Collections

The papers include correspondence, diaries, journals, accounts books, tintypes, prayerbooks, sermons, hymns in Ojibwa, a New Testament in English and Seneca, and photographic images.

Family papers, 1765-1964, and undated, include: correspondence relating to Rev. Bingham's associations with the Baptist Missionary Society, Boston, his ministry at the Tonawanda Indian Mission in New York State, the Baptist Indian Mission at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and his social activities in Grand Rapids, Michigan; diaries of Bingham and his wife, journals, account books, and tintypes. Also included are prayer books and hymns in Ojibwa, Bingham's sermons, in English, and a New Testament in both English and Seneca. Among his correspondents is John Claude Buchanan, his son-in-law, whose letters relate to Buchanan's service with the 8th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War, 1861-1864. Three boxes of photographic images complete the collection.

The collection includes correspondence relating to Bingham’s associations with the Baptist Missionary Society, Boston, his ministry at the Tonawanda Indian Mission in New York State, the Baptist Indian Mission at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and his social activities in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Correspondents include John Claude Buchanan, Bingham’s son-in-law, relating to his service with the 8th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War.

The collection is also available on 19 reels of positive microfilm Acc# 359 (Section 4, 1 reel) and 444 (18 reels). Some letters are available on 2 reels of positive microfilm Acc# 614 of the American Baptists Foreign Mission Society, 1800-1900, American Indians and 1814-1900, France.

The records consists of the company's historical files, library records, and bookplates.

The records are organized into Alert Fire Engine Company records (financial records, meeting minutes, lists of members) and the Adrian Fireman’s Library Association records (constitution, by-laws, donor lists, financial records, and book plates), on which are printed the rules and fines of the Library.

Photocopies made from 2 reels of microfilm of company related materials including correspondence (copies), index card, and finding aids (copies) of other, related collections.

This is an artificial collection of related materials, pulled together by topic. Included in the records are correspondence to/from Samuel Abbott, who served as the Collector at Michilimackinac (1812-?) and as manager for the Company, 1812-1848 (and longer?). Some of the correspondence is from James Abbott, Samuel’s brother, who was also a manager for the Company in the Detroit, Michigan, area. (There is no further information available on the Abbotts.) Other records include expense accounts for transportation to the Council in the summer of 1825. The Shipping / Receiving book provides good information of prices paid per pelt, for everything from mink to rat skins. There is an Indenture of Mortgage signed by John Jacob Astor, 1827, in the Mortgage Records, and a Capital Stock certificate of the Mackinac, Lake Superior Copper Company, 1845, in the Correspondence. These materials are all photocopies made from 2 reels of microfilm.

Additionally, there are index cards to assist researchers using the records. The related American Fur Company business records of Mackinac Island, Michigan, to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1817-1834, are available on microfilm at the Clarke, as are books about the Company.

See also numerous related reels of microfilm on the American Fur Company, the Mackinac Island Collection, and the Abraham Wendell Collection.

On April 13, 2001, the paper collection, which had been on deposit at the Clarke, was returned to Mackinac State Historic Parks as part of the Sault Sainte Marie Collection. The microfilm of this American Fur Company Collection is at the Clarke, Reels 1-2, Microfilm MSS F-52.

The papers include accounts, land papers, correspondence, miscellaneous, and printed materials.

The collection includes Arthur Bronson’s Accounts, 1817-1843 and undated; Land Papers, 1833-1844, for Illinois, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, New York (State) and Kings County, and Wisconsin; Legal Papers, 1828-1849; Correspondence, 1820-1848 and undated; Miscellaneous, 1825-1843 and undated; and Printed Materials, including maps, laws, land sale fliers and advertisements, etc., 1815-1867 and undated. Companies documented include the Peru Iron Company, Union Bank of New York, and the Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company.

Some of Arthur’s papers are found in the collections of his father and brother, Isaac and Frederic Bronson, and in the Bronson Family Papers. Bronson papers housed at other institutions are available at the Clarke on 30 reels of positive microfilm (Micro. Mss. F-40). These include Arthur’s letters, 1825-1838?, 1815-1844 and accounts, 1823-1844 (reels 3-5); letters, 1822-1834 (reels 9-10); letters, 1838-1844 (reels 13-16); legal cases, undated (reel 19); letters, 1835-1836 (reel 22); and accounts, 1846-1865 (reel 23).

