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Benjamin C. Phelps papers, 1837-1897 (majority within 1837-1870s)
11 items
This collection is made up of sermons, letters, documents, printed items, and writings by or pertinent to Methodist Minister Benjamin C. Phelps of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Among the papers are Phelps' appointments as Deacon (1838) and Elder (1840) in the Methodist Episcopal Church, a volume of 43 manuscript sermons by Rev. Phelps utilized throughout his active ministry (including while chaplain at the Connecticut State Prison as Wethersfield, 1859-1869), an address on the importance of chaplaincy to correctional facilities, and a biographical sketch of Rev. Phelps by his great grandson.
The heart of this collection is a bound volume containing 43 manuscript sermons by Benjamin C. Phelps, originally written between 1837 and 1847, but with marginal notes by Phelps indicating his re-use of them between 1848 and the 1870s. Worn from repeated use, a heavy brown paper outer cover was added; the paper bears fragments of printed imagery and text. Laid into the volume is a printed advertisement, "The Book of Dual Blanks for Pulpit and Choir," sold by publishers S. C. Dunn & Co., Bordentown, New Jersey.
An example, "Sir, what must I do to be saved?" (on Acts 16:30), he originally wrote for November 23, 1838, and then delivered it again at Manchester in March 1848 and again in Scotland June 1854. Another, "Sermon I", "And he did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief" (on Matthew 13:58), he wrote in the later months of 1837 and delivered again at the State Prison in May 1858.
Sermon 40 is notable for its conveyance of views on the forgiveness of sin, with commentary on Universalist teachings about sin. In it, Rev. Phelps argued using quotations from Thomas Whittemore's The Plain Guide to Universalism, Otis A. Skinner's Universalism Illustrated and Defended, and Isaac D. Williamson's An Exposition and Defence of Universalism, that Universalism "utterly denies" the doctrine of forgiveness of the punishment of sin.
- 1825 October 19. Zion's Herald, vol. III, no. 42. Boston, Massachusetts.
- 1838 June 10. Elijah Hedding partially printed vellum certificate, appointing Benjamin C. Phelps a Deacon in the Methodist Episcopal Church; Boston, Massachusetts. 1 page.
- 1839 January 19. B[enjamin] C. Phelps manuscript article draft "For Zion's Herald"; s.l. 4 pages. Concerning the lives and morality of mariners/sailors.
- 1840 July 5. Elijah Hedding partially printed vellum certificate, appointing Benjamin C. Phelps an Elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church; Lowell, Massachusetts. 1 page.
- 1863 December 27. N. P. Humphrey telegraph to "B. F. Phelps" [i.e. Benjamin C. Phelps]; Oakham, Massachusetts. 1 page. From Noah Humphrey to his son-in-law Rev. Phelps at Wethersfield State Prison, relating "Mother is dead. Funeral at two (2) oclock Tuesday." The American Telegraph Company.
- 1865 March 31. B[enjamin] C. Phelps draft of an address or report to the Directors of the Connecticut State Prison; Wethersfield, Connecticut. 4 pages. On the value and importance of chaplaincy in correctional facilities, with information about religious conversions over the previous year, improvements in inmates' dispositions and character, education, development of the library, the state of the sabbath school, and visits to cells for religious consultation. Visits the "female department" and then closes the day with prayer in the hospital. "An unknown friend, who by meeting an exconvict who proposed to have been converted while here, has become so much interested in the moral and religious welfare of the prisoners, as to send three copies of the Witness to my address for one year, for the use of the men. It is an interesting religious periodical published in New York."
- 1867 September. Printed program, Prison Concert, Saturday, Afternoon, Sep. 21, '67 : For the Inmates of the Connecticut State Prison, Given by the South Church Quartette, of Hartford. Wethersfield, Connecticut. 3 pages. Mrs. Charles W. Huntington, Soprano; Miss Almira Whiting, Contralto; Mr. C. W. Huntington, Tenor; and Mr. W. H. Hunt, Basso.
- 1896 December 23. Zion's Herald, vol. LXXIV, no. 52. Boston, Massachusetts. Containing Benjamin C. Phelps' obituary on page 15.
- 1897 July 1. F. B. Noyes autograph letter signed to Charles Phelps; Stonington, Connecticut. 1 page. Address to Hartford, Connecticut, July 1, 1897. 1 page. Enclosing a copy of Noyes' "history of the Phelps family." With enclosed typed genealogy "Phelps Family". 5 pages.
- Undated. Typed biography of Benjamin C. Phelps by his great-grandson, titled "Behind the Clocks," 28 pages.
Benjamin F. Graves papers, 1815-1950 (majority within 1848-1903)
2.5 linear feet
The Benjamin F. Graves papers consist of family correspondence concerning life in Battle Creek, Michigan, student life of H. B. Graves at the University of Michigan, 1879-1882, Kansas land speculation, 1883-1885, the Spanish-American War and legal affairs; personal journals and circuit court and Michigan Supreme Court record books of B. F. Graves; and correspondence of Henry B. Graves and Ann Lapham Graves. The collection has been arranged by name of individual family member: Benjamin F. Graves; Lapham family; Henry B. Graves; and Miscellaneous.
The correspondence of Benjamin F. Graves includes letters from Henry B. Brown, December 26, 1890; Julius C. Burrows, March 17, 1869; James V. Campbell, 1858-1883; Isaac P. Christiancy, June 1868, November and December 1862, February 1873, August 1877; Thomas M. Cooley (throughout); Donald M. Dickinson, undated and December 1883; Alpheus Felch, December 1894; and John W. Longyear, April 1864 and March 1865.
