Collections

The Organizational Records, 1900-2014, undated (including undated, late nineteenth century images), documents part of the history of CMU Athletics Track, Field and Cross-Country (TFCC) programs, athletes, coaches, staff and alumni and a few items documenting other CMU athletes or teams in textual and audio visual materials, including moving image film.

The Organizational Records, 1900-2014, undated (including undated, late nineteenth century images), documents part of the history of CMU Athletics Track, Field and Cross-Country (TFCC) programs, athletes, coaches, staff and alumni and a few items documenting other CMU athletes or teams in textual and audio visual materials, including moving image film. The collection is incomplete, but provides the earliest documentation of the CMU men’s track field and cross country (TFCC) clubs, later teams and documentation pre- the 1900, which predates surviving Central Michigan University (CMU) publications about TFCC. The first documentation of what became Central Michigan University (CMU)’s men’s cross-country teams is in October 1929 when a cross country class began practicing under coach A. U. Nowak, with plans for a track 2.5 miles long to be laid soon (Central State Life, Oct. 9, 1929). This collection also documents CMU Women’s TFCC at CMU beginning in 1981 although the Women’s TFCC formally began at CMU in 1971. TFCC were originally divided by gender.

Included in this collection are formal and informal athletic, athletic alumni, social and family events, collected and donated, and sometimes personally created, by athletes and coaches, all of whom were proud of the history of their programs and wished to preserve it. Formal events include training, TFCC meets and competitions, award ceremonies, and athletic dinners. Informal events including time spent in hotels, eating, traveling, the Ten Mile Breakfast Run, Christmas cards and wedding images of alumni athletes. Some major coaches, staff, and athletes are documented. A racist photograph of a female student in a fake Native American costume is included.

Formats include images, still photographs, including Mugs (mugshots style portraits) and negatives, photograph albums, moving image films; scrapbooks; communications (emails, letters, notes, memos), statistics, clippings; CMU publications and public relations materials (brochures, newsletters, programs, sport cards, news releases, newsletters); a plaque; certificates; architectural drawings of the CMU Outdoor Track, 1998 and the Athletic Facility Renovation, 1995, 1997. CMU Track and field coach Don Sazima (1970-1984) documented the history of the combined programs and his career (2 folders, 2014 in Box 1). A list of Men’s CC coaches, 1910-1950 includes names of coaches which predates surviving CMU publications. The First Annual Alumni Luncheon was held in 1979. Alumni provided directory information on forms, later documentation of this is in the separate CMU. Athletics Organizational Records collection.

Oversized materials include a Women’s team photograph plaque, 1999; numerous oversized photographs of Ed VanderHeuvel, track star, 1958; three unidentified CMU Women’s TFCC athletes and a team photograph, 1980 and undated. Architectural drawings of the CMU Outdoor Track, by All American Track Corp. Engineering Division,1998 and the Athletic Facility Renovation, by Foresite Design, Inc.1995, 1997.

Materials documenting non TFCC CMU athletes includes: CMC and CMU Varsity football team group photographs, 1947-19548, 1965; photograph of Dennis Yeates, CMU gymnast, 1960-1962; Oversized materials include: five football team photographs; 1952, 1955, 1956, 1966, undated; CMU Men’s basketball team photograph, 1949; and CMU Men’s Tennis team photograph, undated.

Researchers may also be interested in other collections in the Clarke including: the CMU. Athletics, CMU. UComm (University Communications) and CMU. Information Services collections, all of which include some materials mostly documenting CMU athletes and athletic events and to a lesser extent, CMU coaches and staff. Also at the Clarke is a 1930s CMU Cross Country uniform worn by Neil Hoover who attended CMU during the 1932-1934 school years and one term during 1937, he was a cross-country runner who also played football for CMU.

Film Description: Three 16 mm polyester films, in 2 archival film canisters. The film was funded by a grant from the CMU Creative Endeavors Committee.

Film ID Number: 76748-1 Format: 16 mm color and silent, but includes smaller sections in various combinations of black and white, negative images, color, silent and sound (magnetic). Date: 1972-1973. Size:330 ft. (plays for 13 minutes) Information off of original can: final, edited copy of "the Distance Runner," compiled by Omnicron Productions, Lansing, a division of Omnicron Corporation, on June 12, 1973, Information off of original film leader: "the Distance Runner," Overview of scenes: The film documents Central Michigan University (CMU) Cross County male student athletes running through campus, cornfields, on roads, and through forests in fall and winter, 1972, and perhaps spring 1973. Athletes discuss why they love to run, when and why they began running, what they think about while running, including "girl trouble" with their girlfriends, memorizing tax formulas for their accounting classes, and their running schedules. Physical information: .4 film shrinkage, .5 out of 3 on the AD strip acidity scale - by Marian Matyn, Aug. 2020. Miscellaneous information: none.

