Collections

This collection pertains to William Ray Antis (1887-1943) of Detroit, Michigan, who served in the 484th Aero Squadron of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. The collection includes eight letters to his mother Jessie Antis Germond, two military documents, a scrapbook of postcards kept during his time in France, photographs, two printed maps, three books, and four cloth/embroidered/painted-cloth items (incl. sergeant's stripes and a handkerchief case). The materials also include items from 1961 related to Sergeant Antis' daughter Dorothy J. Antis and Gerald "Jerry" Dumas, including original artwork from a Beetle Bailey comic strip.

This collection pertains to William Ray Antis (1887-1943) of Detroit, Michigan, who served in the 484th Aero Squadron of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. The collection includes eight letters to his mother Jessie Antis Germond, two military documents, a scrapbook of postcards kept during his time in France, photographs, two printed maps, three books, and four cloth/embroidered/painted-cloth items (incl. sergeant's stripes and a handkerchief case). The materials also include items from 1961 related to Sergeant Antis' daughter Dorothy J. Antis and Gerald "Jerry" Dumas, including original artwork from a Beetle Bailey comic strip.

Antis wrote to his mother from San Antonio from December 1917 to January 1918; Aviation Branch, Virginia, in February 1918; and unspecified locations in France from May 1918 to December 1918. He wrote about his training in Texas, inoculation, carpentry, anticipation of leaving for the front, French farming and villages, expectation of getting a YMCA with a separate entertainment space, women's ability to wear service stripes corresponding to sons' and husbands' ranks, and more. He wrote several letters on printed "WITH THE COLORS" YMCA stationery. A final document is William R. Antis' selective service registration certificate, April 24, 1942, Detroit, Michigan.

One World War I era scrapbook contains largely souvenir picture photographs, with a number of greeting postcards, from Arcis-Sur-Aube, Vinets, Ramerupt, Lhuître, Mailly-le-Camp, Longeaux, Villers-Le-Sec, Ligny-en-Barrois, Bar-Le-Duc, Foug, Pagney-derrière-Barine, Bicqueley, Domgermain, Verdun, and Bezonvaux. The volume also includes several photographs and a French Woodrow Wilson postcard bearing a mounted silk portrait of the U.S. President.

The collection's newspaper clippings include recognition for Antis' service stripes and a published excerpt of one of his letters from France. It also includes two large, printed, detailed maps of France. A photographic portrait of William R. Antis is present.

A bundle of three items relate to Gerald "Jerry" Dumas during his visit to see his parents in Detroit in the spring of 1961. It includes a newspaper clipping and a manuscript letter from Jerry to Dorothy June Antis, accompanied by the original artwork for a 1960 Beetle Bailey comic strip.

Charlevoix, Michigan resident, novelist and historian of Great Lakes shipwrecks, the Mackinac Bridge, folklore, and other subjects; correspondence, manuscripts of books, and research materials.

The William Ratigan collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts of his books, research and reference files on topics of interest to him, and photographs. There are letters in the collection from William B. Eerdmans, Marianne Moore, Milo Quaife, David B. Steinman, and folklorist Ivan Walton.

The photographs in the collection are of shipping and boating at Charlevoix, Michigan, of Charlevoix boat builder, Roy Ranger, of construction of the Mackinac Bridge, of the Sault Sainte Marie Canal, and of other topics related to Ratigan's writing interests.

This diary chronicles William Rawle Brooke's service with the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Civil War (he later changed his name to William Brooke Rawle). It begins with Brooke's initial Army commission in May 1863 and concludes in August 1865, shortly before his discharge. Brooke described daily army life, provided detailed accounts of battles, and other events of note.

This diary is a compilation of three daily diaries, bound into a single volume, providing a record of William Rawle Brooke's service in the Union Army from May 5, 1863, to August 16, 1865, with additional notes on events later that year. He wrote every day, providing detailed accounts of battles throughout the Gettysburg, Bristoe, and Overland Campaigns, the Siege of Petersburg, and the pursuit of Lee's Army to Appomattox Court House.

