Collections

Papers include notes and papers written about the early history of Detroit, biographical materials, and correspondence.

The collection includes many undated notes and papers Campbell wrote about the early history of Detroit, Michigan. Some Correspondence, 1823-1881, undated (2 folders), and one folder each of Deeds, 1852 (not Campbell’s) and Biographical Material (copy), undated, complete the collection. Among the more noteworthy Mich. correspondents are Governor K. C. Bingham (April 22, 1857 letter to Campbell re: the position of Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court), and Charles C. Trowbridge, (letters to Campbell August 21, 1877 and September 7, 1881 re: the safekeeping of historical documents).

There is also an 1870 copy of a 1823 letter by John R. Williams to Fr. Gabriel Richard criticizing Richards for “meddling with political affairs.”

Papers include: awards and certificates of appreciation, biographical information, information concerning the Fulbright scholarship and Fulbright-Kommission conference, photographs, and plaques.

Papers, 1988-2017 (scattered), and undated, include: awards and certificates of appreciation, biographical information, information concerning the Fulbright scholarship and Fulbright-Kommission conference, photographs, and plaques. The collection is organized by format and size, alphabetically and chronologically.

Processing Note: Less than .25 cubic foot of material (duplicates, peripheral materials) was withdrawn during processing.

The collection, 1997-2016 (scattered), and undated, consists of materials printed in 2019 from 3 DVDs, documenting information about the Pine River Superfund Citizen Task Force (CAG), and material related to the PBB contamination of cattle feed by Velsicol Chemical in the 1970s in Michigan, with a focus on contamination of St. Louis. The 2020 Addition Acc#76923 includes Boxes 13-20 and one Oversized Folder, 2003-2004, 2006, 2011-2016. Most of the contents includes investigative and final reports on the ecological, water supply, and human health risks in St. Louis related to the Velsicol Superfund Site, cleanup proposals and remedial action investigation report and contracts for the same site, including one specifically for the golf course, previously the Velsicol Burn Pit. Allergy Note: Please note Boxes 13-20 and the Oversized Folder have a musty or mildew smell to them.

Allergy Note: Please note Boxes 13-20 and the Oversized Folder have a musty or mildew smell to them.

The collection, 1997-2011 (scattered), and undated, consists of materials printed in 2019 from 3 DVDs, documenting information about the Pine River Superfund Citizen Task Force (CAG), and material related to the PBB contamination of cattle feed by Velsicol Chemical in the 1970s in Michigan, with a focus on contamination of St. Louis. CAG materials compose the majority of the collection (5.75 cubic feet in 12 boxes). The CAG documents were either generated on a computer or scanned and retained in a computer. They include newspaper clippings, meeting agendas, memos, meeting minutes, emails, journal articles, event posters, handwritten notes, financial records, and member rosters. The PBB and Velsicol documents include newspaper articles about the contamination. Copies of a few earlier references from the 1960s are included. Also included are copies of two DVDs that contain videotaped interviews of two CAG members, Jane Keon and Melissa Strait by Comcast Newsmakers, 2008. These interviews were also accessible, as of 2019, on the CAG Facebook page. The topic is the receipt of the Carter Partnership Award by the CAG and Alma College. Melissa Strait was a member and chair of the chemistry department at Alma College. Copyright of the DVDs is unknown, likely held by Comcast Newsmakers. The collection is organized according to original order.

This is the only collection documenting the CAG and its efforts to attain federal government recognition of the contamination in the St. Louis area and fund its remediation. Until the CAGs efforts began to make national news, there was minimal effort to document the tragedy outside of those directly impacted by it. Michigan’s PBB tragedy was largely forgotten. The CAGs efforts re-energized awareness of the tragedy. As a result, Alma College, Central Michigan University, University of Michigan, and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, faculty, staff and students began to document, collect and preserve primary source materials for future researchers, including ongoing health issues of effected people of the tragedy. Without the CAGs efforts, St. Louis would remain an undocumented major national toxic site.

