Collections

This collection consists of a wide range of materials including biographical information, manuscripts, research and notes, and correspondence of Professor Maybee's (including Central Michigan University (CMU) Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Historical Society, personal, and student academics). Two boxes of the collection consist of papers and correspondence from Professor C.S. Larzelere, also of CMU.

This collection consists of a wide range of materials including biographical information, manuscripts, research and notes, and correspondence (including Central Michigan University (CMU) Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Historical Society, personal, and student academics). The collection is widely related to the history of Michigan and the history of Central Michigan University. Correspondence with President Dwight D. Eisenhower and correspondence between H.L. Menckin and Mr. Leighly can be found in box 2 of the collection. Telegrams from the following people can be found in box 8: Richard Nixon, Congressman Elford A. Cederberg, Governor G. Mennen Williams, and Arthur S. Flemming (Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare). Box 4 of the collection holds a Correspondence from Henry Miller, and Box 6 has newspaper clippings related to Senator Robert Griffin, and alumni of CMU.

1 (Boxes 11-12). Oversized folder 4 includes his and related certificates and diplomas, 1835, 1925. This collection was processed by three student processors: Anjali Grose, Tressa Graves, Bronwyn Mroz Benson.

Materials processed by Anjali Grose largely include correspondence related to: the Central Michigan University (CMU) Department of Social Sciences; the Michigan Historical Society Trustees and Committees; the Michigan Historical Society about state conferences; student academic; and personal information. Other materials processed by A. Grose include a collection of glass slides used for educational purposes (most of these slides were withdrawn); research and a rough draft of a paper on Father Nouvel; newspaper clippings (copies) on R.H. Maybee, H.C. Maybee, and B. Maybee; programs for the memorial services of R.H. Maybee and H.C. Maybee; photographs and related correspondence; miscellaneous research, notes, and sources; and the scrapbook materials found in Box 9.

Materials processed by Bronwyn Benson include Maybee’s Master’s Thesis, the manuscripts for his publications and speeches, the transcripts of sources he used for his research, and a newspaper article relating to a mystery rock Maybee was researching; correspondence from Dwight Eisenhower and H. L. Mencken; documents relating to CMU including the dictation discs and reel-to-reel tapes, and the architectural plans for a possible new building; and the documents pertaining to Claude S. Larzelere and his wife including speeches, teaching notes, and diplomas.

Materials processed by Tressa Graves include biographical information pertaining to Maybee’s research, information on Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School, United States Navy V12 program at CMU during World War II and various data related to the surrounding area and CMU. Other materials included the telegrams from Richard Nixon, Congressman Elford A. Cederberg, Governor G. Mennen Williams, and Arthur S. Flemming, updated information on the Prof. Charles Bellows’ desk (up until the new Maybee information it was presumed to be Charles Grawn’s), Claude S. Larzelere’s certificates and diplomas, and a letter from Henry Miller. Besides the significant materials, most of the materials that were processed were withdrawn.

What did others process? Other materials found include two 16mm films, seven glass slides used for educational purposes, photographs, four Reel-to-Reel tapes, pamphlets and catalogues from a scrapbook on CMU. Notecards are organized by size into 5 boxes (Boxes 13-17) pertaining to research by R.H. Maybee and CMU faculty members, and oversize materials including Federal Census data for Isabella County, Michigan, CMU account books, and others.

Oversized folders 1-3 include materials collected by Maybee, a proposal by architects, undated; notes on CMU accounts, 1894-1923; and notes on Rolland Township, Isabella County, Michigan Federal Census data, 1860.

In addition to this collection, papers of Claude S. Larzelere and publications by both Maybee and Larzelere are separately cataloged and housed in the Clarke Historical Library. Maybee also wrote an article on David Ward which was published in Michigan History (32, 1, March 1948). Copies of Maybee's notes on CMU history may also be found in the Central Michigan University 75th Anniversary collection in the Clarke.

Processing Note: A total of 24 cubic feet was withdrawn from this collection including duplicates, published items, reading materials, generic correspondence, generic applications, resumes, interview materials, and student papers.

Various papers documenting Central Michigan University's Faculty Association.

The collection documents the serious attempt to decertify the FA by the Free Faculty organization and how the FA fought back, 1976-1977, in meeting minutes, newspaper clippings (copies), correspondence, and other materials.

The collection consists of the organizational records of the church including legal documents, meeting minutes, financial records, membership records, and other materials.

The collection nicely documents the history of this small church. There is no personal information about the pastors or members except for birth, marriage, and death dates.