The diary begins with Brooke's receipt of a commission and his journey to join the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry outside of Washington, D.C. Events discussed include Brooke's birthdays, the Presidential election of 1864, and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Brooke fastidiously chronicled his daily army life, with documentation of correspondence sent and received.

The William Rawle letter book contains copies of letters that Rawle, a Loyalist, wrote to his sisters, mother, and stepfather from New York; Cork, Ireland; London, England; and Boulogne, France, between 1778 and 1782. Rawle commented on the progress of the war, local customs and politics, and his travels, among other subjects.

The William Rawle letter book (162 pages) contains copies of letters that Rawle wrote to his family from New York and Europe between 1778 and 1782. He most frequently addressed his letters to his sisters P. R. ("Adelaide") and A. R. ("Anna" or "Fanny"). Rawle occasionally wrote to his stepfather, former Philadelphia Loyalist mayor Samuel Shoemaker, with whom he had fled to New York, and to his mother, who had joined him in New York the following year. The letters sometimes appear out of chronological order, and the first 2 pages are missing. Rawle often signed his letters "Horatio."

Rawle's earliest letters to his sisters, dated around 1778, describe his journey from Philadelphia to New York on the sloop Harlem in mid-June 1778, a journey of nearly 2 weeks. After his arrival, he mentioned Long Island residents' preoccupation with politics and his own confidence in British success against the French fleet in the Caribbean. He commented most frequently on his social life, his concern for family members in Philadelphia, and news of acquaintances. In 1781, he began to discuss his desire to leave for England. He sailed on June 13, 1781, and arrived in Cork, Ireland, on July 15, 1781, where he wrote 2 letters to his mother, providing his impressions of the country. He also noted Irish support for the American Revolution, and expressed surprise at the freedom with which the Irish voiced their opinions. By October 1781, he had arrived in London, where he wrote about his activities, including his studies at the Middle Temple. Rawle also noted some differences between life in England and North America, and developed a desire a return to Pennsylvania, despite his Loyalism. His final letters pertain to his decision to go to France in 1782 and note his arrival in Boulogne that summer. Rawle's letters are followed by a page of brief biographical notes and a 2-page poem entitled "On the Death of a young Lady."

The bulk of the William R. Day Collection concerns the life and work of William Rufus Day. There are also materials related to other immediate and extended family members. Some of the topics covered in the William R. Day Collection are the Spanish-American War; the United States Peace Commission; the Mixed Claim Commission concerning reparations from Berlin, Germany; and William Day's career as a lawyer and diplomat. Materials represented include correspondence, newspaper clippings, publications, and manuscripts.

This collection contains a variety of materials including correspondence, newspaper clippings, publications, and manuscripts. Although the bulk of the collection concerns William Rufus Day, there are materials related to other immediate and extended family members. Some of the topics covered in the William R. Day Collection are the Spanish-American War; the United States Peace Commission; the Mixed Claim Commission concerning reparations from Berlin, Germany; and William Day's career.

The Correspondence and Papers series consists of 3 subseries: William Day, Family, and Miscellaneous.

The William Day subseries is organized by date and includes correspondence related to the Spanish-American War, Cuba, Germany and the Mixed Claims Commission. In 1896 there are materials related to the Monroe Doctrine, silver and gold, and Venezuela and Cuba. The 1897 folder primarily has correspondence related to Spain and Cuba. The 1898 folder contains materials related to Cuba, Spain, Germany, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. The 1899 folder contains congratulations William Day received upon being appointed a judgeship as well as speaking requests. 1900-1911 contains remarks, information about a Day family land transfer, Day's McKinley manuscript, a map of Washington, DC, and a European military map. 1920-1923 has correspondence and papers related to the 18th amendment (prohibition), the Berlin agreement by the Mixed Claims Commission, and Day's retirement from the Commission. Biographical materials include biographies, a genealogy, ancestry from the Mayflower, and a memorial. The scrapbook contains newspaper clippings related to William Day's work and life as well as that of his wife, Mary Elizabeth Schaefer, and his son, Luther Day. Topics are related to William Day's political and judicial career including the Spanish-American War, Cuba, and the Philippines, and Luther Days' career as a lawyer and politician.

