Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

This collection contains two letters. The June 6, 1862 letter speaks of battles, but his regiment was held in reserve and not involved in action. The August 6, 1862, letter thanks his mother for a package received, tells her of being on the march for three weeks, and that he is sending money home.

Excerpts from a letter written while Bush was garrisoned near Fairfax, Virginia and sent to his wife in Dexter, Mich. Bush tells of the first battle of Bull Run (Manassas Junction), the guns that can be heard in the area, the foraging expedition and search for food in which he participated; and of the plight of the families in the area.

The prints are illustrative of significant moments in the history of Michigan from pre-history to World War II.

Eleanor (Norcross) Claus (1882-1962) was a Tipton, Michigan resident. The collection consists of photographs of a Civil War monument in a Lenawee County (Mich.) cemetery.

The collection consists of photographs, taken by Russell A. Spalding, of a Civil War monument in a Lenawee County, Michigan, cemetery.

William H. Tipton (1850-1929) was a Gettysburg, Pa.) photographer known for documenting the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg, monument dedications, and veteran reunions. Consists of photographs of monuments commemorating Michigan military units at the Gettysburg battlefield.

The collection consists of photographs of monuments commemorating Michigan military units at the Gettysburg battlefield.

Herman Stiver (1920-2017) was a Muskegon, Michigan, resident. Consists of copy print photos of Civil War veterans from Cleon Township (Manistee County, Michigan) and records identifying them.

The collection consists of copy print photos of Civil War veterans from Cleon Township (Manistee County, Michigan) and records identifying them.

Governor of Michigan, writer, businessman; papers include correspondence, business records, speeches, writings, visual materials, diaries.

The Osborn collection consists of correspondence, diaries, business papers, scrapbooks, photographs, and other materials accumulated during his life. Materials prior to 1889 are scarce possibly because of a fire which destroyed Osborn's home; thereafter and up to the time of his death in 1949, the Osborn papers are voluminous, documenting each of this man's varied activities. Although his career as elected public official was limited to one term as governor, the collection reflects the importance of his life in areas beyond politics alone. His voice was heard, in letters and speeches and monographs, speaking out on the issues of the day - prohibition, conservation, the New Deal, and of course his life-long interest in the development of Michigan's Upper Peninsula economy and natural resources.

This collection includes individual carte-de-visite portraits of Civil War soldiers that are not part of any manuscript collection. It also includes a few group portraits.

Many other Civil War portraits are found in individual manuscript collections. To find a listing of collections containing portraits and other photographs from the Civil War, please refer to the MIRLYN catalog under the subject United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

Family historian; collected materials relating to the Burt family and other related families.

Historical documents, family papers, and photographs accumulated and maintained by Flora Burt relating to the Burt family and to other family lines. Included are materials and information pertaining to James P. McKinstry, officer in the U.S. Navy in the 19th century, and to John R. Williams, 1st mayor of Detroit. The collection also contains letters, 1839-1846, to William A. Burt from his son Alvin Burt, then doing survey work in Iowa; also letter, 1845, from William Burt to Alvin Burt, describing the solar compass that he patented.

Socialist Labor Party member, later member of the League for Socialist Reconstruction. Correspondence, campaign files, audio-tapes, and other materials largely concerning his work with the State Central Committee of the Socialist Labor Party and Socialist Reconstruction, 1928-1992; and collected family materials including letters and memoirs of Levi Muncy, soldier during the Civil War; also photographs.

The Ralph Muncy collection consists primarily of papers relating to his interest in socialist political activities. A smaller portion of the collection documents the involvement of his wife, Lydia B. Muncy, in the socialist cause. Together they also collected materials relating to the history of their families (Muncy-Baird). Included is much original family material dating back into the nineteenth century. The Ralph Muncy papers have been arranged into the following series: Correspondence; Topical Files; and Ralph Muncy and Lydia Baird Muncy Personal.

Michigan family from Adrian and Flint, Michigan. Family papers, sound recordings, and photographs.

