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This collection includes Abstracts of Title and related papers for the Michigan counties of Antrim, Arenac, Clare, Iosco, Kalamazoo, Lake, Manistee, Missaukee, Newaygo, and Osceola, some Title Opinions for property in Michigan counties re: oil and gas leases, and an obituary for Tope.

The collection consists mostly of Harry E. Tope, Sr.’s Abstracts of Title, 1902, 1986 [bulk late 1930s and early 1940s] for ten Michigan counties (10 folders) and Title Opinions, 1935, 1969, regarding oil and gas leases for several Michigan counties (1 folder). Also included is an obituary of Harry E. Tope, Jr. and related newspaper article, July 3, 1990 (copies).

The collection includes records of Amos, Ebenezer (Civil War correspondence), and Fred H. Gould of New York (State) and Owosso (Michigan).

The collection includes a variety of family records.

Amos Gould’s records include: personal correspondence, 1828-1872, family correspondence, 1875-1912, Civil War correspondence mostly from Ebenezer to Amos or Ebenezer’s wife and children, 1862-1864, railroad business records, 1852-1881, lumber business correspondence and papers, 1867-1882, business correspondence, 1849-1915, receipts of business transactions, 1830-1883, legal papers, including briefs, trail records, contracts land contracts, mortgages, agreements, indentures, and deeds, 1832-1885 from New York and Michigan, and more legal records and tax receipts, 1848-1932, book receipts, 1870-1879, trial records of cases Amos and his associates tried, 1842-1877, railroad receipts, 1857-1864, and letter books, day books, and account books, 1839-1935. Also included are five eagle buttons. Additional Amos Gould buttons are in the Display Items collection.

Papers relating to Ebenezer include: Civil War correspondence mostly from Ebenezer to Amos or Ebenezer’s wife and children, 1862-1864, courtship and marriage correspondence from Ebenezer to his wife Irene Beach, 1845-1866, and business correspondence and miscellaneous, including a scrapbook of obituaries and family news, 1868-1936.

Papers relating to Fred H. Gould include his diaries, 1892-1931, and personal correspondence to/from Fred, 1870-1872, and undated.

Overall the collection provides a good look at life in a small Michigan town (Owosso), multiple business interests, especially land and lumber, and personal life before, during, and after the Civil War. There are also letters from Gould’s brother-in-law, Dr. J. N. Graham, on early medical practices, such as the use of chloroform in Michigan.

Processing Notes: Due to size differences among the boxes, some boxes are shelved out of numerical orders. Boxes # 74-75, 108-120 are cubic foot boxes, the rest are .5 cubic foot boxes. Folder level processing was completed, but the inventory is at box level. Some materials are still tri-folded in their original wrappings, not in folders, or in unlabeled folders.

The papers include biographical materials, family correspondence, diaries, genealogical materials, civil war unit records, Woman's Relief Corps materials, Spanish American war letter, family photographs, and realia of the Hampton and Stark families.

The Hampton Stark Family Papers consists of five major series, the papers of the Hampton family, the papers of the Stark family, a collection of Miscellaneous Papers (documents which were included with this collection but do not relate to either family), Family Photographs, and the Realia acquired by the Hamptons and the Starks. The overall collection contains Civil War correspondence, documents and diaries; family records, journals, and correspondence, genealogical information, and newspaper clippings, which reflect family and military life during and after the Civil War.

The Hampton Family papers include the papers of Charles, Emma, Charles Jr., and Arthur, as well as the Brearleys, Harry, Rachel, and William. The most important items in the Charles Gardiner Hampton series are the Civil War diaries and documents. The diaries cover his early life at Brooks Collegiate Institute, his enlistment, early prison confinement and release, battles of Bull Run, Middleburg and Gettysburg, capture and imprisonment at Libby Prison and his return to civilian life. His enlistment and discharge papers, promotion certificates and a listing of rations issued to him for one month are included. The veterans affairs folder contains a handwritten copy of the speech delivered to civic groups about the flag incident in Libby Prison, a printed copy of the speech (abridged) delivered before a California veterans group, and photographs of Captain Hamp H. Todd who provided the celebrated flag. The documents relating to Hampton business activities contain a letterpress book of correspondence relating to the sale of cider presses. The letters and documents relating to Myron H. Knapp are included here because Knapp worked for Hampton at some point in time. The newspaper clippings include obituaries which provide a good overview of Hampton's life and career.

