Collections

This collection, 1927-2000, and updated, contain biographical materials, books, poems, letters, photographs, cassette tapes, poetry serials and monographs, some of which are from or focus on Indigenous poets and poetry, indigenous newspapers in which he published his poetry, indigenous reading materials, and a few objects.

This collection, 1927-2000, and updated, contain biographical materials, books, poems, letters, photographs, cassette tapes, poetry serials and monographs, some of which are from or focus on Indigenous poets and poetry, indigenous newspapers in which he published his poetry, indigenous reading materials, and a few objects. The collection is organized by size, series, and then alphabetically and chronologically. Overall the collection is in very good physical condition, except for the newspapers which are acidic. All the boxes are .5 cubic foot letter size, except for Box 4 which is a .25 cubic foot letter-size box and Box 5 which is a .25 cubic foot legal-size box.

The majority of Boxes 1-5 consists of letters from Carroll Arnett to various people. Three folders contain letters to other poets including J.D. Whitney (1940-), Linda Hogan (1947-) who in 2023 was the Chickasaw Nation’s Writer in Residence, and Peter Blue Cloud or Aroniawenrate (1933-2011), of the Turtle Clan of Mohawk Nation. There are folders with letters from Arnett’s time at Knox College and Central Michigan University (CMU), which includes his request for a sabbatical and promotion. There is also a substantial number of letters between Arnett and his main publisher, (The) Elizabeth Press. There are folders with poems and publications written by Arnett including: La Dene, Someone in Another Place, and Thematic Structure in Keats’s Endymion. There are three folders of notes written by Arnett about the American Indian Movement (AIM), the Michigan Civil Rights Commission Report, and Wounded Knee. There are photographs of Arnett. There is a folder of documents and notes while Arnett was on the CMU President’s Advisory Committee that investigated the “Chippewas” as the University Symbol. There are two folders of Arnett’s association with the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance right to work laws in the U.S. Arnett brought a court case against CMU and the Michigan Education Association, which is documented in the collection. There is also a folder containing a racist letter that was sent to Arnett while he was teaching at CMU that contains cruel racist language.

Box 4 contains folders that are not entirely related to Arnett but are Indigenous reading materials that Arnett collected. There are two folders with educational materials on the Cherokee language. There is a folder of materials from AIM. There are also materials from Dennis Banks who visited CMU in 1973, including a photograph.

Box 5 is legal-size (.25 cubic foot) box containing three folders with objects including: an AIM pin, AIM bumper stickers, and Arnett’s glasses and case.

Boxes 6-9 consists mainly of publications in which he published his poetry, including serials as well as a few journals or books he edited or which were dedicated or inscribed to him, and poetry and indigenous newspapers. Indigenous reading materials, poetry in serials or monographs, are also included. Most of these materials are in English, but some are in Cherokee and Dutch. Issues of indigenous-generated or focused newspapers and general poetry newspapers, all but one of which contains one or more poems by Arnett, complete the collection. The newspapers are mainly in English but also include poetry and other information in Mohawk, Shawnee, and Cherokee.

Processing Note:

During processing 5.5 feet of materials were withdrawn, including duplicates, miscellaneous letters, blanks, reading materials, out-of-scope material, and duplicate and/or miscellaneous publications.

Numerous books and periodical titles donated with the collection were separately cataloged, both examples of Arnett’s writing and editing, and materials written by other indigenous writers. The Clarke also has publications by Arnett that preceded the donation of this collection. Titles in boxes 6-9 were originally going to be separately cataloged, but due to resources it was eventually decided to add them to this collection.

Carroll Arnett’s suitcase, a powder horn, and an Oklahoma state flag were transferred to the CMU Museum of Cultural and Natural History.

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).

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.

This collection documents alumni events that the Central Michigan University. Office of Alumni Relations successfully planned, organized and led, budget materials, and meetings of related committees and boards.

The first and largest series is Events (planned for alumni), 1928-2006, undated [bulk 1980-2006] 6 cubic feet (6 boxes). Types of Events are described above. Materials in the series may include photographs, programs, invitations, notes, letters, arrangement information, documentation of attendees, CDs, videos, and other materials. Other series include: Board of CMU Alumni Association Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, and related materials, 1967-2006 (approximately .5 cubic foot); Budget Books for Alumni Events, outings, endowments, scholarships, development, annual reports, honor roll of donors, and goals and objectives, 1975-2010 (approximately .5 cubic foot); Development Board Meeting Minutes, and related materials, 2000-2004 (4 folders), and a Slide presentation “CMU Reflections of the Past, Present and Future”, CMU Library Instructional Resources (some slides stamped as property of the Clarke Historical Library), (20 slides), undated (1 small slide box).

