Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

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Collection

Wooster Woodruff Beman papers, 1865-1938 (majority within 1878-1922)

0.4 linear feet

Instructor at Kalamazoo College, later professor of mathematics at the University of Michigan; correspondence, mathematical papers; and miscellaneous topical files.

The Beman collection includes correspondence concerning in part general University activities and specifically relating to the University of Michigan Department of Mathematics. Some of his correspondents include Marion L. Burton, Thomas M. Cooley, Edgar J. Goodspeed, William R. Harper, William J. Hussey, Harry B. Hutchins, Volney M. Spalding, William W. Campbell, Arthur G. Hall, E. R. Hedrick, and W. F. Osgood. In the collection, there are also miscellaneous mathematical papers; biographical sketches of James B. Angell, Edward Olney, and Volney M. Spalding; religious addresses; papers (1885-1898) relating to gambling, prostitution, and selling liquor on Sunday in Ann Arbor, Michigan, memoranda on various trips, and a memorial on his death.

Collection

Louis D. Belcher papers, 1968, 1976-1985

16 linear feet — 1 oversize folder

Mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1978-1985. Mayoralty files and photographs.

This collection of Belcher's papers is confined exclusively to his tenure as mayor of Ann Arbor, 1978-1985. As mayor, Belcher received copies of many of the memos and letters sent to and from the various city departments. Hence this collection represents, to some extent, the records of the city administration as a whole, not just the papers of the mayor. But there are significant gaps in the collection, and some gaps represent major concerns of Belcher's mayoralty. There is virtually no material concerning the Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA) or the Housing Commission. (Indeed, of the five principal city commissions, only Planning is represented here.) Most of the city offices and departments have folders in the mayor's files except the Assistant to the City Administrator for Labor Negotiations and Relations, the Data Processing office, and the Bicycle Coordinator of the Transportation Department.

The arrangement of the papers generally reflects their original order. To be sure, in most cases the original order was maintained even though cumbersome and duplicative, because the file system seemed to reflect the priorities, attitudes, and procedures of the mayor's office. When possible the contents list provides cross-references to assist the researcher in overcoming some of the complications of the arrangement. The Belcher mayoralty papers are arranged in seven series: Personal; Official Communications; City Government; Planning File; Conferences, Leagues, and Councils; Topical File; and Photographs.

Collection

Cyrus W. Beckwith account book, 1825-1872

1 volume — 1 envelope

This collection consists of the record of Cyrus Beckwith's general store and other business activities, as well as portraits of Beckwith and his wife, Amarilla.

Collection

Junius E. Beal Papers, 1869-1946

15.3 linear feet

Ann Arbor, Michigan, businessman, publisher of Ann Arbor Courier, Republican politician, and regent of University of Michigan. Correspondence, letter books, speeches, newspaper clippings, and photographs; papers (1909-1920) of Michigan Public Domain Commission, of which Beal was a member; papers (1877-1904) concerning Port Huron Gas Light Company; and printed material and miscellanea (1885-1905) concerning League of American Wheelmen and his interest in bicycling.

The Junius E. Beal papers include correspondence, papers accumulated from his various interests and organizational activities, subject files, speeches, newspaper clippings, and photographs. The series in the collection include: Correspondence, Michigan Public Domain Commission, Topical Files; and Other Materials. Most of the files in the collection relate in some way to Beal's life in Ann Arbor, either as a student, a businessman, a public figure, as someone who took civic responsibility seriously and was determined to serve his community and the university that he loved.

Collection

Ed Beach photographs, 1931-1948

2.5 linear feet (in 5 boxes)

Ed Beach was an amateur photographer whose photographs document his hometown of Howell, Michigan and historical sites in other Michigan communities. His collection consists of photographic negatives (with some prints) and albums with prints of historic plaques and markers, statues of famous statesmen and their gravesites, early school buildings, historic houses, gristmills, sawmills, and county courthouses.

The Ed Beach collection consists of photographic negatives (with some prints) and albums with prints of historic plaques and markers, statues of famous statesmen and their gravesites, early school buildings, historic houses, gristmills, sawmills, and county courthouses. Other subjects include tourist sites in Michigan (such as Greenfield Village or Mackinac Island) and state parks, especially those in the Upper Peninsula. His hometown of Howell, Michigan is also heavily documented.