The collection is arranged by family name: Tomlinson, Pomeroy, and Raab. The earliest item is an account maintained by Alexander Tomlinson of Sherwood, Michigan. Within the Raab family papers are diaries, 1891-1892, of Florence Raab concerning her life in Adrian, Michigan. In addition, the collection includes papers and audio-tapes of Irving T. Raab reminiscing about his student life at the University of Michigan in the years before 1900. These tapes also concern his life in Flint and career as Presbyterian clergyman. The photographs in the collection are of family members.

Translations of letters, 1847-1850, of Gotthardt Bechtold describing his trip to, impressions of, and settlement in America; also diary, 1861-1865, of Frederick W. Bechtold, soldier in Co. B, 12th Missouri Volunteers during the Civil War (partially in German); typescript translations of Bechtold's diary and of his letters, 1862-1864; and miscellaneous other family letters (some in German).

Research files of Garry D. Packard, a local historian from Plymouth, Michigan. Documents, articles, spreadsheets, and maps containing research and historical information about churches, graveyards, veterans, and historical businesses in Plymouth, Canton, and other areas in Southeast Michigan.

The collection contains digital files of collected, transcribed, and indexed materials relating to the history of Plymouth Township, Mich., and the surrounding area, including school records, census indexes, birth, marriage and death indexes, cemetery indexes (Parkview, Old Baptist, Presbyterian, Riverside, and Shearer Cemetery), indexes of veterans, and other materials. Also contains maps of Riverside and Old Baptist Cemeteries and a biographical sketch of American Revolutionary War veteran Titus Vespatian Hoisington.

Research papers on topics relating to Michigan history and the history of the University of Michigan written by students in the History Department Undergraduate Honors Program.

Research papers, 1967-1979, of students in journalism at the University of Michigan; contain essays relating to the history of Michigan newspapers and journalists, and the development of radio and television broadcasting; include papers concerning newspapers in Adrian, Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Grand Rapids, and the journalistic efforts of Father Charles Coughlin, Henry Ford, and Gerald L. K. Smith.

The Department of Journalism research papers collection measures 2 linear feet and consists solely of student research papers written between 1967 and 1979. The papers contain essays written regarding the history of various newspapers -- many in Michigan cities such as Adrian, Ann Arbor, Detroit and Grand Rapids; journalists and the journalistic efforts of individuals such as Father Charles Coughlin, Henry Ford, and Gerald L.K. Smith; and the development of radio and television broadcasting.

The surviving administrative records of the Department of Journalism were retained by its successor unit, the Department of Communication, and can be found in that department's records.

Historian and biographer from McMillan, Michigan. Correspondence, notes, and manuscripts concerning the research, writing and publication of "Education in Violence," a biography of Civil War general George H. Thomas; also research materials on other Civil War topics, travel narratives, and miscellanea.

The McKinney collection is comprised mainly of his historical research and writings, mainly on Civil War topics and the career of General George H. Thomas. The series in the collection are: Personal and miscellaneous; Correspondence; Historical research and writings; and Travel writings.

Detroit, Michigan journalist and historian. Correspondence, speeches, scrapbooks, book reviews and manuscripts of unpublished writings; also research materials concerning Lewis Cass, Augustus B. Woodward, Gabriel Richard, and Alexander J. Groesbeck, and papers relating to the Civil War in Michigan, the development of Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, the Detroit Public Library, the Detroit Free Press, and the building of the Mackinac Bridge.

The Frank B. Woodford papers consist of correspondence, speeches, scrapbooks, book reviews and manuscripts of unpublished writings; also research materials concerning Lewis Cass, Augustus B. Woodward, Gabriel Richard, and Alexander J. Groesbeck, and papers relating to the Civil War in Michigan, the development of Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, the Detroit Public Library, the Detroit Free Press, and the building of the Mackinac Bridge. The collection is organized into four series: Correspondence; Writings and related material; Scrapbooks and newspaper clippings; and Other materials.

