Collections : [Central Michigan University Clarke Historical Library]

This collection, 1969-2010 (Scattered), and undated, includes one folder each of multiple topics related to Central Michigan University and Michigan indigenous history.

This collection, 1969-2010 (Scattered), and undated, includes one folder each of the following topics: Central Michigan University (CMU) Anti-war Movement, 1970, 1972; CMU Campus Diversity, 1971, 1992; CMU Chippewa Education Committee, Materials, 1989-1993; CMU Faculty Association, Historical Materials, 1977, 1984, 2000, undated; CMU Indian Education Project Ad Hoc Committee meeting minutes and proposals, 1970-1972; CMU. Multicultural Center, Meeting Minutes, Background Materials, 1985-1990; CMU Native American Programs, 1986-2003, including clippings (copies) list of members and correspondence of the Native American Studies Council, materials re: indigenous conferences at CMU; CMU Vietnam Moratorium materials, 1969-1971, including: a brochure that accompanied the film documentary of the Moratorium, 1969; original photographs, some of which were used in the brochure and are partially identified by Prof. Littlefield's notes, 1969; and copies of memorandums sent between CMU Pres. William B. Boyd, CMU Vice Pres. for Student Affairs Al Miles, and the CMU Faculty Advisory Council about CMU student protest actions of April 19-21, 1971, such as starting fires on CMU land, sleeping on the lawn, and other general protest actions; Gaming Expansion Study, 1991-1998 for the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe with memos, correspondence, data results, Final Report to the Stakeholders of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe Gaming Expansion Evaluation Project, 1996, Casino Impact Study Committee minutes. group questions and comments; Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver, 1995, 2007, which is copies of federal information explaining the waiver and related clippings; Michigan Native American Materials, 1994, 2010, which includes copies of clippings on Indian casinos and federal tribal recognition; Native American Fishing Rights in Michigan, 1971, 2009, includes Report of the Governor's Special Task Force on Indian Fishing Rights, 1971, clippings (copies), bibliographies and lists of sources, 1980, 2007. The collection is organized alphabetically by topic and is in good physical condition.

The collection includes papers (series) of Ardith Westie, Charles Westie, combined papers Ardith and Charles Westie, and papers of John E. Westie.

The collection includes papers (series) of Ardith Westie, Charles Westie, combined papers Ardith and Charles Westie, and papers of John E. Westie. The collection is in good condition and is organized by series, size, alphabetically and chronologically.

The first series consists of the papers of Ardith Westie, about 2.5 cubic feet (in 3 boxes) which is split into five sub series: Biographical, Community, Personal Correspondence, College Years, and CMU. The series documents her outstanding high school years, very active college years at CMU, her later career at CMU, her personal friendships, and her social community interests and activities

Ardith’s Biographical materials sub-series, 1933-2000 (scattered), undated, includes photographs of her throughout her life, high school materials.

Her Community papers sub-series documents her activities and interests including mother interest groups and GAP, Mount Pleasant’s Group Action for People, as described in her biographical section.

Her Personal Correspondence sub-series, 1931- 2013 (scattered), undated, includes, in many cases, 70 years of friendship with female college friends, including Jane Yost Stone, who was Ardith’s college roommate for three years, as well as some of their boyfriends and male friends, and with her family. The young men wrote in the 1940s of waiting to be drafted, of training and serving, and missing friends. Elmer White was also associated with the Michigan Press Association. Some v-mail examples are in the men’s war correspondence. The women’s correspondence reflects the evolution from their college interests, through marriage and work, raising and caring for children, to grandchildren, losing spouses, to living as seniors. The baby announcements in the Lucy Booth Bradley and Gladyce Ellis folders are adorable. Most of this correspondence is to Ardith. During her college years she wrote at least weekly to her family, usually her mother, but also to her twin sisters, Carmen and Janice, and received an equal amount of mail in return. They sent mostly letters and postcards, as well as holiday and birthday cards. Ardith wrote about her classes, expenses ($6 was sufficient for her to survive for two weeks with money to spare), clothing needs, friends, her CMLife work, and of her feelings. After she and Chuck married, he sometimes wrote or typed within her letters to her family. Her mother and sisters wrote about the family’s health, social and farm activities, finances, her sisters’ classes and social life, church events, and news of extended family and friends. The few references to World War II mainly concern men being drafted or dying. One of the interesting letters is in April 1942 where Ardith notes she was studying for exams when Chuck burst in and announced he had to report for the draft on April 30.

Within the Family Correspondence are two examples of commercially produced greeting cards with racist depictions of African American children. The first is on a January 4, 1940 New Year’s card, and features a naked black child inside a barrel. The second is on a February 19, 1942 birthday card and has a black girl hanging laundry, bent over, showing her patched underwear.

