Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Official correspondence, notes, and instructions received while serving as U. S. Minister to France and Secretary of War; also official documents of the Michigan Superintendency of Indian Affairs, 1819-1831, and the Office of Indian Affairs, 1814-1817 and 1822-1829, relating in part to Cass's work in negotiating land treaties with the Indians of the Michigan Territory.

The microfilm was acquired by Professor Nelson Vance Russell in the course of his research on the life of Lewis Cass. The originals of the records are in the National Archives and Records Administration. The files have been arranged by record group number which correspond to the various departments and agencies with whom Cass was associated as territorial governor, as diplomat, or, in the case of the War Department, as Secretary. The series in the collection are: United States Minister to France, United States Secretary of War, Michigan Superintendency of Indian Affairs, and United States Office of Indian Affairs. Cass's work with the Indians as governor of the Michigan Territory is documented in these last two series.

The Macomb family papers chronicle the lives of an important family in southeast Michigan over a period of ninety-one years, from 1806 until 1897. The collection contains information pertaining to Major General Alexander Macomb's personal life and military career. This includes biographical information, Macomb's Last Will and Testament, poetry, and letters pertaining to military promotions, battles, legal claims, and public events. The collection also contains family letters authored by or addressed to Macomb's first wife Catherine, his sister Jane Macomb, daughter Jane Octavia (Macomb) Miller, Maria Bleecker Miller (Mother-in-law to Jane Octavia (Macomb)) Miller, associates, and later generations of the family. The majority of these family letters focus on genealogy and everyday life events.

This collection highlights a small portion of the Macomb family's history between 1806 and 1897. The collection is composed primarily of family letters, however a large portion of the collection comprises of letters and documents pertaining to Major General Alexander Macomb's military career and personal life. This includes but is not limited to a letter of intent addressed to President John Quincy Adams seeking a position as Major General. The letter also mentions the likes of Army Commander Winfield Scott, Statesman John C. Calhoun, and General Andrew Jackson. Another of Macomb's letters serves as permission and instructions to Captain Benjamin Bonneville regarding Bonneville's request to further explore the western portion of the United States, specifically the Oregon Trail. This expedition would eventually broaden the path for westward expansion. Additional materials include General Macomb's Last Will and Testament, a typed summary of his life and career, a letter to General Johnathan Williams describing the events leading up to the Battle of Plattsburgh and the battle itself, and a letter to the United States Court of Claims from attorney's acting on behalf of Harriet Macomb, second wife and widow of General Macomb.

The Catherine Macomb series contains letters written by Catherine Macomb, Alexander Macomb's first wife. The series includes six letters written to various friends and family members over a period of fifteen years between 1806 and 1821. This includes a December 10, 1814 letter written by Catherine to Maria Bleecker Miller describing her intentions to reunite with her husband, General Macomb, shortly after his September 11, 1814 victory at Plattsburgh (also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain). This victory was a defining moment in the War of 1812 as it led to the signing of the Treaty of Ghent which ended the war on December 24, 1814. The series also contains letters addressed to Elizabeth Spencer (Eliza or Mrs. Cass), wife of Lewis Cass, first governor of the Michigan Territory. Catherine also authored a letter in which she mentions Commodore Isaac Chauncey. The remainder of the collection is comprised of letters authored by or addressed to various associates and family members including family friend Henry Authon, General Macomb's sister Jane Macomb, his daughter Jane Octavia (Macomb) Miller, Maria Bleecker (Mother-in-law to Jane Octavia (Macomb) Miller)),and later generations of the family. These letters chiefly discuss family ties and contain general well-wishes and goings on.

Colorado clergyman, proponent of the creation of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River as a national monument, U.S. Army chaplain during World War II. Correspondence with family members while serving as chaplain during World War II, also other documents from his military service, including programs from services he performed during the war; papers accumulated from his career as Presbyterian minister in Colorado, especially notes from sermons; scattered papers of other, earlier family members; and Black Canyon Monument series which includes correspondence, blueprints and landscaping designs, clippings, and various publications; files relating to research and writing of book about Black Canyon; and photographs and postcards of the area.

The Mark T. Warner Papers (3 linear ft.) include correspondence with family members while serving as chaplain during World War II and other documents from his military service, including programs from services he performed during the war; papers accumulated from his career as Presbyterian minister in Colorado, especially notes from sermons; scattered papers of other, earlier family members; and papers relating to is efforts to have Black Canyon Monument established. The papers are organized into of five series: Personal; Chronological; Church Files, Military Files; and Black Canyon Monument.

The McCreery and Fenton families were prominent Genesee county, Michigan residents some of whose members distinguished themselves in local and state government, as soldiers during the Civil War, and in the United States diplomatic service. Papers include diaries, correspondence and other material relating to the Civil War, local and state politics and aspects of diplomatic service in Central and South America.

The McCreery-Fenton family collection documents the individual careers of family members who served their community and their nation in a variety of roles. Through correspondence, diaries and other materials, the researcher will find information pertaining to the Civil War, to the history of Flint and Fenton in Genesee County, Michigan, and to facets of America's diplomatic relations with some of the countries of Central and South America. Arranged by name of the three principal family members represented in the collection - William M. Fenton, William B. McCreery, and Fenton R. McCreery, the papers also include series of general family materials, business records, and photographs.

Detroit family; one member, James Henry McDonald, was a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.A., 1876; Law, 1878), who practiced law in Detroit; his wife, Christine Jewell, was active in the state Democratic Party. The collection has been arranged into five series: the McDonald Family, the Martha Wells McLellan Family, the Christine Jewell Family, Miscellaneous Files, and Photographs.