The subseries Family includes four files. The folder for Luther Day, father of William R. Day, contains correspondence to Luther as well as papers related to him being elected a prosecuting attorney. The folder for Emily Spalding Day, mother of William R. Day, contains letters from her mother, sister, and cousin, as well as one letter from Emily to her mother. The folder for Louis Schaefer, father-in-law of William R. Day, contains letters to Louis from members of the Meiklehaus family and one letter from Louis Schaefer to his daughter on Schaefer's Opera House stationary. The Other Members folder contains letters and papers for other members of the Day family including Ellen Day, Laura Lyman, Frances Day, Lucretia Spalding, Honorable Spalding, Ida Barker, Luther Day (William R Day's son), Asa Spalding, and a pamphlet titled Industrial Peace with Justice which lists Stephen A. Day as the president.

The three miscellaneous folders contain papers and letters whose relationship to the Day family and William R. Day is unknown including a letter written in 1797 by Darius Morgan, a letter from 1795 to Ephraim Root, as well as some additional letters, a memo about being an officer of the United States, information relating to the Hero of Bitche, Red Cross instructions for knitting socks, and a list of names.

The Manuscripts series contains William Day's notebook related to his biographical project on William McKinley, Stephen Day's (William Day's son) notebook related to sales and cases he worked on, the dissertation of Joseph McLean about William Rufus Day submitted to New York University, and a folder of miscellaneous materials including a review of a German newspaper and an incomplete document about patent law and the rights of inventors.

The Newspaper series includes issues of the University of Michigan newspaper The Chronicle from 1868-1870 and an assortment of newspaper clippings from 1894-1950.

The Publications series brings together the published materials within the William Day Collection. They are mostly political in nature and relate to law cases, government documents and procedures, and political opinions. Also included are speeches given by William R. Day.

The Ephemera folder contains two items. One is an envelope for Goldie's Pens that begins "This packet contains as assortment (10) of the Goldie's, the highest grade of writing pens..." There is also a photograph of Robbie Hubbs on the packaging. Inside the envelope is a tissue that contains some unidentified seeds. The other item in the Ephemera folder is a carte de visite printed by Brand Artist. The portrait is undated and the subject unidentified, but it may be a young William R. Day.

Michigan-born member of U.S. Army Co. I, 339th Infantry; served with the U.S. Polar Bear Expedition in Archangel, Russia. Collection includes Mielke's service records, a digital photograph of his grave marker, and digitized images of his service diary

The William R. Mielke papers consist of a single series, Military Service, which include his enlistment record, honorable discharge papers, scanned images of his service diary, and a photograph of his gravesite in Lewiston, Mich. The diary details his unit's movements from training at Camp Custer to England and on to Russia. Entries describe patrols, combat experiences, and living conditions among soldiers during the expedition.

The William Roberts letterbooks contains letters sent by a gold rush miner during his trip to and while working in California to his family back east. The letters comment on gold mining and other jobs available in California, prices for items, descriptions of the area, and religious sentiments.

William Roberts' letterbook contains his retained copies of 29 letters written to his wife, sons, daughter, and daughters-in-law between the time of his departure from Boston and his establishing camp along the Merced River. His early letters are filled with fine descriptions of the sea voyage and the ports of call in the Azores and Chile. They reflect his close family relationships and his growing sense of religious fervor. Roberts is at his best as a writer, though, when describing the economic instability and amorality of Gold Rush San Francisco. But, interestingly, as he spends more time in California, and begins to salt away money through mining, the religious sentiments decrease, and he begins to express the benefits of gold mining as an occupation. In the end, Roberts writes that he is planning to delay his return to Rhode Island, ostensibly to make even more money for his family, but indicating that the free life of the gold mines, even with its amoral aspects, is better than life back east.