The Emma Stark Hampton series contains family items such as a guest book, autograph album, a journal of inspirational words, and diaries and writings about the Woman's Relief Corps (WRC). The diaries are interesting because, while fragmented and covering only brief periods of time, they reflect Emma Hampton’s view of the changing world and her changing personality in addition to her activities in the WRC. The items in the WRC folder are from various Corps publications and numerous writings, including those of Emma Hampton, which reflect the interests of the organization. A large number of photographs of the major leaders of the movement may be found with her photographs. Additional information about the Corps can be found in the Hampton family correspondence series. The newspaper clippings included provide an overview of her life and importance to her community.

The major items in the Charles Glazier Hampton, Jr. papers are the extensive, early "Report On Asbestos" compiled in 1923.

The Hampton Family Correspondence includes a large number of Civil War letters. An extensive amount of correspondence written by Charles G. Hampton from Cuba in 1899 (only a few months after the end of the Spanish American War) reflects living conditions and social customs, the hostility toward the Americans, and the withdrawal of the troops of the 31st Michigan and the 6th Ohio from the island. This series also contains letters relating to Charles Hampton's involvement with the Grand Army of the Republic and Emma Hampton's correspondence relating to the WRC. Of special note are the letters signed by Clara Barton in 1886, General Mosby in 1901, and Maria Young Dongall and Clarissa Young Spencer (daughters of Brigham Young) in 1909. The series is arranged chronologically,

The Arthur Stark Hampton papers include a poem, canceled checks and a small account book.

William H. Brearley papers include a diary about his experiences with Company E, 17th Michigan Volunteers in Tennessee and Washington, D.C., 1864 1865. (Most of his papers are in the Detroit Public Library.)

Please note that the spelling of the name Stark is in question throughout this collection. Family members, printed sources and documents use the name Starks and Stark indiscriminately, often when related to the same person. For the sake of simplicity, Stark has been selected for use in this finding aid.

The Stark Family Papers features extensive genealogical information dating back to the English family roots. A detailed family tree beginning in 1685 and continuing through 1935, found in the collection, is invaluable to understanding the family relationships documented in the Hampton Stark collection. Also included with this material is a Stark Family history written by Israel Stark and a second copy transcribed by Emma Stark Hampton.

The Civil War papers found in this collection includes the diary of Milo L. Stark written near Falmouth, Virginia in 1863, and the diary of his father, Israel Buell Stark, written near Washington after Milo’s death in 1864. Also included (in Oversized folder) are the clothing and equipment records, muster rolls and ordinance reports for Milo’s "A" Company, 140th New York Volunteers, 1862 1863.

The Stark Family Correspondence includes family letters exchanged primarily between Israel, Milo, Maurice and Emma and describe family, social matters, and the war.

Also included is the eulogy is for Maurice Stark, read by J. K. Batchelder at the dedication of a monument in 1901, marking the passage of General John Stark and his troops in 1777 while enroute to the Battle of Bennington.

Mary Stark Cook’s papers include her last will and testament and a letter written in Chinese without a translation. No explanation is available as to why it was located with this material.

Miscellaneous Papers include documents which do not seem to relate to either the Hampton or the Stark families but which were included with the collection. Included here are Civil War and personal documents of Michigan men which may have been acquired as part of a larger collection of materials, the bulk of which did relate to the Hampton Stark families. Most of the men were born in New York and discharged in Michigan. Relationships are unclear but the items have been retained with this collection in the hopes of establishing connections to members of either family at some time in the future. Most of the documents are discharge papers, equipment and inspection reports, pension certificates, land deeds, and marriage certificates. A number of documents relate to Walter Durkee and to Romanzo M. Buck, both of Paw Paw, Michigan.

Family photographs include numerous family portraits, photographs of the Hampton homes on Blaine Avenue and on Woodward Avenue in Detroit (interior and exterior shots for both locations), and family poses. Of special interest is the photo of an early dentist office in 1900. Portraits of members of various branches of the extended families are included. Most of the photographs are identified but few are dated. Tintypes, daguerreotypes, postcards, and early positive prints are included.

The Realia in the collection includes a wooden rattle made by Charles Hampton in Libby Prison, two printing blocks (one with the likeness of Emma Hampton and one of the Hampton house in Detroit), a metal address plate with "Lt. Col. C. G. Hampton Co. D. 15th N.Y. Cav. Detroit, Mich.", a piece of wood addressed to C. G. Hampton, Detroit with a U.S. Grant stamp, a delegate badge from the 1888 Woman's Relief Corps convention, and Confederate money.

