Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Twelve letters (1862-1865) written to his sister while he was serving in Company I, 3rd Michigan Cavalry. The chief items of interest are a secondhand account of the battle of Corinth; the skirmish at Holly Springs; the "Gallant charge on the log heaps"; guerrilla warfare; characterization of General Sherman; criticism of officers and chaplains; and a description of the camp at Brownsville, Ark.

Resident of Chesire, Allegan County, Mich., who served in Company B, 19th Michigan Infantry, during the Civil War. Extensive and detailed letters, chiefly to his wife, describing his military experiences, including the battle of Thompson's Station, where his regiment surrendered, the siege of Atlanta, and Sherman's campaigns in Georgia and South and North Carolina.

The collection consists of approximately 300 letters written by Austin, chiefly to his young wife, Sarah. Austin's letters are rich in details about his military experiences, particularly in the areas of war maneuvers and events, officers and doctors, rebels and the South, and descriptions of camp life, as well as comments about the homefront and advice to Sarah and other family members at home. The letters are arranged chronologically. The collection also includes a full set of transcripts and a detailed index of topics prepared by Professor David J. Holquist of Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Mich.) in 1990.

Original and typescript of diaries (1862-1865) written while Boston was serving in Company H, 20th Michigan Infantry. The entries are chiefly descriptions of army life and battles in the campaign of Fredericksburg, first and second Kentucky campaigns, Vicksburg, the Wilderness, and Petersburg. National Park Service maps with a synopsis of the campaigns have been added to the typescript copy. The April 22, 1863 entry speaks of Frank Thompson (Sarah E. E. Seelye) as their brigade postmaster. The collection also contains thirty-seven letters (Jan. 1863-Apr. 1865) written to his aunts while Boston was serving in the 20th Michigan Infantry. He was sick and in hospital camps before Petersburg; once there, he gives accounts of activities there (Sept. 1864-Apr. 1865): picket duty, building fortifications, battles. He comments on food, the coming election, an African American regiment, General Burnside, the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, boxes from home, prisoners, the draft, and the reaction to the death of Lincoln. He describes two Thanksgiving dinners, and especially the fall of Petersburg. The collection also include's Boston's discharge certificate from the Union Army.

The 27th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Portraits of members, mainly officers, of the 27th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War.

This collection consists of portraits of members, mainly officers, of the 27th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War.

Officer with the 4th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War. Includes official records such as invoices, requisitions, inventories, and orders.

Records of Company D, 4th Michigan Infantry (1862-1864 with a few documents from 1865), collected by Edwin H. Gilbert, the unit's first lieutenant and one-time quartermaster. The records are chiefly quartermaster documents, including lists of stores, receipts, invoices, and requisitions, and some official correspondence.

Attorney, government official; general counsel, later assistant secretary of the treasury, 1955-1957; special counsel to President Eisenhower, 1958-1961; vice president for legal affairs of the Chrysler Corporation, 1962-1968; chairman of the board of incorporators of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation that led to Amtrak. Personal and autobiographical materials; correspondence, 1932-1976; copies of outgoing responses made as special counsel to the president; speeches, articles, scrapbooks, and clippings pertaining to his career and to his political and civic interests; Amtrak files, including memos and minutes of the board of incorporators, also copies of Civil War correspondence of his uncle Austin J. Kendall, 1862-1865, and papers of his father, educator Calvin Kendall, ca. 1890-ca. 1917; and photographs.

The David Kendall collection covers the period of 1932 to 1976. Included with the collection is a small group of earlier family material, principally copies of the Civil War letters of Austin Kendall, DWK's uncle, and papers of his father Calvin Kendall, a teacher and educator, from the turn of the century.

The Kendall papers (12 linear feet) have been arranged into 10 series: Personal, Correspondence, Chronological File (General Counsel to the President), Speech File, Articles, Topical Files, National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Scrapbooks and Newspaper Clippings, Student Papers, and Family Papers.

Residents of Pittsfield Township, Washtenaw County, Mich., John Briggs and his sons George and Clark served in the Union army during the American Civil War. John and George volunteered in the Michigan 6th Cavalry while Clark served in the 20th Infantry. The collection consists of approximately 100 letters written by the Briggs between 1862 and 1864 addressed to Mary Briggs, the wife of John and mother of George and Clark. Also, photocopies of George Briggs' military papers and information about the Briggs family.