Processing Note: The collection was stored for a long time in an off-campus storage facility. In June 2014, the collection was split between the Clarke Historical Library Archives (informational materials, approximately 80 cubic feet) and the CMU Museum (objects) as much as possible.

A large percentage of the collection in the Clarke was withdrawn during processing. 74.5 cubic feet consisting mostly of massive duplication, blank forms, generic correspondence, miscellaneous financial records such as receipts and pay orders that were all well over seven years old, and miscellaneous notes. Approximately four cubic feet of duplicate books or other copyrighted works created by alumni were returned to the office as per their request. Twenty books and about .5 cubic foot of various types of alumni directories, which were not duplicates, were added to the Clarke collection and individually cataloged. One cubic feet of Chippewa yearbooks was retained by the Clarke to replace its Chippewas when they become worn out from use. One cubic feet of three-dimensional objects such as hats, tote bags, pins, and miniature Warriner Hall buildings, was transferred to the CMU Museum to join the rest of the objects there.

Additionally, initially housed with the collection was the Les O. Carlin Collection, 1940, 2014 (scattered), and undated (2 cubic ft. (in 2 boxes, 2 Ov. V., 1 framed object), which was separately processed and cataloged in the Clarke. Some of the materials in this collection initially went to the Museum and were later transferred to the Archives. For more information on this collection see its catalog record and finding aid.

Related Collections: Besides the collections mentioned above, other related collections in the Clarke include CMU. Development Office videotapes and two CMU. Public Relations and Marketing Posters collections.

Various meeting minutes of the Central Michigan University Student Senate, 1924-1977, and undated, and related materials.

The collection consists mainly of the meeting minutes of the Student Council, 1924-1947, and the Student Senate, 1948-1974. There are also meeting minutes of the Student Assembly, 1974-1975, the Student Council and Senate constitutions, 1924-1959, and related materials.

Meeting minutes usually include agendas, minutes, correspondence, reports, and other attachments.

Collection consists mostly of diaries, papers, and financial accounts of Mrs. Robinson, some papers of Mr. Robinson and their sons, and family photographs and correspondence, mostly about family concerns.

The collection includes mostly diaries, papers, and financial accounts of Mrs. Robinson, some papers of Mr. Robinson and their sons, family photographs, and family correspondence, mostly about family concerns.

The papers consist mostly of Louise Parkhill MacGillivray's family correspondence, and family diaries, a journal of vacations at Lake Superior, legal papers, examples of necrophotography, and other materials. Also included is a scrapbook about the affair of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, 1936. Oversized folders include Mount Pleasant High School diploma of Louise E. Parkhill, 1918, and sixteen pages from Louise E. Parkhill MacGillivray’s photograph album, 1913, 1918-1920, undated [1913-1919, 1923] with one page containing the 1960 obituary of Eleanor Parkhill, Louise’s mother.

The collection consists mostly of family correspondence to and from Louise, concerning family news and social or business matters, 1879-1979 and undated; diaries of Louise and other relatives, 1875-1960 (scattered); a journal of vacations at Lake Superior, 1971-1974; legal papers; genealogical materials; photographs, some of which document dead relatives in their coffins (necrophotography); and miscellaneous. The Letterbook of Burt L. Parkhill, 1894, was later made into a scrapbook of information about the affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson in 1936. Oversized folders include Oversized Folder 1 Mount Pleasant High School diploma of Louise E. Parkhill, 1918, measures 16 x 21 inches on paper, signed by George E. Ganiard, Hannah S. Vowles and C.S. Larzelere, among others. The lower left edge is damaged. Oversized folder #2 includes sixteen pages from Louise E. Parkhill MacGillivray’s photograph album, 1913, 1918-1920, undated [1913-1919, 1923] with one page containing the 1960 obituary of Eleanor Parkhill, Louise’s mother.