Film ID Number: 76748-2 and 76748-3 (spliced together are raw footage from which parts were taken to create Film ID Number 76748-1) Format: 16 mm color and silent, but it includes smaller sections in various combinations of black and white, negative images, color, silent and sound (magnetic). Date: 1972-1973. Size: 150ft. Information off of original can: "the Distance Runner," compiled by Omnicron Productions, Lansing, a division of Omnicron Corporation, on June 12, 1973, Information off of original film leader: "the Distance Runner," Overview of scenes: Raw footage of Central Michigan University (CMU) Cross County male student athletes running through campus, cornfields, on roads, and through forests in fall and winter, 1972, and perhaps spring 1973. Athletes discuss why they love to run, when and why they began running, what they think about while running, including "girl trouble" with their girlfriends, memorizing tax formulas for their accounting classes, and their running schedules. Physical information: .4 film shrinkage, .5 out of 3 on the AD strip acidity scale - by Marian Matyn, Aug. 2020. Miscellaneous information: none. The film both documents CMU cross country runners, 1972-1973, and served as an inspirational film for other runners. Stylistically, the film has many obvious similarities to an earlier inspirational cross-country running film, The Harriers, 1960, created by Humboldt State University.

Processing Note: During processing approximately 1 cubic foot of duplicates and CMLife newspaper clippings were withdrawn. Newspaper clippings from beyond campus were photocopied and the copies were retained.

The collection documents the entire process of Egner winning the Michigan Commission on Art in Public Places competition to design the tile floor for Central Michigan University’s then new Industrial Education and Technology (IET) Building, including Egner creating the design templates for various floor patterns, the laborious installation of the tiles according to the design templates, and, finally, the building’s dedication.

The collection documents the entire process of Egner winning the Michigan Commission on Art in Public Places competition to design the tile floor for Central Michigan University’s then new Industrial Education and Technology (IET) Building, including Egner creating the design templates for various floor patterns, the laborious installation of the tiles according to the design templates, and, finally, the building’s dedication. The collection is organized alphabetically and mostly dates from 1987 to 1989. A folder of 2021 material about the artist was added by Archivist Marian Matyn to the front of Box 1. The collection includes photographs and slides, publications, Egner’s Artist Statement, contract, notes, correspondence, design templates, financial information, samples and vendor information.

Processing Note: During processing .25 cubic foot of duplicates, mostly photographs, were removed. Acidic clippings were photocopied. Original housing was maintained for slides. Photographs were sleeved.

The collection includes correspondence, 1982-2003, and undated, concerning the planning, financing and construction of the Student Activity Center (SAC) at Central Michigan University (CMU).

This collection consists mainly of correspondence dealing with the planning, financing, and construction of the SAC. Key people involved in the process and correspondences were Jerry Scoby (Director of Business Services and Assistant Vice President for Business Affairs), Kim Ellertson (Vice President of Business and Finance), and Tim Jones (Director of Campus Recreation).

Box 1 in this collection contains documents generally focusing on the immediate planning and building of the recreation center, 1983-1990.

Phase I of the SAC Project began in 1983 and focused on proposals for and the planning of the campus’s recreation building, and the renovation of several other buildings on campus, including: remodeling the President’s house, the physical plant building, and a library addition.

There are numerous correspondences between the University and the Nuveen Co., which was chosen to be the senior manager of the projects and the financial advisor. The letters discuss different funding avenues for the projects, including the use of student bonds.

In addition, there is documentation of several other capital projects that the university was planning and funding in conjunction with the SAC. One such project was the Biomass Wood Fuel Plant and Telephone Systems Project (aka Woodchip).

Phase II of the project began in 1987 and comprised the final approval of designs and schematics of the building, and topographical surveys of the land. Most of the letters are between Anthony Paparella, the University Architect, and TMP Associates, the firm chosen for design development.

Included are a sampling of Construction Invoices, 1986-2000, that show areas of main concern in the building, as well as issues that arose during construction and additions and subtractions that were made due to budgetary limitations. There are documents discussing if a student membership fee should exist and how it should be implemented, tuition-based or as an outside fee. Also included are financial records documenting the University’s attempt to raise $25 million for the multiple projects, Bond Revenue Statistics, 1987-1989.

