Collections

The collection documents the international women's rights organizations, including the National Council of Women and International Council of Women, both of which Wright served as president, and Wright's career as a writer, lecturer, reformer, pacifist, and feminist.

The collection is of great use to any person researching American, European, and International women’s rights organizations, including the ICW and NCW, among others; the women’s rights movement; pacifism; working women; literature on the women’s movement and prominent members of the movement, particularly May Wright Sewall. Other topics of interest are the Paris Exposition (1900) and the Columbian Exposition in Chicago (1893), both of which she attended in connection with women’s rights meetings. His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Pu Lun of China who visited the ICW meetings in Indianapolis and became a patron to the girls’ school in documented in Vol. 4. Vol. 6 has a letter from Sewall to the Empress Frederick in Dresden, 1892. There are also materials describing the Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen ocean liners on which she sailed to meetings in Europe.

While most of the collection is in English, there are materials in Greek, French, German, Italian, and Danish. Issues no. 313, 314, and 316 (1893) of the first women’s suffrage journal in Greece, the title of which is translated as The Women’s Journal, are in v. 7. These are the only issues of the journal believed to be in the U.S. [This information from scholar Karen Offen in April 2006], and include an article about and photograph of Sewall.

Note: Photographs and newspaper etchings are scattered throughout most of the scrapbooks.

This collection of family papers includes photographic materials, papers, family trees, and newspaper or magazine clippings of the Copeman and Reimer families and their friends and family from the Mount Pleasant, Michigan area.

This collection of family papers includes photographic materials, papers, family trees, and newspaper or magazine clippings of the Copeman and Reimer families and their friends and family from the Mount Pleasant, Michigan area. The collection is organized by series, alphabetically, and chronologically. Overall, the collection is in very good condition with some acidification, one glass plate negative with a broken corner, and tintypes which are a bit warped with minor edge damage. The major series of this collection are Copeman, Reimer, and Simonds. Nina Copeman is the main person in connection in the Copeman papers due to her historical family research. Much of the series consists of photographic materials including multiple formats of photographs from ambrotypes and tintypes through color photography. Papers consist of family correspondence, including about family history, materials related to their relative Linda Ronstadt, and the Henry Baldwin Copeman family farm in Crawford, Michigan. The Reimer series also consists of family photographs and materials, with photographs of reunions and family headstones in Palo and Mount Pleasant cemeteries. The Simonds series consists of photographs of family and their grocery store located in Mount Pleasant. The rest of the collection consist of family photographs and materials from the related Brownell, Ettinger, and Preston Families, as well as materials related to Palo Schools, Central State Teachers College, later Central Michigan University, history, and postcards with substantive notes between family members and photographic postcards of family members. The Oversized folder contains photographs of the Henry Baldwin Copeman Farm and Copeman and Reimer family trees.

Researchers should note that materials related to the family’s homestead in Idaho, Kenneth and Taimie Preston’s college photographs, Kenneth Preston’s work with the Civilian Conservation Corp, and Henry B. Copeman’s remaining diaries (including all Ku Klux Klan entries) were donated to the University of Idaho by the donor. The remaining material related to the family’s lives in Idaho were donated to Coeur d’Alene Museum and the Kellogg Museum by the donor.

Processing Note: .75 cubic feet of photographic materials, miscellaneous, and duplicates were withdrawn during processing. Acidic news clippings and materials were photocopied and the copies retained within the collection. Interfiled into other collections in the Clarke were seventeen postcards, two Michigan vertical file items, and a CMU commencement program. In August 2023, a 1852 wedding bedspread from Centreville, Pennsylvania, two Michigan friendship pillows, and miscellaneous family jewelry were transferred to the Ionia County Historical Society, and an Almont, Michigan, miniature tourist creamer or pitcher was transferred to the Almont Michigan Historical Society. Other miscellaneous items without a definite family provenance were withdrawn during processing.

The collection includes various Michigan history small collections, most of which are one folder or one volume in size, largely consisting of property records, but may include biographical information, correspondence, stock certificates, and other material. About half of the collection is records of [Jordan School] School District No. 6 (Isabella County, Mich.).