Associate Professor in the University of Michigan School of Nursing and Head Nurse of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the 71st Evacuation Hospital in Pleiku during the Vietnam War. Major Elizabeth Allen advocated for veterans, particularly women and African Americans, and campaigned for greater awareness of veterans' issues, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and its effect on military families. Materials include personal and family military, financial, and medical records, as well as photographs, digital video content, correspondence, personal writings, and newspaper clippings.

The papers of Major Elizabeth Allen document her service in the United States military as well as that of three generations of her family. The papers highlight her personal experiences with the military, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, and Agent Orange; however they also include materials about her teaching and professional service. Materials include correspondence, family financial records, newspaper clippings, unpublished written works, photographs, biographical materials, newsletters and collected magazines, and academic articles.

The collection, 1908-1953, and undated, includes personal and professional papers of a teacher from northern Michigan.

The collection, 1908-1953, and undated, includes personal and professional papers of a teacher from northern Michigan. The collection includes: a portrait of Roxie Mary Mahoney Higgins complete with vital dates, photographs, diploma from Presque Isle County Normal, final exams, student teaching final exams, student teacher lesson plans, teacher created and collected teaching aids, teacher created activities and worksheets for 1st-7th grade students, and State of Michigan Health Education pamphlets,1912-1945. Magazine clippings (copies) include racist depictions of Native Americans. Also included are various teaching publications such as Educator, Instructor, and Children’s Activities for Home and School, and a single issue of American Observer from December 8, 1941. The publications within this collection are retained due to the completeness of the issues as well as the excellent condition. The collection was organized according to size and alphabetically by topic.

Roxie fits within the trend of young rural female teachers, where she would only teach for a year or two. The County Normal training offered reading, handwriting, spelling, composition, arithmetic, and geography courses for future teachers, but not the full four year curriculum training offered by Normal Schools. For most Michigan County Normal students tuition was waved if the student agreed to teach the next year in the county. (This information from Clarke Historical Library’s web page on One-Room School-teachers https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/ResearchResources/Michigan_Material_Statewide/One_Room_Schools/Pages/Teachers.aspx accessed on June 28, 2016).

Within the collection are final examinations in courses beyond those subjects she would teach to the young students, such as Rural Sociology. Roxie’s own coursework in preparation for teaching was of a practical nature where she learned lesson planning and classroom management. Roxie’s student teaching evaluation shows that teachers were graded on everything from comportment to appearance as well as execution of lessons (Box 1, folder 1). Within Roxie’s student teaching materials there is a full page example of shorthand script (Box 1, folder 6). Her visual materials are in excellent condition and offer a sampling of beautiful, popular images from the 1930s-1940s, cut from magazines and mounted on construction paper.

One particular addition to this collection is the attendance records for the year Roxie’s sister, Faith, taught and attended Presque Isle County Normal in 1936. This glimpse into the teaching life of Faith T. Mahoney reveals an additional path for female educators.

Processing Notes: Approximately 1 cubic foot of duplicate and acidic materials was withdrawn from the collection. Issues of four journals were separately catalogued. Some material exhibits a strong flavor of patriotism within American History lessons of the 1940s and racist depictions of Native Americans. Boxes 1-2 are .5 cubic ft. letter-sized boxes, Box 3 is .5 cubic ft. legal-size, and Box 4 is a larger, oversized box.

The Eric Torgersen Papers consists of literary journals, personal and professional correspondences, publicity, poetry and translation drafts, and works from Torgersen's academic career at Central Michigan University and creative career as a poet/writer from the years 1963 to 2019. Also included are multiple drafts of his "Waves" poetry journals, and drafts of other poet's poems.

The Correspondence series consists of materials spanning the years 1963-2016. The Correspondence subseries includes communications with Trogersen's contemporaries, other poets submitting poems to his poetry journal, Trogersen's book proposals, communications with publishers, and correspondences related to 'Poem of the People' and 'Waves' publications. Among the more notable correspondents are Louise Glück, Jim Harrison, Faye Kicknosway, Peter Klappert and more.

The Publicity series (1967-2013) contains various reviews on Eric Torgersen's works, programs and poster art, and (U.S.) domestic newspaper clippings. This series notably includes a review on Faye Kicknosway's work.

The Publications series (1963-2017) contains multiple editions and manuscripts of the poetry journal "Waves" volumes, mailing address lists, Eric Trogersen's published books, and many other published poetry journals. Also included in this series are a collection of Italian publishing of Torgersen's poems, Cornell's poetry journals, and a University of Tampa Poetry Review issue.

