Collections

Papers include correspondence, notebooks, legal documents, essays, and photographs.

The Chaney Family Papers include correspondence, notebooks, legal documents, essays, and photos, which are arranged alphabetically by topic. The correspondence spans almost 120 years and consists of correspondence between family and friends. A letter from L. W. Caryl to Henry Chaney, dated 29 July 1832, describes a method for early diagnosis and cure of cholera. Between May 1837 and January 1838, Isabella Caryl (then living in New York) received letters from several of her former school mates (who called themselves “The Hill Girls”) who had moved to Detroit. Among the notebooks is one of Willard Chaney’s medical notebooks. Of the seventeen photos in the collection, only one, Marjorie Chaney Bow (Henry’s granddaughter), is identified.

Business records of Ruggles' lumber, gas, oil, railroads, salt and real estate business interests. Most are accounts, although financial records, leases, legal contracts, court cases and testimonies are included as well as a few personal family materials.

The business records document Ruggles’ vast business interests including: lumber, gas, oil, railroads, and real estate. Most of the records are some form of accounts, payment information, leases, or legal contracts. Also included are numerous published court cases or trial testimonies of his lengthy legal case against Buckley and Douglas Lumber Company and other legal concerns. The collection provides a solid look at his complex business dealings and the shrewdness with which he amassed his wealth and made numerous enemies. The only personal information is some family photographs and his will.

The collection includes the family papers of Dr. Charles W. Marvin, an Assistant Surgeon of the 26th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War, and his children, Louis, Ella, and Burr.

The collection consists mostly of Dr. Marvin and Louis Marvin’s papers, with a few items of other family members. They offer a view of family life and work in Ithaca.

The papers consist of Dr. Marvin’s Civil War papers (mostly forms for supplies, ordnance, muster roll, and his muster-out certificate from 1864-1865; Family Biographical Materials, 1850, 1869-1902; Family Correspondence, 1850, from Rough and Ready, California, describing gold mining conditions, 1890-1900, and undated; Family Legal Papers (mostly land records), 1850-1899; Burr Marvin’s poetry booklet, undated; and diplomas of Burr, Ella, and Dr. Marvin, and a chemistry certificate of Burr’s, 1851, 1887-1908. A few published items complete the papers. One is about Northern Michigan Medical Association prices and resolutions (1864) and the other is about Ithaca’s Common Council (1881).

The volumes include Dr. Marvin’s account books (general), 1853-1869; and (doctor’s), 1884; and diaries, 1868-1901 (4 volumes). Louis Marvin’s account books, 1902-1904 and 1944-1946; diaries, 1875-1944 (76 volumes), a Blacksmith’s account book, 1852-1856; and the account books of Marvin Bros., 1863-1948 (5 volumes) complete the volumes.

Of particular interest here are the doctor’s account book giving dates, names, and health problems of patients, and fees. Dr. Marvin’s diaries have scattered entries noting some church and school activities and patients’ cases. In August 1885, he traveled to the Dakota Territory and Nebraska, writing detailed entries in his diary.

Louis’ diaries detail his various interests and pursuits including school, his experiences teaching in Frankenmuth (January-March 1882), and Ithaca; work in Texas (1883) and later as a printer in Ithaca; Dr. Marvin’s death (1902); service in county offices (1903); and service as a delegate to the Republican County Convention. His diaries, 1902-1944, mostly note farm work and events in Ithaca, his work to erect the H. R. Pattengill Monument on the lawn of the Ithaca City Hall (1924); and his organization of the H. R. Pattengill Reunions, 1888-1938.

Collection consists of correspondence, diaries, meeting minutes, records, printed matter and miscellanea of the church, microfilm of legal cases, and images.

This is one of the finest collections in the U. S. of Strangite Mormon material in the world housed in a public institution. A large number of publications from Strang’s Beaver Island printing press are included. More significant is an excellent collection of letters and diaries of his Strangite followers. Also, there is a strong photographic collection of Strangites.

Topics covered include Strangite Mormonism, the Beaver Island colony, various Mormon controversies, the question of succession, etc. The papers of James J. Strang, the Strang Family, and Strangite followers (disciples): Mark A. Strang, Lorenzo Dow Hickey, Warren Post, Wingfield Watson, Lloyd A. Flanders, Stanley L. Johnson, and Alexandre Roger Caffiaux complete the collection.

U.S. District Court vs. James J. Strang, cases 9-22 records, 1851, are microfilmed and in the Mark Strang papers in Box 4. Additional related letters are in the James J. Strang papers in Box 1.

Some materials are microfilmed while many materials are photocopied from other institutions. Additionally, small additions to the collection may be found in the Strangite Miscellaneous Collection, Lorenzo Dow Hickey, and Watson Wingfield collections.

The collection is also described on the Clarke’s webpage.

Collection of miscellaneous Coe Township records, 1859-1901, and undated.