Benjamin Sawtell Hanchett Papers, 1858, 1888-1958 (majority within 1888-1931)
3 linear feet
Benson J. Lossing collection, 1850-1904 (majority within 1850-1891)
0.25 linear feet
This collection is primarily made up of Benson J. Lossing's incoming and outgoing correspondence (179 items, 1850-1904) concerning his writings about and interest in numerous subjects in American history. Essays, newspaper clippings, and ephemera are also included (18 items, 1849- ca. 1884).
The Correspondence series (179 items) mostly contains incoming letters to Lossing about his career as a historian. Some writers thanked Lossing for sending them copies of his books or otherwise commented on his works, such as his Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 1812. Others offered biographical details on historical figures, notes on family genealogies, and information about historical events. Some older correspondents provided firsthand accounts of events, and other writers shared information about potential primary source material. The American Revolutionary era and War of 1812 were common topics, though at least one letter was written during the Civil War. Historical figures discussed included John André and Oliver Hazard Perry; one man wrote about busts of George Washington at Mount Vernon. Some authors enclosed newspaper clippings in their letters, and two made drawings: one of an unidentified building (June 2, 1851) and one of the grave of James Ross (May 11, 1852). One letter from a publisher postdates Lossing's death.
Benson Lossing wrote occasional letters about his work, and at least one of his letters contains a printed form letter requesting historical information.
The Writings and Biographical Sketches (8 items) are brief essays about historical topics, mostly in Benson J. Lossing's handwriting. Subjects include copied inscriptions from a monument marking the Battle of Red Bank and biographies of Colonel Anthony White, William H. Winder, and Alexander Lillington. One item is a copied "Parole of Honor," with Lossing's added notes on some of its signers. Two signed manuscript drafts of articles include "The British Flag and the American Sailor Boy," which was later published as "Anna Van Antwerp and John Van Arsdale" in the Christian Union, and "Mr. Lincoln A Statesman," which appeared in Osborn H. Oldroyd's The Lincoln Memorial: Album-Immortelles. An essay about William H. Winder is attributed to Mrs. A. W. Townsend of Oyster Bay, New York.
The Printed Items series (10 items) is comprised of programs, newspaper clippings, obituaries, a chapter in a published volume, and engravings. One clipping is a reprint of an article written by Benson J. Lossing.
Berenice Bryant Lowe Papers, 1880s-1980s
0.8 linear feet — 1 oversize folder
The collection is arranged into two series. The Sojourner Truth (collected material) series includes biographies and compiled biographical information about Truth, bibliographies and book reviews, obituaries, tributes, newspaper articles, images of portraits, photographs, songs, and other information relating to the life of Sojourner Truth. Of special interest is a scrapbook that was kept by Frances Titus, Sojourner Truth's assistant.
Most of the Sojourner Truth files have been microfilmed except for a folder of material which came to the library after the 1965 filming. A few photographs that were microfilmed in 1965 were reported missing. These images are only available on the microfilm.
The Other Materials series contains items concerning Lowe's various activities and interests, including Battle Creek history and personalities, her travel diaries, and materials related to her friendship with writer Gerald Carson. Also included collected autographs and papers of individuals, including authors John Greenleaf Whittier and George Washington Cable. Also of note are letters of D. J. Van Schnell who wrote to members of the Oldfield family that contain watercolor drawings indicative of English life in the late 1930s and the early years of the World War II.
Berenson Fototeca, 1888-1975 (majority within 1888-1959, 1963-1975)
approximately 150,000 black-and-white photographs
The Berenson Fototeca is a collection of approximately 150,000 black-and-white photographs of Italian artwork, especially paintings and drawings from the 13th to the end of the 16th centuries. Berenson believed in capturing artwork in photograph form in order to enable the study of the creative process and the creation of these works. The photographs are 3.9 x 5.9 inches and include the name of the artist, the subject, and the location of the original artwork, if known. The collection includes the works of artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo, as well as, Cavallini, Filippino Lippi, Parmigianino, Sodoma, and many others.
Bernice G. Maynard photographs, circa 1890-1910
0.4 linear feet
The collection consists of a single series of glass negatives relating to people, places, and events in Ann Arbor and at the University of Michigan. The glass negatives have been arranged into the following broad categories: Businesses and public places; Casual views of unidentified individuals - Ann Arbor area; Military scenes and marching bands; and Casual views of unidentified individuals. There is no information about the photographer of these images.
Bertha Van Hoosen papers, 1880-1952
3 linear feet — 1 oversize folder
The collection has been arranged into two series. The Van Hoosen - Jones Family series consists mainly of personal family correspondence among members of the Van Hoosen and Jones family. The Bertha Van Hoosen series consists of correspondence and other materials relating to the life and career of Dr. Van Hoosen. Included are materials from her years as a student at the University of Michigan, personal correspondence, and materials relating to her autobiography Petticoat Surgeon.
Bethlehem United Church of Christ (Ann Arbor, Mich.) Records, 1833-1980
7.5 linear feet — 1 oversize folder
The Bethlehem United Church of Christ of Ann Arbor records span one hundred and forty years, from 1833 to 1973. The materials, partially in German, provide a good view of the congregation's history. Included are minutes and constitutions of the congregational annual meetings which span the period, 1855 to 1922. There are also records of the church council complete from 1897 to 1919, and financial records and treasurer's reports, and fund raising materials. There are records of several church organizations and photographs of church buildings and activities.