For additional letters of Anna Eliza (Bailey) Bronson, see the Bronson Family Papers finding aid.

Letters to Arthur Bronson may also be found in the Charles Butler Papers (3 reels of positive microfilm, Mss. Micro. F-79).

The papers include personal and business papers of seven members of the Bronson and Brinckerhoff families.

The collection includes personal papers and business papers of various members of the Isaac Bronson Family, including: Ann Bronson (1810-1840), Isaac’s daughter; Anna Eliza (Bailey) Bronson (dates unknown), Arthur’s wife; Anna (Olcott) Bronson (d.1850), Isaac’s wife; Charlotte (Brinckerhoff) Bronson (1818-1861), Frederic’s wife; Harriet Bronson (1798-1835), Isaac’s daughter; Laban Bronson (dates unknown); and Oliver Bronson (1799-?), Isaac’s son.

Also included are six volumes, letter books, and scrapbooks of Frederic Bronson (1850-1900), son of Frederic Bronson (1802-1868), while he lived at Verna Farms. The volumes deal with horse and stock breeding.

For additional information, see the Isaac, Arthur, and Frederic Bronson Papers, and the Troup and Brinckerhoff Family Papers.

Bronson Family Papers, 1760-1865, housed in other institutions are available on 30 positive reels of microfilm. (Micro Mss F-40).

Additional reels concerning Isaac, Arthur, and Frederic are noted in their finding aids.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Collection of Huntington's personal papers, including Serbian correspondence with her husband's relatives in Yugoslavia, and discussion of race relations in Detroit, other related family papers, including materials relating to Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker and his sister, Mary; her professional papers as an engineer and businesswoman. An interesting letter of July 29, 1967 describes the Detroit Race Riots results and what Frances believes were the contributing factors. Also, there is a thank you note from Grace H. Hemingway.

About 2.5 cubic ft. (4 and one-third of the boxes) of the collection specifically documents Frances D. Huntington’s personal and professional life. The rest of the collection documents her immediate family and ancestors.

Frances’ Personal Papers (approximately .5 cubic foot) consist mainly of her Personal Correspondence with family and friends. The series is divided by 1) those people she only received correspondence from, 2) those people and issues she had correspondence about, and 3) those to which she sent correspondence. Each subseries is in alphabetical order by surname of the correspondent. Of special interest here are her correspondence to her immediate family while she was in California at a finishing school, 1918-1919; her correspondence with her Smith College friend, Helen “Greenie” Bacon, 1927-1981, and undated, which mentions the Bacons’ experiences in Communist China and Lee Bacon attending the Nuremburg trials, as well as more general news of their travels, jobs, mutual friends, Smith College, and family; and warm, extensive correspondence with Frances’ nieces Barbara and Cynthia Huntington and their maternal Grandmother, Mrs. Buckley, 1958-1981, in San Francisco (California), which covers a wide variety of topics relating to the girls and includes examples of the girls’ homework. Frances’ correspondence with Mary’s doctor, Dr. J. Clark Maloney, provides sad documentation of Mary’s downward spiral into progressively worsening mental illness and its impact on various family members.

Additional correspondence was labeled by Frances as “Serbian Correspondence”, so the separate subseries were maintained here. This includes letters between Frances, Mio and his brothers, their families, and other Serbian relatives. The letters and cards are written or typed in English and Serbian, many of the latter having English translations written on the accompanying envelops or on scrap paper, and a few photographs, 1965-1988, and undated (.75 cubic ft.). The letters note family news, vacations, illness, death, travels, the differences between life and customs (burial of a relative) in the U.S. and Serbia, and money and gifts they sent to each other. Of particular interest is Frances’ letter to Zorica, dated July 29, 1967, in which she discusses the 1967 Detroit race riot and resulting damages, as well as what she believed were the contributing factors, namely poverty, lack of education, lack of affordable housing, lack of jobs for the uneducated, and the “indifference of Negro parents.”