Folder 1: Bennett House / George H. Day, Papers, 1898, 1920 and undated include: Two pages of petitioners recommending Day for the position of Deputy U.S Marshall at Mount Pleasant, acidic, undated; and a letter from Committee on the District of Columbia, U.S. Senate, Sept. 13, 1897 from James McMillan, Chairman, to George H. Day re: Day’s appointment as Deputy Marshal at Mount Pleasant; and the deposition of Fred C. Whitney that on Dec. 21, 1900 in the Bennett House-Annex in Mount Pleasant, George Hunt said to George H. Day that he would kill Day and moved to do so, signed by Whitney and sworn before Notary Public Eugene S. Brown, March 28, 1901. Printed stock certificate No. 103 for Mount Pleasant Sugar Company, that George H. Day owns 10 shares worth $10 each, decorated with eagle, Lady Liberty, and gold company seal (1901), Feb. 6th, 1903, signed by secretary and president of company. Bennett House (Hotel) materials include: 1) Land contract Dec. 1, 1919 George H. Day and wife Henrietta sell Lot 10 in Block 13 in Mount Pleasant, and its buildings and land described as the “Bennett House and Annex” described in the inventory, Exhibit A, for $12,957.50 to Ralph G. Fisher and wife, Anna E., to be paid in installments through 1927, except an outstanding mortgage of $8542.50, signed by all named and two witnesses. Not recorded. Acidic with two staples. 2) Deed to all personal property not of the George H. Day and his wife, Henrietta, in the Hotel Bennett, Mount Pleasant, Mich., as inventoried (15 p. inventory attached), sold by Ralph G. Fisher and wife, Anna F., to David T. Foley and wife, Mary, for $1, Oct. 2, 1920, signed by Fisher and two witnesses. 3)For $1 Ralph G. and Anne E. Fisher sell their right, title, interest and equity in the attached land contract and personal property, Exhibit A, Oct. 1, 1920, signed by Fishers and two witnesses, witnessed by Notary Public Arthur M. Gilman, with financial notes. 4) Exhibit A. (copies) 3 pages (2 are front and back) listing goods in Bennett Hotel. 5)Note, March 18, 1919, received from George H. Day $500 in part payment for purchis [sic] of Bennett House and Annex Property on East Broadway Block 10 Lot 13, Mount Pleasant, and I agree to pay all other bills except a certain mortgage held by Isabella State Bank as of April 1, 1918. Not signed. 6) Agreement between George H. Day and wife, Henrietta, and Ralph G. Fisher and wife, Anna E., about payments to be made 1920-1927 and about keeping buildings and mortgage, April 29, 1920, signed by all named and two witnesses. Acidic. 7) Agreement between George H. Day and wife Henrietta and David T. Foley and wife, Mary, about payment and interest and about mortgage, Oct. 2, 1920, signed by all named and two witnesses. 8) Promissory note, George H. Day promises to pay Henrietta Day $399 with interest at 6%, note secured by chattel mortgage, Jan. 15, 1898. 9) Note of conveyance of property Lot No. 20 of Block No. 5 and Lot No. 22 of Block 11 of Mount Pleasant, valued at $225 and a note for $399, secured by chattle mortgage, consideration of four notes of $100 each made to Henrietta Day eight years ago which was stolen, Jan. 15, 1898, signed by Henrietta and witness. Green and white printed stock certificates (8) for Transport Truck Company, Mount Pleasant, Mich., received of George H. Day, Bennett House, five certificates each for $62.50 for 25 shares, and 1 for $125 for 25 shares, purchased Jan. 30, May 29, July 9 (2), Sept. 10, Nov, 17 and Dec. 17 and 18, 1917, signed by the secretary (name varies). Also a typed letter from the company on letterhead to George H. Day withdrawing stock certificate No. 536, July 14, 1919.

Folder 2: Cooper, William J., Papers, 1913, 1977, and undated, includes: Biographical materials including his obituary (copy), 1957; Certified copies of: his birth certificate (b. 1871), copy 1941; his death (1957) certificate, 1958; his wife’s death certificate, Nella Moss Cooper, 1945. Printed stock certificate for Houghton Heights Corporation, Mount Pleasant, Mich., for Houghton Heights Lake Resort (his idea), No. 4 for 25 shares for $25 for Wallin Russell, 1915. Legal and property records include: 1) Abstract of title and letter from Roscommon County Abstract Company, 1913 (cover is acidic), and related Warranty Deed for multiple properties in Roscommon that Wm. Houghton sold to Chas. J. Myers, N.J. Brown, Fred Russell, and Wm. J. Cooper, for $5,000, Sept. 1913, signed by Houghton and witness before Notary Public Arthur W. Ladd, recorded by Roscommon Register of Deeds Wm. J. Houghton in liber 45 Deeds, p. 233, Oct. 1913. 2) Quit-claim deed James S. Bellis and wife sell Lot 6 in Block 3 of Partridge’s addition to Mount Pleasant and additional land for $100 to William H. Cooper and wife, registered on Nov. 1933 by Isabella County Register of Deeds Clyde V. Showalter in v. 160 Deeds, p. 522 on Nov. 1933, with three appearance papers for Marie G. Bellis of Illinois before Notary Public Martha Petner, March 26, 1936; for James S. Bellis and wife, Mary, before Washington (State) Notary Public Florence Ethington, March 17, 1937; and Arthur E. Bellis and wife, Iva, before Colorado Notary Public Fred B. Robinson, Oct. 18, 1933. 3) Release of Part of Mortgaged Premises Isabella Co. State Bank land in Broomfield Twp., Isabella County, for $1 to Jesse Courser, signed by bank reps and witnesses, before Notary Public J. Elmer Graham, Dec. 1948, registered by Isabella County Register of Deeds Ray H. Zingrey in liber 114 of Mortgages p. 628, Aug. 1945. 4) Warranty deed, William J. Cooper sells lands in Roscommon County for $1 to Arthur H. Cooper Jan. 1947, signed by William and witnesses before Notary Public Walter E. Myers, Nov. 1949, registered in liber 146 Deeds p. 146 by Roscommon Register of Deeds, Zachary Smith Jr., Feb. 1957. 5) Land Contract (Gleason form), Clifford E. Russell sells to Hazen A. Bunting and wife, Mildred, for $325 land in Mount Pleasant, March 1948, signed by all named and witnesses, not recorded. 6) Land Contract (Gleason form), Arthur H. Cooper (son of William J. Cooper) and wife, Mary, and Elleda Hubel sell property in Mount Pleasant to Elza E. Ducan and wife Martha for $6,500, signed by all named and witnesses, not recorded, noted as paid in full with interest, May 1954. 7) Warranty Deed, William J. Cooper sells land in Lincoln Twp., Isabella County to Arthur H. Cooper for $1, signed by William and witnesses Dec. 1950, acknowledged before Notary Public William W. Russell, Feb. 1952, with note from County Treasurer Elmer Kirkconnell of no tax liens or titles and taxes paid for 5 years as of Jan. 1957, recorded in liber 272 Deeds p. 399 by Isabella County Register of Deeds Roy H. Zingery. 8) Warranty Deed, William J. Cooper sells land in Mount Pleasant to Arthur H. Cooper for $1, signed by William and witnesses Dec. 1951, acknowledged before Notary Public Mary S. Johnson, March 1954, with note from County Treasurer Elmer Kirkconnell of no tax liens or titles and taxes paid for 5 years as of Jan. 1957, recorded in liber 272 Deeds p. 400 by Isabella County Register of Deeds Roy H. Zingery. 9) Quit-claim deed, Arthur H. Cooper (first party) sells land in Roscommon County to Arthur H. Cooper and wife, Mary (second party), for $1, signed by Arthur and witnesses, March 1957, acknowledged before Isabella County Notary Public Ann L. Kirkconnell, March 1957, not recorded. 10) Quit-claim deed, Arthur H. Cooper (first party) sells land in Broomfield Twp. Isabella County to Arthur H. Cooper and wife, Mary (second party), for $1, signed by Arthur and witnesses, March 1957, acknowledged before Isabella County Notary Public George J. Marks, April 1957, recorded in vol. 273 Deeds p. 418 by Isabella Register of Deeds Roy H. Zingery, April 1957. 11) Agreement between Peter J. Gruss and wife, Martha, sell property in Lot 15 Block 1 Mount Pleasant to Arthur H. Cooper and wife, Mary, for $6,500, signed by all named and witnesses, June 5, 1961. 12) Letter from Harold D. Tift, president of DeTray Realty Company, Houghton Lake to Mr. Mrs. Arthur Cooper, May 5, 1977, with an offer from Russell A. Post III to purchase their furnished cottage for $7,500, with pink buy/sell agreement form, signed by Post, Coopers and broker, May 3, 1977, note on back about personal property Coopers will remove. 13) Papers turned to Trustee (copy) lists mortgage and contracts, names and amounts and total, undated.