The 2020 Addition Acc#76923 includes Boxes 13-20 and one Oversized Folder, 2003-2004, 2006, 2011-2016. Most of the contents includes investigative and final reports on the ecological, water supply, and human health risks in St. Louis related to the Velsicol Superfund Site, cleanup proposals and remedial action investigation report and contracts for the same site, including one specifically for the golf course, previously the Velsicol Burn Pit. Authors of the reports include CDM Smith; CH2M Hill; Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr and Huber, Inc.; Michigan Department of Environmental Quality; Weston Solutions of Michigan, Inc. (sometimes their name on reports is typed as Weston Solutions Inc. of Michigan). Also included is the draft chapters and list of chapters of Keon’s book Tombstone Town: Left for dead, marked with a tombstone, a toxic town fights back, 2015, which includes more detailed information than what was included in the book. The addition is organized in alphabetical order by creator name, then by title. Most of the materials were in large binders originally and were foldered retaining the order of the binder contents.

Processing Note: Two DVDs were copied that contain videotaped interviews of two CAG members, and the originals were returned to donor as per the donor’s request. One W2 found in the collection, which contained a personal social security number, was removed from the collection.

Jean B. Mayhew Collection includes biographical materials (copies), two of her undated papers, published papers (reprints) about her work and teaching, a three-quarter-inch umatic (videocassette) excerpt of a TV Speech 101 Demo Lecture she gave at the National Speech Association Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, 1964, and a 2-inch quad tape of CMU TV footage of her speaking, 1962-1964, probably in her Speech 101 classes. .

The collection includes biographical materials (copies), two of her undated papers, published papers (reprints) about her work and teaching, a ¾-inch umatic (videocassette) excerpt of a TV Speech 101 Demo Lecture she gave at the National Speech Association Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, 1964, and a 2-inch quad tape of CMU TV footage of her speaking, 1962-1964, probably in her Speech 101 classes. Please note: The Clarke does not currently possess equipment to play the recordings.

This collection is composed of business, financial and personal correspondence.

This is 27th series of the J.E. Howard collection to be processed. It is arranged by topic, in chronological and then alphabetical order. The collection is completely composed of loose correspondence directed to James E. Howard while he was treasurer of the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad Company, as well as the Chicago and West Michigan Railway. Letters are both of a business, financial, and personal nature. Correspondence are with other railroads, businesses, organizations, and various servicemen, as well as within the company itself. There is also a small sampling of notes requesting employment, checks, or references, which are good representations of the time period.

Business letters include, a list made by the D.L. and N.R.R. of businesses and people who were considered reliable and “good” to extend credit to (Box 1). There are also two well-documented instances of safes at the D.L. and N. R.R. stations being broken into and their money bags stolen. Letters explain the thefts as well as the process of having the safes repaired (Box 2). Thefts on the trains are also documented. Among the D.L. and N.R.R. correspondence there is a letter from a W.H. Maxwell, regarding a Mr. Young who seems to be cheating the company in some way. The issue is referred to the legal department (Box 4).

There is also a small sampling of “Red Ticket” requests. Red Tickets refer to the colloquial present day “pink slip.” When an employee was let go he would receive his final pay slip, or a Red Ticket. The employee would then present the ticket for payment. Any company issued material- lanterns, keys, uniforms- would have to be returned before payment was given.

A list of Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit Railroad buildings and their costs, as well as, a balance sheet comparing running expenses of the D.L. and N.R.R. for 1886 and 1887 (Box 1) are among some of the collection’s financial letters. Box 3 documents the Panic of 1893. The panic of 1893 was a serious economic depression in the United States and was marked by the overbuilding and shaky financing of railroads, resulting in a series of bank failures.

Box 4 consists of letters and references following the Panic of 1893, and how Howard and the railroads were trying to find new banks to conduct business with.

Howard also served as treasurer for Kalamazoo College and the Baptist Convention in the later part of the nineteenth century. The collection includes correspondence from current and possible students of the college asking for loan information, as well as notes from contributors to the college. The collection also includes correspondence from the Baptist Ministry Society informing Howard of the progress of the new boiler for one of their homes, and the attempts to get members of the church to donate for it (Box 1).