Approximately 100 letters written by soldiers John, George, and Clark Briggs between 1862 and 1865, constitute the bulk of the collection. The majority are addressed to Mary Briggs, the rest to Van Rensselaer Tyler. Most of the letters are matched with the envelope in which they were originally housed, although a number of letters and envelopes remain unmatched. Other materials include a chronological list and a brief summary of Briggs letters, a list of Briggs family members born between 1794 and 1876, photocopies of George Briggs military papers, and modern-day background biographical information about the Briggs.

Served in Company K of the 21st Michigan Infantry Volunteers during the Civil War. Diaries, military papers, and biographical information.

This collections consists mainly of two diaries kept by Amos A. Moore during the Civil War. The diaries are dated December 24, 1862 to April 15, 1863 and February 6, 1865 to June 6, 1865. Diaries include receiving news of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination. The collection also includes military documents, biographical information, and a transcription of the majority of the diaries. Due to age and wear, diaries are fragile and should be handled with care.

A diary (Jan. 1, 1862-Apr. 30, 1863) kept while he was serving in Company D, 9th Michigan Infantry as corporal and sergeant (1861-1864), mostly in Tennessee. The brief entries tell of guard and picket duty and other daily activities in camp and on the march, of an occasional skirmish with the enemy, the weather, and church attendance. He also describes the battlefield of Stones River. Also includes miscellaneous papers relating to his military service and an address to the Grange, ca. 1870.

Ann Arbor, Michigan, resident. The collection consists of photographs of businesses on Main Street (1862) in Ann Arbor, Michigan; a photo of Hutzel & Company's pipe-laying crew; and photographs of a parade on Huron Street.

The collection consists of photographs of businesses on Main Street (1862) in Ann Arbor, Michigan; a photo of a pipe-laying crew from Hutzel & Company, which was an Ann Arbor heating and plumbing company; and photographs of a parade on Huron Street.

German communal colony founded near Bay Port, Michigan by Emil Baur. Minutes, accounts, constitution, maps, and other related papers; also photographs.

The records of Ora Labora date from 1862 to 1895 and include minutes, accounts, constitution, maps, and other related papers. Some of the records are in German with some English translation.

Dwight J. Brewer served in the Michigan Twentieth Infantry during the Civil War. Collection includes family correspondence and Brewer's military papers and diary.

Letters written to the family by Dwight Brewer during the Civil War. Some letters were written together with Edwin Stearns, who served with Brewer. Photocopies and originals of Brewer's military papers and a modern color photograph of an original 1898 family photo.

Papers of the Edward and Nellie Wilson Whitehead family of Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan. Family letters largely concerning daily activities, including occasional mention of land prices, social customs, fashions and health problems.

The collection of the Whitehead family of Coldwater, Michigan consists entirely of letters from family and friends. The correspondence centers around Edward and Nellie Wilson Whitehead, chiefly from Nellie Whitehead's sisters Lucy Wilson Gifford Smith, Leothie Wilson Culver, Orpha Wilson, and Laura Wilson, and her cousins Mary and Naomi Baker. The bulk of the letters were written in the 1870's when Edward and Nellie Whitehead were living in Webster and Churchville, New York. There are, however, a few earlier letters (the first being in 1862) as well as some later in the 1880's. With the last composed in 1900. The letters are all of a general type with an occasional passage discussing land prices and conditions, fashions of the days health problems, etc. The majority speak of family concerns-neighborhood and family gossip. The correspondence came from Angola, Indiana; Battle Creek, Batavia, Coldwater, Jackson, and Sturgis, Michigan; and Batavia, Churchville, and Webster, New York, with the largest share, naturally, coming from Michigan.

Papers of the Douglass family and the Nellis family of Newaygo County, Michigan. Courtship letters of Joseph and Matilda Douglass, also of their daughter Belle and William Anderson; letters of Joseph Douglass and George Nellis about their cavalry service during the Civil War; letters of relatives and friends who emigrated to Iowa, Dakota Territory, Colorado, and California.

In general the letters are filled with "mundane" family news: births, sicknesses, deaths, marriages, visitors, crops/business, money/debts, school, and chores. Sickness and death receive the largest single share of attention, including references to medical care and doctors. There are scattered, but illuminating accounts by youngsters of their schooling, including several letters ca. 1890-1894 by teenager Vera Barton in Big Rapids. As a whole the collection is a good source for discovering the role and attitudes of "average" American women in the late 19th century. The majority of letters are written by women and often to their sisters, daughters, or mothers.

The folder labeled "1862-1865, Joseph and Matilda" follows their courtship during Joseph's service in Company A of the 6th Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War. The "1862-1868, Family" folder includes more wartime letters from Joseph and letters from Matilda's brother, George (who served in Company A of the 10th Michigan Cavalry), and Matilda's father, Andrew (who fought Indians in Dakota territory). The descriptions of military service tend to be brief and laconic, though there are interesting references to hospital life and the brotherhood of Michigan volunteers.

