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This collection is composed of business, financial and personal correspondence.

This is 27th series of the J.E. Howard collection to be processed. It is arranged by topic, in chronological and then alphabetical order. The collection is completely composed of loose correspondence directed to James E. Howard while he was treasurer of the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad Company, as well as the Chicago and West Michigan Railway. Letters are both of a business, financial, and personal nature. Correspondence are with other railroads, businesses, organizations, and various servicemen, as well as within the company itself. There is also a small sampling of notes requesting employment, checks, or references, which are good representations of the time period.

Business letters include, a list made by the D.L. and N.R.R. of businesses and people who were considered reliable and “good” to extend credit to (Box 1). There are also two well-documented instances of safes at the D.L. and N. R.R. stations being broken into and their money bags stolen. Letters explain the thefts as well as the process of having the safes repaired (Box 2). Thefts on the trains are also documented. Among the D.L. and N.R.R. correspondence there is a letter from a W.H. Maxwell, regarding a Mr. Young who seems to be cheating the company in some way. The issue is referred to the legal department (Box 4).

There is also a small sampling of “Red Ticket” requests. Red Tickets refer to the colloquial present day “pink slip.” When an employee was let go he would receive his final pay slip, or a Red Ticket. The employee would then present the ticket for payment. Any company issued material- lanterns, keys, uniforms- would have to be returned before payment was given.

A list of Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit Railroad buildings and their costs, as well as, a balance sheet comparing running expenses of the D.L. and N.R.R. for 1886 and 1887 (Box 1) are among some of the collection’s financial letters. Box 3 documents the Panic of 1893. The panic of 1893 was a serious economic depression in the United States and was marked by the overbuilding and shaky financing of railroads, resulting in a series of bank failures.

Box 4 consists of letters and references following the Panic of 1893, and how Howard and the railroads were trying to find new banks to conduct business with.

Howard also served as treasurer for Kalamazoo College and the Baptist Convention in the later part of the nineteenth century. The collection includes correspondence from current and possible students of the college asking for loan information, as well as notes from contributors to the college. The collection also includes correspondence from the Baptist Ministry Society informing Howard of the progress of the new boiler for one of their homes, and the attempts to get members of the church to donate for it (Box 1).

Notable correspondence includes a letter from the Detroit International Fair and Exposition held in September of 1889 (Box 1), verifying vouchers and coupons for the company, and an 1893 World’s Fair watermarked note (Box 4). There are also several letters, spanning the series, informing Howard of cattle and other animal deaths on the railways, and the reimbursements made to the owners after the carcasses were sold. There is a letter from 1888 stating the concern of representation by accountants of the committee canvassing the question of a “National Association of Railway Accounting Officers,” which was to address railways having uniform accounts (Box 1). There are also several letters from the U.S. War Department and U.S. Treasury, referencing payment to Howard for the transport of recruiting officers and undisclosed freight on behalf of the government. As these events took place during 1894 it is believed that the men and materials were a part of the Spanish-American War effort (Box 4). Howard was subpoenaed for the case of “People vs. Lester L. Sweet.” The case appears to have been centered on the validity of a check handled by an agent, Lester Sweet. Many of the letters to Howard ask about the location of a Mr. Newton. Letters about the case were sent from 1889 to 1890.

Notable personal correspondence includes letters from the Michigan Asylum for the Insane in Kalamazoo. The letters detail the care of a Harry Van Vleck (Box 1 and 2). This relationship, if any, to Howard is unknown. The Clarke also houses a collection of a Henry Van Vleck, a Civil War soldier from Kalamazoo County (Mich.), who may be a relative.

Researchers may also be interested in the J.E. Howard Michigan Railroads Business Records, also available at the Clarke Historical Library.

Processing Note: During processing approximately 3 cubic feet of materials, mainly receipts, invoices, or materials which were copied and the copies retained, were withdrawn from the collection.

This collection is composed mostly of financial and business records, as well as some minutes, agreements, and reports, of numerous Michigan railroad and railway companies.