Other Personal Papers which provide biographical information include: Biographical Materials, including Frances’ obituary, 1991; her brief Diaries, 1962-1963, the Huntington Family History, 1983; a List of Wedding Guests for Frances and Mio’s wedding, 1962; Family Photographs, 1880-1903, and undated; Legal Papers, 1953-1976; and other materials.

Frances’ Professional Papers (approximately 1 cubic ft.) mainly document her activities in the American Society for Quality Control (ASQC), Inc.-Greater Detroit Section. ASQC materials include Executive Committee and other meeting minutes, agendas, correspondence, membership lists, photographs, and other materials.

The F. D. Huntington Company is documented by business correspondence, 1961-1976, publications, financial records, manuals, photographs of equipment, etc.

Program books, 1960-1973 (Scattered), of the Society of Women Engineers, both the national and Detroit section, document Frances’ membership in the organization.

The rest of the collection consists of the Family Papers, which totals approximately 2 cubic feet (4 and 2/3 boxes), and consists of the papers and materials of Frances’ parents, siblings, grandparents, great-grandparents, and other relatives, including Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker. A few general materials are filed first. Then, materials of individuals filed in alphabetical order by the surname, and then the first name, of each relative.

Materials relating to Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker are found in the Correspondence and Legal Papers of his sister, Mary S. (Hooker) Brainard, who was the administrator of his estate, 1863-1891; in the Correspondence and Accounts of Joseph Hooker, 1863, 1877-1878, and undated; related Newspaper Clippings (copies) re: the painting, 1903, 1986, and undated; and some of the Correspondence, 1882, of John H. Treadwell and those of his wife, Mary S. (Brainard) Treadwell, 1891, and undated, all of which relate to the painting Joseph Hooker owned entitled “The Battle of Lookout Mountain”. Hooker paid the artist, James Walker, $20,000 himself, although Congress had commissioned the painting on April 30, 1875. The sheer size of the painting, which measures 13x30 feet, was such that finding a public building in which to hang it permanently was a long process. Mary S. (Brainard) Treadwell assumed the responsibility of the painting when her brother died until her death in 1894. Then, her son-in-law and daughter, John H. and Mary S. Treadwell, took responsibility for the painting until he died in 1967. After two restorations and a long period in storage, the painting was finally installed at the Lookout Mountain Visitor Center at the Point Park Unit of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park on August 19, 1986.

Papers of Frances’ immediate family (approximately 1.5 cubic feet) include those of her siblings and parents.

Danforth Huntington ‘s papers include Biographical Materials, World War II Naval Citations, Correspondence, Orders, Personal Correspondence, Photographs, and Newspaper Clippings (copies), 1934-1959.

George D. Huntington Papers include a few Business and Personal Correspondence, 1915, 1938 (Scattered), and undated.

The papers of Helen I. (Treadwell) Huntington consists mostly of extensive Personal Correspondence with her immediate family and friends, 1918, 1930-1956, and undated. Of interest (for fun) is the 1918 correspondence from her son John, then twelve-years-old, at Camp Nissokone in Oscoda (Michigan), in which he begs hysterically and repeatedly for her to send more candy. Also there is correspondence with Walter H. Hebert about a book on Joseph Hooker that Hebert was writing.

John T. Huntington ‘s papers consist mostly of Correspondence from his sister, Frances, and Helen “Kinkie” King, when the ladies attended Smith College, and Newspaper Clippings (copies) of his wedding to Anita Pierce on February 24, 1938.

Mary L. (Huntington) Kerr papers consist mostly of Personal Correspondence from friends, including numerous Sardoc invitations and notes with other members in her 1920s correspondence, and with her future husband, 1932-1934.

The papers of Frances’ Great-grandparents, Martha D. (Mygatt) Treadwell of New Milford (Connecticut) and Henry R. Treadwell consists mostly of the extensive Personal Correspondence between them, which spans their courtship, his traveling job and long periods of time spent in New York (New York), and their married life, 1840-1850, and undated. The letters are very affectionate, detailed, and demonstrate that both were well educated and had neat penmanship.