This collection of miscellaneous township records is organized alphabetically by the names of folders and topically by general subject such as Drains, Elections, Highways, School Districts, Taxes, and Township Clerk Materials. Some materials are further divided chronologically.

The papers include family correspondence, journals, notebooks, a photograph, and miscellaneous, mostly concerning Dr. Blackwood's medical career and gold mining experiences in California during the Gold Rush of 1849.

The Papers include personal correspondence, mainly between Dr. and Mrs. Jane Blackwood, describing journeys to California and Nevada, the uprising of Negroes (June 16, 1827), and a cholera epidemic (from Jane Blackwood, 1849). There is a diary of Mrs. Blackwood, and her notes on mathematical calculation, kept while living in Ovid (New York), 1827. Dr. Thomas Blackwood is also documented by a medical notes book, 1827-1832, including the diagnosis and treatment of his patients, receipts, payments, and births, August 1832-September 1833; his certificate of entrance to the Washtenaw Medical Society, June 1832; and his travel journal, 1850, while aboard the Loo Choo. Lastly, there is a copy of his first letter published in the Washtenaw Whig, September 12, 1849.

The papers include mostly transcripts of Ward family correspondence, 1807-1875, and undated, genealogical notes, and memoirs of Emily Ward, both undated.

Except for one original letter dated Aug. 23, 1850, the Family Papers consist of typed transcripts of family genealogical notes, family correspondence, and the undated memoirs of Emily Ward, sister of Eber B. The correspondence, 1807-1875 and undated, is mostly between Ebe B.r; his father; his sister, Emily; and business associates. The correspondence discusses family news, business, traveling, fishing, and other business interests of Eber B. Ward and his son, Eber Ward, Jr.

The Clarke also has the published remonstrance concerning Eber B. Ward’s will (1875) and an account book from Jos. S. Stearns Lumber Company. Stearns worked early in life as an errand boy for Eber B. while the latter was President of the Pere Marquette Railroad. Eventually, Stearns married Catherine Lyon, Eber’s sister-in-law.

The papers are mostly Elias' business accounts and legal agreements. Also included are correspondence and accounts of his wife and daughter, Martha and Iola, with lawyers about Elias' estate.

The papers are organized by creator: Elias, Martha and Iola, and Smith Family, and then alphabetically and chronologically. Elias W. Smith’s papers mostly involve his business accounts and legal papers involving business agreements. Materials of his wife and daughter, Martha and Iola Smith, include correspondence and accounts, mostly with lawyers about his estate and debts.

Papers include his handwritten journals, written after and concerning the American civil war, especially the 30th Ohio Infantry, transcriptions, and other materials.

The collection is mostly composed of his handwritten (Personal Journal) volumes, documenting his life and the 30th Ohio Infantry, which were written after the war. Some volumes note the miles he traveled by railroad and steam boat (v. 4, v. 3). The early volumes note elections, his opinions and ideas about slavery, and pro- and anti-slave states politics. Also noted here are his trips back from Keokuk, Iowa, 1856, a trip to Wyandot, Kansas, 1858, and trips between Millersburg and Mount Vernon, Ohio, 1850-1860. The typed transcriptions are twentieth century and may have been done by past Clarke staff. The provenance of the collection is unknown. V. 2 Military History includes a history of Company I, 30th Ohio Infantry, handwritten addresses he gave in 1908-1909, and stories about Manistee County, Missionary Ridge, and the 36th and 4th Ohio Infantries. Two of his letters (1862, 1864) to his father were published in newspapers and are in the folder with newspaper clippings. Also in this folder are speeches he wrote for veterans reunions at Bear Lake, Michigan, 1909-1910, a speech about the Labor Question, 1892, and articles about soldiers and reunions of the 98th, 126th, and 30th Ohio Infantry regiments. His recopied early 1850 essays are also included.

Collection consists mostly of Crocker's scrapbooks, photographs, newspaper clippings (including some copies), broadsides, programs, advertisements, musical scores, and tradecards about Crocker's Educated Horses, Ponies, and Mules. Also included are many souvenir photographs of European sights and two tinted glass slides of Queen Victoria.

The Collection consists mainly of photographs, newspaper clippings, programs, advertisements, musical scores, trade cards, and broadsides about Crocker's Educated Horses. There are also many souvenir photographs of European sights. There are also two British patents No. 13, 958 in 1887 and No. 23, 307 1899 both related to horse bits. A copy of his published book is not in the Clarke.

Besides a number of articles advertising and critiquing his performance in a number of Crocker’s scrapbooks in the Clarke, there are also a number of article he wrote about the training of horses. He wrote a book, The Education of the horse, illustrated about six years after he came to Europe which was advertised to be published in Scotland and England. Also in the collection of his papers is handwritten musical scores for Crocker’s horses and mules for various instruments including: cornet, trombone, e-flat alto saxophone, bass, and violin. The music notes the barrel act, the handkerchief act, acts by various horses, and entry by mules. Obviously, Crocker was a busy man and successful showman of his era.