The Creative Works series (1961-2019) includes drafts of various poems written by Torgersen, drafts for book proposals, scene breakdowns, essay drafts and their correspondence, a couple of Torgersen's own translations and more. This subseries also contains multiple untitled drafts, both handwritten and typed. Some of the works that appear in this series are multiple drafts and versions of Torgersens novel "Ethiopia", book proposal drafts, and Torgersen's own translations of Nicolas Born's poems.

The collection mostly documents Nicholas B. Fulton and Walter Gamble after the Civil War in which they both served in the Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Regiment. Also there is a Civil War certificate for Culwell Martin who served in the same regiment.

This collection contains materials related to Nicholas Fulton and Walter Gamble. The records concern topics of business and tax receipts, land records, pension claims, medicinal recipes and military appointment papers. The Gamble papers include hunting tags and registration, vehicle registration and correspondence.

Note: The collection also includes one military certificate issued to Culwell Martin. The account of his service during the Civil War according to the Record of First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics is noted in the biography section above.

John W. Henderson, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Michigan, arrived in Ann Arbor in 1942 as an intern and then resident before joining the faculty in 1948. He was chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology from 1968 to 1978. Henderson’s papers include files relating to his work with the Medical School and University Hospital, among them histories of ophthalmology at the university. Files detailing his work with professional organizations are well represented, notably the Michigan Ophthalmological Society, American Board of Ophthalmology, and American Ophthalmological Society. Also files relating to publications, lectures and presentations.

The John W. Henderson papers date from 1943 to 2001. The papers measure 7.75 linear feet and have been divided into four broad series: Medical School/University Hospital Records, Professional Organizations, Publications, Lectures and Professional Presentations, and Personal.

The collection consists of correspondence between Parker and his friends during the Civil War, mostly Michigan men in Michigan units, and Parker's post-war business and Grand Army of the Republic correspondence.

About half of the papers consist of letters to Parker’s friends during the Civil War. In 1861, Charles C. Hopkins wrote of camping in Washington, Virginia, homesickness, and the climate and Chester Farrand wrote of crushing the Rebellion quickly.

In 1862, C.C. Hopkins wrote of fighting, the death of Chester Farrand, measles in camp, and mud; R.E. Trowbridge hoped the war would end soon; and George Hopkins wrote from a field hospital while Trowbridge wrote to Parker offering to help get Parker’s pay.

In 1863, George Hopkins wrote from the 17th Regiment, Michigan Infantry Camp located opposite Fredericksburg, about promotions and Henry P. Seymour wrote of his promotions in 27th Regiment, Michigan Infantry and Southern deserters. On April 5, 1863, Seymour reported the fall of Richmond. Oscar N. Castle described the 24th Regiment, Michigan Infantry’s actions at Fredericksburg. Henry Seymour, near Fairfax, Virginia, wrote of five months without pay, losing a commission, and measles.

In 1864, Frank Drake wrote from the U.S. gunboat, Undine, of the destruction of Paducah, skirmishes, and the Tennessee River. At the end of 1864, Henry Seymour wrote from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, of hard fights, prisoners, and losses.

In May 1865, Charles D. Smith wrote for help to be released from prison for desertion.

Also, there is an 1863 U.S. Army General Hospital Roll (Baltimore) which lists Parker.

The rest of the collection includes post-war business correspondence, 1866-1917; G.A.R. correspondence, 1888-1896; state laws concerning disabled veterans, 1883-1887; and the papers and photograph of Flemon Drake, 1835-1860, Parker’s father-in-law.

A letter press scrapbook, 1842, of Chester Stringham, a Detroit businessman, was used as a scrapbook by Parker. He used it for political science lecture clippings, 1868-1870. Lastly, there is an oversized folder with a list of men who served in Co. C of the 1st Regiment, Michigan, 5th District, another veterans group, in 1866.

This collection contains papers, publications, and information concerning the Harris family and Milling Company.

This collection contains papers, publications, and information concerning the Harris family and Milling Company. Boxes 1-2 include legal-size materials and Box 3 includes letter-size materials. There are three series in this collection; Harris business, personal, and Minnie Vroman Papers. Most of the materials were produced or collected by Richard O. Harris. The materials include adverting materials, inventories, price lists, product information, company publications, photographic materials, insurance and stock information, board of directors meeting minutes, correspondence, and company records and ledgers. The collection is organized by size, alphabetically and chronologically. Both boxes are legal-size.