The scrapbook pages are in chronological order. Each page measures approximately 12x16 inches. All pages have edge damage and some acidification. Each page has numerous black and white photographs glued on and handwritten notes. Some people, locations, and dates are identified. Undated photographs were dated from CMU publications. The 1913 photographs include identified members of the all-girl MGG Club, including Louise. Two pages of Spring-Summer 1918 photographs she titled “Up the Chippewa” are of friends, and family, including her identified sister, Vera, canoeing and enjoying the Chippewa River and each other’s company. There is one page of photographs of family and friends dated March 29, 1919. There is one page of photographs of family and friends dated April 3, 1919 titled “Down on the Farm,” meaning at home. No farm specific photographs are included. There is one page titled The [Ice] Storm of April 23, [1919] which refers to a well-documented local area ice storm. There is only one photograph of the ice, while the rest on the page are of family and friends. One photograph is titled “Mama and Bunty (the rooster), showing a woman holding a rooster. There is one page of the CNS Operetta “Little Snow White”, in which Louisa starred as Little Snow White, feature portraits of the cast in full costume, with several individual identified individual portraits, all identified. Louise was described as having “endeared herself to all with her pleasing voice and manner” (Central Normal Bulletin, May 1919). There are two pages of August 27, 1919 photographs showing Louise and friends, or family, visiting and swimming at Epworth Heights, a private Methodist summer community located near Ludington. There is one page of the Normalonians, a CSN performance group, presenting “A Night in Romany” with Louise and company in costume. This performance was announced in Central Normal Life, January 29, 1920 with Louise noted as a returning member, and it was performed on March 5, 1920 (Central Normal Life, March 9, 1920). There is one page of “a Rose” pageant with several of Louise and company in costume. “The Rose Maiden,” in which Louise had a solo role, was announced in Central Normal Life, December 8, 1920.) Based on the summery outside photographs, it was likely performed in late May 1920. There is one page that is a mix of undated photographs. There are several of Louise in mortarboard and gown. She is listed in the CNS commencement program of June 1920, thus dating those photographs. The remaining photographs are of young men and women, some in costumes, who are identified. Their names match those who performed the Music Dept.’s “Chimes of Nomrandy” opera in June 1919, thus dating those photographs (CN Bulletin, June 1919). Three pages of undated [1923] photographs show Louisa in a commencement mortarboard, gown, and academic robe in Ann Arbor. There are photographs of the Washtenaw County Court House and the University of Michigan’s Hill Auditorium and Angel Hall. There is one photograph of Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. The obituary is for Louise’s mother, Mrs. Eleanor Parkhill who died at age 97 in Mount Pleasant in July 1960. The widow of the late Burt L. Parkhill, Eleanor was survived by her children: George B., Louise P.[arkhill] MacGillivray, and Miriam P. Affeldt.

The collection consists of personnel files of Central Michigan University, 1926-1977.

These are the Personnel Files of Central Michigan University (CMU) faculty and staff who died, retired, or otherwise separated from the university at least thirty years ago. According to the CMU Records Schedule, the records are kept by CMU. Faculty Personnel Services for thirty years, and then they are transferred to the Clarke. All social security numbers, health, and personal information have been removed as per agreement with FPS in June 2007.

A Personnel File may include: appointment letters/contracts; approvals/denials relating to personnel matters, reappointment/promotion/tenure, sabbatical/leave records, salary notices, reduced assignments; commendations (CMU related); curriculum vitae (resume); disciplinary documentation; personnel transaction forms; transcripts; clippings (copies); obituary notices; or photographs. The collection is physically in very good condition. In some cases acidic copies of materials were photocopied and the originals were withdrawn from the collection.

The Personnel Files are filed alphabetically by surname, and then by first name. There are three groups of records here as of 2008. The first and largest group is in Boxes 1-60 and comprises the oldest set of records, those who retired by 1977. Some of the records are as current as 1998, if the person died or left, but the majority end in 1977 or early 1978. The next group of records, filed after the first, in Boxes 60-68 includes those who retired by 1978. Boxes 68-70 include a miscellaneous group of retirees' files. Again, the vast majority of the records end by 1978.

This collection, 1928-2020 (Scattered), and undated,contains biographical materials, awards, books, letters, plaques, photographs, newspaper clippings, sketches, medals, cassette tapes, VHS tapes, CDs, a U-Matic colored videocassette and a scrapbook.