The Certificates of Dismission and Reception is a record of members who joined or left the church with names and dates. The Church Registers include lists of pastors, deacons, communicants, members who were baptized, marriages, and deaths in the church, with names and dates. Most of the remaining volumes include minutes for the church’s annual membership meetings, board of trustee meetings, or the meetings of various church organizations. Correspondence and miscellaneous papers are very miscellaneous and scattered.

Researcher Note: A number of the papers and volumes in the collection have suffered water, mud, or mold damage. The collection should be used with care by researchers with allergies and because of the fragility of a number of the volumes due to rotting and severe acidification of the pages and covers.

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.

The collection, 1908-1953, and undated, includes personal and professional papers of a teacher from northern Michigan.

The collection, 1908-1953, and undated, includes personal and professional papers of a teacher from northern Michigan. The collection includes: a portrait of Roxie Mary Mahoney Higgins complete with vital dates, photographs, diploma from Presque Isle County Normal, final exams, student teaching final exams, student teacher lesson plans, teacher created and collected teaching aids, teacher created activities and worksheets for 1st-7th grade students, and State of Michigan Health Education pamphlets,1912-1945. Magazine clippings (copies) include racist depictions of Native Americans. Also included are various teaching publications such as Educator, Instructor, and Children’s Activities for Home and School, and a single issue of American Observer from December 8, 1941. The publications within this collection are retained due to the completeness of the issues as well as the excellent condition. The collection was organized according to size and alphabetically by topic.

Roxie fits within the trend of young rural female teachers, where she would only teach for a year or two. The County Normal training offered reading, handwriting, spelling, composition, arithmetic, and geography courses for future teachers, but not the full four year curriculum training offered by Normal Schools. For most Michigan County Normal students tuition was waved if the student agreed to teach the next year in the county. (This information from Clarke Historical Library’s web page on One-Room School-teachers https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/ResearchResources/Michigan_Material_Statewide/One_Room_Schools/Pages/Teachers.aspx accessed on June 28, 2016).

Within the collection are final examinations in courses beyond those subjects she would teach to the young students, such as Rural Sociology. Roxie’s own coursework in preparation for teaching was of a practical nature where she learned lesson planning and classroom management. Roxie’s student teaching evaluation shows that teachers were graded on everything from comportment to appearance as well as execution of lessons (Box 1, folder 1). Within Roxie’s student teaching materials there is a full page example of shorthand script (Box 1, folder 6). Her visual materials are in excellent condition and offer a sampling of beautiful, popular images from the 1930s-1940s, cut from magazines and mounted on construction paper.

One particular addition to this collection is the attendance records for the year Roxie’s sister, Faith, taught and attended Presque Isle County Normal in 1936. This glimpse into the teaching life of Faith T. Mahoney reveals an additional path for female educators.

Processing Notes: Approximately 1 cubic foot of duplicate and acidic materials was withdrawn from the collection. Issues of four journals were separately catalogued. Some material exhibits a strong flavor of patriotism within American History lessons of the 1940s and racist depictions of Native Americans. Boxes 1-2 are .5 cubic ft. letter-sized boxes, Box 3 is .5 cubic ft. legal-size, and Box 4 is a larger, oversized box.

The collection documents Shorts' business and insurance acumen, career, and interests, with numerous materials, 1914-1975, and undated.

Most of the collection documents R. Perry Shorts’ business and insurance career, acumen, and interests, particularly in his Articles, Speeches, Photographs and Insurance Decisions, which are typed notes on cards. His social activities and interests, including: education, patriotism, CMU and U. of M., youth groups, and charitable organizations, are documented in same series, as well as in Biographical Materials and Miscellaneous Materials.

Shorts’ banking interests, particularly the history of the Second National Bank of Saginaw and the National Bank of Detroit, American business history, interests, and views, are well documented in his speeches and articles.

The only personal material is found in Shorts’ limited correspondence with his family and friends, and in some photographs. There is no material about his wife and children.

Additionally, the Clarke Historical Library has two publications by Shorts. Currently, the Clarke has no tape-to-tape players or 16 mm film projectors available to listen to the recordings.

See CMU Photograph Files for pictures of Kelly/Shorts (formerly known as Perry Shorts) Stadium. For more information on Hannah Mary Shorts Vowles, see her biography, as written by Jane P. Cole, which is available at Clarke Historical Library. Also of interest are the papers of James S. Symons, which include a memorial resolution that was signed by R. Perry Shorts, among others. These papers are also available at the Clarke.