The William Rohrer papers contain letters that friends and family members sent to Rohrer while he served in the United States Army during World War II. Rohrer's correspondents discussed family and social news and commented on topics such as rationing, the military, and a Philadelphia transportation strike.

The William Rohrer papers (59 items) contain 45 letters that friends and family members sent to Rohrer while he served in the United States Army during World War II. Other items include a postcard, 7 pamphlets, and a news article.

The bulk of the collection is comprised of Rohrer's incoming correspondence from acquaintances and family members such as his wife, a sister, and a niece. His wife Florrie wrote about their daughter Eileen and about her social life in Westmont, New Jersey. On one occasion, she mentioned an African American woman she had hired to do some work (August 9, 1944). She occasionally interacted with Florence Madjeska, the Rohrers' acquaintance, and both women commented on the health of Florence's husband, Joe Masjeska, a member of the United States Navy. Joan Withers, the Rohrers' niece, wrote letters to her uncle about her daily life; she jokingly indicated that the envelopes she sent contained love letters or "sweetheart" letters. On June 14, 1945, Eileen Rohrer (through her mother) sent her father an unsigned Father's Day card. Hazel C. Southwick, an occasional correspondent, wrote to Rohrer about their mutual interest in collecting military patches, and others shared religious or philosophical reflections. Many wrote about Rohrer's military service, rating, and possible furloughs.

A few letters pertain to current events, such as the Philadelphia transportation strike of August 1944. In separate letters dated August 2, 1944, James A. Perdikis and Bernadette Cleary mentioned fighting between African Americans and whites, damage to buildings in African American neighborhoods, white workers' refusal to work alongside African Americans, the declaration of martial law, and the possibility of military intervention. Cleary also discussed the black market for gasoline (August 23, 1944), and Betty Sherrane described cigarette rationing policies (April 6, 1945). Later correspondents included discharged servicemen who had served with Rohrer. The postcard has a painting of a bridge over a canal in Venice, Italy.

Other items include a humorous mock army memorandum with advice for soldiers adapting to civilian life in the United States after serving in Europe and copies of 3 religious pamphlets by Daniel A. Lord (5 items). The pamphlets, published by The Queen's Work, encourage Catholics to abstain from alcohol and "dirty stories." Two additional pamphlets intended for soldiers pertain to fatigue and sexual health. The collection also has an undated article about the use of an Austrian factory to winterize American vehicles and 4 wartime ration books issued to members of the Woudenberg family of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The William Rolfe collection is made up of letters that Rolfe received from college friends and other personal acquaintances from 1845-1850. His correspondents mostly wrote about their social activities and studies at Dartmouth College and Amherst College.

The William Rolfe collection is made up of 9 letters that Rolfe received from college friends and other personal acquaintances from May 22, 1845-January 7, 1850. In 4 letters, William G. Hammond, Jr., a classmate from Amherst College, reported on his social activities, studies, and vacation activities. He also provided advice and shared news of recent fraternity elections. Rolfe's other correspondents were Roger M. Sargent, who commented on life at Dartmouth College, college friends who signed themselves "W" and "Buck," and two women, M. H. Edwards of Lowell, Massachusetts, and Louisa L. Sweeney of New Orleans, Louisiana. These letters concern college life, local travel, religion, and other topics. Sargent gave Rolfe advice on his teaching career and mentioned a recent incident in which a group of students raided a brothel.

William R. Ringer was a student at the University of Michigan Law School from 1920 to 1922. Collection consists of three volumes of detailed diary entries interspersed with ephemera collected while a student.

The William R. Ringer papers document his time as a law student at the University of Michigan from September 1920 to June 1922. The papers are organized into two series Diaries and Background.