Folder 3: Davis, L. Leonard “Lindy”, Central State Teachers College Scrapbook, at least 1925, 1931?-1932?,possibly later?. Scrapbook cover with red, brown, blue, and yellow woven pattern, circle on front with “Central State Teachers College Mount Pleasant, Mich. 1931?-32? (dates partially missing) and “Lindy”, tied with black ribbon, acidic pages. Scrapbook includes black and white photographs, postcards of Central students, buildings, including the Dec. 17, 1925 Central Michigan Normal School Fire, the grounds including basketball court and alumni field, the McCarthy log cabin, band sitting and marching, various events, students, a priest, athletes especially football team, includes team photograph of 1932, baseball and basketball players, and women playing lacrosse, man with tripod camera, men with a line of fish, a chemistry set and geyser (presumably related to oil fields), portraits, band director, three group portrait. Nobody is identified, some images are faded, mostly undated. Some of the photographs of the 1932 homecoming festivities are also in the 1932 Chippewa yearbook. Some images are cropped and there are three pages of heads (photographs cropped so all that exists is the head). Included is a biographical note about L. Leonard “Lindy” Davis.

Folder 4: Dexter Family Papers, 1878, 1930, and undated, include: Papers of Ransom Dexter include: 1) Letter from S. R. Thompson of Tilden, Ill., 1894. 2) Receipts of taxes paid Marion Township, Saginaw County, Mich., 1911, 1913, 1915-1916. 3) Legal papers include Ransom’s Naturalization certificate from Washington Co., Ill., 1878 (he was originally from England), Chattel Mortgage to him, 1888. 4) Farmer’s Mutual; Fire Insurance Co. policy, 1897. 5) Mortgage, assignment and discharge thereof, Dexter to Amanda L. Curtis, 1901-1917, Last Will and Testament of Ransom Dexter, naming his wife, Mary Ursula, sons, Ernest and Walter, and daughter Ivah May, to inherit his 80 acre farm in Marion Twp. (Ransom died June 19, 1916), the will was probated Nov. 11, 1925, and related probate court records naming Ernest executor, Aug. 9, 1924, a letter from Ernest to the court, Nov. 6, 1925, with financials, and two related receipts, 1925. Papers of Ernest R. (Ransom) Dexter of Mount Pleasant, Mich., include: 1) A small note with some Dexter family members of Clare, Mich., written on it, undated. 2) Obituary of Mary Ursula Crane Dexter, written by her son Ernest, 1924. 3) Letters, one from Ernest to his brother, Walter and wife, mostly about agreeing to sell the farm, March 19, 1928 (a handwritten copy), a letter from his sister, Ivah, to Ernest mostly about the farm, 1930. 4) Receipts of taxes paid in Marion Twp., Saginaw County, 1913, 1915-1916, 1924. 5) Political career materials: include his card and newspaper advertisement as he runs for county clerk, undated (1903-1907?). 6) A delinquent tax record, 1903 with a newspaper article on it recording that he voted as a member of the Board of Supervisors of Saginaw County, 1903 7) A Clerk’s bond/oath he signed as Township Supervisor, 1907. 8) Three certificates of nomination at primary election, Isabella County, Mich. that E.R. Dexter won the most votes for nomination to Representative in the State Legislature by the Republican Party, 1922, 1924, 1926, all three with gold seals of the Circuit Court of Isabella County. 9) Ancient Order of Gleaners insurance receipts, 1928-1931 and 1933 and a AOOG South Brant Local Arbor No. 846 insurance receipt booklet of Ernest of Brant, Mich., 1904-1915. 10) A memorandum book of miscellaneous accounts and notes, and what appears to be horse breeding notes, 1905-1907.