Box 2 contains documents pertaining to after the recreation center was opened, 1990-2003, as well as other properties that the University owned.

Letters discussing food services that should be offered in the new building are part of the collection, including the mission statement of FAST BREAK, a healthy food store. The internal audit of 1992 listed the weak points of the SAC, such as the definition of outside users and funding for equipment replacement, and offered recommended solutions.

In the ‘Budget and Finance’ folder there are letters that address the financial structure of the SAC. This was a main concern because the SAC was originally funded entirely from the General Fund, which meant that all of the money its services made would automatically go back into the University and be equally divided among other campus institutions. There was also concern that under this structure the building would continuously be in a state of financial default. In order to avoid this, administrators of the SAC wanted it to be listed as an auxiliary institution of the University.

There is also a folder of issues that the SAC faced. Issues included, how encompassing the University’s insurance was in relation to unauthorized access of children and teams granted by current employees, and illegal entry by students using fake or duplicate IDs. There is a response written by Kim Ellertson concerning an article titled, “Staff ignored threat pools of blood posed.” There was also concern over improper videoing and photographing of people working out, as well as the loss of intramural sports fields due to the new football stadium and the expanding network of new facilities related to the SAC. An unusual issue that arose was the public protest following an Anheuser Busch visit. According to the letters, Anheuser set up their tent in the SAC on the same day as the Isabella County United Way was hosting a Red Hacker carnival for children. The matter worsened because a one-day liquor license was purchased for the SAC and the famous “Bud Girls” were allowed to freely walk around the building. Employees of the SAC felt that by allowing this to happen, especially during a children’s day, the University was living up to its party college name instead of dispelling it.

This box also contains several plans to try to offset the building costs of the SAC, including: a market plan to attract more outside donors and the selling of numerous University-owned properties.

Interesting documents to note are those concerning Riverwood Golf, which document the University’s desire to purchase a golf course, and those concerning the Ann Arbor Railroad Company when the University attempted to purchase the tracks that run through campus.

Processing Note: During processing approximately 0.25 cubic feet of duplicate materials were withdrawn from the collection and shredded.

The Collection, 1990-2014, and undated, includes signed black and white or color photographs or posters of nationally recognized actors, performers, musicians, musical groups, and speakers who spoke or entertained at CMU.

The papers include photographic materials, and papers about Norm Lyon's personal and family life, his work as an oil field reporter and photographer for the MIchigan Oil and Gas News (MOGN), and his work as a photographer for the Mount Pleasant Daily Times News.

The collection consists of two main types of formats, photographic materials and papers. The photographic materials include: film negatives, strip negatives (multiple images on 35 mm film negatives), single image negatives, photographs, photograph and negative albums, transparencies, and paste-ups (for MOGN publications). The papers include: correspondence, reports, articles, newspaper clippings, obituaries, maps, and other materials.

The collection has materials from 1929-1930, 1933-1956, 1959-1977, 1979-1985, 1987-1989, 1991, and undated materials of this time period. Many undated negatives can be dated to the 1930s by the size and format of the negative material. Other papers in the collection that predate 1929 are in reality either later (ca.1960s) copies of pre-1929 materials or later (ca. 1950-1960s) notes about times prior to 1929.

The smallest part of the collection documents Norm Lyon’s family, mostly in negatives. Documented here are his wife, Phyllis, children, JoAnn and Dick, their pet dog, “Rip”, relatives, friends, and home life. The children are well documented as infants, at Christmas, 1937, 1940-1941, in Halloween costumes, on family vacations, particularly to Niagara Falls, 1941, and Leonidas (Mich.), while camping, playing with little friends and Rip, in the snow, or with their favorite toys. Phyllis is documented with the children, particularly when they were babies and toddlers, with lady friends working on craft projects, on vacation, and in general sitting and knitting. Norm is rarely photographed except for when he broke his leg and a few portrait shots, all undated The whole family is documented on vacations, camping or at Leonidas (Mich.), at Christmas, playing cards, and while visiting with friends and relatives. Most of the images are negatives and date from approximately 1935 to 1945. A few photographs, probably of the Lyon family or their friends and relatives also are included in the collection, notably in weddings, graduations, or anniversary photographs. None of these photographs are identified.

Civic and other organizations in which Norm was active, particularly the Mount Pleasant Kiwanis Club and the Pere Marquette Club, are documented in both negatives and photographs.