The collection includes biographical information, correspondence, notably of the Boys' Republic, photographs and photograph albums, subject files, plaques, etc.

The collection includes: Biographical Information, consisting of diplomas, family history materials, photographs, newspaper clippings (copies), and related materials, 1930s-2002, undated; Correspondence, General (from students), to parents related to World War II, from two girl friends, Rebecca Reynolds and Verna May, and Dale Williams, a boy in the Boys’ Vocational School in Lansing, 1939-1955, undated, and the Boys’ Republic and student there, Bob Downes, 1948-1951; Photographs, 1922, 2000; Subject Files, including materials related to CMU, Flushing High School, Greeting Cards, Historical Michigan Calendars, Flint Junior College, the University of Michigan, the Boys’ Republic, juvenile delinquency, and other materials, 1935, 2000, undated; Photograph Albums related to his family and CMU, military service, and HOSTS/Mentor Program, 1941, 2000; Photographs of the Flushing High School Senior Class, 1939; and Plaques, for his outstanding work as a school and senior volunteer at West Elementary School, Florida, 1997-1998. The Oversized folders include Historical Landmarks of Brighton, a collection of illustrations of and text about Brighton, Michigan’s landmark buildings and history, undated, and a CMU war years class reunion photograph, 2000.

Because some of the materials in the Boys’ Republic correspondence and notebook contain sensitive, personal information about the students, researchers are asked to not name the individual students who created or are discussed in these materials.

The following materials were removed from the collection and cataloged: Memory Lane Gazette, 1982-2002, the Montrose Historical Association Newsletter, and Fieldbook of Natural History, c. 1949, by E. Laurence Palmer, which includes autographs and souvenir materials from Rufus’ favorite teacher, CMU Biology Dept. Professor Irene Jarae.

This collection was generated in 2018 from a digital copy Overton had made of annuity records of Indian tribes in Michigan and part of Wisconsin, 1853-1858, which were part of a much larger body of records in the National Archives designated as Records Group (RG) 217.7.7, Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, Records of the Second Auditor, Records of the Archives Division, settled Indian accounts and claims, 1795-1894. .

This collection was researched and compiled by Overton from the much larger body of records in the National Archives designated as Records Group (RG) 217.7.7, Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, Records of the Second Auditor, Records of the Archives Division, settled Indian accounts and claims, 1795-1894. RG 217.7.7 is also available on Microfilm T135 at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. In 2018 Overton had a digital copy made of annuity records of Indian tribes in Michigan and part of Wisconsin, 1853-1858. Two paper copies were printed from digital copy for the Clarke Historical Library, a user copy which is in the Clarke's reading room for public use, and a master paper archival backup in the stacks. The collection is in its original order, mostly chronological and alphabetical. For some of the bands and tribes in this collection there are no official Library of Congress subject headings.

All the original annuity payment forms were handwritten on paper. Each annuity payment is a multi-page list, approximately 20 pages in length. Each annuity payment includes: the place and date of payment, names of each tribe, band and head of a family who received an annuity, the total number of men, women, children, and members in each family, and the total of money received by each family, tribe, and band. The head of family made an X (their mark) by their name indicating payment received and that they were illiterate. Native American names are spelled phonetically in English. At the end of each annuity payment list, the Indian Agent and other witnesses signed, including missionaries, other agents and military officers. Sometimes payment were late. Upper Peninsula tribes were usually paid during the summer, Lower Peninsula in the fall and early winter, and the more southerly tribes often had to wait until January. Before the Ottawa and Chippewa Treaty of Detroit, 1855, the Grand River Ottawas were paid under two different treaties, two separate payrolls, usually the same day and time (noted here as Part 1 and 2). (This information is from the collection.)

The Russell Kirk collection includes biographical information, materials by and about him, and reading materials. This part of the collection is open for research. All letters or personal correspondence in the collection, a total of three boxes (1.5 cu.ft.), are CLOSED to researchers. Personal Requests to access ANY of the CORRESPONDENCE in the collection must go through the Clarke Historical Library Director (as of February 18, 2016).

The collection, 1927, 2017, and undated, was reprocessed and rehoused in 2017. The original folders were dated and varied in style and completion. totals approximately 42 cubic ft. (in 81 boxes, 1 reel of film, 4 quadruplex videotapes, 2 oversized folders, 1 box of cassettes, 1 box of films, 1 oversized notebook, 1 oversized album, 1 box of notecards).