Notable correspondence includes a letter from the Detroit International Fair and Exposition held in September of 1889 (Box 1), verifying vouchers and coupons for the company, and an 1893 World’s Fair watermarked note (Box 4). There are also several letters, spanning the series, informing Howard of cattle and other animal deaths on the railways, and the reimbursements made to the owners after the carcasses were sold. There is a letter from 1888 stating the concern of representation by accountants of the committee canvassing the question of a “National Association of Railway Accounting Officers,” which was to address railways having uniform accounts (Box 1). There are also several letters from the U.S. War Department and U.S. Treasury, referencing payment to Howard for the transport of recruiting officers and undisclosed freight on behalf of the government. As these events took place during 1894 it is believed that the men and materials were a part of the Spanish-American War effort (Box 4). Howard was subpoenaed for the case of “People vs. Lester L. Sweet.” The case appears to have been centered on the validity of a check handled by an agent, Lester Sweet. Many of the letters to Howard ask about the location of a Mr. Newton. Letters about the case were sent from 1889 to 1890.

Notable personal correspondence includes letters from the Michigan Asylum for the Insane in Kalamazoo. The letters detail the care of a Harry Van Vleck (Box 1 and 2). This relationship, if any, to Howard is unknown. The Clarke also houses a collection of a Henry Van Vleck, a Civil War soldier from Kalamazoo County (Mich.), who may be a relative.

Researchers may also be interested in the J.E. Howard Michigan Railroads Business Records, also available at the Clarke Historical Library.

Processing Note: During processing approximately 3 cubic feet of materials, mainly receipts, invoices, or materials which were copied and the copies retained, were withdrawn from the collection.

This collection is composed mostly of financial and business records, as well as some minutes, agreements, and reports, of numerous Michigan railroad and railway companies.

This collection consists mainly of various types of accounting and financial records, as well as some legal records (copies), of the Chicago and West Michigan Railway (CandWMRy) and the DLandNRR, and similar records of smaller Michigan railroads that were eventually purchased by the larger RRs. These records came from the office of J. E. Howard, Esq., who worked as the Assistant Treasurer and Paymaster of the larger RRs from 1886 through 1893. He was also the Assistant Treasurer and Paymaster of the Saginaw Valley and St. Louis RR between 1889 and 1897, and by 1894, the Paymaster of these three major railroads. Beginning in 1901, he was the Chief Clerk of the PMRR, so records of the PMRR and the Flint and Pere Marquette RR are also in the collection. Miscellaneous coupons of various street-railroad companies, mostly of Michigan, but also including other nearby states, are also included in the collection, as are Miscellaneous Railroad Materials, including records of railroad-related companies, and truly Miscellaneous Materials.

Please note that “Way Bills” is spelled several different ways throughout the collection finding aid, just as it is on the various types of way bills in the collection.

Series 1) the Bay City Belt Line RR, includes Bills, Proxies, 1889-1892, undated; and Correspondence re: a contract, 1892 (1 folder total, letter-size).

Series 3) the Chicago and West MI Railway (CandWMRy) is one of the largest series in the collection. It consists of approximately 12.5 cubic ft. of letter-size records, approximately 1 cubic ft. of legal-size records, and 136 oversized volumes. The main sub-series of the CandWMRR include: Audits, 1898; Bill for Lawyers, 1890; Books of Stock Certificates, 1879-1898 (approximately 4 cubic ft.); Correspondence, 1878-1898 (Scattered); Dock Pay Rolls, 1899; Garnishees, 1889-1900 (approximately 7 cubic ft.); Letter Pressbooks, 1890-1898 (1 cubic ft.); Notices of Meetings, 1899; Proxies, 1882-1884; and Stock Certificates, 1881-1899 (7 folders). Oversized volumes (136) include: Bill Registers, 1880-1891; Cash Books, 1879-1883; Cash Received Books, 1883-1898; Collection Books, 1892-1896; Daily Remittance Books, 1897-1899; Disbursements, 1883-1898; Index to Bill Register, undated; Paymaster’s Drafts Issued, 1888-1889; and Pay Roll Books (the bulk of the oversized volumes), 1881-1899 and 1905. Pay Roll Books include Detroit, Lansing and Northern RR (DLandNRR) from August 1889 on, and the Saginaw Valley and St. Louis RR from 1891 on.

Series 4) consists of materials that have the combined letterhead of the Chicago and West MI Railway and the Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western RR (DGRandWRR). This includes [letter-size] Pay Orders, 1898 (1 folder), and Receipts for the salary of Charles Merriam, Treasurer of the CandWMRR and DLandNRR, 1877-1890 (Scattered) (1 folder). Also included are [legal-size] Deductions from Pay for the CandWMRR/ DGRandWRR, 1897-1898 (24 folders).

