Collections : [Central Michigan University Clarke Historical Library]

Papers and a plethora of photographic materials of Dick Moehl, documenting his interest in, preservation, restoration and tourism projects and successes with Michigan lighthouses, lighthouse groups and related organizations, Boy Scouts of Troop 4, Ann Arbor, and the Mackinaw area. Some of these materials continue or expand the GLLKA organizational records collection, which is separately cataloged and housed at the Clarke.

The collection consists of papers and a plethora of photographic materials of Dick Moehl, 1902-2017, and undated, documenting his interest in, preservation, restoration and tourism projects and successes with Michigan lighthouses, lighthouse groups and related organizations, Boy Scouts of Troop 4, Ann Arbor, and the Mackinaw area. The collection is organized by size and format, then alphabetically by topic within series. Some of these materials continue or expand the GLLKA organizational records collection, which is separately cataloged and housed at the Clarke. The major series of the collection include: Dick Moehl materials (mostly in Box 1); Subject files; Slides of Michigan lighthouses; and Oversized materials.

The Subject Files include: extensive documentation of Dick’s activities, allied organizations, and interests, including: Troop 4 Boy Scouts, awards, honors, history and lighthouse work, Eagle Scout projects and programs, GLLKA organizational records, records of the many historic, preservation, and tourism organizations Dick was associated with, St. Helena and Round Island light station projects and history, lighthouses (Michigan, national) preservation, restoration, dedication or re-dedication or re-opening events, Mackinaw/c city, Island, and County history, tourism, and current events, and general Michigan history or tourism topics or events.

Slides of Michigan lighthouses and Boy and Girl Scouts helping preserve and restore lighthouses, cruising, Michigan tourism, nature, Soo Locks, Mackinac Bridge, 1981, 2009, and undated.

There is also a slide box (Box 29) of thirteen Sony8 videocassettes, mostly of events at St. Helena Lighthouse, undated, 1989-1991, perhaps as late as 1993. These video cassettes can be viewed by connecting a Sony 8 or high 8 camera to a television screen.

Oversized Materials include: two lighthouse photograph albums, 1985 and 1986; and five Oversized folders of posters, notably a color photograph poster of the Boy Scouts at St. Helena Light with a pile of collected trash, 1993, drawings, including children’s art, a pennant, and architectural drawings of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Barn, by Northwest Design Group, Richard Newman, Architect, Preliminary Drawings A1.1-A1.3, S1.2, prepared for Mackinac State Historic Park, September 2004.

The 2018 addition to the Richard Moehl Collection, Acc# 76135, Boxes #30-34 and Oversized Folder #6, 1942, 2016, and undated includes: paper awards and certificates, notebooks and logs, correspondence concerning Moehl’s achievements and certifications, and photographs; five plaques awarded to Moehl; four trophies, The oversized folder includes a special tribute and a certificate.

Processing Note: During processing numerous duplicates and peripheral materials were removed from the collection (29.5 cubic feet). Over 3 cubic feet of personal materials and camera equipment were returned to Mrs. Moehl. Over 75 catalog entries were created for monographs and serials that were added to the Clarke’s collection. Also, some postcards and miscellaneous newsletters were added to the Michigan postcards collection and vertical files.

This collection contains papers, publications, and information concerning the Harris family and Milling Company.

This collection contains papers, publications, and information concerning the Harris family and Milling Company. Boxes 1-2 include legal-size materials and Box 3 includes letter-size materials. There are three series in this collection; Harris business, personal, and Minnie Vroman Papers. Most of the materials were produced or collected by Richard O. Harris. The materials include adverting materials, inventories, price lists, product information, company publications, photographic materials, insurance and stock information, board of directors meeting minutes, correspondence, and company records and ledgers. The collection is organized by size, alphabetically and chronologically. Both boxes are legal-size.

Of special note are the Articles of Merger and Merger Agreement detailing how the Harris Milling Company was subsumed by the Nebraska Consolidated Mills Company, a badly damaged daguerreotype of an unknown white woman with a broach, who may be Jane Daniel Fulbright (see the last letter in Personal Correspondence folder), and papers for a milling course Richard O. completed.

Also in the collection are illustrative materials, including photographs and sketches of plans for transport trucks with the Harris Milling Company/FAMO logo in watercolor.

Related family materials include: miscellaneous items documenting Richard O. Harris’ daughter Mary Jane Harris (later Waterhouse)’s involvement with local stage events; papers of Minnie Vroman including a 1909 Chicago x-ray receipt and bills related to a week spent at the Battle Creek Sanitarium in 1917 for gastic issues. There are also papers and a photograph (with unidentified people, probably a Boy Scouts troop and leader) atop a submarine at the Beacon Institute of U.S. Submarine Base New London, Connecticut to which an unknown member of the Harris family was affiliated.

