Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

The Citizens for Traditional Values record group documents four separate but interrelated organizations having many of the same members and sharing a strategy aimed at uniting conservative Christians on behalf of similarly-minded candidates for office. These organizations were The Freedom Council (1985-1987), the Michigan Committee for Freedom (1986-1992), the MCFF offshoot organization Celebrate Life (1989-1992), and the Citizens for Traditional Values (1991-present). The record group contains a variety of documentary materials such as office files, correspondence, budgets, reports, fundraising information, draft materials, and news clippings.

The record group contains materials from The Michigan Freedom Council (MFC -1985-1987), the Michigan Committee for Freedom (MCFF -- 1986-1992), the MCFF offshoot organization Celebrate Life (1989-1992), and the Council for Traditional Values (1991-present), conservative Christian political activist groups working in Michigan. The records contains a variety of documentary materials such as office files, correspondence, budgets, reports, fundraising information, draft materials, and news clippings to give a well-rounded view of the conservative Christian political scene in Michigan.

Michigan citizens group established in support of proposal B relating to the reform of public school financing on the 1989 state ballot. Reports, surveys, minutes, correspondence, and audio and visual materials.

The records of CRTR consist of one foot of materials from the campaign office dating from 1989. The materials consist of reports, surveys, minutes, and correspondence. Most of the reports and surveys were not produced by CRTR but by other organizations that were concerned about school taxes. These records were kept by CRTR mostly as reference materials to assist them in their campaign. The correspondence and committee records were produced by CRTR but are very few in number.

This record group also contains some audio and visual materials. The cassette tape found in the folder labeled program tape is part of a slide presentation made by CRTR. The visual material is a video cassette of a commercial opposing the passage of Proposal B and is narrated by L. Brooks Patterson.

Record group consists of Administration, Office Reference, and Reforms subgroups; files relate to lobbying efforts on behalf of campaign reform, ethics in politics, lobbying reform.

The records of Common Cause in Michigan comprise nearly seventeen linear feet of materials and consist of agendas, minutes, newsletters, correspondence, memoranda, press releases, reports, and drafts and comments on pending legislation. The materials document this public interest group's efforts to secure a more ethical, open, responsive, and representative government in Michigan. The strengths of the record group derive from its reflection of the reform issues salient to the Michigan electorate and the perspective it manifests on the close relations between the Michigan legislature and lobbyists in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. The records also shed light on the internal workings and outreach efforts of Common Cause in Michigan. The record group is arranged into three series: Administration, Office Reference, and Reforms. Each series is further divided by period of time (with overlap) reflecting the different dates of accessioning.

The Daniel L. DeGrow collection documents his activities as Republican member of the Michigan legislature from 1981 to 2002. The collection includes hardbound volumes of press releases issued by DeGrow and colleagues, columns written by DeGrow for various publications, and press clips from publications across the state.

Records in this collection document Dan DeGrow's tenure in the Michigan legislature, spanning from 1981 to 2002. The collection consists of four series of hardbound volumes: Press Releases, Columns, Press Clips, and Miscellaneous.

Files of state chairs, Neil Staebler, John J. Collins, Zolton Ferency, Sander Levin, James McNeely, Morley Winograd, Olivia Maynard, Richard Wiener, F. Thomas LeWand, and Gary Corbin; files of deputy state chair, Billie S. Farnum, vice chairs Adelaide Hart and Olivia Maynard, and vice chair Robert Mitchell; files relating to state constitutional convention, and to state and national political campaigns, since 1950; sound recordings and visual materials.

The records of the Democratic Party of Michigan have come to the library in several accessions beginning in 1967 and periodically thereafter. The record group is comprised of files mainly from the Lansing office of the Democratic Party of Michigan. The files are of the officers of the party: state chair, vice chair, deputy chair, and secretary among others. As might be expected, the records relate to the day-to-day operation of the party, the management of political campaigns (i.e. selecting candidates, defining issues, raising funds, getting out the vote, etc.). In addition, much of the records concern the state organization's relationship with the National Democratic Party and its participation in the national convention to select a presidential nominee. Because of inconsistencies in how files were maintained and used, the files of one party officer might also include materials of his / her predecessor. Thus the researcher should be examine the entire finding aid for material on any given topic or time period.