Of special note are the Articles of Merger and Merger Agreement detailing how the Harris Milling Company was subsumed by the Nebraska Consolidated Mills Company, a badly damaged daguerreotype of an unknown white woman with a broach, who may be Jane Daniel Fulbright (see the last letter in Personal Correspondence folder), and papers for a milling course Richard O. completed.

Also in the collection are illustrative materials, including photographs and sketches of plans for transport trucks with the Harris Milling Company/FAMO logo in watercolor.

Related family materials include: miscellaneous items documenting Richard O. Harris’ daughter Mary Jane Harris (later Waterhouse)’s involvement with local stage events; papers of Minnie Vroman including a 1909 Chicago x-ray receipt and bills related to a week spent at the Battle Creek Sanitarium in 1917 for gastic issues. There are also papers and a photograph (with unidentified people, probably a Boy Scouts troop and leader) atop a submarine at the Beacon Institute of U.S. Submarine Base New London, Connecticut to which an unknown member of the Harris family was affiliated.

A 2019 addition (Box 3) includes a 1938 Central State Teachers College (CSTC) football schedule of home games on a football shaped program, and a CSTC lecture course season ticket for Kathleen Ordway. Mount Pleasant High School materials include: a 1925 student and staff photograph by T. T. Mock, Battle Creek, Michigan, outside the old high school (photocopy 8 pp.); a 1925 commencement program, a black and white photograph of the 50th reunion of the class of 1925 in 1975; and acidic blue line revision drawings (4 pp.), each of which measures 18x24 inches, of the new Mount Pleasant High School by Louis C. Kingscott and Associates, Inc, Kalamazoo (architects and engineers), April 20, 1953 including a presentation drawing, floor plans for the English, Social Science and Language unit, a floor plan for the science unit with a sectional view of the unit, and a floor plan of the commercial unit (in 1 Oversized Folder). Also included is the October 27, 2000 invitation to the historic marker dedication for Harris Mill. Last is John A. Harris materials including his Civil War service records (copies, 10 pp.), a photograph (copy), presentation reading notes of Anne Harris Hunnewell for the Pasadena Civil War Round Table about John Harris (4 pp.), and letter and envelope (copy) about the John A. Harris materials from Anne Harris Hunnewell to her Grandpa Richard. Also included are 1999 copies from the Internet of a list of John’s unit members (4 pp.), and a map of Eureka, Michigan (1 p.).

Processing Note:

Much of this collection was heavily damaged and was infested with stinkbugs. The archivist and processing student met with the university insect exterminator and determined these bugs were not a threat to the collection. All stinkbugs were contained and removed from the collection. Items with mold, mildew, water, or fire damage, as well as acidic papers were photocopied and withdrawn from the collection during processing, about 1 cubic foot total. Also, during processing one general Mount Pleasant item was added to the Vertical Files.

Three-dimensional items transferred to the CMU Museum in February 2019 where they can receive expert curatorial care include: keychain, patch, matchbooks, product cards, dog food and flour bags, Harris Milling Company FAMO Dairy Feed 100 lbs Bag Sketches (24% and 16%, each measures 18x12 inches, undated; Harris Milling Company FAMO Broiler Ration 25 lbs Bag Sketches (1 is 20%, the other has no % indicated), each measures 18x12 inches, undated; Harris Milling Company FAMO 16% Dairy Feed 100 lbs White Bag Sketch, measures 18x12 inches, undated; Harris Milling Company FAMO Self-rising Bleached Flour Cloth 10lbs Bag, stamped “Emergency Quality Milled Under Gov’t. Order W.F.O. 144,” measures 16.5x10 inches, undated; Harris Milling Company FAMO Self-rising Bleached Flour Cloth 10lbs Bag, measures 17x10 inches, undated; Martha White’s FAMO Self-rising Enriched Bleached Flour .5lbs Bags, (1 plain, 1 with images), each measures 11.5x5.5 inches, undated; Harris Milling Company FAMO Self-rising Bleached Flour Paper 10lbs Bag, stamped “Emergency Quality Milled Under Gov’t. Order W.F.O. 144,” measures 19.25x10 inches, undated; Harris Milling Company Hi-Value Dog Food Paper 25lbs Bag, measures 31x11 inches, undated; Harris Milling Company FAMO Beef Builder Paper 50lbs Bag, measures 34.5x16 inches, undated; Harris Milling Sample Bag (linen) and Harris Ranch Almond Bag (cotton), undated; and a booklet: Michigan. Dept. of Agriculture. Selection…, 1961.