Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Grand Rapids, Michigan, family. Brief family history; letters to Clarence Brecken, also his journal, while stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison during World War I; journal of Jennie Brecken, 1965; legal documents; and photographs.

The majority of the correspondence in this Family papers series was received by Clarence Brecken from various members of his family during 1918 while in training at Fort Benjamin Harrison. The strengths of this correspondence are the descriptions of daily rural life during wartime and the concerns and fears of the families on the home-front. The letters include such topics as Jennie's first driving lessons, the evils of alcohol and tobacco use, hopes for the end of the war, Clarence's mother's fear of her other sons being drafted, and the spread of influenza. Also of interest are the Brown Family letters to Clarence which include discussions of the war as well as a letter from overseas.

The folders containing family photographs and World War I photographs comprise the bulk of the Photographs series; the photographs are generally identified. The World War I photographs include a number of photographs of Clarence and his brothers, Earl and Howard, in uniform and some of Clarence at his training camp. Most of the family photographs are group photographs taken outdoors and show aspects of rural life, such as the huge woodpiles for the mill in the background of many photographs in the "Bentley Family" folder. Of especial note is the interior photograph of Brecken's Ice Cream store in the "Grand Rapids Area" folder. The photograph was taken in 1934, and the various offerings and their prices can be seen in the background.

Bright Sheng, a composer born in China, is also renown as a conductor, pianist, and researcher. The Bright Sheng Collection contains the papers of University of Michigan composition professor Bright Sheng. In addition to Sheng's own files and correspondence, it includes manuscript, printed, and published versions of his scores (printed scores are for musicians' use, while published scores are for a wider audience), published and unpublished recordings of his works, interviews, programs and reviews featuring his works, and work from Sheng's students. Also included are field recordings and an audio diary from the 2000 Silk Road project in China.

The Bright Sheng Collection contains the papers of University of Michigan composition professor Bright Sheng. It is comprised of 17 series: Biographical, 1982-c2000; Correspondence, 1962-2004; Professional, 1997-1998; Career, 1988-1995; Program Notes [undated]; Awards and Citations, 1984-2003; Photographs, 1985-2004; Reviews, 1986-2004; Programs, 1973-2003; Libretti, 1999-2003; Published Scores, 1988-1999; Printed Scores, 1982-2002; Manuscripts and Revised Scores, 1985-2004; Audio Recordings [undated]; Student Works, 1996-2004; Silk Road Trip, 2000; and Moving Images, 1985-2003. Together, these series document Sheng's career from his early days as a student to his current status as world-renowned composer and professor.

The first six series in the Bright Sheng Collection are extremely short, with a combined physical extent of approximately .5 linear foot. The Biographical, 1982-c2000 series is comprised of a single folder containing biographical material about Sheng. The Correspondence, 1962-2004 series contains topical files of Sheng's correspondence with colleagues in China, with his professors, and with his family, as well as a partial chronological file of correspondence falling outside of those three categories. The Professional, 1997-1998 series includes an article written by Sheng, as well as articles in Chinese about Sheng's music. The Career, 1988-1995 series contains materials related to Sheng's various appointments and positions over the years. The Program Notes series contains an article about the Sung Dynasty and the work Two Poems from the Sung Dynasty. The Awards and Citations, 1984-2003 series includes materials related to various honors Sheng has received in the course of his career, including a MacArthur 'Genius' grant and the University of Michigan's Leonard Bernstein Distinguished University Professorship.

Detroit, Michigan attorney, shell collector and student of conchology. Correspondence, notebooks, and lists relating primarily to his interest in mollusca and shell collecting; also copies of family letters, 1830-1841, written from Buffalo, New York, Grand Rapids and Detroit, Michigan; a University of Michigan student notebook from a course in physics, 1874.

The Bryant Walker collection consists largely of correspondence from throughout the world with conchologists. There are, in addition, his manuscripts of his writings, various lists, charts, and inventories, and miscellaneous family materials and a University of Michigan student notebook of a class on physics.

Civil War and Spanish-American War letters, family photographs, and other materials relating to the Buckbee and Church families from Illinois and Michigan.

The Buckbee Family Papers includes a variety of material but is most significant for its documentation of the Civil War service of Julian E. Buckbee and for the many letters exchanged with his sons Henry Cheever and Julian Edward, Jr., who served in the military during the Spanish-American War. These later letters provide a unique look into daily life during the war and at home in Illinois at the turn of the century. The letters contain both original and photocopied letters, along with transcriptions, to and from Julian Edward Jr. and Henry Cheever Buckbee during their service from April to September 1898. The photocopies all have matching original letters except for letter dated August 21, 1898, and those that were small notes probably sent with packages.