As noted in the contents list, other folders include correspondence concerning the divorce of Lida Nellis Burshaw from her husband John, Lida's death, and the raising of the Burshaw children by the Nellis-Douglass family. The correspondence of Joseph and Matilda's daughter Belle (Belinda) through her late teens and early adulthood, including her courtship with her husband Will Anderson, form an interesting part of the collection. Joseph Douglass died March 2,1894. Many of the letters after that date shed light on Matilda's widowhood.

When deciphering the penmanship in this collection, it is necessary to be aware that many of the correspondents were poorly educated, so that spelling is extremely erratic. Also, the legibility of the copies varies greatly, due to the yellowed paper and faded ink of many of the originals.

Graduate of the University of Michigan (Class of 1862); later professor of Greek at the University of Michigan. A collection of D'Ooge's U-M classmates' autographs, an essay on U-M President James B. Angell, and a letter pertaining to revival of chapel services on campus.

The Martin Luther D'Ooge papers include autographs of University of Michigan classmates dated 1862; a manuscript of essay on James B. Angell; and a 1915 letter pertaining to revival of chapel services at the University.

The collection includes two diaries, for 1864 and 1865. In the 1864 diary, Dean tells of directing and supervising men in erecting and operating sawmills and building storehouses, hospitals, bridges, etc. around Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga. He also writes of the move from there to the siege of Atlanta and the occupation of Atlanta; of deserters, prisoners, destruction of railroads, regimental inspections, and camp life in general; and of the return march to Chattanooga in six and one-half days. The 1865 diary (Jan.-June), kept while he was in Chattanooga, tells about the weather, building barracks, duties, social activities, the surrender of Lee, death of Lincoln, and mustering out. Also includes miscellaneous citations, commissions, legal documents relating to his military service and his work as regent, and a statement (notarized by Dean) of Victor C. Vaughan pertaining to the Douglas-Rose dispute, 1878.

Member of the Michigan State Legislature. Personal papers include correspondence, speeches and writings, a scrapbook, and photographs.

The collection has been arranged into a single series of Personal papers. Included are correspondence; two volumes of speeches and other writings concerning prohibition, woman suffrage, and other political and patriotic subjects; scrapbook, family materials, and miscellanea. Within the correspondence, there are collected letters of Michigan Senator Charles E. Townsend, 1913-1914, and a letter from Benjamin R. Tillman concerning smoking in the U.S. Senate. Other correspondents include J. G. Cannon, Secretary of State William J. Bryan, Booker T. Washington, James B. Angell, Frank Knox, Harry B. Hutchins, Charles E. Townsend, and Earl C. Michener.

Ann Arbor, Michigan, family. Family correspondence, photographs, and miscellanea.

The collection consists of letters of Ellen Botsford Bach written while touring Europe and while attending the University of Michigan. Her other papers include reminiscences of her early life in Ann Arbor before 1900 and a recipe book. The papers of Waldo Bach consist of letters he wrote while serving in the Spanish American War.

Baptismal, marriage, death, and communion and confirmation records.

The record group consists of microfilm of church registers containing records of baptisms, communion and confirmations, marriages and burials. The records are closed to research except with the permission of the church.

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.

Professor of Written Communication in the School of Business Administration of the University of Michigan; writer on Irish history; correspondence, family history, newspaper editorials, photographs, and topical files.

The Mary C. Bromage papers are divided into five series: Correspondence, Family History, Newspaper Editorials, Photographs and Topical.

Daily newspaper published in Owosso, Michigan. Formerly known as Owosso Weekly Press, Evening Argus, and Press-American. Materials consist of full newspaper issues spanning 1862-2016, assorted newspaper clippings, photographs, and research material for articles.

The records document newspaper issues and articles regarding Shiawassee County and national news published by the Argus-Press located in Owosso, Michigan between 1862-2016. Material includes microfilms of full newspaper issues, newspaper clippings, photographs, and research material related to select articles. Series and subseries may have overlapping subjects, and folders are arranged according to original order. The collection is divided into two series: Publications and Arranged Clippings.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Letters from University of Michigan student Milton Jackson (1845-1909) to Alban Gilpin Thomas (1843-1928), written between 1863 to 1867. The letters describe Jackson's daily life as a University of Michigan student during the Civil War, as well as contemporary politics.