Norm’s work with the Mount Pleasant Daily Times recorded life in Mount Pleasant and the surrounding central Michigan area. Most of the images are negatives and include downtown Mount Pleasant parades, Christmas and Halloween decorations, downtown events and sales, politics, juries, veterans, meetings of various boards, the Indian Hall Dedication of July 7, 1940, Isabella County Fairs, 1947-1948 and 1956, the dedication of the new airport, the opening of Island Park swimming pool, paving streets, city offices, police (both state and local), accidents, fires, various clubs and civic groups particularly the Boy and Girl Scouts, American Legion, Archery Club, Elks Club, 4-H and FFA, Jaycees, Kiwanis, and Lions Club, as well as the local schools and sports teams, and the widening of US-127.

Other Michigan localities documented in negatives include the Pre-Edenville Dam, 1941, Reed City, 1940 (?), Ithaca, 1935, 1937, the Arenac Salt Plant, 1940, and Barrier Salt (Armada), 1966.

Central Michigan University (CMU) is documented as well. Negatives of the Cornerstone Ceremony at Rachel Tate Hall, 1956, the Construction of the Arts and Crafts Building, 1947, are included. Other images of note include the College Hop, 1936, Doc. Sweeney’s Gym[nastics] Troupe, 1942, the Football Team, 1934 and ca.1930s, Homecoming, including football players and a parade, 1935, as well as practice session negatives of both men’s baseball and women’s basketball, and the team image of the Men’s Basketball Team, 1942 are included. Photographs of CMU document most notably the Central State Training College Training School Fire of January. 8, 1933, general building images, and people, including the men’s baseball team, undated

Other unidentified negatives, probably documenting Mount Pleasant and the related area, include: suicides, squatters, farmers, agricultural scenes and products, and farm animals, hot air balloons, vehicles, trains, voting polls, buildings (interior and exterior shots), fires in general, and the Wolscheid Fire, 1948, in particular. Related photographs also mostly of the Mount Pleasant area, document children, buildings, the Kiwanis Club, street paving, snow storms, city vehicles, and the Chippewa Centennial Queen and Runner-up, 1967.

The largest group of negatives, as well as some of the photographs, documents oil exploration and production businesses in Michigan, 1930s-1980s.

Within the oil topics, a large number of negatives and photographs, 1930s-1970s, document men, most of whom are in groups wearing suits, usually holding drinks and cigarettes. While most of these men are unidentified, some are partially identified and other photographs or negatives are dated. It is highly likely that they all are attending Association meetings. One particular set of negatives shows men at the Mount Pleasant Country Club, watching a couple of go-go dancers, 1966.

Other negatives show groups of men who were probably connected with the oil industry relaxing, at meetings, playing cards, fishing, golfing, or hunting. A funny negative shows a group of men dressed up as women golfers. Numerous other images show men in groups either working in or visiting oil fields. The negatives of men in groups span 1935 through 1975, and undated. The photographs of men in groups span the 1960s.

There are also a smaller number of negatives of men who are working in fields unrelated to the oil business, such as in general stores.

Lastly, there are a number of negatives, 1930s-1970s, and some photographs, 1960s, of individual men in the Men-Portraits folders, some of which are identified either by surname or date. While a number of the men may be well known in the oil industry, the most famous central Michigan names associated with the Purple Gang are Isaiah Leebove, circa 1937, and Jack Livingston, undated, circa 1930s, both documented in photographs. Another famous Michigander is Spikehorn [John E.] Meyer (d. 1956) of Harrison, Michigan, 1940s, undated (photographed with his pet deer and bear, and people, including children). Spikehorn is documented in negatives and a few photographs.

A few Michigan politicians are also found in the collection, probably while campaigning, and include governors Soapy [G. Mennen] Williams and Kim Sigler (in negatives) and George Romney (in photographs).

The largest and arguably the most important part of the collection documents the oil exploration and production business throughout the state of Michigan, 1930s-1970s. A few images of the oil business in Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Illinois are also included.

The collection documents in detail the entirety of the oil business, from maps, drilling, core samples, construction of rigs, storage tanks, shipping oil, fires and other disaster, to seismology. Changes and developments in field equipment are recorded, from horse-drawn vehicles, wooden derricks, and using tractor-powered vehicles to sink well pipes to diesel-powered equipment and full-scale production refineries.