Their son, John H. Treadwell’s papers consist mostly of his Correspondence to his Father, Step-mother, sisters, Mary and Kitty, and later his wife, Mary [S. Brainard], and his “dear baby” Helen (Frances’ Mother), detailing his travels and adventures. Several Travel Journals, 1861 and 1865, as well as several additional volumes of his Essays and Poetry, 1868-1869, some of which he noted were published locally in newspapers, are also included.

Processing Notes: Check stubs, cancelled checks, receipts, bills, tax information, miscellaneous notes, generic personal and business correspondence, purchase orders, and general reading materials (approximately 12 cubic ft.) were withdrawn from the collection. The newsletters and publications of organizations and institutions based in Detroit or Grosse Pointe were transferred to the Burton Historical Library. A folder of Michigan Nature Association publications was transferred to the Bentley Historical Library, where a large collection of the MNA is housed. Lastly, a printing block and biographical information on Virginia Traphaghan (Smith College 1927 graduate) and other Smith college publications were transferred to Smith College.

The collection consists of family photographs, correspondence, drafts of her children's stories, correspondence, and accounts.

The collection documents the life, research, and writing career of Frances Margaret “Madge” Fox. The collection only lacks copies of her outgoing correspondence to friends and business colleagues.

Physically, the collection is in very good condition. Items that were very fragile or acidic have been photocopied and the originals removed from the collection. Except for Box 53 which has legal-size materials in it, the collection consists of letter-sized or smaller materials.

The collection is divided into the following series: Biographical Materials, 1886-2008 (Scattered) and undated, 1 box (.5 cubic feet). This includes originals and photocopies of census records, newspaper articles and magazine clippings, library cards, and printouts of e-photographs, documenting Madge’s life, literary career, death, education, research, and homes. Art by Walt Harris, the illustrator of Little Bear is also found here.

Photographs, 1877-1953 (Scattered), and undated, 3 boxes (1.5 cubic feet), consists of one folder of negatives, the rest all being various pre-1960 forms of photographs including a stereographic view, tintypes, cartes-de-visites, and snapshots, all black and white, in various shapes and sizes. Many of the images are unidentified and undated. Identified photographs are filed alphabetically by the name of the person, and by topics and date when possible. There are photographs of Marge, her family and friends, animals, birds, and various research topics.

Business Correspondence, 1899-1953, 1955, and 1958, and undated, 6 boxes (3 cubic feet). Most of the Business Correspondence consists of communications from editors, thank you notes, rejection letters, commentary and suggestions, as well as royalty checks. This is filed chronologically. Of particular note in this series are decorative notes with art from Walt Harris, who sketched a bear and porridge on his note of October 2, 1923. He was the artist of Little Bear. Additional art by Harris is in the Biographical Materials box.

The vast majority of Personal Correspondence is letters and postcards from her friends and relatives to her. Correspondence with her closest relatives and friends, 1912-1952, and undated, composes 3 boxes (1.5 cubic feet). It is filed alphabetically by surname. These are the people with whom she corresponded often and regularly. Here are letters from her Aunt Annie, distant relatives of her father’s, and many friends from Washington, D.C. and Mackinaw, as well as the Joslyns. There are a number of letters from associates in the publishing business, notably Madge’s friend Mrs. Jessica Mannon of Bobbs-Merril Company’s Editorial Board. These letters discuss health issues, their shared history, family news, her publications, travel plans, and research ideas, as well as the last and next time Madge and the letter writer met or will meet, and friends and relatives common to both. There is also one folder of correspondence from Madge Fox to various people, 1883-1952, and one folder about damage and repairs to her home, 1926.

More generic letters from a wider span of friends, fans, and children with whom Madge corresponded more rarely, or perhaps once or twice, compose the remaining personal correspondence. Some of these letters are as simple as Dear Miss Fox, I love your books. When possible, correspondence is filed alphabetically by surname, 1920-1950s. There are also folders for people who signed only with their first names or initials that could not be matched to or with any of the other correspondence. This section of the correspondence totals 2 boxes (1 cubic foot).

Research Notes, 1901-1943 and undated, 1 box (.5 cubic feet). This includes a bibliography, reference and photographic material organized alphabetically by topics.

