Collections : [Central Michigan University Clarke Historical Library]

The collection includes Powers' personal papers, correspondence with genealogists, legal records, clippings, drafts of her stories, lists of Civil War Soldiers, including Isabella County, Michigan, native American soldiers, mid-Michigan historical materials and photographs.

Personal Papers include correspondence and legal and financial records as well as records from organizations to which she belonged.

Research Materials include Powers’ correspondence with genealogists, legal records, and newspaper clippings. This series also contains a draft of The Indians of Isabella County by Ella V. Powers as well as notes, stories, maps, and illustrations. The bulk of the research material is raw data. The data includes genealogies, a listing of Civil War soldiers (including Indians) from Isabella County, a listing of early post offices and postmasters, treaties, records of original landowners, and a small collection of Fraser Family papers.

The third series consists of Photographs of Isabella County residents and pioneers as well as some unidentified photographs.

The Ephemera series contains items such as jewelry, eyeglasses, and a billfold; in most cases the items are undated and the owner is unknown.

There are four Scrapbooks which include recipes, cards, pictures, and letters.

The Genealogy Note Cards supplement and often repeat the information on the genealogy sheets in the Research Materials series.

Records include reports, membership records, receipts, correspondence, books and miscellaneous of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Billy Cruson Post No. 347 and auxiliary Women’s Relief Corps (WRC) No. 95 of Breckenridge, Michigan.

The collection consists of various reports, membership records, receipts, correspondence, books and miscellaneous of the two GAR organizations of Breckenridge, Michigan, 1892-1919, undated. The collection is divided by series into WRC No. 95 and GAR No. 347, then it is organized alphabetically and chronologically.

The WRC’s Membership Records folder contains transfer cards, two rosters and a copy of the organization’s bylaws. The WRC’s Ritual Items folder contains music, songs, programs and ritual leaflets.

Of note in GAR No. 347, Quartermaster Ledger, 1892-1917, there is a handwritten note on the inside back cover in pencil, “Pres shot Sept 14, 1901,” referring to the assassination of President William McKinley. Several pages in this volume are loose.

Henderson-Ames Company was a Michigan-based badge, uniform and patriotic paraphernalia manufacturer. Included are several letters of correspondence (Box 4) and one catalog of badge options (Box 5).

Processing Note: Approximately 1.25 cubic ft. of duplicate books, papers and miscellaneous items were withdrawn and returned to the donor, Breckenridge Public Library, as per the donor agreement. Less than .25 cubic ft. of materials were copied, due to folding damage, the originals were included in the withdrawn and returned items to Breckenridge Public Library. Additionally, four ritual books and two national encampment journals were separately cataloged. The WRC and GAR Applications for Membership were originally pamphlets and were repeatedly folded and unfolded. Particular care should be taken with these documents as they are prone to tearing.

Records include reports, membership records, correspondence, and miscellaneous of the GAR, Sons of Union Veterans, and Woman's Relief Corps.

The collection consists of various reports, membership records, correspondence, and miscellaneous of the three GAR organizations of East Tawas, Michigan, 1888-1924, undated.