Collections

The collection documents several initiatives of the Office in agendas, meeting minutes, related materials, some reports, new releases, emails, and correspondence.

The collection documents several initiatives of the Provost’s Office when Richard Davenport was the Provost, under President Leonard Plachta in the 1990s and under President Mike Rao in 2001. The strategic initiatives include Academic Reorganization of CMU, 1994-1997, and the development and implementation of Core Values under the Steering Committee in 2001. The Strategic Planning Committee, 2001, is also documented. The collection consists of committee agendas, meeting minutes, attachments and related materials, some reports, news releases, emails, and correspondence. The 2009 website for the office was printed off and added to the collection. Also included is a list of provosts. The collection is in excellent physical condition. Materials are filed in chronological and then alphabetical order. This is the first collection from the Provost’s office to be transferred to the Clarke documenting the history of the department.

The papers consists of correspondence, photographs, publications, notes, and miscellaneous relating to Lathrop's experience with CCC camps in Michigan.

The collection includes materials relating to Lathrop’s experience with the CCC camps, particularly at Hoxeyville, Wellston, Camp Axin, Cadillac, Camp Sable River, Peacock, Camp Luzerne, Luzerne, Camp Hartwick Pines, Grayling, Camp Wolverine, Clarion, Camp Eldorado, Roscommon, Camp Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, Camp Sturgeon River, Foster City, Camp Black Lake, Rogers City, and at Camp Custer, Michigan.

The collection contains financial ledgers, accounts books, minutes, reports, legal materials, founding documents, and related materials.

The collection consists mostly of financial ledgers and account books, 1906-1961, undated (scattered), and also includes: meeting minutes, 1906-1957; reports, 1936-1961 (scattered); hearing transcripts and legal materials, 1938-1963 (scattered); founding documents, 1939 and undated; and related materials.

The collection is organized alphabetically and chronologically

Glass-plate negatives (76) include views of Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, businesses, steamboats, the Soo Locks, school children, parades, including a circus, and miscellaneous images, 1894, 1938, and undated.

The collection is organized by size first and then numerical order. There are 17 glass-plate negatives, each measuring approximately 8 inches by 10 inches, 24 glass-plate negatives, each measuring approximately 6.5 inches by 8.5 inches, and 35 glass-plate negatives, each measuring 5.5 inches x 7.5 inches.

The collection documents businesses (often two businesses are photographed on one plate), various steamers, the Soo Locks, notably Weitzel Lock, lock construction, school children, parades (6 images), of which one is a circus parade with elephants and camels, and a few miscellaneous topics, in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, 1894-1900s. Some of the images are dated with two dates, the later being 1938, when they were owned by Gordon Daun. Other images are undated, but they clearly date from the 1894-1900s period.

The descriptions of the negatives are from the original sleeves. Further notation, in square brackets, has been made by the Archivist when there was no original description, when the original description is insufficient to understand what the image is, or when negative is damaged. Abbreviations in the original descriptions are spelled out for ease of use by researchers.

Fifteen of the plates were badly crushed, broken into numerous pieces, or had emulsions that were severely damaged, in several cases peeling off so badly that it looked like a cat had shredded the image. Pat Thelen, Clarke digitizer, had a Herculean task to piece the images back together again and clean up as many problem spots as possible. The badly damaged negatives were withdrawn from the collection. The scanned copies are on a disc and printouts of the images are filed in the rear of Box 3 according to the size of the original plate, and then numerically. These printed images are the best images that could be created from the pitiful remains of the negatives.

Glass-plate negatives of images of daily life, leisure, architecture, and habits of life in Flint, Michigan, in the 1890s. Images of the Great Forepaugh Show (circus) are included.

The glass-plate negatives collection of Owen P. Safford consists of 4 boxes (.5 cubic ft. each). Although the images are undated, from the style of ladies’ clothing the date(s) of the collection appear to be the late 1890s. Two pages from a daily calendar (1897) indicates some relative date range of when the images were produced. All of the images are snapshots of daily life, leisure, architecture, and habits of the late 1890s.

Box 1 contains the calendar pages of 1897 as well as a wonderful Christmas scene of a decorated table-top tree complete with candles on the branches and surrounded by children. The images of children take up the bulk of Box 1 as portraiture seems to be a favorite subject for the photographer. Most notably it is in Folder 1 that the image of two boys, both in sailor suits while holding a toy sail boat, appear quite iconic of the period.