The records of the Democratic Party of Michigan has been arranged into the following series: (1) Earlier records, prior to 1965; (2) State Chair, Democratic State Central Committee files; (3) Other Party Officers; (4) Headquarters files; (5) Detroit Office Files; (6) Topical Files; (7) State Central Committee Meeting Minutes; (8) State and National Convention files; (9) Appeals Committee; (10) Publications and miscellaneous; (11) Visual Materials; (12) Sound Recordings.

The Dick Posthumus papers (1972-2002) consist of materials related to his political career as state senator, Senate Majority Leader, and Lieutenant Governor and his campaign for governor. The collection includes correspondence, campaign literature, media advisories, newspaper clippings, speeches, radio and television appearances and photographs.

The Dick Posthumus papers (1972-2002) consist of materials related to his political career as state senator, Senate Majority Leader, and Lieutenant Governor and his campaign for governor. The collection includes correspondence, campaign literature, media advisories, newspaper clippings, speeches, radio and television appearances and photographs. The papers are organized into eight series: materials related to his political career as a state senator, Senate Majority Leader, and Lieutenant Governor and his campaign for governor: Campaigns, Correspondence, Media Advisories, News clips, Speeches, Topical Files, Other Media, and Photographs.

Donald W. Riegle, Jr. served five terms as a Representative from Michigan's 7th district in the U.S. House of Representatives (1967-1976) and three terms as a U.S. Senator from Michigan (1976-1995). Riegle was born in Flint, Mich. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Business Administration (1960) and from Michigan State University with an M.B.A. (1961). The collection reflects Riegle's service from 1966 to 1994 as a U.S. Congressman and Senator. Material from Riegle's years in U.S. Senate comprise the majority of the collection. Collection includes campaign material, topical files, material related to bills and acts, committees and subcommittees; also material related to Michigan affairs, constituent mail, and personal files.

The papers in this collection reflect Donald Riegle's service from 1966 to 1994 as U.S. Congressman and Senator. There is nothing from his years before his entry into politics in 1966 and nothing from the period afterwards. The papers from his Congressional years amount to 21 linear feet; those from his Senate years comprise 143 linear feet, which is of course the vast majority of the collection.

In a broad sense, most of the collection consists of memoranda, notes, reports, and similar materials, concerning pending legislation. Some concerns committee hearings and testimony. There are also files containing campaign and other political material, staffers' files, and a certain amount that might be considered relating more to Riegle the person. This includes a manuscript of an unpublished book; his schedules, speeches, and records of his legislative activity. The collection also documents the activity of his liaison offices in Michigan.

Douglas Ross (1942- ) is a Michigan political figure. He has been active in many political organizations and the Democratic party and served as Michigan Director of Commerce and United States Assistant Secretary of Labor. He also ran, unsuccessfully, for governor of Michigan in 1998. Ross' main concerns are economic policy and education. He currently runs a charter school in Detroit, Michigan. The papers cover most of his career, especially as Michigan Senator and at the Department of Labor, and include his notes and articles, correspondence, publications, and videotapes.

Member of the Michigan State Senate, House of Representatives, Ann Arbor City Council, and Mayor of Ann Arbor; records include handwritten notes on policy issues, collected research materials, and news clippings related to Brater’s service as a member of the Michigan State Senate and House of Representatives.

The Brater collection consists of eight series: Environment and Natural Resources, Mental Health, Judiciary, Other Policy Files, Legislative Files, Subject Files, News Clippings, and Other Office Files. The collection's strength lies in its documentation of Brater's activities in the areas of environmental issues and mental illness treatment programs as a member of the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives.

The collection consists of photographic negatives of Governor Blanchard while attending public functions, giving speeches, signing bills, and at various other meetings, receptions, political gatherings, and fund raisers.