Folder 5: Francisco Family Papers, 1908, 1978, includes: 1) Holy Baptism certificate of Harrison Alexander Francisco, born Aug. 14, 1911, baptized May 26, 1913. 2) Legal records include: Death Certificate, certified copy, for Harry H. Francisco, died Aug. 14, 1944. 3) Warranty deed Charles Francisco and wife Mabel sell to Harry Francisco, property on Lot 2 of Block six, in Hall’s addition to Mount Pleasant, for $300, recorded by Register of Deeds, Isabella County, March 1908, Liber 97 Deeds, p. 251, signed by all named and witnesses before Isaac R. Jameson, Notary Public. 4) Bill of Sale of Smith’s Photograph Gallery on Broadway, Mount Pleasant, sold by Hannah Francisco to Harry Francisco for $1, April 14, 1913, signed by Hannah and two witnesses, not recorded, her copy, 5) Warranty Deed, Susie M. Orr sells property in Lot 2, Block 11, in Bentley’s Addition to Mount Pleasant, to Harry H. Francisco for $1, recorded by Register of Deeds, Isabella County, Jan. 1929, liber 148 Deeds, p. 86. 6) Letter from City of Mount Pleasant Building Inspector Ken B. Croll about dividing property in Bentley Addition Block 11 Lots 1 and 2 to Harry Francisco, Aug. 31, 1978 with a property survey, done by Registered Land Surveyor William B. Ruddell on May 25, 1978.

Folder 6: Hunter, John, Family Papers, 1899, 1909, all related to property and mortgages following the death of John Hunter, include: 1) Mortgage loan of $250 of Samuel Jones of Hamburg, Livingston County, Mich., owed to John Hunter, March 2, 1899 with interest paid noted on back. 2) Mortgage John Hunter and wife to Samuel Jones for Lots 3-5 in Block 1 of Leaton’s addition to Mount Pleasant for $250, signed by Hunters and witnesses before notary public, recorded March 3, 1909 in liber 61 Mortgages p. 492 by Isabella County Register Matthew Morrison. 3) Assignment of Mortgage of Samuel Jones, deceased, to pay debt by Executor to Rebecca Jones, for mortgage executed by John Hunter and wife, recorded in Isabella liber 61 of Mortgages, p. 492, Dec. 26, 1899, signed William J. Jones, Executor, and witnesses, recorded by Isabella County Register Matthew Morrison, Jan. 1900, liber 62 Mortgages, p. 142, and two related notes assigning part of the mortgage to William Shippler and part to William J. Jones both of Hamburg, Mich. Both were assigned and recorded on Dec. 18, 1902 in liber 68 Mortgages p. 213 by the Isabella County Register of Deeds. 4) Affidavit of Bruce Hunter, verifying who the adult children of John Hunter, deceased, and his wife Margaret A. Hunter, were including: Bruce Hunter of Mount Pleasant, Anna Burnett, formerly Anna Hunter, of Buchannan, Mich., Milford Hunter and John S. Hunter of Manitoba, Emerson B. Hunter of Creelman NW Territory, and Theodore Hunter of Toronto, Canada, recorded in liber 92 of Deeds p. 370 by Isabella County Register of Deeds A.L. Young, Bruce, James and Theodore before Notary Public Isaac R. Jamerson, July 1907. 5) Appearance verifications for 1) Anna Burnett, formerly Anna Hunter, County of Berrien, Dec. 3, 1907 before John C. Dick, Notary Public, and for 2) John S. Hunter and wife, Ethel M. Hunter, Manitoba Province, Canada, Sept. 19, 1907 before a Notary Public. 6) Quit-claim deed, Emerson B. Hunter and wife, sell for $1 to Margaret A. Hunter Lots no. 3-5, 7-8 in Block 1 Mount Pleasant, signed by them and witness, recorded Dec. 1907 in liber 90 Deeds p. 610 by Isabella County Register of Deeds. 7) Quit-claim deed, Theodore Hunter, sells for $1 to Margaret A. Hunter Lots No. 3-5, 7-8 in Block 1 Mount Pleasant, signed by Theodore and witness, recorded Dec. 1907 in liber 90 Deeds p. 611 by Isabella County Register of Deeds. 8) Quit-claim deed, Bruce Hunter and wife and Anna Burnett, sell for $1 to Margaret A. Hunter Lots No. 3-5, 7-8 in Block 1 Mount Pleasant, signed by Bruce, Mary and Anna, and witnesses, recorded Dec. 1907 in liber 90 Deeds p. 612 by Isabella County Register of Deeds. 9) Quit-claim deed, Milford Hunter and wife and John S. Hunter and wife, sell for $1 to Margaret A. Hunter Lots No. 3-5, 7-8 in Block 1 Mount Pleasant, signed by all named and witness, recorded Dec. 1907 in liber 90 Deeds p. 613 by the Isabella County Register of Deeds. 10) Discharge of Mortgage executed by John and Margaret A. Hunter to Samuel Jones, as recorded in Sept. 1909 before Notary Public William A. Sheffer. 11) Warranty deed, Margaret A. Hunter sells to Colin A. McCall and wife, for $2,000 Lots 3-5, 7-8…signed by Margaret and witnesses before Notary Public Alfred L. Young, recorded in liber 101 Deeds p. 310 by Isabella County Register of Deeds Martin Meneey, Oct. 1909.

