Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

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Collection

William B. Mershon Papers, 1848-1943

46.5 linear feet — 1 oversize folder — 14 microfilms

Online
Saginaw, Michigan, lumberman and businessman, and Michigan State Tax Commissioner, 1912 and wildlife conservationist and sportsman. Papers include extensive correspondence files, business records and photographs.

The William Mershon collection consists of correspondence dealing with Mershon's various activities as a lumberman, Saginaw businessman, and member of the State Tax Commission in 1912. Subjects included in the papers are Michigan wildlife conservation, the Michigan Sportsmen Association, the Michigan Manufacturers Association, the Michigan State Tax Commission, Michigan politics, the Democratic party, personal business investments, lumbering and mining interest, and personal affairs.

The collection also includes diaries, a book of notes on hunting and fishing trips, and various business records such as cash books, time books, ledgers, and journals. These primarily concern his investments and lumbering business. Many of the business records are available on microfilm. The collection also includes photographs.

Collection

Taylor family papers, 1827-1908

4 linear feet — 7.3 MB (online)

Online
Albion, Michigan, family. Papers of Barton Stout Taylor, Methodist clergyman; diaries of his wife, Elizabeth Gurney Taylor, detailing her everyday activities; papers of Ralph Wendell Taylor, alumnus of University of Michigan and teacher in the Philippine Islands, 1901-1908; and other family materials.

The Taylor family papers consist of correspondence Barton Stout Taylor, Methodist clergyman; diaries of his wife, Elizabeth Gurney Taylor, detailing her everyday activities; papers of Ralph Wendell Taylor, alumnus of University of Michigan and teacher in the Philippine Islands, 1901-1908; and other family materials. The collection is arranged into the following series: Correspondence; Family miscellaneous, Barton S. Taylor; Elizabeth Gurney Taylor; and Other family members.

Collection

Smith-Parker-Hicks-Winegar Family Papers, 1821-2012 (majority within 1880-1952)

4.3 linear feet (in 7 boxes) — 1.3 GB (online)

Online
The Smith-Parker-Hicks-Winegar Family Papers document the history of several branches of the family who settled in Southern Michigan in the mid-1830s. The collection's seven series contain genealogical records, biographical materials, financial and business records, family correspondence, travel papers, military papers, as well as collected news clippings and scrapbooks about the Detroit Tigers.

The Smith-Parker-Hicks-Winegar Family Papers comprises the papers of various family members collected and maintained by Dr. George and Mrs. Lois Winegar. The collection is divided into seven series: Genealogical Papers and Miscellaneous Family Records, the Robert R. Smith papers, the Blanche Smith Parker papers, the Lois V. Parker Hicks papers, the W. J. Bryan Hicks papers, the George and Lois Winegar papers, and the Detroit Tigers Scrapbooks and Collected Material. The collection is organized around individual family members except for the first series, which contains genealogical and personal papers of multiple people from various family branches.

Collection

Rowe Family Papers, 1840-1990 (majority within 1840s-1940s)

0.7 linear feet (on 2 rolls of microfilm) — 0.3 linear feet (in 1 box) — 1 digital audio file

Online
Residents of Highland Township, Oakland County, Michigan. Civil War reminiscences and other papers of James D. Rowe, soldier in the 1st Michigan Cavalry; Civil War letters of Spencer D. Lee, related family member, also in the 1st Michigan Cavalry; business records of Grant and Carrie Jackson Rowe, publishers of the Milford Times; sermons of Samuel Simpson Marquis as transcribed by Mrs. G. S. Rowe; collected materials largely concerning Milford and Highland Township history; and miscellaneous photographs and Civil War print.

The collection is divided into three series: Rowe Family Papers, Milford Historical Materials, and Milford Times Records. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, genealogical material and reminiscences relating to the Rowe family. The Civil War years are particularly well documented in letters written by in-laws: William Putnam, brother of Helen; the wife of James Rowe; and Spencer Lee, who married Helen's sister, Sarah. The Milford Times Records series contains business correspondence and records of the Milford Times, a newspaper published and edited by members of the Rowe family from 1890 to 1950. Carrie Jackson Rowe, who ran the Times for 46 years with her husband, Grant, was interested in Highland County local history; her writings on historical topics, as well as the historical documents she collected, form the Milford Historical Materials series.