This collection, 1928-2020 (Scattered), and undated, contains biographical materials, awards, books, letters, plaques, photographs, newspaper clippings, sketches, medals, cassette tapes, VHS tapes, CDs, a U-Matic colored videocassette and a scrapbook. The majority of the collections contains photographs of Rose Traines’ metal sculptures. There are also photographs of Rose throughout her life and of her husband Robert Traines. There are letters sent to Rose by Robert before they got married (see Robert Traines Letters folder). There are letters from Michigan Governor William Milliken and his wife, Helen Wallbank Milliken, sent to Rose Traines for consecutive years while he was in office. There are also letters from Michigan state and federal politicians (see Political Letters folder). A sample was retained from sketches of metal sculptures drawn by Rose Traines. There are two autographs in the collection from American Actress Carol Channing and Miss America Mary Ann Mobley (See Autographs folder). There two folders of programs that provide details about Rose, her metal sculptures and exhibits (see Programs folders). There is one folder with a paper titled ‘sentenced to life’ which is a personal account by Rose telling her life story and listing her major accomplishments. There isa also a copper raised outline of Rose’s hand attached to a piece of wood (see Metal Hand Print folder). There are two boxes of VHS tapes, CDs, and Cassette tapes that document Rose’s metal sculpture exhibits. The oversized Box contains a scrapbook of Rose’s time in Alpha Phi, a CMU alumni frame, self-portrait art works, oversized photographs, a large love letter, and a 90th birthday signed poster.

Objects in the collection include: her childhood dress and nightie, baby clothes, CMCH anniversary medal, her Ames Draft-Pak, a mobile drafting/drawing case, and her adult, large navy blue, cotton sweater with her name monogrammed on it, The childhood clothes are a white, silk handmade little girl’s slip with matching ribbons, a littles girl’s two-piece dress with a plaid skirt with the colors red, white, blue, green, purple and yellow with cream sleeveless top with six buttons. The baby clothes are a handmade knitted baby girl’s pink sweater with matching hat with pink ribbons and two sets of boots made of silk and leather, one pair with white laces and the other with pink laces, and a baby’s pink waterproof pants with laced trim.

This collection of family papers includes photographic materials, papers, family trees, and newspaper or magazine clippings of the Copeman and Reimer families and their friends and family from the Mount Pleasant, Michigan area.

This collection of family papers includes photographic materials, papers, family trees, and newspaper or magazine clippings of the Copeman and Reimer families and their friends and family from the Mount Pleasant, Michigan area. The collection is organized by series, alphabetically, and chronologically. Overall, the collection is in very good condition with some acidification, one glass plate negative with a broken corner, and tintypes which are a bit warped with minor edge damage. The major series of this collection are Copeman, Reimer, and Simonds. Nina Copeman is the main person in connection in the Copeman papers due to her historical family research. Much of the series consists of photographic materials including multiple formats of photographs from ambrotypes and tintypes through color photography. Papers consist of family correspondence, including about family history, materials related to their relative Linda Ronstadt, and the Henry Baldwin Copeman family farm in Crawford, Michigan. The Reimer series also consists of family photographs and materials, with photographs of reunions and family headstones in Palo and Mount Pleasant cemeteries. The Simonds series consists of photographs of family and their grocery store located in Mount Pleasant. The rest of the collection consist of family photographs and materials from the related Brownell, Ettinger, and Preston Families, as well as materials related to Palo Schools, Central State Teachers College, later Central Michigan University, history, and postcards with substantive notes between family members and photographic postcards of family members. The Oversized folder contains photographs of the Henry Baldwin Copeman Farm and Copeman and Reimer family trees.

Researchers should note that materials related to the family’s homestead in Idaho, Kenneth and Taimie Preston’s college photographs, Kenneth Preston’s work with the Civilian Conservation Corp, and Henry B. Copeman’s remaining diaries (including all Ku Klux Klan entries) were donated to the University of Idaho by the donor. The remaining material related to the family’s lives in Idaho were donated to Coeur d’Alene Museum and the Kellogg Museum by the donor.

Processing Note: .75 cubic feet of photographic materials, miscellaneous, and duplicates were withdrawn during processing. Acidic news clippings and materials were photocopied and the copies retained within the collection. Interfiled into other collections in the Clarke were seventeen postcards, two Michigan vertical file items, and a CMU commencement program. In August 2023, a 1852 wedding bedspread from Centreville, Pennsylvania, two Michigan friendship pillows, and miscellaneous family jewelry were transferred to the Ionia County Historical Society, and an Almont, Michigan, miniature tourist creamer or pitcher was transferred to the Almont Michigan Historical Society. Other miscellaneous items without a definite family provenance were withdrawn during processing.