A 2019 addition (Box 3) includes a 1938 Central State Teachers College (CSTC) football schedule of home games on a football shaped program, and a CSTC lecture course season ticket for Kathleen Ordway. Mount Pleasant High School materials include: a 1925 student and staff photograph by T. T. Mock, Battle Creek, Michigan, outside the old high school (photocopy 8 pp.); a 1925 commencement program, a black and white photograph of the 50th reunion of the class of 1925 in 1975; and acidic blue line revision drawings (4 pp.), each of which measures 18x24 inches, of the new Mount Pleasant High School by Louis C. Kingscott and Associates, Inc, Kalamazoo (architects and engineers), April 20, 1953 including a presentation drawing, floor plans for the English, Social Science and Language unit, a floor plan for the science unit with a sectional view of the unit, and a floor plan of the commercial unit (in 1 Oversized Folder). Also included is the October 27, 2000 invitation to the historic marker dedication for Harris Mill. Last is John A. Harris materials including his Civil War service records (copies, 10 pp.), a photograph (copy), presentation reading notes of Anne Harris Hunnewell for the Pasadena Civil War Round Table about John Harris (4 pp.), and letter and envelope (copy) about the John A. Harris materials from Anne Harris Hunnewell to her Grandpa Richard. Also included are 1999 copies from the Internet of a list of John’s unit members (4 pp.), and a map of Eureka, Michigan (1 p.).

Processing Note:

Much of this collection was heavily damaged and was infested with stinkbugs. The archivist and processing student met with the university insect exterminator and determined these bugs were not a threat to the collection. All stinkbugs were contained and removed from the collection. Items with mold, mildew, water, or fire damage, as well as acidic papers were photocopied and withdrawn from the collection during processing, about 1 cubic foot total. Also, during processing one general Mount Pleasant item was added to the Vertical Files.

Three-dimensional items transferred to the CMU Museum in February 2019 where they can receive expert curatorial care include: keychain, patch, matchbooks, product cards, dog food and flour bags, Harris Milling Company FAMO Dairy Feed 100 lbs Bag Sketches (24% and 16%, each measures 18x12 inches, undated; Harris Milling Company FAMO Broiler Ration 25 lbs Bag Sketches (1 is 20%, the other has no % indicated), each measures 18x12 inches, undated; Harris Milling Company FAMO 16% Dairy Feed 100 lbs White Bag Sketch, measures 18x12 inches, undated; Harris Milling Company FAMO Self-rising Bleached Flour Cloth 10lbs Bag, stamped “Emergency Quality Milled Under Gov’t. Order W.F.O. 144,” measures 16.5x10 inches, undated; Harris Milling Company FAMO Self-rising Bleached Flour Cloth 10lbs Bag, measures 17x10 inches, undated; Martha White’s FAMO Self-rising Enriched Bleached Flour .5lbs Bags, (1 plain, 1 with images), each measures 11.5x5.5 inches, undated; Harris Milling Company FAMO Self-rising Bleached Flour Paper 10lbs Bag, stamped “Emergency Quality Milled Under Gov’t. Order W.F.O. 144,” measures 19.25x10 inches, undated; Harris Milling Company Hi-Value Dog Food Paper 25lbs Bag, measures 31x11 inches, undated; Harris Milling Company FAMO Beef Builder Paper 50lbs Bag, measures 34.5x16 inches, undated; Harris Milling Sample Bag (linen) and Harris Ranch Almond Bag (cotton), undated; and a booklet: Michigan. Dept. of Agriculture. Selection…, 1961.

The papers consists of business, personal, and biographical materials, and Buck's Civil War diaries.

The collection includes biographical, business, and personal materials. His diaries describe his Civil War experiences describe his march from Detroit to the Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, camp life, equipment, cavalry pickets, and fighting at Chattanooga and Trenton, Tennessee, among other places. The 1855 diary is of a trip from Illinois to Nevada. Bookkeeping journals, receipts, and indentures relate to the sale of merchandise in Paw Paw. The Ida Oil Well Co. Treasury book is from Kent County, Ontario, Canada.

A photograph of Buck in uniform may be found in the Clarke Photograph file and two shoulder straps of the rank of Captain and one cap badge should be in the Display Items boxes.

Collection of the history of the department and jail, and related clippings (copies), mainly compiled in 2001.

This collection consists of a typed history of the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department and Jail, gleaned from meeting minutes, records, and the remaining folders, which consists mainly of Mount Pleasant, Michigan, newspaper clippings (copies), 1960-2011, mainly compiled by Banta in 2001.

The papers include newspaper article, Central Michigan University Faculty Association letters, personal correspondence, and copies of Chaffer's publications.

The Papers consist of newspaper articles, Central Michigan University (CMU) Faculty Association (FA) letters, personal correspondence to fellow colleagues, copies of Chaffer's published articles, 1972-1985 and Mathematics Department photographs, prints from digital images, 2001-2005. The Shepherd [Mich.] Argus newspaper article (copy) describes a mathematical workshop for high school students run by Professor Chaffer. Letters are from the FA, highlighting the disputes over the changing of contracts and payments regarding union dues. The personal correspondence is between Chaffer and Mr. Martin Gardner, concerning "magic cubes."

Papers include biographical information, personal correspondence, photographs, clippings, writings about Japan and some in Japanese, and World War II memorabilia. One notebook is written in German, 1884, with later cake recipes written in English in the back.

