Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Pontiac, Michigan family. Biographical information; letters exchanged between Harry Crawford and his family and friends relating to his experiences in the Spanish-American War and World War I; memorabilia; and photographs.

The Crawford family collection documents the experiences of Harry M. Crawford as a soldier during the Spanish-American War and World War I. It also contains information about the home front in Pontiac, Michigan during those two wars. There are few accounts of battles in these letters; rather the strength of the collection lies in the abundant descriptions of daily life both in the army and in Pontiac during this time period.

The correspondence, which is the heart of this collection, is chronologically arranged and divided into Spanish-American War correspondence (1898) and World War I correspondence (1917-1919). The Spanish-American War correspondence is further divided into correspondence from Harry Crawford to his family in Pontiac and correspondence from family and friends to Harry Crawford. Harry Crawford's letters to his family began in May 1898 when he mustered in at Camp Eaton, west of Pontiac. Crawford continued to write home, on a near-daily basis, from army camps in and around Tampa, Florida. The letters end in September when he returned to Michigan. Most of Harry Crawford's letters pertain to the daily routines of army life during encampment and rumors about the progress of the war. While Harry Crawford was generally supportive of United States war aims, he was critical of the capture of the Philippines (see his letter of August 10). The correspondence from family and friends to Harry Crawford contains information on a wide range of daily activities in Pontiac at the turn of the century. Reactions to the war were supportive on the home front (see especially the letters of G.G. McDonald from July 4 and of George Crawford from July 31). Advice on the art of soldiering from Harry's uncle, Walter Crawford (a Civil War veteran), may be found in a letter dated July 3.

The World War I correspondence is almost exclusively from Harry Crawford. Few letters from home survived but some information about Pontiac during the war, such as the impact of the influenza and the lack of coal during the winter, may be gleaned from Harry's responses to letters from his family. Harry Crawford's letters began in August 1917 from Fort Sheridan in Illinois. They continued through 1918, from France, and concluded in April 1919 when he returned to the United States. Harry Crawford wrote, on average, two to three letters per week. While Crawford spent some time on the front lines, descriptions of actual battles are few. Many of the letters describe the camaraderie with fellow soldiers and several tell of his anticipation of combat. A number of other letters pertain to the material conditions of his daily life (food, lodgings, and clothing). He also described the destruction wrought on the French countryside. Since his letters were censored, Crawford omitted references to specific places in his letters. Some of this specific information is included in a letter to his brother, George Crawford, following the Armistice (see his letter of November 24, 1918).

Constitution and bylaws, correspondence, minutes, photographs, and programs; minutes describe presentation by Raoul Wallenberg about Sweden and Swedish architecture.

The Current Topic Club records, 1894-1975 consist of 1.5 linear feet in two boxes and are organized divided into three series: Administrative Records, Photographs and Programs.

The Administrative records series includes files on the club's Constitution and Bylaws, Minutes and Correspondence. The Correspondence consists of only a few items, such as thank-you notes. The Minutes are contained in bound books, each book covering a number of years. There are only two gaps in their coverage, October 1898-April 1901, and April 1920-May 1925. The programs series includes copies of all yearly printed programs from 1897 through the 1974-1975 club year. Photographs consist of three group portraits of the Current Topic Club membership made in August 1924, summer(?) 1944--their 50th Anniversary, and May 1973. Each is labeled.

The records of the Current Topic Club are an important source of information for the researcher studying women's activities and interests, because they cover an extended time span in a well-documented manner. The records represent a significant addition to the history of women in Michigan, and also throw light on an important period in the growth of a typical mid-western city.

There were occasions when men were invited to address the group. An important example here was the appearance of Raoul Wallenberg, a student from Sweden who had just graduated from the University of Michigan College of Architecture, and delayed his return home in order to speak to the club at the invitation of Mrs. L. L. Woodard. The minutes for February 18, 1935 record that he discussed the geography and history of Sweden, described Swedish architecture and passed around sketches illustrating his points.

Musical programs and member-prepared skits were a feature of some meetings. They were interested in political events of the day and often signed petitions on pending legislative action, e.g., school taxes, child labor, county agricultural extension service, and state aid to libraries.

In the 1949-1950 club year the members devoted all meetings to women and the women's movement for the first time, and continued this theme in 1950-1951. In earlier years one meeting each year centered around a famous woman.

Collected materials relating to Harry Burnett, who with Forman G. Brown and Roddy Brandon were the three openly gay partners forming the Yale Puppeteers and who operated the Turnabout Theater in Hollywood. Also, materials related to Leo Burnett, an advertising executive, and other Burnett family members. The collection includes correspondence, diaries, photographs, drawings, clippings, and ephemera.

Published material and correspondence relating to Leo Burnett and his agency; postcards and letters of Harry Burnett; a small collection of material related to Noble Burnett; diary with scattered entries of Forman G. Brown, 1985-1989, and other Forman G. Brown writings; miscellanea regarding the Yale Puppeteers and the Turnabout Theater. Photographs relating to the Yale Puppeteers and the Turnabout Theater; include photo of Albert Einstein holding a puppet with his likeness; also portrait of Forman G. Brown and snapshots of childhood activities, ca. 1907, of Harry and Leo Burnett family of Ann Arbor and Saint Johns, Mich.

Danes Worldwide Archives located in Aalborg, Denmark. Collection of materials, largely in Danish, concerning the immigration of Danes to the United States as reflected in letters home, journals, and family histories; also include letters of Danish pastors concerning the work of the church in Ashland, Gowen, and Manistee, Michigan.

This microfilm is a selection of letters written from individuals who had immigrated from Denmark to the United States. The letters selected were from individuals who had settled in Michigan communities, notably Ashland, Gowen, and Manistee. Other materials in the collection include journals and family histories.

The Fort Pontchartrain Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) was authorized on February 7, 1916 in Highland Park, Michigan with Mrs. Ward Garett as organizing secretary. The Elizabeth Cass Chapter was organized in 1942 in Grosse Pointe Farms. Because of diminishing membership, the two chapters merged in 1990, becoming the Fort Pontchartrain-Elizabeth Cass Chapter.

The record group is divided into three series: Fort Pontchartrain Chapter, 1916-1990; Elizabeth Cass Chapter, 1942-1990; and the Fort Pontchartrain-Elizabeth Cass Chapter. Fort Pontchartrain Chapter records include minutes, regent reports, history, by-laws, charter, chapter history and other materials relating to its activities. Elizabeth Cass Chapter records include minutes, by-laws, correspondence, clippings, genealogy, and a photograph of a portrait of Elizabeth Cass. Fort Pontchartrain-Elizabeth Cass Chapter includes minutes, and other records of the combined chapter.

Secretary's books, financial records, membership material, and press and publicity books.

The record groups consists of minutes of meetings, financial and membership records, press and publicity materials, and various topical files detailing the chapter's activities.

Michigan Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution; minutes of the state executive board, proceedings of the Michigan state conferences, publications, reports, and scrapbooks; also papers concerning their genealogical work, record of activities during World War I and II; historical files for individual chapters of the Michigan DAR; and photographs.

The records of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Michigan document its organization, history, and activities. As the state society of the DAR, the organization also collected material on the activities of the various local chapters. The records have been arranged into the following series: State Executive Board Minutes; State Conference Proceedings (original and published); Reports; Various Records of DAR State Historian; Miscellaneous; Chapter Records (original materials, collected material, and membership yearbooks); Publications; Scrapbooks; Topical files; and Photographs.