The Milton Jackson letters is a collection of 12 letters from Milton Jackson to Alban Gilpin Thomas written between 1863 and 1867. The letters are arranged chronologically. They describe both Jackson's daily life as a University of Michigan student and the contemporary politics of the time. Notably, one letter describes Jackson's visit to hear Frederick Douglass speak in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Also included is one letter written on birch bark from his visit to Marquette and a cloth letter bag.

The collection also contains a letter from Jackson's wife, Caroline "Carrie" Swayne to Thomas along with two announcements of her and Jackson's wedding.

Jackson's letters were transcribed by the donor, James A. Boone. These transcriptions are included and complete for all but one of the letters and other supplemental material. Note that the arrangement and some of the dates in the transcript are erroneous.

This collection contains racist and harmful language used to describe the Black community of Ypsilanti and the Indigenous nations of northern Michigan. See further explanation in the Processing Information.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Manistee, Michigan business firm; financial records, letterpress books, time books, and other records detailing to various business activities.

The records of Louis Sands business interests have been arranged in seven series. These include letterpress books, journals, ledgers, time books, subsidiary volumes, associated records, and miscellaneous. The letterpress books and miscellaneous documents have been retained in their original format. The remaining material has been microfilmed.

The original relationship between much of the business records has been lost beyond reconstruction. Because of this, volumes have been grouped by type rather than by business venture. The loss of the original relationship between the volumes was responsible, as well, for the establishment of an arbitrary chronological order for some volumes.

All of the material microfilmed as well as a large quantity of material relating to Sands & Burr, bankers, which was not filmed, has been placed on permanent loan to the Manistee Historical Museum in Manistee.

Clippert family of Detroit, Michigan; family materials include letters and notes of Harrison F. Clippert while serving with the 65th Coast Artillery Corps during World War I; also papers relating to Clippert Brick Company, a family business started by Conrad J. Clippert.

The Clippert papers are divided into nine series, six of which are organized under individual family members. The other three deal with the Clippert Brick Company and various Miscellanea and Photographs.

The Museums was comprised of the Museums of Anthropology, Zoology, and Paleontology, the Herbarium, and the Museum of Natural History (formerly, the Exhibit Museum). The record group consists of committee files; records related to the construction of the Museums building, including correspondence with architect Albert Kahn; topical files of directors including Alexander Ruthven and Carl Guthe; and topical files of Irving G. Reimann, prefect of exhibits.

The records of the University of Michigan Museums measure four linear feet (and one oversize folder) and date from 1863 to 1976. The great majority of the material, however, falls between 1930 and 1970. The files have been arranged alphabetically.

The bulk of the material consists of files created from two sources: various committees involved in the Museums' governance or Irving Reimann. The committee records are detailed and are particularly complete for the Operating Committee (1945-1956). This committee's documentation is supplemented by various other committee records.

Most of the records created by Reimann relate to the planning or construction of exhibits, as well as the public role of the Museums. This material makes up the bulk of the non-committee files, supplemented by an extensive run of reports (1935-1969). A few records created before Reimann's appointment also exist. These are generally items authored by either Guthe or Ruthven. Of particular interest from Ruthven's era are files (located under "Building") discussing the construction of the Museums building between 1925 and 1928. Records include substantive correspondence between Ruthven and the building's architect, Albert Kahn. Guthe is represented by the Works Progress Administration's Michigan Museum project (located under "Works Progress Administration, Statewide Museum Project").

Owners of Highland Cemetery, Ypsilanti, Michigan. Minutes, financial reports, and register of blocks and lots; also collected historical and research materials relating to the proposed restoration of starkweather Chapel at the cemetery and to the effort to have the cemetery placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The records of Highland Cemetery includes minutes of annual meetings and of the Board of Trustees; newsletters, promotional materials; collected historical and research materials about the cemetery, Starkweather Chapel, and the effort to place the cemetery on the National Register of Historic Places.

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.

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.

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.

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 1st Michigan Regiment of Engineers and Mechanics during the Civil War. Collection includes originals, transcripts, and images of letters written by John Kelley Hough as a Union soldier, a family photo, and biographical information.

John Kelley Hough's letters constitute the bulk of the collection. Files include fifteen original letters with transcrips and digitized images of the originals, and one photocopy of a transcript and its digital image. The Hough Family series includes biographical information about the Hough family and a digital image of a family photo dated 1897 with information about the people depicted on the photograph. Also, a list of family members that are mentioned in John Hough's letters.

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.

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.

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.

Student debating society of the University of Michigan Law School; records include Minutes, and secretary's book containing lists of members and fellows in addition to constitutions and by-laws

The Jeffersonian Society records consist of minutes, and secretary's book containing lists of members and fellows in addition to constitutions and by-laws.