Folder 7: Order of Knights of the Maccabees, Caldwell Tent No. 648 warranty deeds (2), 1903, 1932, for the same piece of property. 1) Deed 1, land originally purchased for $100 in 1903 in Deerfield Township, Isabella County, from Henry D. James and wife, Alma, by Thomas Hogg, Sir Knight Commander and Samuel Ash, Sir Knight Record Keeper, for the KOTM. On back, signed by all named, April 25, 1903, witnessed by Henry G. Bacon, Justice of the Peace, and recorded July 3, 1903 in Isabella County Deeds liber 86 Deeds, p. 251 by the Register of Deeds Hovey. 2) Deed 2 notes Samuel Ash, now Sir Knight Commander and Frank E. Phillips Sir Knight Record Keeper successors of prior two officers purchased the same land from them for $1. On back, signed by all named, witnessed by two women, one is the Notary Public of Isabella County, Mildred Koyl, and recorded June 11, 1932 in Isabella County Deeds liber 156 Deeds, p. 590 by the Register of Deeds, Clyde Showalter.

Folder 8: Saylor, Harrison H., Materials, [1914], 1998, and undated, includes: 1) Biographical note on Harrison H. Saylor (1896-1981) WWI veteran, optometrist, musician, and Shriner originally from Mount Pleasant, provided by Barbara S. Schwemmin, a cousin by marriage in 1998. 2) Photographs, 4 of Harrison, one with his bugle in his American Legion uniform, one with his buddies immediately after being inoculated prior to being sent to France in WWI, one each of his parents, one of his two sisters with two friends, undated, [ca. 1880-1918], 1917 Republic Band of Alma, Mich. includes Saylor with cornet, members identified, by Harrison’s cousin, 1980, and two formal portraits of Harrison, one dated 1930, the other, matted, taken by K. K. Spellman in 1936. 3) Harrison’s WWI dog tags (2) tied to a strip of material (linen?), undated [1914-1918]

[Jordan School] School District No. 6 Isabella County (Mich.), Records, 1880-1920, folders, includes: Teachers Daily Attendance records (various titles). These volumes list teacher’s name, dates, pupils’ names, ages, and grades, and may include other information such as names of visitors or reports. 1) Teachers Daily Register (1 volume in 1 folder), 1902-1904; 2) Teacher’s Class Attendance and Summary Record (1 volume in 1 folder), 1927. School Board or Director’s Books of Records and Accounts under various titles, includes annual meeting minutes, acceptance of office, assessor’s bonds, orders and warrants upon township treasurer to pay school bills, certificates of district board, notices of annual meeting, and receipts: 1) The Economic Series School Blanks, published by G. H. Slocum, Caro, Mich. (1 volume in 1 folder), 1894-1901; 2) Economic Series School Officers’ Blanks, published in Caro, Mich. (1 volume in 1 folder), 1906-1917; 3) Director’s Book of Records and Accounts, published by Henry R. Pattengill, Lansing, Mich., also includes treasurer’s bonds and accounts and annual school census with names, birthdays, parents and addresses of pupils (1 volume in 1 folder), 1908-1920; 4) Director’s Account Book, printed by Emerich of Pittsford, Mich., includes information listed above except census (1 volume in 1 folder), 1920-1930; 5) Director’s Book, School District Accounting and Records, published by Mich. Education Company, Lansing, includes information listed above except census (1 volume in 1 folder), 1926-1934. School District Treasurer’s and Assessor’s Accounts [various titles] volumes includes: 1) Assessor’s Cash Account Book, receipts and expenditures [some pages loose from spine] (1 volume in 1 folder), 1875-1925; 2) Treasurer’s Account Book, published by Hillsdale School Supply and Publishing Co., Hillsdale, Mich., receipts, expenditures, reports (1 volume in 1 folder), 1921-1926; 3) Treasurer’s Account Book, published by Hillsdale School Supply and Publishing Co., Hillsdale, Mich., receipts and expenditures, [back cover separate from volume], (1 volume in 1 folder), 1926-1931. Loose papers, 1879, 1946, and undated, include: 1) Note about the provenance of the records through three generations of the Robert family, Edward Robert and his son, Lawrence Robert, both having served on the school’s board. Larry Robert notes the school merged with Rosebush school in 1947 and the records were stored in a house that was Edward’s, then belonged to Lawrence, and, later, his son, Larry. 1) Annual Financial Report, 1926; 3) Annual Statistical Reports, 1927, 1929-1932; 4) Annual Statistical and Financial Reports to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1937-1940; 5) Annual Summaries of Registration and Attendance, 1945-1946; 6) Articles of Agreement between D. M. Browning, Commissioner of Indian Affairs and Directors of Public School District No. 6, Isabella County, Mich. for ten Indian pupils (they are not named), 1895-1896, contract approved Oct. 25, 1895, signed by directors, stamped by Commissioners of Indian Affairs as “received Sept. 7, 1895”, and related Dept. of the Interior Office of Indian Affairs letter to School District No. 6 Directors, that a bill for $28.41 will be paid, signed by Assist. Commissioner, April 23, 1896; 7) Bond for John Gefford (sp?), as School District Treasurer for School District No. 6, $1,000, Gefford signed, before Notary Public John A. Kennedy, July 1913; 8) Teacher’s Contract, Miss M. B. Richmond to teach and do janitors work for four months beginning Nov. 1909, for $30/month, signed by teacher and directors of Isabella School District No. 6, Oct. 22, 1902 (copy); 9) Warranty Deed, Lana Butch sells property to the School District No. 6 Isabella Township, Isabella County, Mich. for $70, Lana made her mark X, signed by witnesses, acknowledged before Notary Public John R. Robinson, recorded in liber 30 Deeds p. 80, Oct. 1879 by Isabella County Register J. M. Houer (sp?)