Series 5) is [letter-size] Correspondence, 1895-1899 (approximately 2 cubic ft.), written or typed on the combined letterhead of the CandWMRR and the DLandNRR.

Series 6) the Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western RR (DGRandWRR) includes: Audits, 1898-99, Books of Stock Certificates, 1897-1899; Discharge Tickets, 1890-1900 (examples); Drafts, 1897,1899; Mortgages Certificates, 1897; and Garnishees, 1897-1900 (the bulk of the series) (approximately 1 cubic ft. total.) The Garnishees are filed in numerical order, and include those for both the DGRandWRR and DLandNRR (.25 cubic ft.), which were originally interfiled. The Garnishees for CandWMRR are a completely separate numerical sequence, and not part of the DGRandWRR Garnishees. Oversized volumes (6) include: Cash Received Book, 1897-1898; Daily Remittance Books, 1897-1900; and Disbursements, 1897-1898.

Series 7) the Detroit, Lansing and Lake MI RR includes an Indenture, Second Mortgage, 1874 (1 v. in 1 folder, letter-size) and Mortgage Foreclosures, 1876-1877(1 folder, legal-size). Oversized volumes (22) include: Bond Transfers Books, 1873-1876 and 1897; various Cash Books, 1871-1876; Ledgers of Second Mortgage Bonds, 1873-1876; Pay Rolls, 1871/2 and 1874/5; Vouchers, including an Index and Register, 1873-1878 and undated.

Series 8) the Detroit, Lansing and Northern RR (DLandNRR), includes various financial records (totaling approximately 6.5 cubic ft.) including: (letter-size) Accounts, 1877-1878; Audits, 1891, 1893, and 1896; a Bill for Layers, 1887; lists of Board of Directors/ Stockholders, 1884-1890 (Scattered); Bond Coupons (Examples), 1897-1895; Books of Stock Certificates, 1877-1898 (8 v.); Correspondence, 1889, 1891-1892; Drafts, 1889-1890s; and Garnishees, 1892-1897 (approximately 2 cubic ft.). Also included are a Plan of Reorganization, Subscribers, 1896-1899, and undated, (13 folders); Promissory Notes, 1874-1889; Proxies, 1884-1894 (Scattered); Receipt of Salary, 1894 for J. E. Howard; Reorganization Receipts and Receipt Books, 1894-1897 (9 folders); Reports of Work Done by Working Train, 1890-1891, 1900; Stock Certificate, undated; Vouchers, 1899 (approximately 1.5 cubic ft.). Legal-size materials include: Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 1880 and 1883 (Scattered); and an Annual Meeting Announcement, 1891; and Mortgage Foreclosures, 1895-1896, and 1898. Oversized volumes (38) include: a Bond Transfers Book,1878-1896; Cash Received Books, 1877-1896; Collection Record Books, 1882-1896; Disbursements, 1883-1896; Ledgers of Bonds, 1877-1881 and 1907; Pay Master’s Bank Account, 1888-1892; and Vouchers and related Index, 1878-1884.

Series 9) consists of correspondence and bills re: damaged freight (fruit/candy), 1887-1888 (1 folder, letter-size) on the combined letterhead of the DLandNRR and the Saginaw Valley and St. Louis RR.

Series 10) is the Detroit, Lansing and Northern System, which includes Reorganization Receipt Books (3 v., in 3 folders, legal-size), 1896, and oversized volumes (4) with the same title, 1894-1899.

Series 11), the Flint and Pere Marquette RR (FandPMRR), includes: [letter-size] Broken Rail Reports, 1899-1900; Correspondence, 1878 and 1901 (Scattered); Pay Orders, 1899 (very scattered) (1 folder each); [legal-size] Monthly Report Ties Received, 1900-1901 (scattered) (1 folder) and Way Bills, 1880 and 1895 (3 folders). Oversized folders include Bonds and Coupons, 1860-1891. Oversized volumes (16) include: Bonds, for the FandPMRR and Flint and Holly RR (FandHRR), 1860-1891; Dividend Book, 1881-1884, Interest Coupons Paid and Canceled for various bonds including the FandHRR, 1863-1891; and Bond Registers, 1868 and undated.