During reprocessing, the collection was rehoused into two large series of Materials Created, Edited by Kirk (Boxes 1-46 partial) and Materials Created by Others or information Kirk collected for reference or research purposes (Boxes 46 partial-81). Subseries and information within subseries are organized in alphabetical and chronological order. If no journal is listed on the label, it is because one is not identified in the article. Overall the collection is in good physical condition. See note on acidic materials in Processing Note below.

A folder of biographical information about Kirk is in the front of the collection. This includes information about him from several sources. All boxes are .5 letter-size unless otherwise noted.

The series Materials created by Kirk includes: various copies and drafts of manuscripts and typescripts of articles, published articles, book drafts, book reviews, cassettes, college essays and journal articles he wrote or edited, his columns “From the Academy,” 1956-1969, and “To the Point,” 1962-1975, a play, a scrapbook and a binder, both with selections of Kirk's "To the Point", manuscripts and typescripts of speeches, and textbook evaluations.

All letters or personal correspondence in the collection are CLOSED to researchers. Personal Requests to access ANY of the CORRESPONDENCE in the collection must go through the Clarke Historical Library Director (as of February 18, 2016). This is a total of three boxes (1.5 cu.ft.) of letters. Some of the letters are only to Kirk, while others are between Kirk and his correspondent, 1945-1971 (scattered) including, notably: William F. Buckley, Jr., Gerald R. Ford, mostly thank you notes while Ford was a Michigan Representative, Barry Goldwater, and Richard M. Nixon, mostly thank you notes while Nixon was working for a law firm in New York City.

The series Materials created by others includes: scholarly and other articles and other publication reprints, book reviews of Kirk’s books, conference papers, essays, a film, monographs, newsletters, college and university papers, plays, poetry, reading materials, reports, speeches, , statements, studies, theses. Examples of Kirk Center brochures, Permanent Things newsletters and website information are also included. Creators of significant parts of this series include the Taft Institute for Government, National Right to Work Foundation, and the National Right to Work Committee (U.S.).

Four quadruplex two inch videotapes in blue, hard plastic containers are also included. These document an interview program with Kirk entitled “Conversations with a Bohemian Tory,” which was recorded on April 22, 1970 by WCMUTV. Each videotape records about thirty minutes and is black and white. In 2017, the Clarke has no means to play qudruplex videotapes.

While the vast majority of the collection is in English, there is with one article each in French (Box 43), German (Box 55), and Spanish (Box 61).

The last item is a film in a blue film canister. The film was added by the Archivist to a national film inventory, AVCC, in 2017. The film's description is as follows: Film ID Number: 308-1 Format: 16mm, black and white, optical sound. Date: Film edge code date: 1955 Size: 1000ft. Information off of film: Facts Forum / Academic Freedom by Russell Kirk. Overview of scenes: Includes five men in suits, some smoking, behind desks, discussing conservative political thought and Russell Kirk’s new book, Academic Freedom. Men in the film include: Russell Kirk, Prof. Hodges (first name unspecified); William F. Buckley, Jr.; George H. Combs, Jr.; Hardy Burt (commentator). This was one in a series of professionally produced television show funded by H.L. Hunt on conservative political thought. This show was produced by Franka Hernan, Vernon Lewis Productions, NYC. This is a user copy, which generation is unknown. Physical Information: .04 film shrinkage, 0 out of 3 on the AD strip acidity scale – by Jen Bentley, spring 2015.

Books by Kirk are located in both the Park and Clarke Historical libraries.

One cubic foot of duplicates and acidic materials, once copied, were returned to the donor as per the donor agreement. In a few cases there is acidic material in formats difficult to photocopy, such as uncut, folded pages or oversized. The decision was made to leave the material as it is and not copy it. The fact that the contents is acidic is noted in the Box and Folder Listing.

The collection consists mainly of photographic images of railroad related topics, mostly in Michigan, and related subject files.

This collection consists mainly of film negatives, photographs, some copy prints, and subject files collected and generated by Sam Breck, mostly of railroads, locomotives, depots, towns, historic buildings, both public and private, bridges, freighters or barges, railroad logos, and waterfront scenes in Michigan, but also including Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York (state), Ontario, Canada, and some 1942 images of the mountains and wilderness of Colorado. There are a few images of people, including members of a band, and a downtown art show. The collection is organized by format and topic as much as possible. Several folders of negatives are unidentified and undated. The collection is in good physical condition.

Published materials donated with the collection were separately cataloged.

A photograph collection of Samuel L. Breck, 1960s-1980s, is housed at the Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan.