigan. The files are of the officers of the party: state chair, vice chair, deputy chair, and secretary, among others. As of 2025, close to one-half of the files in the collection is concentrted in the the Mark Brewer subseries within the State Chair series, as he was the longest serving chair. The records relate to the day-to-day operation of the party, the management of political campaigns (i.e., selecting candidates, defining issues, raising funds, getting out the vote, etc.). In addition, some records concern the state organization's relationship with the National Democratic Party and its participation in the national convention to select a presidential nominee. Because of inconsistencies in how files were maintained and used, the files of one party officer might also include materials of their predecessor. Thus the researcher should examine the entire finding aid for material on any given topic or time period.

Folder

Earlier records, prior to, 1965

The Earlier Records series consists of records from approximately 1949 to 1964 during the chairmanship of Neil Staebler, John J. Collins and deputy chair Billie S. Farnum. There is also a scattering of miscellaneous materials from the nineteenth century and the 1930s. Of some interest are files relating to the party's participation in the Democratic National Conventions of 1956 and 1960. Although the files are somewhat sparse prior to 1964, this may be accounted for because some important Democratic Party officials maintained their own files apart from the Party's office files. Fortunately many of these individuals also donated their records to the Bentley Historical Library. These include Neil Staebler, Margaret Price, and John J. Collins.