Ardith also corresponded less frequently with friend and fellow War Years alum, Senator Robert P. Griffin with clippings (copies) documenting the visit of President Gerald R. Ford to CMU to inaugurate the Robert P. Griffin Endowed Chair.

Ardith’s College Years sub-series, 1938-1942, document her very involved life as a CMU college student, as a member of multiple groups, including Kappa Delta Pi and Masquers (the CMU dramatic club), her homework, notes, and essays, clippings, accounts, dance books with pencils, diaries, some correspondence, and her 1942 valedictorian address. Her commencement program is in her Personal Correspondence to/from Family.

Her CMU sub-series, 1945-1993, and undated, documents Ardith’s work and leadership with the CMU Alumni Association, Housing Committee, Summerfest, CMU 75th and Centennial celebration including history and awards, and the creation and dedication of the Peace Grove, 1995.

The Ardith and Chuck Westie Papers, approximately .5 cubic foot, include personal and CMU materials, including CMU projects and other projects they worked on together, and people with whom they both corresponded, 1940s-2015, and undated, including the CMU War Years Gatherings or Reunions and the CMU Peace Grove Memorial in honor of the CMU students who died while serving their nation in World War I and II. Lists of these students are in the related correspondence. They corresponded with many friends including fellow CMU alums Norm Johnston, a prison history author, and Robert E. McCabe, the architect of the Detroit Renaissance Center. Both Westies researched and documented the history of the First United Methodist Church of Mount Pleasant, of which they were members.

Charles “Chuck” Westie’s Papers, approximately 3 cubic feet, are divided into the sub-series of Biographical materials, College Years, and CMU materials from when he was a professor at CMU

His Biographical Materials sub-series, 1937-1981 (scattered) and undated, includes photographs of Charles, 1937-1993, undated, while a student and professor, and his Personal Correspondence, from family and friends, 1937-1940s, undated. There are examples of his correspondence to Ardith and her family in her Personal Correspondence to/from Family folders 1940 and forward. Charles strongly questioned the WWII before he was drafted. He later wrote letters of support for men seeking conscientious objector status, 1969-1972. Charles wrote powerfully about his attitude about war in an untitled [anti-Viet Nam] article, 1969, referring to his experience at Normandy and how he witnessed many American soldiers and friends die. There is a letter and poem to Ardith about his thoughts about the death of his dear friend John Evans after viewing John’s wedding photographs, July 1944. Related to this is 1946 correspondence to/from Ed Slavinsky’s family. Ed and Charles met in the Percy Jones Hospital when Charles was recovering from losing his leg and Ed was suffering from “battle fatigue,” later called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

His College Years sub-series, 1937-1943, include: Charles’ Central Michigan College of Education B.S. degree and commencement materials, 1945; his academic transcript, 1943, his commencement invitations, and program, 1945; English papers, plays and poems he wrote or participated in; correspondence to friends, mainly his then girlfriend, Lillian Hunt, Masquers (dramatic club) materials, and photographs of his college buddies and girlfriends; a CSTC (Central State Teachers College) pennant and Chippewa Pledge. An oversized photograph album with wooden covers, with a front cover carved by Chuck with an image of an Indigenous man and pinecone, includes images before and during his college years. Photographs which became loose from the volume are in a large envelop boxed with the album.

The majority of Charles’ CMU materials sub-series focuses on his academic career, committee work, and interests while at CMU. Well documented in his papers are his efforts to form and the early years of the CMU Faculty Association (FA). which began as the Mount Pleasant Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. There are correspondence, memos, reports and newsletters, and oversized reports of Committee Z, which investigated and reported on CMU faculty salary compensation compared to faculty nationally. This subseries documents the hostility between the faculty and the administration, and evidence of faculty who were fired or whose tenure, promotions, and salary increases were delayed or denied in retaliation for their complaints and union activity by the administration. Charles communicated with administrators, faculty, professors, Michigan and national union officials, and politicians, including Senator Guy Vander Jagt.

His papers document the Sociology Department and its successor, the Sociology and Anthropology Department, with meeting minutes, memos, reports, and examples of Charles’ tests. There is documentation of committees or topical projects or CMU units he helped create or in which he actively participated. The major projects and committees in his papers include: the CMU Centennial, Art Gallery, the Honors Program, the Museum, the Peace Grove, Veit Woodland, Lem Tucker scholarship, Indigenous education, and the all Ojibwa Boy Scout Troop 606, handicapped and non-traditional CMU students, foster children, and Korean orphans supported by CMU.