The Beach collection is arranged into three series. In the Kodak series the negatives measure 2 3/4 by 4 1/2 inches in size and cover the years 1931 to 1948. The Leica series consists of 35-millimeter strips and were taken between the years 1936 and 1938. The third series consists of seven albums of carefully identified photographs.

An item-level listing of the contents of the Kodak and Leica series is available at the library. To aid researchers a geographic and subject index has been created and is attached to this finding aid. These indices provide the best introduction to the collection.

Beach created the photograph albums around broad topics, and each has a title. The albums include: "Michigan Historic Places," "Around Lake Erie in Ontario. Trip to Chicago Century of Progress," "Michigan Courthouses," "Michigan Ships, Monuments, Historic Places, Buildings, Creek Scenes," "Indian and Trail Markers," "Around Michigan: Historic Places, Buildings, Mills, Dams, Bridges, Masonic Buildings," and "Michigan Governors' Homes, Michigan Trees, Old Buildings of Michigan." The photos in the albums include Beach's negative number.

Collection

William B. Anscomb photograph collection, 1902-1906

1 envelope

University of Michigan alumnus who received his A.B. in 1906. Consists of snapshots of Ann Arbor (Michigan) as well as University of Michigan buildings and views.

The collection consists of snapshots of Ann Arbor (Michigan) as well as University of Michigan buildings and views.

Collection

Ann Arbor Young Men’s - Young Women's Christian Association (Mich.) records, 1894-1956

2 linear feet — 1 oversize folder

Minutes of board meetings, membership and treasurer's records, scrapbooks, and photographs.

The record group includes minutes of meetings, membership materials, and treasurer's records of the Young Men's Christian Association dating from 1902 to 1933. The history of the women's association is documented in greater detail with minutes and scrapbooks, dating back to 1894 and extending to the mid-1950s. There is very little material from the 1950s on.

Collection

Ann Arbor Thrift Shop Association (Michigan) records, 1933-2006 (majority within 1933-1999)

2.5 linear feet (in 4 boxes)

Philanthropic organization established to aid the needy through the resale of merchandise. Minutes of board and general meetings, financial records, constitution and by-laws, history, and photographs.

The Thrift Shop Association of Ann Arbor record group has been arranged into six series: Historical/Background Materials, Minutes of Board and General Meeting Minutes, Committee Records, Topical Files, Photographs, and Chronological Files.

Collection

Ann Arbor Street Art Fair records, 1960-2005 (majority within 1968-2005)

2.8 linear feet (in 3 boxes) — 10 oversize volumes

Corporation administering the summer juried art fair in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The art fair is the oldest of three fairs that comprise the annual Ann Arbor art fairs. Minutes, bylaws, financials, and other materials relating to the administration of the art fair; also press materials, artists' evaluations, scrapbooks documenting development and history of the fair, and photographs and slides of the fair and the work of the artists.

The records of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair document the origins and development of the art fair from a small fair designed to promote business on South University avenue to one of the nation's premier, juried street art fairs. The documentation includes administrative records, correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, posters, flyers and promotional material. The record group is divided into three series: Board and Committee Records, Other Materials, and Visual Materials.

Collection

Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission Records, 1957-1993

12 linear feet

Agency of the city of Ann Arbor established in 1957 as the Human Relations Commission to investigate and deal with issues of racial discrimination in housing and employment. The name of the agency was changed in 1970 to the Human Rights Commission. The scope of the Commission came to include complaints of discrimination against women, gays, and the disabled. The record group provides substantial documentation of issues of racial discrimination in employment and housing in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the period of 1957 to 1993. Included are files relating to the establishment of the commission, minutes (through 1993 with some gaps), memoranda (1968-1970), topical files, early case files (1965-1970), and student intern projects and reports of members of the community practice program within the University of Michigan School of Social Work.

The record group provides substantial documentation of issues of racial discrimination in employment and housing in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the period of 1957 to 1993. Included are files relating to the establishment of the commission, minutes (through 1993 with some gaps), memoranda (1968-1970), topical files, early case files (1965-1970), and student intern projects and reports of members of the community practice program within the University of Michigan School of Social Work.