Collections

The Princeton University photograph album consists of approximately 95 cabinet card photographs including portraits of professors and class members of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) class of 1883.

The Princeton University photograph album consists of approximately 95 cabinet card photographs including portraits of professors and class members of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) class of 1883. The album (21 x 30 cm) is fully bound in brown leather. Images include cabinet card portraits of professors and students, views of campus buildings and the Princeton cannon, a class of 1883 group portrait, group portraits of men and women on the lawn and indoors, and class member James Harlan wearing a football uniform. Of particular note is a photograph of James Johnson (d. 1902), and escaped slave and food vendor on campus and in the Princeton community, with a wheeled cart and basket over his arm.

Additional items include genre works, a reproduction of a print of Franz Josef I of Austria with his family, and a photograph of the SS Furnessia, all in cabinet card format. Inside the front cover there is also a montage of engravings of campus buildings as well as a photographic postcard of the Princeton Inn.

This collection contains the text of two sermons given by Quaker minister Priscilla Hunt Cadwallader in 1824 and 1831, along with two copies of notes on a sermon given by Cadwallader at Philadelphia in the early 19th century.

This collection contains the text of two sermons given by Quaker minister Priscilla Hunt Cadwallader in 1824 and 1831, along with two copies of notes on a sermon given by her at Philadelphia in the early 19th century. The first item is the 4-page text of "A Sermon Delivered by Priscilla Hunt at New Bedford," dated April 15, 1824, about religious judgment, and turning to God and to the Christian faith. In a second sermon, entitled "A Sermon by Priscilla Cadwalader at Concord Quartly Meeting, held at Darby" (November 15, 1831), she discussed a range of religious topics; the 9-page document is particularly notable for its emphasis on the judgment of God and for Cadwallader's prophetic vision of the coming Civil War. She said, "I have seen Africa's sons … distinctly heard the … roar of cannons, those thunders of war approaching North America[,] raging and ransacking through the United States, with glittering clashing swords … Hath not my spiritual eye beheld brother's sword bathed in a brother's blood. Ah! My friends the clouds are rising, the tempest will come, and a more tremendous storm never beat on American Shores." The final two items in the collection are copies of identical notes, entitled "Priscilla Hunt's Exercise in Philadelphia." These notes allude to internal strife within the Society of Friends; as the author explained, " … the Trump of the everlasting Gospel would be laid down in this City because says she you have erred against the true gospel."

A currently unidentified writer copied six Protestant Christian hymns and songs into this volume sometime around the 1850s. The 16 pages of text include "Montgomery", "The Romish Lady", "The Orphan's Song", "Gloom of Autumn", "Remember the poor; or, the Widow's Prayers" (by Rev. H. G. Barrus), "Dying Hymn" (by Alice Cary). The copyist wrote the hymns and songs in a slim blank book with blue-green covers. The front cover bears a printed decorative border at the center of which is an armored prince with sword and shield, standing before a seated Clio with two books and holding out a quill pen to him. Surrounding text explains the relationship between history and "men's great actions." The back cover bears a printed multiplication table and advertising information for Benjamin B. Mussey & Co., Publishers, Booksellers, and Stationers, 29 Cornhill, Boston (including a list of popular books and music books published by Mussey, and types of stationery supplies).

A currently unidentified writer copied six Protestant Christian hymns and songs into this volume sometime around the 1850s.

• "Montgomery"
• "The Romish Lady"
• "The Orphan's Song"
• "Gloom of Autumn"
• "Remember the poor; or, the Widow's Prayers" (by Rev. H. G. Barrus)
• "Dying Hymn" (by Alice Cary)

The copyist wrote the hymns and songs in a slim blank book with blue-green covers. The front cover bears a printed decorative border (with quills) at the center of which is an armored prince with sword and shield, standing before a seated Clio with two books and holding out a quill pen to him. Surrounding text explains the relationship between history and "men's great actions." The back cover bears a printed multiplication table and advertising information for Benjamin B. Mussey & Co., Publishers, Booksellers, and Stationers, 29 Cornhill, Boston (including a list of popular books and music books published by Mussey, and types of stationery supplies).