Student papers, 1930-1987 prepared for classes in history at the University of Michigan (primarily Michigan history class taught by Lewis G. VanderVelde, but also including research papers for classes taught by Sidney Fine and others); topics concern Michigan social and political history; Michigan biography and bibliography; and local community history.

The student papers are organized alphabetically by author in two series, which are similar in date range and topics covered. Topics of papers concern Michigan social and political history; Michigan biography and bibliography; local community history and University of Michigan history. A topical index to the papers is available in the first box of the collection.

Professor of history at the University of Michigan, first distinguished visiting professor at Northern Michigan University. Correspondence and other papers concerning his research and writings on the anti-slavery movement in America. Also, analog and digitized recordings of 1965 interviews given to WNMR Northern Dimensions.

The Dumond collection contains professional correspondence, including letters received, ca. 1961-1970, reflecting prevailing attitudes towards race relations and the historiography of the American Civil War. There are also research materials, notebooks containing lecture notes and drafts of writings, reviews of his books, an audio-tape of a talk he gave, and a scattering of photographs.

Detroit newspaperman and United States Senator from Michigan. Correspondence chiefly concerning his 1952 senatorial campaign and his newspaper work in the United States and abroad during World War II; scrapbooks of newspaper articles written by Moody and published for the most part in the Detroit News and Barron's; tape recordings of public affairs radio program; photographs and motion pictures of public affairs interview programs.

The Blair Moody collection documents the career of a Washington-based newspaper correspondent and columnist and United States Senator. The collection covers the period 1928 to 1954, though the bulk of materials date since the mid-1940s. Much of the collection pertains to that period of time when Moody was in the Senate or was running for election to the Senate, although his newspaper career is also well documented. The collection has been divided into the following series: Biographical; Correspondence; Personal/Family; Newspaper Career; Gridiron Club; Senatorial Papers; Speeches; Scrapbooks; Sound Recordings; and Visual Materials.

Journalist, historical researcher from Kalamazoo, Michigan; Correspondence, research articles and notes, and photographs.

The Weissert collection includes correspondence, 1893-1947, including letters from Joseph Bailly, Clarence M. Burton, Gurdon S. Hubbard, Chase S. Osborn, Albert E. Sleeper, and George Van Pelt. There are also speeches, and writings mostly on Michigan history topics, including Indian history and the history of Kalamazoo and Barry County. The series of research notes illustrates the variety of Weissert's interests: historical personalities, forts, Michigan cities, and early state history. The photographs and snapshots pertain to Weissert's interest in Michigan history, especially homes, churches, mills, hotels, businesses, and other sites primarily in western Michigan, but also including Sault Ste. Marie and Mackinac Island. There are also photographs of Michigan pioneers, particularly from the Hastings, Michigan area.

Reminiscence of an officer in the 1st Michigan Cavalry describing the campaign in June and July 1863 centered on the Battle of Gettysburg. Fragmentary copy, including leaves 1-9, 12-19, 76-81, 85, and 2 unnumbered leaves.

The collection consists of an autobiography, portraits, and a steel engraving plate. His personal recollections of his and his division's part in the war were written for his family. The chapters include: "Preliminary--Enlistment--Rendezvous"; "Going to the Front"; "Washington to Fredericksburg"; "Fredericksburg, "with a vivid description of the "bloody and lamentable" battle of Fredericksburg, and an analysis of McClellan as a general; "From Fredericksburg to Louisville, "with an explanation of the demoralization of Col. A. W. Williams; "Louisville to Horse Shoe Bend," with an account of the squabble between Colonel Doolittle and Colonel Mausar over slaves to be or not to be returned to their owners, and the issuing of the paper Union Vidette; "The Battle of Horse Shoe Bend, Ky."; "Down the Mississippi to Vicksburg" and "The Jackson Campaign"; "From Mississippi to Tennessee" and "East Tennessee Campaign" with "The Battle of Campbell Station"; "Siege of Knoxville"; "The assault on Fort Saunders"; "some Incidents of the Siege of Knoxville"; "After the Siege of Knoxville"; "East Tennessee to Virginia" and "Back to the Army of the Potomac"; "Through the Wilderness"; "To Ny River and Spottsylvania"; "Hospital Experience"; "In Front of Petersburgh" and "The Battle of the Crater"; "Incidents of the Battle of the Crater"; "After the Crater"; "Weldon Railroad and Ream's Station." "Poplar Springs Church and Beyond"; "Peebles Farm to Fort McGilvery"; and "The Winter in the Petersburg Trenches."

