Benjamin Douglass Papers
Much of the Benjamin Douglass correspondence is of a personal nature with Lucy Townson Douglass.
Much of the Benjamin Douglass correspondence is of a personal nature with Lucy Townson Douglass.
9 linear feet — 1 oversize folder — 3 oversize volumes
The Douglass Family collection spans the period 1812-1911 and comprises eight linear feet of manuscripts, one linear ft. of photographs, three outsize volumes, and 1 folder of oversize materials. The collection include the papers of Benjamin Douglass and his two sons, Samuel T. (1814-98) a lawyer and Detroit judge, and Silas H. (1816-90), a professor at The University of Michigan. Although Silas came to use the family name of Douglas rather than Douglass, the paper indicate that there was little consistency.
The collection consists of personal and professional correspondence, letterpress books, business and legal papers, scrapbooks, photographs, and family materials. The collection, except for series of photographs and maps, is arranged by family member name.
The Silas Douglas series consists of correspondence and subject files dealing with family affairs, business matters and, in large part, with his career at the University of Michigan. Of special note is his copy of Douglass Houghton's field notes from his geological survey of the Upper Peninsula and records of the Ann Arbor Gas Company which Douglas founded.