The Robert Knott Papers consist of biographical information, high school related records, personal correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, individual writings and World War II memorabilia. The topically grouped material is arranged alphabetically. Photographs include the Knott family, the Knott family farm, and Robert Knott’s military service. Personal writings cover Knott’s childhood, teaching in Japan and working on the family farm. Correspondence includes letters and postcards to Robert Knott from family and acquaintances. This collection contains a World War II Victory Pack. This collection also includes Robert Knott’s dog tags, World War II pins, and a World War II honor medal. A special note is given to a notebook dated 1884 written in German, which contains notes and comments on books, the 23 Psalm, poems, authors, and English recipes. One oversize folder contains a large picture of Robert Knott, materials related to Carson City High School, and baggage paperwork from his travels to Japan by ship.

Processing Note: Several hundred slides of Japan in the collection were transferred to the University of Michigan’s Center for Japanese Studies. Eight LP records and a laminated butterfly display were transferred to Central Michigan University’s Museum.

The majority of the papers are the correspondence, tax receipts for Michigan and Illinois, deeds, indentures, and mortgages of Clark’s wife, Mary E. Clark.

The majority of the papers are the correspondence, tax receipts for Michigan and Illinois, deeds, indentures, and mortgages of Clark’s wife, Mary E. Clark. There is also a sketch of a bronze memorial tablet honoring Clark by the Michigan Engineering Society for his work as a Deputy U.S. Land Surveyor. Mary’s correspondence to family and friends describes family affairs and her farm business, 1838-1870. Correspondence, 1832-1837, is to Mary from Robert. It is affectionately written with brief notes about his work. Mary’s estate is detailed in a notebook, 1867-1898, in John M. Clark’s Papers.

Robert Clark’s papers also include an oversized certificate appointed him Quartermaster of the 11th Regiment, Michigan Militia in 1833, signed by Lewis Cass, and one folder of correspondence and a notebook documenting his supplies and duties as Quartermaster, 1829, 1832-1834, and undated.

Item-level index cards are available to assist researchers.

Collection of auction catalogs and books, some of which are self-published, catalogs, bibliographies, facsimiles including reprints, a photograph album, and a scrapbook of clippings, all on the topic of angling.

Collection of auction catalogs and books, some of which are self-published, catalogs, bibliographies, facsimiles including reprints, a photograph album, and a scrapbook of clippings, all on the topic of angling. Materials are from or focused on Michigan as well as national and international angling. Authors include individuals, organizations, and government units. Original inventories compiled by Kohrman and inventories annotated by processing students are in the first folder of Box 1. Materials not in the boxes or not in the inventory that were found in the boxes were noted by the processing students. All catalog publishers are listed in the subject headings. These published materials are part of the Robert E Kohrman Angling Collection, but did not have an OCLC record at the time of processing in 2024, and thus were processed together as a manuscript collection to speed accessibility by researchers. For more detail please see the finding aid and inventories. The catalogs are organized in original order. The remainder of the collection is in alphabetical order by author or creator’s name. Some of the materials are still under copyright.

The Herbert H. Dow collection, 1900, 2013, consists mostly of copies of materials gathered by Kohrman for an exhibit in the Clarke Historical Library and a PowerPoint presentation he did on Brine in Mount Pleasant.

The Herbert H. Dow collection, 1900, 2013, consists mostly of copies of newspaper clippings, publications, patents, images, maps, scrapbooks, correspondence, major correspondence is with geologist Raymond G. Vugrinovich and British artist Arthur Henry Knighton-Hammond, taxes, obituaries, indexes and finding aids. Some original notes and publications are also included. The collection was gathered by Kohrman for an exhibit in the Clarke Historical Library and a PowerPoint presentation he did on Brine in Mount Pleasant. The collection is in original order as organized by Kohrman, with his index in the front of Box 1.

Additional collections by/about Kohrman are housed at the Clarke, while the ACS. Midland Chapter records are on loan to the Clarke.

Processing Note: Duplicates were returned to the donor. A number of the copies were made of originals in the Clarke. Five items were separately cataloged.

Papers of a U.S. Civil War Paymaster, consisting mostly of account books, correspondence, vouchers, disbursement accounts, returns, pay records for numerous Michigan, U.S., and U.S. Colored regiments.

The collection is organized alphabetically by format and size, and then chronologically, 1861-1865. It consists of Hunt’s Pay Master records, a wide variety, for a large number of troops including Michigan, U.S. Colored Troops, and non-Michigan troops. Michigan units documented in the collection include: Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Regiment, 1st , Michigan Infantry Regiment, 7th, Michigan Infantry Regiment, 13th, 1863-1865, Michigan Infantry Regiment, 21st, Michigan Infantry Regiment, 22nd, 1864-1865. U.S. Colored Troops including: 1st U.S. Infantry, U.S. Colored Infantry, 14th Regiment; U.S. Colored Infantry, 18th Regiment; and the U.S. Colored Infantry, 44th Regiment are documented in the collection. Non-Michigan units documented in the collection include some from Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Iowa, New York (state), Wisconsin, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Connecticut. Materials for different units are sorted by year, not by month and day.