This collection consists mainly of various types of accounting and financial records, as well as some legal records (copies), of the Chicago and West Michigan Railway (CandWMRy) and the DLandNRR, and similar records of smaller Michigan railroads that were eventually purchased by the larger RRs. These records came from the office of J. E. Howard, Esq., who worked as the Assistant Treasurer and Paymaster of the larger RRs from 1886 through 1893. He was also the Assistant Treasurer and Paymaster of the Saginaw Valley and St. Louis RR between 1889 and 1897, and by 1894, the Paymaster of these three major railroads. Beginning in 1901, he was the Chief Clerk of the PMRR, so records of the PMRR and the Flint and Pere Marquette RR are also in the collection. Miscellaneous coupons of various street-railroad companies, mostly of Michigan, but also including other nearby states, are also included in the collection, as are Miscellaneous Railroad Materials, including records of railroad-related companies, and truly Miscellaneous Materials.

Please note that “Way Bills” is spelled several different ways throughout the collection finding aid, just as it is on the various types of way bills in the collection.

Series 1) the Bay City Belt Line RR, includes Bills, Proxies, 1889-1892, undated; and Correspondence re: a contract, 1892 (1 folder total, letter-size).

Series 3) the Chicago and West MI Railway (CandWMRy) is one of the largest series in the collection. It consists of approximately 12.5 cubic ft. of letter-size records, approximately 1 cubic ft. of legal-size records, and 136 oversized volumes. The main sub-series of the CandWMRR include: Audits, 1898; Bill for Lawyers, 1890; Books of Stock Certificates, 1879-1898 (approximately 4 cubic ft.); Correspondence, 1878-1898 (Scattered); Dock Pay Rolls, 1899; Garnishees, 1889-1900 (approximately 7 cubic ft.); Letter Pressbooks, 1890-1898 (1 cubic ft.); Notices of Meetings, 1899; Proxies, 1882-1884; and Stock Certificates, 1881-1899 (7 folders). Oversized volumes (136) include: Bill Registers, 1880-1891; Cash Books, 1879-1883; Cash Received Books, 1883-1898; Collection Books, 1892-1896; Daily Remittance Books, 1897-1899; Disbursements, 1883-1898; Index to Bill Register, undated; Paymaster’s Drafts Issued, 1888-1889; and Pay Roll Books (the bulk of the oversized volumes), 1881-1899 and 1905. Pay Roll Books include Detroit, Lansing and Northern RR (DLandNRR) from August 1889 on, and the Saginaw Valley and St. Louis RR from 1891 on.

Series 4) consists of materials that have the combined letterhead of the Chicago and West MI Railway and the Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western RR (DGRandWRR). This includes [letter-size] Pay Orders, 1898 (1 folder), and Receipts for the salary of Charles Merriam, Treasurer of the CandWMRR and DLandNRR, 1877-1890 (Scattered) (1 folder). Also included are [legal-size] Deductions from Pay for the CandWMRR/ DGRandWRR, 1897-1898 (24 folders).

Series 5) is [letter-size] Correspondence, 1895-1899 (approximately 2 cubic ft.), written or typed on the combined letterhead of the CandWMRR and the DLandNRR.

Series 6) the Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western RR (DGRandWRR) includes: Audits, 1898-99, Books of Stock Certificates, 1897-1899; Discharge Tickets, 1890-1900 (examples); Drafts, 1897,1899; Mortgages Certificates, 1897; and Garnishees, 1897-1900 (the bulk of the series) (approximately 1 cubic ft. total.) The Garnishees are filed in numerical order, and include those for both the DGRandWRR and DLandNRR (.25 cubic ft.), which were originally interfiled. The Garnishees for CandWMRR are a completely separate numerical sequence, and not part of the DGRandWRR Garnishees. Oversized volumes (6) include: Cash Received Book, 1897-1898; Daily Remittance Books, 1897-1900; and Disbursements, 1897-1898.