This nineteenth-century album contains 46 once-bound pen-and-ink caricatures on heavy card stock, each card with or formerly with metal eyelets on one short edge. A pencil inscription at the back of the volume reads, "Mr. Albert L. Briggs, Providence, RI," and internal references to Providence, Rhode Island, further suggests that either Briggs or another local resident may have produced the artwork. The figures represented in the volume vary widely and some are more sympathetic or more disparaging than others. The illustrator relied heavily on exaggerated features, stereotypes, and jokes directed at people's physical appearance to provide social commentary especially on race, ethnicity, gender, and class.

This nineteenth-century album contains 46 once-bound pen-and-ink caricatures on heavy card stock, each card with or formerly with metal eyelets on one short edge. A pencil inscription at the back of the volume reads, "Mr. Albert L. Briggs, Providence, RI," and internal references to Providence, Rhode Island, further suggests that either Briggs or another local resident may have produced the artwork. The figures represented in the volume vary widely and some are more sympathetic or more disparaging than others. The illustrator relied heavily on exaggerated features, stereotypes, and jokes directed at people's physical appearance to provide especially social commentary on race, ethnicity, gender, and class.

At least seven of the illustrations relate to women, including drawings referring to women's rights and various women's roles as mothers, performers, physicians, and cooks. One, labelled "What is home without a mother," may be a reference to a song by the same name published in 1854, and it features a woman with a monstrous face. Another titled "HANNAH LONG" depicts a woman peddling "Quaker Bitters" (probably the Providence, Rhode Island, patent medicine by that name) and may be referring to Hannah Longshore (1819-1901), who graduated from the first class of the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1851.

Many of the caricatures focus on impoverished or working class people, showing individuals in tattered clothing or in lower-paying professions such as a farmer, a shoeshine, and a seeming gravedigger. A number of illustrations depict men in various stages of intoxication or alcoholism. Forms of social disorder are highlighted in caricatures of a convict and of a knife-wielding murderer labelled "THE MAN THAT KILLED JOHN GILPIN." Commentary on physical and mental disability are also represented, in drawings of a mentally ill man labelled "Luny" and a man with unaligned eyes and feet labelled "On exhibition."

Other caricatures reflect racial, ethnic, and religious stereotypes. Two racist caricatures depict African Americans, including one of a Black Congressman and one of an Uncle Remus character. Another caricature depicts a recent immigrant, while two are anti-Semitic (those labeled "The Torturer" and "NAME IT"). Two figures depict high religious figures, from Catholic or Orthodox Christian churches; one wears a robe, a fur-brimmed mitre, and snowshoes. The word "KAMSCHASA" is written near the bottom of the robe, likely referring to the Kamchatka peninsula in Russia.

Other caricatures highlight people based on their height, weight, profession (such as a king, a knight, an editor, a lecturer), or social posturing. For example, attitudes like dignity, contentment, nosiness, and bashfulness are spotlighted. Others appear more innocuous, such as illustrations of someone reading the morning newspaper and another of someone taking "Rush's Pills," but underlying subtexts for many of the images likely have additional meaning.

The organizational records include meeting minutes, correspondence, policies, bylaws, photographs, programs, accounts, scrapbook, and other materials.

The organizational records include meeting minutes, 1967-1971. 1986-1990; correspondence, 1969-1976; Central Michigan University's Gerald L. Poor School Museum materials, 1976; policies, bylaws, and articles of incorporation, 1965-1973; photographs, 1960s-1970s; programs, 1969-1973; accounts,1971-1978; scrapbook, 1967-1972; and other materials.

The collection, 2019, 5 cubic feet (in 10 boxes), was collected by Quita V. Shier to research her subsequent book on the topic, and includes research copies of military service records of the men in Company K from the National Archives and information from online censuses and newspapers documenting the First Michigan Sharpshooter Regiment, Company K.

The collection, 2019, 5 cubic feet (in 10 boxes), was collected by Quita V. Shier to research her subsequent book on the topic, and includes research copies of military service records of the men in Company K from the National Archives and information from online censuses and newspapers documenting the First Michigan Sharpshooter Regiment, Company K. The military service records document enlistment, pay, invalid status, death or discharge, and/or pension records in military forms and correspondence. Only a few images are included of tombstones or portraits of soldiers in obituaries. A few tax or land records are also included. The collection documents the lives and significance of the Company K soldiers during the Civil War era. This collection is organized alphabetically by the name of the soldier’s surnames. The originals are housed in the National Archives.

