Collections

The collection contains biographical information, correspondence, photographs, reports, speeches, subject files, memorabilia, plaques, index card, and oversized materials of President Anspach.

The collection is divided into the following series: Biographical Information (2 cubic ft.), 1912, 2001, undated, including: obituaries (copies), his doctoral dissertation and thesis, certificates, citations, diaries, 1932-1958 (scattered) and 1960-1973, honorary degrees, inauguration materials, scrapbooks, 1948-1959, testimonials and tributes, and his Last Will and Testament, 1977; Correspondence (approximately 1 cubic ft.), 1932-1977, with various individuals, organizations, colleges, boards, and programs; Meeting Minutes (1.5 cubic ft.), 1939-1973, for various CMU departments, committees, and other organizations, councils, and programs; Photographs and Photograph Albums (1.25 cubic ft.), 1941, 1943, 1949-1968, 1971, undated; Reports (approximately 1 cubic ft.), 1937-1941, 1943-1959, 1964, 1970, undated, from CMU departments and committees, and other organizations, councils, and committees; Speeches (4.5 cubic ft.), on a plethora of topics, including speeches recorded on paper, 1929-1976, undated, speeches recorded on reel-to-reel tapes, 1958, 1967, 1971-1973, undated, and programs of speeches given by President Anspach, 1940-1973, undated; Subject Files (4.25 cubic ft.) for a wide variety of CMU organizations, committees, events, a plethora of issues, Michigan and national organizations, councils, boards, and issues of concern to President Anspach, 1931-1977, 1979-1982, undated; Miscellaneous Materials (Memorabilia) (2 cubic ft.) including a wide variety of Masonic, Boy Scout, and CMU memorabilia, such as: Masonic plate; CMU miniature cigarette lighter; Masonic penny; Masonic aprons; Medals; CMU Paperweights (2); numerous Pins; Shriner’s (Masonic) Caps; a gavel; and miscellaneous, 1948, 1950, 1963-1974, undated; and Plaques (.5 cubic ft.), 1959, 1964, 1969, 1972-1973, undated, and a Boy Scouts statue, 1943-1945; and Index Cards (1 cubic ft.) to Articles and Photographs of Anspach in CMU’s school newspapers, CSLife, later CMLife, 1939-1959. Oversized Materials (approximately 4 cubic ft.), including photographs and photograph albums, 1905-1972 (scattered), undated, certificates, 1946-1976 (scattered), undated, diplomas, 1920, 1923, a resolution, 1967, posters, undated, a guest book, 1939, and miscellaneous, are housed in three flat boxes

The collection extensively documents President Anspach’s life and activities during his tenure as President of CMU. His activities in peace and religiously oriented organizations, with children’s organizations and causes, the Boy Scouts, Masons, and various educational organizations and issues are well documented. His personal life at Ashland College, CMU, and after his retirement from CMU are documented to a lesser degree in the collection.

Collection contains biographical materials, photographs and postcards, cash book, diaries, photographs, and writings.

The collection includes: Biographical Information about Ryder, mainly in newspaper clippings (copies); his Cashbooks, 1931-1944; Diaries, 1909-1956; some Photographs and Postcards made from photographs of him while attending Acadia University; Sermons, 1910-1919; Writings, 1933, undated; and church-related miscellaneous.

The diaries document Ryder’s years at Acadia University, 1910-1915, in great detail. The other diaries vary in amount of detail and document his stay in various places, including: as minister of Havelock Baptist Church, 1915-1916; and living in Parma, New York, 1916-1921; Vancouver, 1919; Chicago and Savanna, Illinois, 1919-1924; Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 1925-1927, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1928-1934, Flint, Michigan, 1935-1942, and Mount Pleasant, Michigan, 1942-1956.

Ryer’s correspondence file is very thin consists mostly of brief notes from CMU President Charles L. Anspach or Business Manager Norval C. Bovee.

The index of Ryder’s sermons includes a list of baptisms, marriages, and funerals he performed, 1919-1921.

The Clarke Historical Library also has copies of a number of Ryder’s publications including: Men and religion, a functional approach (1932); Society in the making; an introduction to sociology volumes 1-2 (1934); Sociological surveys of Iosco County, Michigan (1948); and Studies of economic and social aspects of Montcalm County, Michigan (1950).