Minutes and rosters of the Twentieth Michigan Infantry Regiment's veterans association, 1867-85..

Soldier in Company A, 185th New York Infantry, during the Civil War. Consists of a diary containing an account of his wartime activities as well as photographs showing a soldiers' monument inscribed with his name in Baldwinsville, New York.

The Stephen Henry Fenner papers consist of a diary containing an account of his wartime activities as well as photographs showing a soldiers' monument inscribed with Fenner's name in Baldwinsville, New York).

Soldier in the Third Michigan Cavalry stationed at San Antonio, Texas during the Civil War. Diary describing his Civil War activities, return to Michigan, and school work at Albion College.

Diary describing his daily routines while stationed in San Antonio, Texas during the Civil War as well as his return to Michigan and school work at Albion College.

Resident of Pittsfield Township (Washtenaw County, Mich.), who served with Co. H, 20th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War. Diary describing his experiences during the Siege of Petersburg, Va.

Diary describing his experiences during the Siege of Petersburg, Va.

Resident of Pleasanton Township (Manistee County, Michigan) who also served in the 10th Ohio Regiment during the Civil War. Consists of copy photographs (1983) showing McKeen with other members of the 10th Ohio Regiment on Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, in 1865.

The collection consists of copy photographs (1983) showing McKeen with other members of the 10th Ohio Regiment on Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, in 1865.

Officer with the 6th Michigan Infantry and Heavy Artillery Regiment during the Civil War; personal papers relating to wartime service and accumulated records of the 6th Michigan Heavy Artillery.

The microfilm collection of the papers of Seymour Howell have been brought together from two separate collections: papers donated by the family and records which Howell himself donated to the Washtenaw County Historical Society and which subsequently have been deposited with the Bentley Historical Library. The collection from the family includes more personal items: a diary, a wartime notebook, letters, photographs, and a scrapbook. The Howell papers from the Washtenaw County Historical Society consist almost entirely of records of the 6th Michigan Artillery maintained by Howell. These include invoices, receipts, requisitions, ordnance reports and communications, and orders.

George W. French served as 1st Lieutenant of the Michigan 10th Cavalry from 1864-1865 in the Union army. The collection includes materials related to his wartime activates as well as post-war correspondences and forms.

The George W. French Papers consist of wartime records of the Michigan 10th Cavalry dating from 1863 to 1865. Included are lists of quartermaster stores, requisition forms, and other supply documents of the 10th Michigan Cavalry and 8th and 9th Tennessee Cavalry. Also French's Officer Commission signed by Michigan Governor Austin Blair. Post-war documents include personal correspondence, French's military pension forms, and other assorted personal papers dating to 1906.

Collection of correspondence belonging to De Witt and Sarah Clarke, who were residents of Battle Creek, Michigan during the Civil War. Bulk of collection consists of letters Sarah sent De Witt from Michigan while he was serving in the 2nd Missouri Cavalry. Remainder of the collection includes personal correspondence with other family members and friends as well as De Witt's business correspondence. Bulk of business correspondence dates after De Witt relocated the family to the developing town of Le Mars, Iowa in 1871, where he was a prominent merchant and community leader.

The collection consists of Sarah and De Witt Clarke's personal correspondence and De Witt's business correspondence. The bulk of the collection consists of letters from Sarah to De Witt, written from Michigan while De Witt was away with Merrill's Horse in Arkansas and Tennessee from 1864 to 1865. In her letters, Sarah expresses anxiety for her husband, reports on home and family life, and describes caring for their child in his absence. The collection includes De Witt Clarke's letters to his wife and personal correspondence with other family members and friends during and after the war. De Witt Clarke's business correspondence dates from after the Civil War and includes receipts, ledgers, price lists, notices, and advertisements, as well as correspondence with typewriter manufacturers in New York and Ohio.