Series 12) the Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit RR (GRLandDRR) includes: a list of the Board of Directors, 1889; Bond Coupons, 1884; a Bond Receipt, 1887; Proxies, 1889; Subscribers Information, 1887 (7 folders total, letter-size). Also included are Board of Directors’ Meeting Minutes, 1880 and 1888, and Mortgage Foreclosures, 1895-1896 (1 folder each, legal-size). A Transfer Ledger and Register, 1887-1896 (1 oversized v.) completes the collection.

Series 13) the Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore RR, consists of Cash Books, 1871-1877 and 1881 forward (3 oversized v.).

Series 14) the Grand Rapids, Northern and Lake Shore RR, consists of Accounts, 1888-1890 (Scattered, 1 folder, legal-size).

Series 15) the Ionia and Lansing RR, includes Bond Coupons (Examples), 1881-1889 (Scattered) and Bond Transfers, 1897-1900 (2 folders total, letter-size). Oversized volumes (9) include various Bond, Cash, and Mortgage Books, and a Pay Roll, 1867-1899.

Series 16) the Michigan Central RR Company (MCRR), includes an Agreement with the CandMLS RR and the MCRR, 1876 (legal-size), and a Preliminary Survey of the Paw Paw Valley Railroad, undated, which was part of the MCRR. Oversized volumes (4) include: Account Books, 1846-1875 (2 v.), Cash Totals Book, 1866-1870, and a Ledger, 1878-1880. Other Oversized materials include Telegraph Reports from the Allegan Division, 1912 (1 Oversized folder) and #7 Jackson County Right-of-way and Track Map, 1918 (a rolled, torn item).

Series 17) the Milwaukee, Benton Harbor and Columbus Railway, consists of 1897 Consolidation Agreements between the St. Joseph Valley Railway Company and the Benton Harbor and Southeastern Railway Company.

Series 18) the Pere Marquette RR, includes various Accounts, Reports, Requisitions, and Way Bills, largely for the Collins Station. Many of the Reports were required, standardized forms used by the US Railroad Administration, which nationalized the railroad companies during World War I. The records total 13 folders (letter-size) and 12 folders (legal-size), 1900-1902, 1905, 1916-1920, and undated. Oversized volumes (4) include: Collins Station Local Sales Record, 1920; Check Stubs; 1903-1905; Detail of Collection Account Book; 1900-1901; and Record of Remittances, 1900.

Series 19) the Saginaw and Grand Rapids RR, includes Board of Directors/ Stockholders Materials, Lists, a Bill of the published notice of a meeting, Proxies, and Stock Transfers, 1879, 1884-1891 (Scattered) (5 folders total, all but one of which is letter-size).

Series 20) the Saginaw and Western RR (SandWRR), includes the same subseries as the SandGRRR, 1883-1890 and 1892 (4 folders total, all but one is letter-size). A Voucher Transfer Ledger and Register, 1885-1896 (1 Oversized v.) completes the collection.

Series 21) consists of Mortgage Foreclosures, 1895-1896 (1 folder, legal-size) which have the combined letterhead of the SandWRR and the GRLandDRR.

Series 22) the Saginaw Valley and St. Louis RR, includes some Board of Directors/Stockholders Materials, Lists, Proxies, financial information, and Mortgage Foreclosures, 1883-1896, but the majority of the subseries is Pay Rolls, Time Sheets, Pay Orders, Receipts of Pay, lists and accounts of Boarders, and Pay Roll Totals of RR employees, 1871-1878 (approximately 2.5 cubic ft.). Oversized volumes (5) are either Cash or Coupon books, 1879-1896.

Series 23) is materials of unidentified railroads, including a Statement of Engineering Expenses on the West Branch, 1880 and a Railroad Mileage /Tickets Account Book, 1875-1876 (Indexed).

Series 24) the White River RR, includes various materials, mostly related to its dissolution, including Stock Certificates, Stockholders Lists, Pay Orders of Dividends, Accounts, and Bills for the lawyers, 1879-1884, and undated (4 folders of letter-size and two of legal-size materials).

Series 25) Miscellaneous RR Materials, include: the Detroit and Grand Rapids Account Books of J. E. Howard concerning the Estate of Albert S. Austin (d. 1888?) (3 v., letter-size); the Central Traffic Association, General Expense Statement, February 1889, which statistically documents the financial status and business of many different railroads (1 folder, letter-size); and Check Stub Books of the Charlevoix Improvement Company and the Michigan Equipment Company, Limited, both of which were probably holding companies for railroad companies. The books of the Charlevoix Improvement Company include Canceled Checks at 4th National Bank, 1897-1899 (6 v., legal-size), and those of the Michigan Equipment Co., Ltd., include blank checks with Old Colony Trust Co., Boston, or 2nd National Bank, Boston, 1892-1893 and 1902 (two v., legal-size). Lastly, the West Michigan Lumber Co. is represented by vague By-laws, 1879, and Board of Directors’ Meeting Minutes, 1879-1881 (1 folder, legal-size).