Collection

Nathan M. Thomas Papers, 1818-1889

2 linear feet (in 3 boxes) — 1 oversize folder — 4,237 digital images

Online
Quaker abolitionist and physician in Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, and Schoolcraft, Michigan. Correspondence of Thomas, his wife Pamela S. Brown Thomas, and their children; addresses, autobiography, financial ledgers, and files relating to business activities, medical practice, and anti-slavery activities.

The collection is divided into two series: Correspondence and Other papers: anti-slavery, medical practice, and family.

The correspondence is of Thomas, his wife Pamela S. Brown Thomas, their children Ella, Malcolm, and Stanton, and relatives, friends, public leaders, abolitionists, and publishers. These letters deal largely with family affairs, land transactions, medical discoveries, woman suffrage, the Liberty Party, and Thomas's anti-slavery activities. There are also letters of Stanton B. Thomas while a student at the University of Michigan (1859-1864) and Civil War letters of S. B. Thayer, medical director of the Merrill Horse Regiment. Other Thomas papers include manuscript addresses, essays and other papers; a manuscript autobiography of Thomas; three account books, 1832-1879, pertaining mainly to his medical practice and other business affairs. Of interest is a prospectus for a newspaper, the American Freeman, which lists Schoolcraft area subscribers.

Collection

Milan Area Historical Society collection, 1833-2017

11.7 linear feet (in 15 boxes) — 4 oversize volumes — 2 oversize folders — 31 GB (online)

Online

The Milan Area Historical Society collection consists of Visual Materials and Collected Historical Materials. The Visual Materials includes postcards and photographs of the Milan area dating from the 1860s to 2006. Also included are photographic negatives of Paul Holcomb who was both a private photographer and photographer for the Milan newspaper. The Collected Historical Materials includes documentation of area businesses, community events, prominent individuals and families, organizational records, high school materials, and newspaper clippings dating to 2008. A series titled 2018 Accessions includes additional overlapping materials from the Visual Materials and Collected Historical Materials series.

Collection

Lorin L. Comstock papers, 1847-1887

1 folder

Online

Pension papers and other materials concerning his military service; also letter from Lieutenant Charles D. Todd (located near Blaines Cross Roads, Tenn.) about sending Comstock's body home to Adrian, Michigan, from Knoxville, Tennessee, and miscellaneous papers of Lucia Comstock.

Collection

James B. Angell Papers, 1845-1916

16.5 linear feet (in 17 boxes) — 1 oversize folder — 6 volumes

Online
Papers of James Burrill Angell, the third President of the University of Michigan (1871-1909) and U.S. Minister to China (1871-1909) and Turkey (1897-1898). Includes correspondence, lectures and lecture notes, addresses and articles, subject files and personal materials, and photographs.

The Angell papers documents Angell's academic and diplomatic career. There is extensive material on all phases of University of Michigan business, particularly Angell's contacts with the state legislature, the board of regents, faculty relations, and the various schools, colleges, departments and divisions. Much of the correspondence and the Angell diaries relate to his diplomatic missions, higher education in the United States, and family matters.

Collection

Isaac Peckham Christiancy papers, 1830-1874

2 microfilms (1 linear foot)

Online
Republican State Senator from Monroe County, Michigan, 1850-1851, Michigan Supreme Court Justice, 1858-1875, U.S. Senator, 1875-1879, and U.S. Minister to Peru. Letters to his children, business letters from his law partner Robert M. McClelland, Catholic Bishop Peter P. LeFevre and Nathaniel L. Christiancy; legal documents, Civil War address, Michigan Supreme Court docket book, and miscellaneous papers.

The Isaac Peckham Christiancy collection relates primarily to the period in his career prior to becoming a United States Senator and Minister to Peru. The papers have been arranged into the following series: Background Information; Correspondence; Business, financial, and miscellaneous; Legal files: law practice and Michigan Supreme Court. Of note are letters to his children and business letters from his law partner Robert M. McClelland, Catholic Bishop Peter P. LeFevre and Nathaniel L. Christiancy. In addition, there is an address he gave during the Civil War.

Collection

George W. Pray Papers, 1844-1890

1.5 linear feet — 1 oversize volume — 1 microfilm — 6,307 digital images

Online
Physician; member of the first graduating class of the University of Michigan in 1845; papers include journals, correspondence, physician's records.

The Pray collection includes journals, 1844-1849, covering his years as a student at the University of Michigan and in the Medical Department of Western Reserve College, Cleveland, Ohio. In addition, there is correspondence exchanged with his wife, Adele, primarily during the year 1879 when they were separated due to his service in the Michigan House. Other materials of interest include various personal and business account books and record books from his medical practice.