Also included in the collection are typewritten transcriptions and lists of letters compiled by Anne Meis Knupfer.

Chadwick's diary (Mar. 10, 1864-Mar. 14, 1866) tells of camp and scouting duties in Missouri and Arkansas and forays against General Shelby; a steamer trip to take part in the engagement against Mobile; the overland march in "mopping up" operations in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana; the trek to San Antonio, Texas where they were part of the Military Department of the Southwest under General Sheridan, guarding the Mexican border and engaging in garrison and scouting duties. Special mention is made of the trouble with Colonel Mizner; the mutiny over rations and "unfair" orders with resulting court martial; a review of troops by General Sheridan; and a description of San Antonio.

Soldier in the 6th Michigan Cavalry, Company M., during the Civil War. The collection includes a diary containing entries that describe camp life, Civil War soldiering, and the weather. Also, portraits.

The Frank P. Grommon papers consists of a diary containing entries that describe camp life, Civil War soldiering, and the weather. Also includes portraits.

Ten letters written while he was serving in Company D, 9th Michigan Infantry, September 1864-June 1865, Most of the letters are written from Chattanooga. He tells of cutting logs to build shanties; of voting in the regiment (with 500 out of 506 votes cast for Lincoln); and of drilling new recruits. He likes soldiering in fair weather, but five men in a small cloth tent on rainy days have to keep jokes going to be happy. The camp on the banks of the Tennessee River was a pleasant place for watching steamboats and trains. On November 18 he went on detached service guarding prisoners. One prisoner was shot for disobeying orders, but he himself had no trouble with the about 200 prisoners in the camp. In January he remarked that "full rations is something I have not seen since I have been down here." Though costly, they sometimes bought butter, cheese, cakes, pies, and sometimes were given soft bread instead of hard tack. He tells of a Negro regiment doing picket duty for a white regiment. He hopes some of the men back home get caught in the draft soon to take place. The weather is cold with rain and snow, but the boys are well. In February he and a friend built a shanty with a bed and a fireplace. They took turns getting dinner-eggs, sausages, meat, bread, butter, coffee. Ninety new recruits arrived in camp. They had a great time February 20th when guns were fired. "Then all the locomotives and steamboats and mills and furnaces and everything that could make a noise set up a whistle for about 10 minutes. There was quite a howl in the city of Chattanooga." In April they were in Nashville. They had news of Lee's surrender, and there was "tall canonading to celebrate."

A diary (1864-1865) written while Carpenter was serving in Company E, 4th Michigan Cavalry. Includes a concise report of each day's activities; entries describe army life (including foraging and skirmishing), his daily job of horseshoeing, the battle of Selma, and the capture of Jefferson Davis in May 1865.

Comments on wartime activities, including description of Sherman's Georgia Campaign.

25 letters (Jan.-May 1864) to his wife describing his wartime experiences.

Soldier from Battle Creek, Michigan who served as captain in the Second Michigan Infantry during the Civil War. Diary of his war-time activities.

Diary of his war-time activities.

Soldier in the 24th Michigan Infantry during Civil War, later civil engineer concerned largely with construction of bridges and canals, especially improvements of St. Mary's Falls Canal, and consultant engineer to Panama Canal project. Correspondence, Civil War diaries, essays on proposed Nicaraguan Canal, printed materials, maps, and other miscellanea; also photographs.

The Alfred Noble Papers collection consists of several letters and diaries documenting his service with the 24th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War and correspondence, construction documents and other material relating to his work as a civil engineer on a number of major projects including the St. Mary's Canal, the Harlem Tunnel in New York, Panama Canal, Alton Bridge on the Mississippi and a proposed Nicaraguan Canal. The collection is organized in two series, Papers and Printed Works, 1853-1906. The Papers series is available on microfilm.