Box 2 contains the scenes of home life of the 1890s, complete with lace covered tea tables, heavy draperies, and richly patterned wallpapers. Images of horse drawn carriages as well as views of a farm yard can be found within Box 2, as well as a late nineteenth century circus. One image of the circus captures the lettering on the train car reading “Forepaugh Circus complete with elephants, camels, and a one-man-band,” identifies the circus as the Forepaugh Circus. Like most circuses, Forepaugh operated under various titles during its existence. It was the Adam Forepaugh Circus, 1878-1894, and the Adam Forepaugh and Sells Bros. Circus, 1896-1904. Extant circus routes for the circus show that during the 1890s the circus performed in the same Michigan cities in the summers of 1893 and 1899. The circus performed in Flint on July 25 1893 and on the same day in 1899. We assume that Safford photographed the circus when it was in Flint. (Circus route information is from the Circus Historical Society website viewed, April 17, 2013.) Note: the subject heading for Forepaugh is Great Forepaugh Show.

Box 3 contains the most fascinating images of late nineteenth century mechanical equipment, labeled “Machinery.” The two folders are comprised of a single machine whose purpose remains undiscovered by the processor. One image contained within the machinery negatives is specifications in German and per the translation of the title it appears to be a generator. Also within Box 3 is the folder labeled “Military,” which upon further investigation and consultation with the Director of Museum Studies and Maritime Historian, Dr. Jay Martin, the dating of the negative as well as location and subjects were made clear. The “Military” glass plate negative is that of a military band, probably from Antwerp, Belgium, given the uniforms of the men and the background architecture pictured. Besides this image of possible European provenance, there are a number of images in the collection of large European style buildings exteriors (in Box 1) and the interiors of churches or cathedrals (in Box 1). Whether Safford himself traveled to Europe and took these images, or collected the images taken by a friend who visited Europe is unknown. There is no documentation available proving he traveled. Box 3 also contains portraits which were primarily used to date the collection of the late 1890s given the abundance of ladies with iconic leg o’mutton sleeves, mourning wear, and fabulous hats of all kinds.

Box 4 contains a large amount of glass-plate negatives where the subject is a Regatta. Many types of sail boats from many angles are pictured. Other types of boats are contained within Box 4 as well, as various rowboats and a steamship are represented among the negatives. Scenes of forests, rivers, and streams make up the rest of Box 4.

Positive prints from scans were made of two images that were hard to identify from the negatives; one of the Antwerp Band in Box 3, and another of a view of a house photographed from underneath a bridge in Box 4. These prints were added to the collection.

His papers consist mainly of his research and genealogical files on Native Americans, particularly those in Michigan, notably 350 files (copies) from the National Archives, and also include his client files, diaries, and other materials. Box 26 is closaed until 2030 re: donor agreement.

The collection is composed of his accumulated reference files, client files, and writing, as some personal materials.

The reference files include copies of Probate Court files, commonly referred to as “350 files” from the National Archives, which are used extensively to prove tribal genealogy, lineage, and membership. The 350 files are in the original order that they were given to Keller by researcher Guy Fringer in 1994. A listing, by Fringer, precedes the files in the box. Additional reference files, largely photocopies, follow the 350 files in alphabetical order and concern the Keweenaw Bay and L’Anse Native American communities. Box 8 of the collection consists of user copies of all the 350 files. These files total 8 boxes of various sizes (4.5 cubic ft.).

A tape recording of oral interviews with Norman Landosky and Ron Douglas on August 1995, was used to create the report, A Micro model of leadership among the Ojibwa of south east Michigan and their descendants, 58 p. [89 p.].

Keller’s Native [American Research] Files, as he referred to them, consist of 4 boxes (2 cubic ft.) of copies of information which are organized by state and by topic. They largely relate to Michigan tribes, their issues and heritage, and Native American casino issues in general, although a variety of Native American topics both historic and current are covered. Most of these materials were compiled between 2000 and 2007 from newspapers, magazines, and Internet articles. Two publications (copies) of note by Charles Cleland-Report of the 19th Century History of the Saginaw, Black River, and Swan Creek Chippewa, 1992, and Theodore Karamanski-Isabella Indian reservation: A History of Allotment and Saginaw Chippewa, 1870-1934, 2007, the latter created for the Michigan Attorney General, are found in Box 21. There are also some research materials related to Caro local and church history. There are also some research materials related to Caro local and church history.