Collection includes genealogical information on the Courser, Richardson, and Kuiphof families.

This is a dense genealogy collection mostly about the Courser family, with some information on the Kuiphof and Richardson families. A number of older photographic images are scans. Two photographs and the large ancestry chart are laminated. Three oversized items are acidic and two are framed with glass.

Researchers may also be interested in the Elaine Coraleen Smith Courser Papers, [circa 1981], which is also housed in the Clarke Historical Library.

This atlas compiled by R. A. L. Robinson features small maps of the nations of the world, with descriptions of different societies (education, government, etc.) and comparisons to the United States.

This atlas compiled by R. A. L. Robinson features small maps of the nations of the world, with descriptions of different societies (education, government, etc.) and comparisons to the United States.

The majority of the regions represented in the volume are within Africa, Asia, and Europe. The descriptions of regions and countries include disparaging and condescending language.

The Randel family photograph album (15.5 x 17.25 cm) contains 45 snapshot photographs taken in New York and New Jersey. The album depicts many members of the Randel family, including members of the related Hawks, Slocum, Fort, Potter, and Wood families. These photographs focus on individuals, leisure, travel, and bodies of water in the area.

The Randel family photograph album (15.5 x 17.25 cm) contains 45 snapshot photographs taken in New York and New Jersey. The album depicts many members of the Randel family, including members of the related Hawks, Slocum, Fort, Potter, and Wood families. These photographs focus on individuals, leisure, travel, and bodies of water in the area. Each photograph is numbered to an unknown index; some include notes on how and when the photograph was taken and who is in the photo.

The album has photographs taken in multiple cities in New York state, including Oneida, Hoosick, Easton, Schuylerville, Narrowsburg, and Brooklyn. Various photos were also taken in the New Jersey cities of Jersey City and Eagle Rock.

This collection includes business records, correspondence, and reference materials documenting Genter's carnival business and carnival and circus collecting interests. Also included is an oversized folder of mostly Michigan carnival and circus posters and window cards.

The collection, 1955-2010, and undated (4 cubic feet) documents Ray Genter’s fascination with, and collecting of, carnival equipment and collectibles under the business name of Genter Bros. Shows and Rides, Inc., and his carnival, Great Lakes Amusement.

Boxes 1-6 include subject files of general carnival and circus information; financial records of the purchase and sale of equipment and collectibles; catalogs and fliers; advertisements; insurance; various forms; correspondence with committees, suppliers, and concessionaires; contact information of various suppliers and concessionaires as well as fair committee members; and information documenting how the Muskegon Optimist Club, of which Ray was a member, brought circuses to Muskegon. A few newspaper clippings (copies) are included. Of particular interest to carnival historians will be the material concerning the formation of the Amusement-Safety Act of 1966 and its related board, as documented in the minutes and correspondence of the Michigan Amusement Association, an organization of carnival owners, 1985-1987. These folders are organized alphabetically and chronologically.

Boxes 7-8 include the route lists, 1984-1987, and financial documentation, forms, booking agreements, inspection logs, correspondence, and other materials relating to specific route locations and events. This information is alphabetical by town or event. Materials vary from folder to folder, but most include some correspondence and accounts.

Posters and window cards of circus and carnival advertisements, mostly late 20th century and Michigan-related, are included in an oversized folder at the end of the collection.

Processing Notes: A few general Muskegon, Michigan, items of historical value were transferred to the Michigan Vertical Files-Muskegon folder. All information with account or social security numbers, or other personal information such as income, health, or governmental financial support, were withdrawn from the collection, including job and housing applications, cancelled checks, and bank balance statements, as well as duplicate and blank forms and stationery, miscellaneous notes, illegible materials, and miscellaneous information or newspaper clippings. Withdrawn material totaled 2 cubic feet. In addition, several publications by the Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions were separately cataloged. Non-Michigan publications are normally withdrawn from a collection during processing, but since many carnival suppliers are national, these were left in the collection to provide information to researchers.

Special Note: Those with allergies should use the collection with care as it has a mildewed odor, although there is no mold in the papers themselves.