Stories, include the actual story, drafts, they may by typed, handwritten, or published, and may include related materials such as notes, drawings, photographs, letters of rejection from an editor, an index to a book, or a cover page. The stories, which cover a plethora of topics in each subseries, are arranged alphabetically by title. Sometimes the title varies on different items in the folder. If so, square brackets are used on the folder heading. In one case, there is no title, so I created a title based on the topic and put it in square brackets. Many of the stories are based on factual documentation. The stories, particularly the drafts, show the development of her stories and are the core of the collection.

The Stories are subdivided into the following subseries: Handwritten Stories, 1921-1943, and undated, 5 boxes (2.5 cubic feet); Published Stories, 1899-1952, and undated, 2 boxes (1 cubic foot), includes advertisements, lists of her published stories, and the stories themselves. Typed Stories, which are subdivided into the following subjects:

Activities, Greeting Card Suggestions, Plays, and Poems, also includes models for paper dolls and other easily made toys and games for small children, 1934, 1944 (Scattered), and undated, 1 box (.5 cubic feet). Madge wrote ideas for babies and small children’s games, activities, paper dolls, as well as various plays for children to act in, poems for children, and a few ideas for greeting cards.

Animal Stories, includes animals, insects, and Uncle Sam’s Birds book, 1917-1948, and undated, 6 boxes (3 cubic feet), includes a list of all the stories, and then the stories. There are many stories regarding a wide array of animals, notably bears, birds, U.S. Army mules, cats, and dogs, including Owney, the well traveled U.S. mail dog, and Balto who delivered diphtheria serum to Nome, Alaska, during an epidemic of the disease, among others.

Buildings, Countries, Events, and Places Stories, 1912-1947, and undated, 3 boxes (1.5 cubic feet). The United States, England, Bermuda, and other countries are documented here.

Famous People Stories, 1923-1952, and undated, 3 boxes (1.5 cubic feet) includes stories of royalty, politicians, inventors, explorers, soldiers, American heroes, but not Indians nor saints.

Indian Tales, Famous Indians, and Captivity Stories, 1928-1950, and undated, 2 boxes (1 cubic foot) documents famous leaders, incidents, tales, and captivity stories.

Michigan Stories, 1914-1945, and undated, 1 box (.5 cubic foot), includes stories of important and common Michigan people and events, based mainly in and around Mackinaw City. Here are a number of stories and experiences of some of Madge’s Michigan friends.

Miscellaneous Stories, 1910-1952, and undated, 6 boxes (3 cubic feet) covers a plethora of topics, including American and foreign, current and historic trees, plants, statues, art, inventions such as sewing machines and fly paper, and common everyday items such as bells and beads.

Religious, Holidays, Saints, Christmas Stories, 1917-1946, and undated, 2 boxes (1 cubic foot) includes information on a variety of Catholic saints, many Quakers, history of many holidays and holy days, and many religious themes, as well as Christmas stories.

Volumes, 4 boxes (2 cubic feet) include: Accounts, 1901-1947 (27 v.); Address books, 1919, 1931, 1940 (3 v.), Diaries, 1917-1952 (14 v.), Quotations, 1898, 1943 (1 v.), and Story Notes, 1915-1949, and undated (34 v.). Her Accounts note which stories Madge sent to publishers, which were published, and what she was paid for them. Her Diaries consist of brief, sometimes intermittent notes, mainly about health, travel and social plans and events, and her research and writing work. They vary in detail and completeness. All the volumes vary in size and shape.

Legal-size Materials, 1 box (.5 cubic feet) consists of her Publishing Contracts, 1902-1951, some partial Research Notes on Paw Paw (Mich.), undated; and a Scrapbook, 1897, 1945, made in a Beckman and Mechelson, Inc., Bay City (Mich.) Stock Certificate Book.

Index Cards to Madge’s personal and business correspondence, 4 boxes, 1899-1944, complete the collection. Noted on the index cards is the name of the writer, recipient, date, address, and number of pages. The cards are arranged chronologically. [Note: the cards existed prior to Marian processing the collection. It is unknown if Madge or earlier Clarke staff created the index cards.]