Also documented in his papers are CMU student protests and related activities including Jane Fonda speaking at CMU, 1970; President Boyd’s reaction to the community at CMU, and the suspension of CMU African American students in 1970.

Ardith and Chuck corresponded with or documented significant CMU people including presidents Abel, Anspach, Boyd, and Foust, Norval Bovee, D. Louise Sharp, Rolland H. Maybee, and Senator Robert P. Griffin.

There is one box of legal-size materials of Charles’ related to his CMU career and interests, There is also one Oversized folder which includes: a Bicentennial Declaration of Human Rights for Handicapped Persons, by the CMU Office of Career Development for Handicapped Persons [1976]; a poem about Sigma Kappa, undated; and a handmade poster advertising the 1969-1970 classics film schedule.

The Papers of John E. Westie, 1957-1973, undated, .5 cubic foot (in 1 box) is the last series in the collection. With the exception of his C.P. [College Preparatory] high school English papers, 1964-1965, and two brief notes (copies) from President Anspach, 1957, 1960, his papers focus on his successful fight to have the government classify him as a conscientious objector during the Viet Nam War. His correspondence and paperwork with the Isabella County draft board, Selective Service, his lawyer, and between he and his wife, Sandy, and his parents, demonstrate his efforts and the difficulties he overcame. This series includes publications from or by the government about the selective service process, and more from or by religious organizations that advocated for conscientious objectors, the Central Mennonite Committee and the United Methodist Church, the Midwest Committee for Draft Counseling and its Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors, and the National Interreligious Service Board for Conscientious Objectors. Newspaper clippings (copies) about the draft or conscientious objectors, 1965-1972, undated, complete the series.

Researchers may also be interested in other collections in the Clarke documenting the history of CMU, the Faculty Association, Mount Pleasant, and other topics in this collection. Charles’ World War II material is in the state Archives of Michigan.

Processing Note: 31 cubic feet of duplicate publications, miscellaneous materials, most envelopes, blank forms, drafts, vitas, information with social security numbers, and peripheral materials were withdrawn from the collection. Very acidic materials and poor-quality photocopies were photocopied and only the new copies were retained in the collection. 68 Michigan postcards were added to the Clarke’s Michigan Postcard Collection. 20 monographs and 10 issues of magazines re: CMU history and conscientious objectors were separately cataloged. Envelopes were retained if that was the only way to identify the address of the sender. The postal date from the envelope was added in pencil to undated correspondence. Whenever possible, undated correspondence without envelopes was dated from the letter’s contents and context.

The collection includes correspondence, meeting minutes, agendas, faculty announcements, historical marker materials, historical sketches, newspaper articles, publications, and souvenirs of Central Michigan University's 75th anniversary.

This collection consists, in part, of the correspondence, minutes, and agendas of the CMU 75th Anniversary Advisory Committee and CMU 75th Anniversary Awards Screening Committee, as well as materials they generated, including: faculty announcements, historical marker materials, a historical sketch of CMU, newspaper articles (copies), publications, correspondence with politicians about proclamations, and publications and souvenirs (Box 1). The committee's press releases and proclamations from the Governor of Michigan and Michigan Legislature are also included (2 Oversized Folders).

The majority of the collection, however, is composed of reference materials collected and text written by Prof. Rolland H. Maybee for a history of CMU. His extensive collection of notes, various drafts of chapters, note cards of CMU and Isabella County, Michigan, history, and audio visual materials complete the collection. (Boxes 1-5).

Collection of 16 mm films, black and white and colored, about Central Michigan University construction and cornerstone layings of buildings, bands, homecoming, events, fottball, and related topics. Also included are 2 copies of film of the Mun San Korean Orphanage and 1 digital copy on hard drive.

The collection consists of 16 mm films, both black and white and colored, about Central Michigan University (CMU) showing the band, 1945, 1968, undated; building construction, undated; CM Life Office, undated; children playing sports inside and outside of Finch Fieldhouse, ca. 1960s?; Football Coaching School, 1949; Football Scrimmage, 1950; Fourth of July Parade, undated; Graduation, undated; Health Services, 1970; Homecoming, 1940-1969 (scattered), undated; laying the cornerstone of Finch Fieldhouse, 1951; May Festival, 1940, 1948; Miss CMU Pageant, undated; Mun San Orphanage, Korea, undated (2 copies), the receiving line at Pres. Boyd's inauguration, 1968; the University Center Construction, 1951, and Dormitory shots, 1951. One film in the collection, Film ID Number 0-1-1, has a strong vinegar smell, indicating some decomposition of the safety film. All of the film was rehoused in 2012 into archival film cannisters. A 2017 addition is a digital copy on a hard drive (in 1 small box) of the Mun San Orphanage, Korea, undated (1950s) film ID Number 0-1-12. The digital copy occupies 63.7 GB and includes 1 copy each in a .avi and .mp4 file. The digital copy plays for 8 minutes, 34 seconds. For more description including physical state of the film, please see the catalog record.