Oversized Materials: McCarthy, Dennis, Farm and Family History Scrapbook, 1911, 1986 and undated (1 Oversized Volume in 1 folder). Gold Hallmark cover with words “Photos: and “Photographs” in various, decorative fonts. Masking tape on cover states “Kevin Farm and Family History Keep This.” “Farm” is written on the cover in green marker. Black and white photographs, acidic newspaper articles, and notes about Dennis McCarthy’s log cabin, the family’s first home, which was bought by CMU Alumni Association and moved to campus in 1928, later taken apart by CMU. Also includes postcards and photographs (black and white and color) of various McCarthy family members and farm life and animals, a Ferris Institute pennant, and a Centennial farm certificate.

Oversized Materials: Native American Land Patents, 1872, 1891 (1 Oversized folder). Both patents re: treaties of 1855 and 1864, land given to members of Saginaw, Swan Creek and Black River tribes, Michigan: 1) Land patent for land selected for Shaw-wa-nis, Aug. 20, 1872, with orange seal, signed by president, assistant secretary, and recorder of General Land Office, recorded in Chippewas of Saginaw, Swan Creek and Black River v. 3, p. 2621. Noted on back, received by Isabella County Register of Deeds, recorded in lib. 10 Deeds, p. 429, C. Bennett. Acidic. 2) Canceled patent with letter, land selected for Waw-no-quay-wa-shaw-we-no, Aug. 20, 1872, no seal, signed by president, assistant secretary, and recorder of General Land Office, recorded in Chippewas of Saginaw, Swan Creek and Black River v. 3, p. 313. Parts of patent are crossed out in red ink and noted as canceled Sept. 26, 1874. Letter attached with green ribbon in two parts, on either side of the canceled patent, notes the patent is a true copy from the General Land Office, Oct. 30, 1891, signed by the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The second page of the letter blank.

[Jordan School] School District No. 6 Isabella County (Mich.), Records, 1880-1920, Oversized loose papers and Oversized volumes, include: 1) Annual Statistical Reports with School Census on the back (loose papers in 1 folder), 1913, 1918-1923, and 1925; 2) Teacher’s Term Report to Director (loose papers in 1 folder), 1925-1926. Teachers Daily Attendance Records Volumes (various titles). These volumes list teacher’s name, dates, pupils’ names, ages, and grades, and may include other information such as names of visitors or reports. 1) [Teacher’s] School Register (Oversized Volume), 1918-1920; 2) Teachers Attendance and Scholarship Records and Reports designed for rural and small graded schools (8 Oversized Volumes), 1929-1930; 1930-1931; 1931-1932; 1932-1933; 1933-1934; 1934-1935; 1935-1936; 1936-1937; 5) Teachers Attendance and Scholarship Records and Reports designed for rural and small graded schools (different size and format) (4 Oversized Volumes): 1940-1941, 1941-1942, 1942-1943 (no 1943-44 or 1944-45) and 1945-1946. School Board or Director’s Books of Records and Accounts under various titles, include: 1) Director’s Book, School District Officers’ Record Account Books (Oversized Volume), 1933-1937 2) [Director’s Book (Oversized Volume, no covers, in folder), 1938-1941. School District Treasurer’s and Assessor’s Accounts [various titles] Volumes includes: 1) [School Treasurer’s Record of] Receipts and Disbursements (Oversized Volume, no covers, in folder), 1941-1943; 2) School Treasurer’s Record of Receipts and Disbursements (Oversized Volume, no covers, in folder), 1947-1954.

The 2018 Addition to the collection in Box 2 (.25 cubic ft. includes:

Education survey of Isabella County, Michigan School District No. 1 in 1929 by L. E. Johnston, 1929 (copy) [2018]; Lincoln Township, Isabella County School District No. 1 Teacher’s Daily Register from 1887 and 1897-1900 (copy), 2018; a class memento with a ribbon from Lincoln Township, Isabella County School District No. 2 in 1907-1908; copy of a Lincoln Township, Isabella County Irishtown school list from School District No. 2 in 1870-1940 (copy), 2018.

