Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Ann Arbor German-American family, owners of the Allmendinger Organ Company which later became the Ann Arbor Organ Company. Correspondence, scrapbooks, family genealogy, photographs concerning family affairs, materials on Helene Allmendinger's radio show, examples of spirit messages received by Helene Allmendinger from deceased family members; information pertaining to the Ann Arbor Organ Company, and family members still living in Germany.

The collection is divided into the following series: Family records and correspondence; Helene Allmendinger papers; Ina Allmendinger papers; Ann Arbor Organ Company; Harriet Birch papers, Other family members; Miscellaneous, and Photographs.

Assistant chief of the decartelization branch, economics division in the Office of Military Government for Germany (US), 1946-1948; later Republican state senator from Marshall, Calhoun County, Michigan, 1949-1956. Reports, correspondence, memoranda, and photographs concerning his work in Germany; also miscellaneous files detailing his activities in the state legislature.

The collection is arranged into the following series: Office of the Military Government for Germany (US) Economics Division, Decartelization Branch; State Senator's Files; Topical Files; and Photographs.

Executive with the F. W. Woolworth Co., member of the Executive committee of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Photoprints, 1926, of his trip to Europe to investigate the Methodist Church's foreign mission; include photoprints taken in France, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Austria, Rumania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia; also brief reminiscences, 1955, and mimeographed travel letters, 1929-1930, of trip around the world.

The Edwin M. McBrier collection consists of photographs and travel journals of Edwin Merton McBrier, executive with the F.W. Woolworth Company. The 207 photographs were taken by Mr. McBrier during a European trip in 1926 on the behalf of the Methodist Church. McBrier was, at that time, the chairman of a commission to investigate the foreign missions work of the Methodist church. The purpose of this trip was to visit various missions in Europe. The photographs were taken in France, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Austria, Rumania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. The majority was shot in Germany and Eastern Europe. Many are of buildings and places which were not often visited or which have since been war damaged. Each photograph is dated and recorded in captions.

The McBrier photographs are interesting for several reasons. In addition to their historical value as records of architecture and scenes which have subsequently been damaged, they depict Europeans engaged in occupations and activities which no longer exist. Many are dressed in native costumes. The photographs are also interesting for their connection with the Methodist Church since McBrier photographed the churches and missions he visited. Finally, they are well-composed photographs with considerable artistic merit.

Two journals are included in this collection. Our Trip Abroad is the diary from a trip around the world taken by Mr. and Mrs. McBrier in 1929. Some Reminiscences of Edwin Merton McBrier includes recollections of friends, an early history of the F.W. Woolworth Company (McBrier retired in 1921 as Buyer of Merchandise) and an account of an incident which took place during the 1926 European trip. Some of McBrier's many honors for his missionary work are listed, including the order of the Jade. This honor was conferred on him by Chiang Kai Shek. Two large group photographs from the European trip are enclosed in this journal.

University of Michigan microbiologist; correspondence, student notebooks, San Francisco Plague Commission records, research files and laboratory notebooks, visual materials

The Frederick G. Novy collection documents the career and research interests of this noted bacteriologist, including information from the period of time when he was a member of the San Francisco Plague Commission (1901).

The collection has been divided into the following series:

1. Biographical/Personal
2. Correspondence
3. University of Michigan Student Notebooks
4. University of Michigan Medical School
5. San Francisco Plague Commission
6. Research Files/Laboratory Notebooks
7. Reprints and Writings
8. Miscellaneous; and Visual Materials.

Materials on agriculture, resort property in northern Michigan, tariffs, American neutrality prior to World War II, and Lutheran Church-sponsored resettlement of refugees and displaced persons after World War II; also photographs. Correspondents include: Prentiss M. Brown, Elford A. Cederberg, Fred L. Crawford, Philip A. Hart, J. Edgar Hoover, Resettlement Service of the National Lutheran Council, George Romney, Arthur H. Vandenberg, and Roy Woodruff.

Photos of railroad wreck, steam hauler, and Whittemore house in Tawas City, Michigan. Photographs are dated 1911 and 1963.

Professor of political science and dean of state-wide education at University of Michigan. Correspondence, notebooks and other papers concerning University activities, the Rotary Club, his work with the Ann Arbor Township, Washtenaw County (Mich.) Zoning Board and Planning Commission, and his work as special consultant to the occupation forces in Germany following World War II; records, 1956-1959, relating to the establishment of the Dearborn campus of the University of Michigan; and photographs.

The Harold M. Dorr collection provides excellent documentation of the professor's activities both in and out of the classroom. There is extensive material detailing his long-time activities with the Ann Arbor Rotary and as a member of the zoning board and planning commission of Ann Arbor Township. Also documented is his role with the U-M Extension Service and his interest in the university's state-wide education program. The series in the collection are: Family; Correspondence; Other materials; Notebooks; Manuscripts of writings; Department of Political Science; Ann Arbor Township activities; and Topical and organizational activities. Portions of the collection are unprocessed.

Alumnus of University of Michigan, and secretary of the University of Michigan Club of Suburban New Jersey. Correspondence and other materials relating to his alumni activities and his continuing interest in University affairs; and photographs.

The Schmidt collection consists of 0.4 feet of papers covering the years 1918-1968, though concentrating in the period since 1944. There is a small folder of materials detailing his World War I service and a few letters concerning his interest in perfumes and fragrances. The collection also contains two folders and several letters relating to Schmidt's work as board member and fund-raiser on behalf of the University of Michigan Committee, Thomas E. Dewey for President, during the 1944 and 1948 elections. Much of the collection concerns other alumni activities, including a sample of letters relating to recruiting prospective students for the University of Michigan.

Chicago attorney; correspondence, speeches, articles, and subject files relating to his public career.

The Laird Bell collection consists of a single series of Personal and Professional papers. Included are speeches, articles, written, and subject files pertaining to his various organizational activities, especially his work as alternate U. S. delegate to 10th Assembly of the United Nations in 1955. There are also various material pertaining to the life of his grandfather, Wisconsin lumberman, W. H. Laird.

Career army officer, speechwriter for military and political figures on army-related topics. Speeches, diaries, 1971 and 1973, copy of his mystery novel, and photographs.

The papers of Marvin M. Meerse consist of one linear foot of material and cover the years 1943-1978. Though the collection includes both professional and personal papers, the vast majority of the papers are professional, mostly texts of speeches written by Meerse from 1955 to 1968.

As these speeches are often discussions of freedom, containment, and the threat of communism, they provide insight into the soldier's perspective on these topics. Included in the collection are speeches written by Meerse for generals: A.C. McAuliffe, Bruce C. Clarke, Paul Freeman, Dwight Beach, C.H. Bonisteel, Creighton W. Abrams, Jr., George T. Duncan, Louis W. Truman, and W.C. Garrison. There is also a speech written by Meerse and delivered by President John Kennedy and speeches by Attorney General Robert Kennedy and Secretary of the Army Wilber Brucker, presumably also written by Meerse.

Battle Creek attorney, justice, later chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. Correspondence, clippings, speeches, and topical files relating primarily to the ceremonial, out-of-court, responsibilities of a supreme court justice, and to her election campaigns in 1971 and 1980; also files concerning her interest in juvenile justice and the reapportionment of the Michigan Legislature and miscellaneous photographs.

The Mary S. Coleman Collection is arranged by series or topic: Biographical/Personal; Correspondence; Miscellaneous Topical File; Speeches; Supreme Court Topical Files; Miscellaneous; and Visual Materials. While a portion of the collection contains pre-1972 material, the bulk concerns the 1972-1982 period during which Judge Coleman served on the Michigan Supreme Court.