Series 26) truly Miscellaneous Materials, consists solely of the Notary Public Certificate of Melancthan D. Woodford, 1876 (letter-size). His relationship to the collection is at present unknown.

Processing Notes: Howard grouped materials by format, record types (ex. Audits, Drafts, etc.), in numerical and chronological order, and by the name of the railroad, keeping loose papers together, usually tri-folded in office boxes. Oversized volumes were apparently filed in a similar manner, separately from the papers.

The collection is organized first by loose manuscript materials in boxes (letter-size records first, then legal-size records), and Oversized volumes. Within each of these size formats, materials are organized alphabetically by the names of railroad companies, then alphabetically by type of record, and then chronologically.

For example: Box 1: CandWM RR Accounts; Agreement; Books of Stock, 1895, 1896, 1898. Pay Roll Box 2: DLandNRR Accounts; Bills; Correspondence. Oversized Volumes: CandWMRy Accounts Pay Rolls; DLandNRR Accounts Pay Rolls Stock Certificates

Fire Damage: At some point, the building housing Howard’s records must have burned because many of the records are scorched. A substantial number of records in the collection are quite yellowed, brittle, and acidic. Some of the volume covers have bird poop on them, while others are detached from the volumes, as are some of the spine covers.

There is a lot of financial and business correspondence between Howard and C. L. Gunn, Esq., who was the Assist Treasurer of the CandWMRy, and U. B. Rogers, who was the Auditor of the CandWMRy, the DLandNRR, and the SVandSLRR. There is also some material related to Charles Merriam who was the Treasurer of the RR in Boston.

The collection, 1917, 2011 and undated, includes materials created by Hughes documenting his life and radio career, as well as material he collected on topics of interest to him, such as radio and aspects of Michigan history. Of particular note are materials documenting his correspondence and subsequent citations in newspaper articles about his SQL with Jonestown, Guyana.

The collection, 1917, 2011 and undated, includes materials created by Hughes documenting his life and radio career, as well as material he collected on topics of interest to him, such as radio and aspects of Michigan history. Of particular note are materials documenting his correspondence and subsequent citations in newspaper articles about his SQL with Jonestown, Guyana, in August-September 1978.

Materials documenting Hughes’ life include biographical materials (obituaries), his communication with Michigan radio stations, his funeral visitors book, honors, correspondence and some (not general tourism) materials of the Grand Hotel (Mackinac Island, Mich.), communications with his niece, Pat Potter, photographs, plaques, radio scripts, reports (his on cassette), and his World War II service medals and photograph. Oversized materials include biographical and legal materials, and honors (certificates).

Michigan historical materials include: general Michigan history materials, placemats, and postcards, a compilation of police badges, and photographs of Mount Pleasant Schools. The photographs include: Old Kinney School, second grade, 1917-1918, Miss Carey, teacher; Mount Pleasant High School, 6th grade, 1921-1922, Miss May O’Hara, teacher; and the Mount Pleasant High School Golf Team, 1950. Some of the people in these photographs are identified. Also included is his official letter donating centennial newspaper editions to the Clarke in 1975.

In August 1978 Hughes and some other radio enthusiasts were at the Isabella County Fair when they contacted Guyana and talked to a man named Wes in the medical unit of an agricultural project. Soon afterwards, Hughes received a postcard stamped Peoples Temple Agricultural/Medical Project noting "Thanks for the QSL. This is a very beautiful country. The people are very friendly to the USA. They are doing a great job and appreciate whatever encouragement offered. Best wishes to you and yours." Albert Touchette, Jonestown, Guyana, WB6 M1D/8R3. Tochette noted "letter follows."