Other files in the collection include newspaper articles, genealogical information, and other various materials related to the Buckbee family from 1859 to 1999; photographs (duplicates and originals) of family members, scenes from the Spanish-American War, and of the family-owned Winnetka Inn located in Winnetka, Illinois; various letters to and from Julian Edward Buckbee Sr., military documents, and other materials relating to E.J. Buckbee's service in the Civil War; and later family papers which include reminiscences of Julian Buckbee Sr., and letters from Cheever D. Buckbee during his military service in 1942. There are also letters of William L. Church written during the Civil War and relating to his visits to various Illinois regiments. Of special note is a letter he received from Colonel William Gamble describing the operation of Illinois troops at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Settlers in Englishville, Michigan. Family correspondence, diaries, legal papers, newspaper clippings and other materials relating to farm life, personal affairs, and the Civil War.

The Buck family collection includes correspondence, diaries, legal papers, newspaper clippings, and other materials relating to farm life, personal affairs, and the Civil War. Included are letters of Curtis Buck and Andrew Buck relating to the Civil War. Also of interest is a letter of John Bettis, June 10, 1864, regarding his running a saw and grist mill in Chattanooga during the war. Other family members represented in the collection are Charles W. Buck and Myron and Susan Field Buck.

Photographs, negatives, and lantern slides of university buildings, including photos of each building owned by the university in 1923, and detailed construction photos of Angell Hall, West Medical Building (later renamed C.C. Little Science Building), Central Heating Plant, University Hospital (Old Main). Also includes houses surrounding campus, heating tunnels, and Buildings and Grounds vehicles, horse teams, employees and equipment.

The record group for the Buildings and Grounds Department is primarily comprised of visual materials that document the construction projects which the department oversaw. The bulk of the records are from the 1920s, with the photographs composing the largest portion of the collection. Non-original images of some university buildings from the 1800s are also included.

The records are arranged into six series: Architectural Drawings, Photo Albums, Photographs, Lantern Slides, Glass Plate Negatives, and Topographical Maps.

Records, 1905-1930, of the Bureau of Appointments and Occupational Information of the University of Michigan. Contain placement records of the Bureau of Appointments, including biographical data, employment and educational history, recommendations, and photographs of applicants.

The records contain placement records of the Bureau of Appointments, including biographical data, employment and educational history, recommendations, and photographs of applicants. Also included is composite data of placements by the bureau.

Professor of law at University of Michigan. Papers include correspondence and other papers concerning personal and family matters, professional affairs, the decision of the University to re-enter the Western Intercollegiate Conference; also correspondence from students serving in World War II; and photographs.

The Burke W. Shartel papers consist of correspondence and other papers concerning personal and family matters, professional affairs, the decision of the University to re-enter the Western Intercollegiate Conference; also correspondence from students serving in World War II; and photographs. The papers are organized into three series: correspondence, 1901-1963 (arranged chronologically); Papers, 185-1963; and photographs.

Correspondents include: Wilber M. Brucker, Homer Ferguson, Felix Frankfurter, Martha W. Griffiths, J. Joseph Herbert, Donald S. Leonard, George Meader, James O. Murfin, Marcus Plant, Roscoe Pound, Allan F. Smith, Edwin B. Stason, and Hessel N. Yntema.

The Photographs series consists of an album of portraits of family and friends; and album of European trip pictures.

Congregational church established in Wyoming Township, a suburb of Grand Rapids, in 1924. The church, subsequently renamed Burlingame Congregational United Church of Christ, disbanded in 2009. Church records document the history and activities of the church, and include registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials; also publications, scrapbooks, and records of women’s clubs.

The records of Burlingame Congregational United Church of Christ have been arranged into the following series: Church registers; Annual Reports; Church Newsletter; Church Bulletins; Scrapbooks; Miscellaneous; Women's Organizations; and Men's Organizations. Members of the church were careful in maintaining the history of Burlingame. The scrapbooks, in particular, contain a complete record of activities from 1924 to 1981. Included in these volumes are photographs, clippings, and programs from church activities, as well as historical notes about the church and biographical material on church pastors and various members. Also of value are the church registers which are both the minutes of the annual church meetings and the record of church functions and membership, notably baptisms, marriages, and burials.

Genealogical materials as well as Civil War letters relating to Captain Ebenezer Butterworth of Co. C, 1st Michigan Infantry. Correspondence includes a letter (Apr. 29, 1861) from the "Coldwater Young Ladies" presenting Butterworth's regiment with a token; also includes letters relating to Butterworth's death from George Rhodes (Aug. 21, 1861) and from Wells Walbridge (Dec. 27, 1861). The collection also contains family portraits, including ones of Captain Ebenezer Butterworth.