Collections

The collection includes correspondence, newspaper and magazine articles, and publications by club members. This is not the official club records.

The collection consists of correspondence, newspaper and magazine articles, and publications by members of the Appleblossom Club, spanning from the start of the organization at CMU (circa 1930) to the early twenty-first century. The material is arranged chronologically and alphabetically, with undated material arranged by size.

A scrapbook, of written letters from past Appleblossom members, commemorating the dedication of the Dr. M.L. Smith Seminar Room at CMU is included in the collection as well.

Processing Note: Approximately .25 cubic ft. of materials was withdrawn from the collection during processing, including duplicates, and originals which were preservation photocopied. The copies were retained in the collection.

The collection was originally house off-site by CMU. Carlin Alumni House. It was transferred to the CMU Museum, and later transferred again to the Clarke. The creator is unknown.

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.

The collection documents the club's history and finances.

The collection includes meeting minutes, organization history, financial records, insurance records, newspaper clippings, publications, and miscellaneous materials documenting the club.