Also related to both his research and Native Files are a number of large binders of materials including Michigan tribe allotments, rolls, and research, New York tribes, partial copies of topical books, and genealogical reference materials, 3 boxes (3 cubic ft.).

His client files, 3 boxes (1.5 cubic ft.) include notes, emails, correspondence for genealogy research he conducted for his clients, mostly Native American genealogy for individuals to attain tribal membership. Correspondence in Box 26 is closed until 2030.

Keller’s diaries, 1969-2007, and his biographical materials folder, 5.5 boxes (approximately 2.5 cubic ft.) provide background on his life and interests. He later annotated the diaries covering his years at Albion college, 1969-1972, and that is found in a binder in Box 26.

Processing Notes: Various and numerous financial records, miscellaneous notes, duplicates, blanks, and out of scope published materials were removed from the collection (3 cubic ft.). Additionally, with the original Acc#72362, approximately 15 cubic ft. of publications, mainly out of scope genealogical newsletters were originally donated to the Clarke. Following his wishes, some publications were cataloged separately at the Clarke, some were transferred to specific genealogical research institutions, and the rest were disposed of.

The collection consists of correspondence between Parker and his friends during the Civil War, mostly Michigan men in Michigan units, and Parker's post-war business and Grand Army of the Republic correspondence.

About half of the papers consist of letters to Parker’s friends during the Civil War. In 1861, Charles C. Hopkins wrote of camping in Washington, Virginia, homesickness, and the climate and Chester Farrand wrote of crushing the Rebellion quickly.

In 1862, C.C. Hopkins wrote of fighting, the death of Chester Farrand, measles in camp, and mud; R.E. Trowbridge hoped the war would end soon; and George Hopkins wrote from a field hospital while Trowbridge wrote to Parker offering to help get Parker’s pay.

In 1863, George Hopkins wrote from the 17th Regiment, Michigan Infantry Camp located opposite Fredericksburg, about promotions and Henry P. Seymour wrote of his promotions in 27th Regiment, Michigan Infantry and Southern deserters. On April 5, 1863, Seymour reported the fall of Richmond. Oscar N. Castle described the 24th Regiment, Michigan Infantry’s actions at Fredericksburg. Henry Seymour, near Fairfax, Virginia, wrote of five months without pay, losing a commission, and measles.

In 1864, Frank Drake wrote from the U.S. gunboat, Undine, of the destruction of Paducah, skirmishes, and the Tennessee River. At the end of 1864, Henry Seymour wrote from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, of hard fights, prisoners, and losses.

In May 1865, Charles D. Smith wrote for help to be released from prison for desertion.

Also, there is an 1863 U.S. Army General Hospital Roll (Baltimore) which lists Parker.

The rest of the collection includes post-war business correspondence, 1866-1917; G.A.R. correspondence, 1888-1896; state laws concerning disabled veterans, 1883-1887; and the papers and photograph of Flemon Drake, 1835-1860, Parker’s father-in-law.

A letter press scrapbook, 1842, of Chester Stringham, a Detroit businessman, was used as a scrapbook by Parker. He used it for political science lecture clippings, 1868-1870. Lastly, there is an oversized folder with a list of men who served in Co. C of the 1st Regiment, Michigan, 5th District, another veterans group, in 1866.

The collection consists of Case’s Biographical Materials; Correspondence; Diaries; Date Books (mostly addresses); his Degrees; Class Record Books; Publications and Thesi, an Account Book; and Photographs and Maps of topics he researched, such as Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Beaver Island, Michigan. Also included are his Genealogical Materials and Family Photographs. Most of collection except for his research materials and Genealogical Materials date from 1919 to 1982.

The collection consists of Case’s Biographical Materials; Correspondence; Diaries; Date Books (mostly addresses); his Degrees; Class Record Books; Publications and Thesi, an Account Book; and Photographs and Maps of topics he researched, such as Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Beaver Island, Michigan. Also included are his Genealogical Materials and Family Photographs. Most of the collection except for his research materials and Genealogical Materials date from 1919 to 1982.