The collection includes the following series, biographical information, photographs, correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, speeches, subject files, and other materials documenting William B. Boyd's tenure as Central Michigan University's president, 1968-1978.

The collection is organized by the following series: Biographical Information, Correspondence, Meeting Minutes, Photographs, Reports, Speeches, and Subject Files. The collection includes: Biographical Information, 1968-1974 (5 folders); Correspondence, 1968-1978 (about 1 cubic ft.); Meeting Minutes from CMU entities and Education-related institutions and organizations, 1968-1978 (about 1 cubic ft.); a few Photographs, 1969-1971, undated (more are in the Commencement folders and other Subject Files); Reports from CMU entities and educational related institutions and organizations, 1968-1978 (about 1 cubic ft.); Speeches, 1968-1975 (9 folders); and Subject Files on a wide variety of topics relations to education, CMU, and numerous CMU departments and social issues and organizations, 1968-1978, undated (7.75 cubic ft.), including Congratulatory letters to Boyd on his inauguration as CMU’s seventh president (2 folders).

The heart of the collection is in the Subject Files, which documents the change of focus for CMU during Pres. Boyd’s tenure. The topics of Affirmative Action, African American- Curriculum, History Week, and Professorship, and Afro-American Cultural Center; Black Symposium, Black White Convocation, United Black Student Association, Diversity Gay Rights, and Handicapped students all debut during his administration. Other topics of interest include the Lettuce Boycott, May 1972 problems (an incident with the Governor’s car on campus), Native American Affairs, Nigerian Project, Students for a Democratic Society, the Thailand Project (part of the Inter-Institutional Affiliation Project), Korean Orphanage, and the Vietnam Moratorium (which includes a photograph of the protest on campus). There are many topics that with ‘Student” covering the Code of Conduct, various committees, teaching, senate resolutions, unrest, etc. Case files of some students who were “problems” also are included, such as the Anthony Syroccki Case.

Other topics of interest include the Dedication folders for new buildings including the High Rise (later called “the Towers”), McNeel Nature Center, Perry Shorts Stadium, Ryan Hall, and the Tribal Community Center.

There are also many folders related to the faculty and their evaluation or assessment, funding, appropriations, and CMU Development endeavors and the budget.

In the Box and Folder Listing the following abbreviations are used: MI for Michigan, Dept. for Department, and Co. for Company. On folders where abbreviations for names were used, the full name, if known, is given in parenthesis at the end of the folder title.

This collection consists of the family papers of Leonard E. and Louise A. Plachta, providing a personal view into their childhoods, university experiences, married life and relationship with each other, friends, and relatives through their correspondence, and careers, mainly in Detroit and Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

This collection consists of the family papers of Leonard E. and Louise A. Plachta, providing a personal view into their childhoods, university experiences, married life and relationship with each other, friends, and relatives through their correspondence, and careers, mainly in Detroit and Mount Pleasant, Michigan. While most of the collection is in English, some correspondence, stories, family history and vital records, and school grades are in Polish. The collection is organized by creator and then alphabetically by topic and, finally, chronologically. Physically, the collection is in very good condition. Boxes 1-4 are letter-size .5 cubic foot and Box 5 is a letter-size .25 cubic foot box.

The Papers of Leonard E. Plachta:

The Papers of Leonard E. Plachta (in Boxes 1-3) includes his family history with family tree information, and his elementary grades (some in Polish) and high school grades and activities, such as childhood photographs and his Safety Patrol Pledge, Grade 7-8. His university materials included applications, in which he wrote about his hopes, dreams, interests, and lack of parental support to pursue a college degree. His university degrees and related commencement materials are included. There is one folder each of material documenting his wedding to Louise, and another his army training. We see some of his personal relationships with each other and family in Correspondence, from Leonard to Louise,; and in Correspondence, Personal to Leonard, Leonard and Louise.

The majority of his papers focuses his career at Central Michigan University (CMU His Annual Personal Data Report (Academic Accomplishments), are annual reports of his professorial academic accomplishments in the Business School. When he became Dean of the CMU Business School he wrote Some Thoughts on Becoming Dean of the School of Business Administration at CMU]. Photographs of Dean Plachta with students, other CMU faculty and administrators, and when he attended the Small Business Institute Award Dinners also document his time as dean.