The follow-up letter, on Peoples Temple letterhead, dated September 11, 1978, was sent to Hughes by Richard D. Tropp, Staff Assistant. In the letter, Tropp hoped the QSL was received. He enclosed some brochures (no longer with the collection, which Hughes photocopied) and hoped they provide good reading. Tropp noted their founder was the Rev. Jim Jones. Tropp thanked Hughes for his interest in their work and noted amateur radio operators had saved lives there and contributed to their success. Tropp closed by wishing Hughes good luck.

On November 18, 1978, 918 people including 304 children under the age of eighteen, died in or near Jonestown. Jones' staff killed U.S. Congressman Leo J. Ryan, three news people and a disenchanted member of the Temple who had sought, with others, to leave with the help of the Ryan. Then, Jones and over 900 of his followers killed themselves.

After the mass suicide/murder, Hughes realized the significance of his connection and was interviewed for an article published in the Morning Sun, November 21, 1978. The story was picked up by the Associated Press on November 20th and CMLife on December 4th. Copies of the articles are in the collection.

For more information and primary and secondary sources about the tragic event, the aftermath, see Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple, a website compiled by San Diego State University at http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/ According to the site, Tropp, a teacher age 36, and his sister, and Albert, age 24, who was in charge of the radio room, Albert's mother, siblings and part of his maternal extended family all died at Jonestown.

Processing Note: During processing 2.5 cubic feet of material was withdrawn including duplicates, mass produced and out-of-state or out-of-scope radio station materials and publications. A lot of this material was correspondence noting someone had turned in and communicated with or information about non-Michigan radio stations. Duplicates of the Mount Pleasant High School yearbooks were donated to Mount Pleasant High School. Five items were separately cataloged.

The collection consists of two series: the papers of Joan Memering, including biographical materials, Cambodia Project materials and related materials, Central Michigan University(CMU) materials, and newspaper articles, most of which she researched and wrote; and the papers of her husband, Dean Memering, documenting his career teaching in CMU's English Department, and his biographical materials .

The collection is divided into the following series: Willard D. “Dean” Memering papers (.5 cubic ft., 1 box); and Joan Shipers Memering papers, 1969-2006 (Scatterd) and undated is the rest of the collection.

Dean’s papers, 1971-2006 (Scattered), and undated, mainly document his teaching experience in the Department of English at CMU, and his Biographical Materials. Biographical Materials for both Memerings includes obituaries, resumes, photographs, and other relevant materials.

Joan’s papers are divided into the following series: Biographical Materials (1 folder); Cambodia Project Materials and Cambodia Related Materials, 1978-2003, and undated (approximately 5 cubic ft. in 9 boxes, 1 folder); CMU Materials, 1983-1992 (Scattered), and undated (.25 cubic ft. in 1 box); and Newspaper Articles, 1975-1995 (Scattered, copies (.25 cubic ft. in 1 box). At the end of the collection there is a folder about Polish refugees coming to Mount Pleasant that includes two newspaper articles (copies) and a photograph [1982].

Of prime interest to researchers are the Cambodia Project Materials, 1978-2003, and undated. These include: Joan’s notes, drafts of oral interviews she conducted with Cambodian refugees, the transcriptions of the taped interviews, some of the tapes, notecards, and drafts and outlines of chapters she wrote for her book, as well as notes on Cambodian vocabulary, family names, and history chronologies of Cambodia. The transcriptions and notes painfully and vividly document the horrors of Cambodia during the 1970s, the horrific suffering of its people, and the various traumas and challenges faced by the refugees. Cambodians who were interviewed by Joan included men [Train] Chit, Meng Leng [Phou], Heng Suy Keang, and a woman, Nay or Ing May. Photographs of the refugees and their families during the 1982-2003, and undated are also included although many are unidentified.

Also in this series is the only extant documentation of the Mid-Michigan Refugee Action Committee, Joan’s notebook with various loose attachments and correspondence includes a list of the churches in Mount Pleasant who sponsored refugees in 1979 and information about the refugees. Richard C. Train and Family were sponsored by St. Mary’s University Parish; an unidentified couple by the Millbrook United Methodist Church; the Heng Suy Keang family by the First Church of Christ; the Gau Cheng Sun family by the First United Methodist Church; and the Lim Chhun Fa family by Sacred Heart Parish.

Another item of interest in the series is the English/Chinese/Khmer Translation Phrase Book, undated. It was designed for practical use in everyday communication for the new refugees. Also, there is material of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services program (1 folder), with which Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mount Pleasant was involved. They sponsored refugees before 1979.