Major topics related to the oil exploration and production business in Michigan are well documented by negatives in the collection. These topics include the Association meetings, parties, and other outings, usually baseball or golf, 1940-1974, undated, and Buildings and Plants, most of which are identified, including non-Michigan locations. Plants with a large number of images include: Gaylord, 1967-1971; Gulf-Bateson, 1935, 1940-1942, undated, Gulf-Bay City, 1939-1941, undated and Gulf-General, 1941; Hilliard’s in Roscommon County and Vogel Centre, 1941, 1967; Kalkaska, including Shell Oil Co., 1969-1972, 1974; McClure (various locations), 1966, 1969-1971 and 1975; Porter fields, 1933, 1936, 1939-1940, undated; Pure Oil Co., 1930s, 1936, 1939-1940, undated; Reed City (MI), 1941, Roosevelt Refinery, Mount Pleasant, 1940, 1943, 1947, undated; Saginaw, 1937, 1941, 1975, undated; Shell Oil Co., 1970-1974; Sun Oil Co., 1940-1941, 1965-1966; Tekonsha, Michigan,1966-1967, 1969; and Wise Township (Isabella County), 1940-1941, undated.

Other oil business subjects well documented by negatives include Derricks, both identified and dated, 1930s-1970s, and those neither identified nor dated, including rigs blown down, destroyed, off-shore, and tilting. Fires are also well documented, particularly the Roosevelt fire, 1933, Six Lakes fire, 1974, Struble Well fire, 1934, and the Woods Well fire, circa 1930s. Gas and Gas Plants, Gushers, and Land Leases, Sales, and Landsmen are fairly well documented. The Oil Expos[itions] of 1935-1937 are well documented, showing various exhibiters, their equipment, signs, salesmen, and attendees. Oil Scouts, Pipes, Pumps, and Storage Tanks are also documented. Negatives of refineries, mostly undated, which are well documented included McClanahan Refinery, Toledo Pipe Refinery (Ohio), 1935-1936, and Total Refinery (probably located in Alma. Well sites are well documented in Buckeye, 1936-1938, Durbin, 1935, and Sherman Rocks, 1937.

Brine and gas exploration, laying of lines or pipes, plants and gas stations are also documented, mostly by negatives.

The oil business is also documented in photographs, which mostly dated from the 1960s. Buildings and Plants documented here include Bay Refining Co., and Belle River Gas, 1967, Simrall Pipeline Corp., and Durbin Station. Other topics covered include: Core Samples; Derricks, including Hilliard and McCloud for 1961; Fires, 1961-1963, Florida (Orange County), 1965; Gushers; McClure Drilling Co., Equipment on a Ferryboat, 1961, Pumps; Sinkholes, Storage Tanks; and Wells Sites, including Off-Shore sites.

The Transparencies also document the oil business in Michigan. The Slides nearly all document the oil business in the early 1970s, including the Crawford Well Fire, 1976; Derricks; Kalkaska; seismology, rigs, equipment, fires, core samples, pumps, storage tanks, various people, McClure, equipment, etc.

The partial reels of 35 mm film all are labeled in some form. One partial reel found in Box 11 appears to be personal. Otherwise, all the partial reels in Box 12 document an oil hearing, 1971-1973, McClure, Natural Resource Commission, etc.

The Oversized Folders include photographs (2 folders) and paste-ups (1 folder), all related to Norm’s publishing work with the oil industry.

The Papers are a small part of the collection. Found here are articles and reprints of articles about the Michigan oil business; an oil drilling notebook reports, maps, and other oil related materials. Pigeon River, and the blowout at Williamsburg, 1973-1974 are specifically documented here. The rest of the Papers documents Norm Lyons in biographical information, including correspondence, obituaries notices (of Norm and Phyllis), newspaper clippings, notes, and speeches, and information about the Mount Pleasant Kiwanis Club, particularly their 50th Anniversary in 1983. Other people, probably his friends or oil associates are documented briefly in correspondence and newspaper clippings.

Processing Note: This was a challenging collection to process for several reasons. First, it arrived in a state of complete disorder. Many of the images, negatives and positives, were without any form of identification. Secondly, a number of negatives were often in one wax-paper sleeve with either little or no identifying information or a lot of information that did not always seem to apply to the contents. For example one sleeve might have 15 negatives of different men and the names of only two men on it. Norm’s writing was often difficult to read, particularly when he used his own style of abbreviations. Students and Marian tried mightily to identify and read his notations. Also, some of the photographs were identified by Norm as belonging to various years. As we could, we maintained that grouping. That is why there are photographs in a folder 1965-1967 (we do not know which individual photographs date from which year) and other photographs in a folder strictly labeled 1967 only. Simply sleeving the collection took nearly three months while sorting it took longer. Some items were identifiable only using a lightbox and loupe.

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.