Moore's papers include his obituary, papers and correspondence with other professors about their collaborative research on petroleum in the Michigan Basin, photographs, of mostly World War II his service in India and himself, and postcards.

Papers (Box 1) include his Obituary, 2009; [published] Articles, 1981, 1984 and a Presentation, 1974; Correspondence with Professor Jeffrey A. Nunn and Philip A. Meyers about research, 1978-1985; and Oil Spring Project Research Materials, 1958, 1983. A few graphs are included with his research correspondence and published articles.

An addition to the collection (Box 2) includes: photographs, postcards, and unpublished papers. Most of the addition consists of World War II photographs (59) in sizes varying from 8 x 10 to 2.5 x 2.5 inches. Some of the photographs have emulsions flaking off, but the majority of the images are in good condition. These photographs document Moore in dress and work uniforms, at Scott's Field, Belleville, Ill., in Fla. and in India. The images include other American servicemen, his unidentified girlfriend, natives of India, including musicians, camels, rickshaws, buildings, tents, a row of toilet holes and a row of tubs sitting on the ground without pipes. Some of the images include dates, 1942 or 1944-1945, but all are from this time period except for two modern colored images, one of a street in India, 1999, and a color image of a map of Burma, undated [1999?]. The papers include materials he wrote and researched or compiled on oil exploration of the Lower Tuscaloosa in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi in 1958 and 1969. Postcards of Port Elizabeth (South Africa) are also included.

The collection consists of Osborn's personal work and research correspondence, notes, and data, proposals, photographs, reports, and published articles related to his work on the Coleman Meteorite, Hubble Space Telescope and at the National Underground Research Observatory (NURO) at Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff (Ariz.), teaching materials, and biographical information.

The collection is divided into three series: Osborn Papers; CMU Materials; and CMU Physics Department Materials.

The Osborn Papers, 1965-2012, and undated, (2 cubic ft.) consist mainly of his personal work and research correspondence, notes, and data, published articles, teaching materials, and biographical information. Included here are his research proposals, reports, notes, articles, photographs and other related materials on the Coleman Meteorite, and his research projects at both the Hubble Space Telescope and at NURO. Also in this series are his correspondence with Dr. Francisco Fuenmayor and Dr. Antonio Luis Cardenas, both of the Universidad de Los Andes in Merida, Venezuela, 2000-2001 and 1970-1976, respectively, and his correspondence with Juan Jose Claria, 1979-1979. Osborn worked with Claria at the Venezuelan National Observatory, 1973-1976. Claria later became the Director of the National Astronomical Observatory in Cordoba, Argentina. The Claria correspondence is in Spanish.

The CMU Materials, 1959, 2006, (approximately 1 cubic ft.) consists mainly of memos, meeting minutes, reports, and other materials of a substantial nature documenting changes in policy, procedure or interests at CMU that Osborn received while working at CMU. Of note here is the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Report and Assessment, 2000.

The CMU. Physics Department Materials, 1968-2006 (approximately 3.5 cubic ft.), consist mainly of various departmental and other meeting minutes, 1972-2006. Included here are student manuals and study guides for CMU astronomy and physics classes, mainly taught by Osborn, 1976-2005 (Scattered). All of the manuals and guides are by Osborn unless otherwise noted. They include sample class presentation notes, quizzes, study guides, and exams. There are also a few materials he received or helped generate, such as the Off-Campus Observatory Proposal and Study, 1968-1976, Colloquia and Seminar Notes, 1980-2006, and various Department Program Reviews, 1981-1998 (Scattered), and Proposals. A few miscellaneous departmental materials complete the collection.

Processing Notes: Over the years, many of Osborn’s Physics Dept. donations were filed into the Clarke’s CMU Vertical Files for the Physics Dept. With his last donation, all the Physics Dept. files he had donated in the last ten years were merged with his papers. A number of CMU. Faculty Association newsletters, the Courier, were merged into the existing CMU. Faculty Association collection and two OMB reports were merged into the CMU. Miscellaneous Financial Collection. Duplicate materials, mainly minutes, were recycled.