The Cambodia Related Materials, 1969-2003 (Scattered) and undated, include Joan’s research notes and materials which she compiled from a variety of secondary sources on Indochina including the Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER), Indochina Issues, Indochina Newsletter, and the Phon Penh Post, maps of Southeast Asia, and various BBC Broadcasts re: Cambodia. Joan’s correspondence, to/from/or about Cambodian refugees and or about her book is also found here.

Also of interest in this series is a term paper entitled “My Father: the Refugee” by Michael Phou, son of Meng Leng Phou, with a CD and letter to his “Aunt Joan”, 2003. Michael visited Joan to find out more about his father’s life from her notes, transcriptions, and tapes. In his paper, Michael describes how the Memerings were considered family members by Meng Leng Phou’s extended family because of all that they had done to help his family come to and adjust to life in America. Meng Leng had eventually settled in California, but the bonds between the two families remained very strong. Michael’s paper clearly documents that prior to conducting his research about Meng Leng, he did not understand what his father had endured and was quite horrified and saddened to discover the truth while he was also very proud of his father’s ability to adapt to American culture and speak flawless English.

The Newspaper Articles Joan wrote, 1975-1995 (Scattered, copies), include some articles about Cambodian refugees, Vietnam, and many other diverse local topics. There are also some clippings she collected about Cambodia/ns and Vietnam/ese or Vietnam veterans that she did not write but obviously used for research purposes.

Box 12 includes Oral History Transcriptions of Joan’s interviews with Train Chit, organized into four typed volumes, 1982-1983.

Processing Notes: Most of the collection has a musty smell. While no signs of mold were found during processing, researchers with allergies or asthma should be careful while using the collections.Duplicates and materials of peripheral value were returned to the donor. Books written by Dean and about Cambodia in the collection were separately cataloged.

Records of the committee, underground newspapers, newsletters, materials of other college and anti-war or protest movements, 8-mm "Moratorium" film, pamphlet, and videotape copy.

The collection includes records of the committee, such as accounts, minutes, underground newspapers, and newsletters. It also includes related materials of other colleges, anti-war efforts, and radical, pro-labor, or anti-war literature and copies of newspapers and newspaper clippings.

The “How Many More” 16-mm film by De Bolt includes a pamphlet inside the film canister. The film documents events at CMU including 4,000 protestors at Finch Fieldhouse and 5,000 people marching through the streets of Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Both events occurred on October 15, 1969. A November 14, 1969 memorial service, teach in at Ferris State College is document, as well as another rally at Finch with 500 people, and loading busses for marches in Washington, D.C., on November 15, 1969. There are also national shots and period protest songs. The film was created via grant funds CMU was awarded. The original film was re-edited after it “migrated” to a New York (State) University, where it still resides. A VCR tape of the film is available.

An 8-mm untitled film footage of the 1970 student occupation of Main Hall, the old Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) building is also included. An information card resides with the film footage.

The papers include biographical materials, legal and financial papers, correspondence, maps, ephemera, and diaries.

The John Ball Family Papers consist of legal and financial records, correspondence, essays, ephemera, and diaries, largely but not entirely dated after John Ball moved to Michigan. The topically grouped material is arranged alphabetically. The legal and financial records contain certificates allowing John Ball to practice law in New York. A large portion of the correspondence is between John, his wife, Mary, and their daughter, Lucy, which consists mainly of family affairs and travel to Europe, especially Switzerland and France (1869-1894). Earlier letters cover family matters and Michigan social conditions (after 1836). A letter of 1 March 1883 describes travel conditions and Indians at Fort Vancouver and a letter of 29 November 1838 expresses John Ball’s anti-abolitionists sentiments. The diaries written by John Ball tell about a trip to Lansingburgh (New York), 1878, and a trip to New York and New Hampshire, 1883. Mary Ball’s diaries describe traveling abroad, 1872, and her daily life in 1874.

Copies of several books on Ball are in Clarke, as are the papers of Ball and McKee. McKee’s diary of his student years in Massachusetts and Vermont are in the Bentley Historical Library.

A portrait of John Ball is housed in the Clarke as well. The note on the back reads as follows: “John Ball. Portrait painted while he was a student at Dartmouth. Ball became one of Michigan’s most famous pioneers. He was the first to teach west of the Mississippi.” The portrait is in a small, oval frame.