The McDonald papers contain personal and business papers collected by James Henry McDonald and by his wife Christine Jewell McDonald. The collection includes correspondence, ledgers, genealogical material and family histories, business records and photographs. Topics and activities documented in the collection include James McDonald's education at the University of Michigan and law practice in Detroit; genealogy of the McDonald, Hallock, McLellan and Jewell families; business papers of William Jewell, including some relating to his founding of the Detroit Business University in 1864; correspondence of Emma Jewell's life as a Christian Scientist; Ogden Jewell's experience as a University of Michigan Student and his enlistment in the Spanish-American War; and correspondence of Christie Jewell concerning her activities in the Democratic party, including a term a vice-chair of the state Democratic Party Central Committee in 1937-1938.

The collection contains five series: McDonald Family, the Martha Wells McLellan Family, Christine Jewell Family, Miscellaneous Files, and Photographs.

Records of United States land offices in Marquette and Grayling, Michigan. Plat and tract books containing the record of the survey and sale of public lands in Michigan.

The records originally came from two sources. Volumes 1-51 and 78 to 87 (tract books for the Lower Peninsula) and the outsize folders (Lower Peninsula plat maps) are copies of earlier records made in 1894 for the Grayling Land Office. When that office was closed in 1898 the records were transferred to the Marquette Land Office. Volumes 52-77 and 88 (tract books for the Upper Peninsula) and volumes 150A-161 (plat maps for the Upper Peninsula) are the original records kept in the Marquette Land Office (originally in Sault Ste. Marie) beginning in 1847.

The records were transferred to the General Land Office in Washington, D.C., when the Marquette Land Office was closed in 1925. In 1940, the Auditor General of Michigan, who was the chairman of the Michigan State Land Office Board, accepted the records for the state. (The State Land Office Board was established in 1937, and was not related to the Michigan State Land Office, which was abolished in 1914 and replaced by the Public Domain Commission.) Because of crowded conditions in the State Capitol, the Auditor General asked that the records be deposited in the Michigan Historical Collections, where they could be used by a WPA Writers Project study of the disposal of public lands in Michigan. They have been on deposit at this library since that time.

Miscellaneous county records.

The record group has been arranged into the following series: School records; Elections; Taxation, assessments, etc.; Census reports; and Miscellaneous. Items of interest include school reports, 1835-1883 and school census, 1914 and 1920; election registrations, poll lists and election returns, 1820-1888; highway assessment and tax records, 1819-1943; assessment roll of Milan township, Michigan, 1902, lists and abstracts of sales of state lands, 1860-1899; tavern permits, 1836-1838; abstracts of permits, occupations and new establishments, 1830-1840; bonds, 1822 and 1841-1892; drain survey, 1861; certificates of sales of swamp lands, 1867; census reports of Port Lawrence township (later part of Ohio), 1827, and Ida township, 1837; military lists,1869-1886; and contracts of Monroe County Detecting Society (vigilance committee) for 1848 and 1853.

Ann Arbor, Michigan family. Ledger, of Elijah W. Morgan, attorney and businessman, compiled in the 1840's containing his comments and evaluations of business and professional abilities of early businessmen of Washtenaw County, Michigan; correspondence, autobiography, and other miscellaneous business papers and deeds; also correspondence, drawings, and writings of his wife Lucy Stow Morgan, including letter describing life and customs in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1831; and other papers of Elijah's parents, including autobiographies of Elisha Morgan and Polly Babcock Morgan.

The Morgan family collection consists primarily of the personal and business papers of Elijah W. Morgan, one of Ann Arbor's pioneer citizens who had a distinguished career as an attorney and banker; letters and other materials of his wife Lucy Stow Morgan; and autobiographies and scattered papers of Elijah's parents, Elisha and Polly Babcock Morgan of Watertown, New York.

The bulk of the collection consists of the personal and business papers of Elijah W. Morgan. This includes correspondence (1821-1889), autobiographical material, essays on religion and temperance, and a large section of business and financial papers generated as a result of his law practice or his various business dealings.

Williamston, Ingham County, Michigan, family. Financial records, clippings, and correspondence relating to Mullett Farm and John Mullett, surveyor; extract, 1864, from Meridian Township Register Book; letterpress book, journal, and correspondence, 1852-1893, of John H. Forster, surveyor, agent for Pewabic Mining Company, Hancock, Mich., and later owner of Springbrook Farm, Ingham County, Michigan; diary, 1840-1841, of Catherine Hall; and map, 1859, of Mullett Farm; and photographs.

The Mullett family collection contains many useful descriptions of the state, and is a good source of information for some of the state's economic and topographic conditions during the 19th century. The papers, 1825-1936, are broken down into four series.

Family of Baptist ministers from New York state and southwestern Michigan; papers of Harvey Munger, his son William L. Munger, William's wife Octavia and other members of the Munger, Griffin, and Brown family.

The collection is organized by family member. The papers of Harvey Munger include correspondence and a journal/account book (1835-1847). The papers of William L. Munger include letters received from Walter Rauschenbusch (1886-1918), sermons, writings and articles, and other papers relating to his activities with the Michigan Anti- Saloon League. The Octavia Griffin Munger papers include correspondence with family members and friends, writings, and papers relating to her work with the Woman's Baptist Home and Missionary Society of Michigan. There are also small files of materials from other members of the Munger family that primarily contain correspondence. Of note are papers of Solomon Brown dating back to the eighteenth century and a letter received by Nancy Brown in 1841 from Sault Ste. Marie missionary, Abel Bingham, 1841. The collection also includes a copy of a letter written by Angie Bingham Gilbert describing events surrounding the murder of James Schoolcraft by John Tanner. Tanner had formerly been a captive of the Indians in the 1840s in the Sault Ste. Marie area of Michigan.