Series 7) the Detroit, Lansing and Lake MI RR includes an Indenture, Second Mortgage, 1874 (1 v. in 1 folder, letter-size) and Mortgage Foreclosures, 1876-1877(1 folder, legal-size). Oversized volumes (22) include: Bond Transfers Books, 1873-1876 and 1897; various Cash Books, 1871-1876; Ledgers of Second Mortgage Bonds, 1873-1876; Pay Rolls, 1871/2 and 1874/5; Vouchers, including an Index and Register, 1873-1878 and undated.

Series 8) the Detroit, Lansing and Northern RR (DLandNRR), includes various financial records (totaling approximately 6.5 cubic ft.) including: (letter-size) Accounts, 1877-1878; Audits, 1891, 1893, and 1896; a Bill for Layers, 1887; lists of Board of Directors/ Stockholders, 1884-1890 (Scattered); Bond Coupons (Examples), 1897-1895; Books of Stock Certificates, 1877-1898 (8 v.); Correspondence, 1889, 1891-1892; Drafts, 1889-1890s; and Garnishees, 1892-1897 (approximately 2 cubic ft.). Also included are a Plan of Reorganization, Subscribers, 1896-1899, and undated, (13 folders); Promissory Notes, 1874-1889; Proxies, 1884-1894 (Scattered); Receipt of Salary, 1894 for J. E. Howard; Reorganization Receipts and Receipt Books, 1894-1897 (9 folders); Reports of Work Done by Working Train, 1890-1891, 1900; Stock Certificate, undated; Vouchers, 1899 (approximately 1.5 cubic ft.). Legal-size materials include: Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 1880 and 1883 (Scattered); and an Annual Meeting Announcement, 1891; and Mortgage Foreclosures, 1895-1896, and 1898. Oversized volumes (38) include: a Bond Transfers Book,1878-1896; Cash Received Books, 1877-1896; Collection Record Books, 1882-1896; Disbursements, 1883-1896; Ledgers of Bonds, 1877-1881 and 1907; Pay Master’s Bank Account, 1888-1892; and Vouchers and related Index, 1878-1884.

Series 9) consists of correspondence and bills re: damaged freight (fruit/candy), 1887-1888 (1 folder, letter-size) on the combined letterhead of the DLandNRR and the Saginaw Valley and St. Louis RR.

Series 10) is the Detroit, Lansing and Northern System, which includes Reorganization Receipt Books (3 v., in 3 folders, legal-size), 1896, and oversized volumes (4) with the same title, 1894-1899.

Series 11), the Flint and Pere Marquette RR (FandPMRR), includes: [letter-size] Broken Rail Reports, 1899-1900; Correspondence, 1878 and 1901 (Scattered); Pay Orders, 1899 (very scattered) (1 folder each); [legal-size] Monthly Report Ties Received, 1900-1901 (scattered) (1 folder) and Way Bills, 1880 and 1895 (3 folders). Oversized folders include Bonds and Coupons, 1860-1891. Oversized volumes (16) include: Bonds, for the FandPMRR and Flint and Holly RR (FandHRR), 1860-1891; Dividend Book, 1881-1884, Interest Coupons Paid and Canceled for various bonds including the FandHRR, 1863-1891; and Bond Registers, 1868 and undated.

Series 12) the Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit RR (GRLandDRR) includes: a list of the Board of Directors, 1889; Bond Coupons, 1884; a Bond Receipt, 1887; Proxies, 1889; Subscribers Information, 1887 (7 folders total, letter-size). Also included are Board of Directors’ Meeting Minutes, 1880 and 1888, and Mortgage Foreclosures, 1895-1896 (1 folder each, legal-size). A Transfer Ledger and Register, 1887-1896 (1 oversized v.) completes the collection.

Series 13) the Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore RR, consists of Cash Books, 1871-1877 and 1881 forward (3 oversized v.).

Series 14) the Grand Rapids, Northern and Lake Shore RR, consists of Accounts, 1888-1890 (Scattered, 1 folder, legal-size).