Most of the CMU material is from his tenure as CMU president. When he became Interim President he received numerous congratulatory notes. Those retained in the collection are from CMU and Mount Pleasant people, among them former CMU Presidents Harold Abel and William B. Boyd, presidents of other universities, and Michigan politicians and businessmen. Other materials documenting his tenure as CMU president include: CMU Agreement with Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara (student exchange program established), 1993; a Caricature by Paco; CMU Correspondence, Thank yous for Hospitality to Leonard and Louise from Alumni Class 1947 for their 50th Reunion; an invitation to the CMU Robert and Marjorie Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government Celebration Dinner; Morning Sun Interview Materials; Photographs in the collection document Awards and Recognition Events, one with Governor Jennifer Granholm, Commencements, 1992-1995, 1997; Groundbreaking, Official Building Openings and other events, Homecoming, 1995 and 1997; Students, Alums; and international visits to Villa Bosch, a conference center, in Heidelberg, Germany, and the Tatsuzawa Educational Establishments (Morioka Chou Senior High School),a preeminent private high school, in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Demands for his resignation in 1998 are documented in the folder labeled CMU Students Demand Plachta’s Resignation.

His retirement and honors received afterwards are documented by Awards and Certificates, Leonard and Louise together; CMU Correspondence, Congratulations Upon His Retirement; CMU Plachta Day, Dinner Invitation; CMU President Mike Rao, Goals, Strategic Plans, Correspondence. Certificates and awards, newspaper clippings, plaques, and CMU Correspondence- General span his entire career or entire life. There is one folder of materials from the semester he taught at Michigan State University. An overall view about him is provided by his obituary and self-generated biographical materials.

The Papers of Louise Plachta:

The Papers of Louise Plachta (in Boxes 4-5) document her family history in copies of her parents’ vital records, stories, and correspondence (some in Polish from her mother and other relatives), and secondary education with childhood elementary grades (some in Polish) and high school grades and class anniversary materials. Her University of Detroit materials include her degree. The one folder of their wedding material is filed under Leonard’s name. Her writing is documented in her English papers, Correspondence, and Stories, h Interview materials, Articles, and Speeches. Materials specifically related to her time at CMU include: Caricature by Paco, Brent Wisher; Certificates; her CMU Master of Arts Degree in Case; CMU Plachta Scholarships and Awards Materials; Identity Cards; her unofficial Correspondence, re: Leonard Resigning; all but one of her English papers; most of her Photographs and CMU Photo Identity Card; ‘Robert Frost and the rural’ CMU Bohannon Schoolhouse, Program, and Photographs; and two plaques. An overview of her life is found in her photographs, resume, and obituary.

Researchers may also be interested in the official CMU Office of the President Papers of Leonard E. Plachta, which are administrative in nature. For more detail please see that finding aid. Additional materials about both Plachtas may be found in multiple manuscript collections in the Clarke, especially those related to public relations, as well as digitized CMU publications. A copy of his 1964 dissertation, A search for a proper accounting for the issuance of stock dividends, is also available in the Clarke.

Processing Note: Approximately 1 cubic foot of materials were removed from the collection during processing including: miscellaneous financial information, pay raise requests, benefits information, letters of recommendation, generic travel mementos, generic correspondence, information with social security numbers, unidentified photographs, CMU publications (duplicates) and acidic materials, mainly newspaper clippings (copies were retained). Material of a more personal nature were returned to the donor as per the donor agreement.

The collection includes materials, mostly originals, by and about Bovee (Biographical Materials), usually in connection with Central Michigan University (CMU), and (CMU Subjects) of a historic nature that he collected, including CMU materials, publications, photographs, and related materials.

The collection includes materials, mostly originals, by and about him (biographical material), usually in connection with CMU, and CMU materials, publications, photographs, and related materials of a historical nature that he collected (CMU Subjects). Bovee generated a number of reports, speeches, remarks, and was also photographed serving on CMU committees or at building dedications. He and his family were also invited to a number of CMU presidential inaugurations.

Of particular note are Bovee’s Letter about university unrest, 1965, his Statement for Michigan State Senate Committee Investigating Faculty-Administration Relationships at CMU, 1966, and the original raw data and report of the CMU Teaching Faculty Survey, 1966. It is unknown whether or not Bovee was responsible for creating the survey. The investigation led to CMU faculty creating the first faculty union in the state of Michigan.

Also of interest is a rare photograph of the laying of the Finch Fieldhouse’s cornerstone, 1956.

Two copies of his A Master Plan for the City of Mount Pleasant, Isabella County, Michigan November 1965… are also housed in the CMU libraries.