Collections

Papers include mostly photographs, negatives and audiotapes of 19th century people, architecture, farms, churches, probably in rural Michigan, and 1960s Michigan politicians, political events and gatherings.

Most of the collection is photographs and negatives. The 19th century photographs have been reshot by a modern camera. Subject headings of photographs were ones used by Arnold Bransdorfer. Some photographs are quite faded. Almost all of the photographs are black and white.

Among these are images of what is presumably rural Michigan and many photographs of Michigan Republicans and Republican political gatherings in the 1960s. There is one photograph of Robert Kennedy at a political gathering.

Related Michigan Republican political publications, news releases, and a statement are among the paper materials. The correspondence discusses some of the photography work Arnold Bransdorfer did as Michigan Senate Photographer. Michigan Republicans documented here include William Milliken, G. Mennen Williams, George Romney, and Guy Vander Jagt, among others.

The audiotapes, mostly 1965-1968, and undated, relate largely to Michigan political press conferences, speeches, and advertisements, although Richard Nixon is documented at an unspecified time, as well as a speech by Walter Reuther in 1967. Different genres of music are also recorded on the audiotapes.

Papers include mostly correspondence, some from Michigan politicians, autograph album, and a scrapbook. Also included are the papers of Wilber M. Brucker.

John P. Schuch’s papers, mostly correspondence from 1920 to 1951, are chronologically arranged. They document his work as sheriff, hotel owner, National Guardsman, Michigan Representative, and Michigan Senator. Of particular note are congratulatory and other letters from Michigan and national politicians, including: Michigan Governor Fred W. Green, Herbert Hoover (signed), and Franklin Roosevelt (signed), all from 1928, and two letters from Michigan Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg, from 1930. Three autograph albums; 1882-1890; a Scrapbook, 1918, 1926, (1 Oversized volume), of newspaper clippings documenting his campaigns for sheriff in 1922 and 1925; and miscellaneous items, including a partial typed transcription of the treaty of 1819; are also included.

There are two folders of scrapbook materials, mostly relating to Wilber M. Brucker, dating, 1920-1930s. Included are newspaper clippings, photographs, campaign brochures, Christmas cards from Bruckers to Schuch, and invitations.

Item-level index cards are available to assist researchers.