Photographs include: a photograph of children in Isabella County at Rolland Township School [1938-1939] with related ancestry documents, 2018; photographs of children and teachers in Isabella County at Blanchard School, Bowen School and Demlow School in 1911, 1925, 1930, 1936, undated; photographs of children and teachers in Isabella County at Hulse School, Jordan School and Lincoln Center School in 1939, 1941-1942, 1960, undated; photographs of children and teachers in Isabella County at Maple Hill School and N. Rosebush School in 1898, the 1920s, undated; an aerial photograph of Central Michigan University’s football field and the surrounding area, undated; photographs of men (two are of Hon. Patrick H. Kelly, 1922, undated), and a group photograph of identified township and county officials in the old Isabella County Courthouse,1941(copy), [2018].

Also included in Oversized Folder 5 is one oversized aerial photograph of the southeast side of Mount Pleasant, Michigan taken from River and Bradley roads, 36x52 inches, [1950s-1960s].

Correspondence, papers, newspaper clippings, photographs, and postcards of Silas H. Alliton.

The papers provide much first hand information about the 3rd Michigan Cavalry, Company G, in Alliton’s numerous letters to Dora and in his three diaries,1860-1865. Additional general information about the Civil War is found in the newspaper clipping and the GAR materials and photograph, 1865-1916. There are also a few letters to Dora from her sister, Nettie, 1872-1876. The collection is completed by Biographical Materials, including a Bible and family photographs.

The papers consists of business, personal, and legal papers related to land deals in Flint, Michigan, area.

King’s papers include personal and business correspondence, and legal papers relating to land deals in the Flint, Genesee County, Michigan, area.

Collection of papers of various Stacy family members including: Consider A. Stacy, James A. Stacy, L. Loana Stacy, Marla M. Stacy, and Scovel C. Stacy of Tecumseh, Adrian, and Fenton, Michigan.

The collection includes genealogical materials for the Ward and Ely families of Alma, Michigan; Ward family photographs (19th-20th centuries), including some of Charles O. Ward in uniform and in local bands. The materials of Gerrit S. Ward include correspondence to/from Gerrit S. Ward to/from family, 1860-1897, and about his various business interests including banking, mines, and timberlands, 1886-1916; deeds and correspondence to Alma and Montcalm County lands, 1883-1911; Gerrit S. Ward’s estate records, 1916-1917 (copy, 1940); an annual report of the First Bank of Alma (illustrated with pictures of the bank and its staff and officers), 1916; legal papers, mostly regarding land, 1886-1910; Civil War artifacts and pension materials, 1862-1928; miscellaneous; and correspondence re: the Roanoke Rapids Paper Manufacturing Company, 1907-1910.

Materials for Charles O. Ward include Spanish-American War military certificates, 1898-1899; correspondence, mostly between Charles and Gerrit S. or Hugh E. Ward, 1898-1960; and numerous deeds and related legal papers concerning his real estate businesses in Alma, 1887-1961.

The materials of Josephine Ely Ward include correspondence, 1916-1917; estate records, 1940; and the Ely family genealogy.

Also included is an 1820 certificate of military appointment for Sardis Ward as a cornet player for the 6th New York Cavalry.

Two Oversized scrapbooks complete the collection. Volume 1, 1885-1961, mostly consists of newspaper clippings on the Spanish-American War, 1898. It includes telegrams about Charles O. Ward’s health and hospitalization at St. Joseph’s hospital in Philadelphia, November 1898, with typhoid. Telegrams were sent between T.S. Ward, G.S. Ward, Charles Spicer, Sarah Ward, and Josie Ward.

Scrapbook Volume 2, 1885-1941, includes many articles on Charles O. Ward and his wife, and the Ely and Ward families. Two memorial booklets for William Sisson Turck, (August 7, 1839-September 19, 1912), Mason, Major of the 26th Michigan Infantry Regiment, Alma Supervisor, County Treasurer, Michigan Representative, President of Alma, and member of the Board of Managers of the Michigan Soldiers’ Home in Grand Rapids are also included. Volume 2 also contains an Alma College commencement program, June 22, 1888; Hugh Ward’s recital program, 1918; and a memorial resolution from the Alma Order of the Eastern Star for Electra Brewbaker (died November 20, 1932 at age 81).

Both scrapbooks are quite acidic, but Volume 2 is very acidic, fragile, with detached covers and spine.

The collection includes his scrapbooks, typed notes, notecards, reel-to-reel tapes, a 16 mm film, and slides.

The collection consists of his scrapbooks, typed notes, typed 3x4 and 5x8 inch notecards, reel-to-reel tapes, a 16 mm film, and slides. The vast majority of the collection, particularly the note cards and slides document Michigan historic markers, historic sites, events, counties, townships, Chippewa Indians, and school trips to the Upper Peninsula, the Straits area, and Grayling, Michigan. Also included are the 1884 and 1885 tax assessor’s assessment books for Jerome Township (Midland County). The assessor’s volumes are not records of permanent historic value, but have been maintained as examples in this collection. [Midland County’s Clerk and Treasurer’s historic financial and clerical records are also housed (on deposit) at the Clarke.] Midland County (Mich.) history is well represented in this collection.

The collection is organized by format and size: letter-sized (or smaller) materials in boxes, note cards according to their size, and legal- and oversized materials at the end. Letter-size (or smaller) materials are organized alphabetically by title or topic, and then by size, and /or chronologically as needed.