Collected materials include Civil War diary (1863) of William Harts, soldier with Co. B, 1st Michigan Infantry; also papers of Leon Bell, member of 339th Infantry (Polar Bears) sent to northern Russia after World War I.

Alpena, Michigan, resident. Correspondence, including a letter from Thomas Wentworth Higginson and a letter describing Goodrich's Civil War experience in the 115th New York Volunteers at the Battle of Morris Island, South Carolina, genealogical material, recipe book, and miscellanea; also photographs.

Fred Stanley Goodrich papers consist of correspondence, including a letter from Thomas Wentworth Higginson and a letter describing Goodrich's Civil War experience in the 115th New York Volunteers at the Battle of Morris Island, South Carolina, genealogical material, recipe book, miscellanea and individual and group photographs of Goodrich family members. The collection is noteworthy for a detailed description of the Battle of Morris Island in South Carolina during the summer of 1863.

Correspondence (1865-1901), with letters about his Civil War activities (including one written on Dec. 29, 1861 from Camp Lebanon to his parents, which contains a description of his quarters and the accidental burning of his tent); also a record of labor accounts, 1872-1875, military service papers and miscellaneous election tickets and campaign ribbons. Correspondents include: Charles M. Croswell and Fred M. Warner.

Resident of Owosso, Mich., who served in the 9th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War; later lived in East Saginaw, Mich. Papers relating to his Civil war service, correspondence relating to purchase of timber lands, and photographic portrait of Hathaway in uniform.

Papers relating to his Civil war service, correspondence relating to purchase of timber lands, and photographic portrait of Hathaway in uniform.

Civil War letters written by Alfred W. Wright, Co. A, Seventeenth Michigan Infantry, and George Blashfield, Co. E, Sixth Michigan Infantry; also a program of the Fairview Union School for 1863 and miscellaneous correspondence.

Contains three letters written by Aaron and Selina Lockwood to Lockwood family members in England between 1863 and 1866. Aaron laments the scarcity of farm labor due to the American Civil War and the imposition of a national draft (an event which led him to lie about his age to avoid service). Selina notes the draft will occur in January 1864 and references the heavy costs of the war. Her letter from 1866 rejoices in the end of the war and abolition of slavery, but frets about the state of the Union after Lincoln's assassination.

Three diaries (1863-1865) written while he was serving in Company D, Sixth Michigan Cavalry, as quartermaster sergeant and later lieutenant. Most of his entries concern the weather, food, sickness, letters, camp life,and battles with brief references to Gettysburg, Opequon, and Appomattox Court House. A large portion of his time was spent in the Campbell General Hospital, Washington, D.C. On May 19, 1864 he mentions Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln's visit to the hospital. Barbour was a resident of Fenton, Mich. This collection also includes an 1863 diary of Barbour's brother Frank A. Barbour. Frank Barbour served in Company A, 5th Michigan Cavalry. He died July 10, 1863, from wounds received in action at Gettysburg. The diary contains Frank's description of the events leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg, and George's account of his brother's last days.

The collection consists of enrollment lists of residents of Dover Township, Lenawee County (Michigan) subject to do military duty.

Diary recording daily events of military life, including the battle of Chancellorsville; also includes transcript of diary.

Letters (May 7, 1862 and June 2, June 6, and July 12, 1864) describing his experiences with the 2nd Michigan Infantry, including time spent near Richmond, Va. Also includes a letter (Aug. 2, 1864) from Simpson Rush(?) describing the circumstances of Anderson's death near Petersburg, Va., with a sketch of his grave.

Family of Fred P. Todd and his son, J. Beecher Todd, officers with National Loan and Investment Company in Detroit, Michigan, and its successor institutions, Surety Savings and Loan Association, and Surety Federal Savings and Loan Association. The collection consists of personal papers, files relating to their activities with savings and loan institutions, and photographs.

The Todd Family Papers consist of three series: Personal, Savings and Loan Institutions, and Photographs.