Overall, the collection is in good shape. The plumber’s account book and copy of the Declaration of Allegiance are quite acidic and brittle and should be used with care. There is a slightly musty smell to the collection, so researchers with allergies or asthma may wish to take precautions while using the collection.

Processing Notes: The collection originally included about 21 cubic feet of material. Of this, maps, books, children’s literature, and textbooks were separately cataloged. Mass-produced out-of-state slides, unidentified reel-to-reel tapes, all duplicates, and out-of-state postcards were withdrawn from the collection during processing. A substantial number of Michigan postcards were merged into the Clarke’s Michigan Postcard collection. Family vacation slides were returned to Mr. Berriman's daughter, Beth DeWitt, as per her request. The collection was donated by Beth DeWitt, on behalf of all of Mr. Berriman's children in their father's memory and honor.

Papers of the starr family Family papers include: biographical materials; correspondence; legal papers; autograph albums; photographs and miscellaneous; school reports; and teaching certificates.

Family papers, 1839-1942, and undated include: biographical materials, 1928-1929; correspondence, 1895-1935; legal papers, 1839-1866; autograph albums, 1878, 1880-1882, 1885-1889; photographs and miscellaneous, 1883-1897 and undated; school reports, 1880-1881; and teaching certificates, 1879-1883 and 1879-1911. Most of the correspondence is to Minnie and Clara Ellen Starr concerning their nephew, Jack. Photographs document several generations of the Starr family, Dennis and Nancy Quick, and the Hamer family, the first African American family in Royal Oak, Michigan. Other materials document Eva, George E., Mary, and the general family, within photographs, a family tree, and some miscellaneous legal papers and correspondence. The collection is organized by family, alphabetical by individual creators’ names, and then chronologically organized.

The papers include family and business correspondence, financial and legal papers related to logs and the lumber business.

The papers include business and family correspondence, financial and legal papers related to his logs and lumber business interests, biographical materials, and miscellaneous.

Family papers include correspondence, financial, business and legal papers, photographs, daguerreotypes, photograph albums, biographical materials, scrapbooks, genealogical materials, poetry, publications, and miscellaneous.

The Thurston Family Papers, ranging from 1823 to 1974, consist of correspondence; a diary; financial, business, and legal papers; photographs, daguerreotypes, biographical materials, and a scrapbook of advertising cards. The papers fall in to six groupings, Genealogy, The John Gates Thurston Family, The Francis H. Thurston Family, The George Lee Thurston II Family, George Lee Thurston III, and Visual Images. The folders in each grouping are arranged alphabetically.

Genealogy contains genealogical material and several drafts of The Thurston Chronicle, a history of the Thurston family, by George Lee Thurston III.

The John Gates Thurston Family material includes legal papers and records from the Massachusetts House of Representatives, an 1824 letter describing Lafayette’s visit to Alexandria, a 1836 diary of John’s trip to Chicago, Civil War letters from his son George L. Thurston I and Henry Nourse, and a passport from a trip to Europe in 1839.

The Francis H. Thurston Family material includes articles by Francis on such topics as Michigan trivia, Civil War memories, building a canvas canoe, and descriptions of the excellence of Michigan. Letters from his mother (1862, 1963) include Civil War news, details of his brother’s death following the war, and marriage advice. In an 1897 letter from his son, George, Francis learns that George had to put in a telephone because the competing lumber mill had one and was getting more business. A letter (1907) to Francis’ recently widowed daughter-in-law Lenore gives her nearly word for word financial advice given to him in 1886 by his friend E. H. Russell when William McNeil had a breakdown and nearly financially destroyed Francis.

The George Lee Thurston II Family material is more eclectic than the rest of the collection because of the variety of people and materials in this grouping. Included is correspondence of the Mohrmann family (George married Lenore Mohrmann) written in German and a German report card as well as both the original and transcript copies of William’s suicide poem “Pallida Mors.” George Lee Thurston II’s publication, the Intermediate Valley contains facts about Michigan, ads, and humorous stories. Letters from his Uncle Dud (1879, undated) are humorous and encourage George to develop his writing--both style and content. Letters written in 1879 from his boyhood friends in Ohio talk of the yellow fever epidemic and of the diphtheria epidemic in Michigan. Frederick Crandall Thurston’s (George’s son) correspondence includes letters he wrote to his family while he was looking for work in New York, 1930-1931, describing railway travel and his negative reaction to radios. The copies of the 1934 editions of the Remington News (Culpepper, Va.) indicate depression-era prices and an unusually progressive attitude (for the South) towards blacks which contrasts with an 1856 receipt for the sale of Hannah (a Negro) for $50 (the connection with the Thurston family is unclear).

Visual Images include photographs, photograph albums, daguerreotypes, and a scrapbook of advertising cards. Identified daguerreotypes and photographs include many family members and friends whose names appear in the Thurston papers. Among these are E. H. Russell, William McNeil, and Mary B. Thurston Nourse. The unidentified daguerreotypes include two images of a man with his dog and one image of a woman kissing a baby. The unidentified daguerreotypes are labeled with a number; the same number followed by a letter (ie 5a, 5b), indicates different daguerreotypes of the same person. A folder with a photograph of a Lee Thurston is in the Clarke’s Biographical Photographs File. The scrapbook includes only one Michigan advertising card, the rest being from New York (State) or other states.