Series 15) the Ionia and Lansing RR, includes Bond Coupons (Examples), 1881-1889 (Scattered) and Bond Transfers, 1897-1900 (2 folders total, letter-size). Oversized volumes (9) include various Bond, Cash, and Mortgage Books, and a Pay Roll, 1867-1899.

Series 16) the Michigan Central RR Company (MCRR), includes an Agreement with the CandMLS RR and the MCRR, 1876 (legal-size), and a Preliminary Survey of the Paw Paw Valley Railroad, undated, which was part of the MCRR. Oversized volumes (4) include: Account Books, 1846-1875 (2 v.), Cash Totals Book, 1866-1870, and a Ledger, 1878-1880. Other Oversized materials include Telegraph Reports from the Allegan Division, 1912 (1 Oversized folder) and #7 Jackson County Right-of-way and Track Map, 1918 (a rolled, torn item).

Series 17) the Milwaukee, Benton Harbor and Columbus Railway, consists of 1897 Consolidation Agreements between the St. Joseph Valley Railway Company and the Benton Harbor and Southeastern Railway Company.

Series 18) the Pere Marquette RR, includes various Accounts, Reports, Requisitions, and Way Bills, largely for the Collins Station. Many of the Reports were required, standardized forms used by the US Railroad Administration, which nationalized the railroad companies during World War I. The records total 13 folders (letter-size) and 12 folders (legal-size), 1900-1902, 1905, 1916-1920, and undated. Oversized volumes (4) include: Collins Station Local Sales Record, 1920; Check Stubs; 1903-1905; Detail of Collection Account Book; 1900-1901; and Record of Remittances, 1900.

Series 19) the Saginaw and Grand Rapids RR, includes Board of Directors/ Stockholders Materials, Lists, a Bill of the published notice of a meeting, Proxies, and Stock Transfers, 1879, 1884-1891 (Scattered) (5 folders total, all but one of which is letter-size).

Series 20) the Saginaw and Western RR (SandWRR), includes the same subseries as the SandGRRR, 1883-1890 and 1892 (4 folders total, all but one is letter-size). A Voucher Transfer Ledger and Register, 1885-1896 (1 Oversized v.) completes the collection.

Series 21) consists of Mortgage Foreclosures, 1895-1896 (1 folder, legal-size) which have the combined letterhead of the SandWRR and the GRLandDRR.

Series 22) the Saginaw Valley and St. Louis RR, includes some Board of Directors/Stockholders Materials, Lists, Proxies, financial information, and Mortgage Foreclosures, 1883-1896, but the majority of the subseries is Pay Rolls, Time Sheets, Pay Orders, Receipts of Pay, lists and accounts of Boarders, and Pay Roll Totals of RR employees, 1871-1878 (approximately 2.5 cubic ft.). Oversized volumes (5) are either Cash or Coupon books, 1879-1896.

Series 23) is materials of unidentified railroads, including a Statement of Engineering Expenses on the West Branch, 1880 and a Railroad Mileage /Tickets Account Book, 1875-1876 (Indexed).

Series 24) the White River RR, includes various materials, mostly related to its dissolution, including Stock Certificates, Stockholders Lists, Pay Orders of Dividends, Accounts, and Bills for the lawyers, 1879-1884, and undated (4 folders of letter-size and two of legal-size materials).

Series 25) Miscellaneous RR Materials, include: the Detroit and Grand Rapids Account Books of J. E. Howard concerning the Estate of Albert S. Austin (d. 1888?) (3 v., letter-size); the Central Traffic Association, General Expense Statement, February 1889, which statistically documents the financial status and business of many different railroads (1 folder, letter-size); and Check Stub Books of the Charlevoix Improvement Company and the Michigan Equipment Company, Limited, both of which were probably holding companies for railroad companies. The books of the Charlevoix Improvement Company include Canceled Checks at 4th National Bank, 1897-1899 (6 v., legal-size), and those of the Michigan Equipment Co., Ltd., include blank checks with Old Colony Trust Co., Boston, or 2nd National Bank, Boston, 1892-1893 and 1902 (two v., legal-size). Lastly, the West Michigan Lumber Co. is represented by vague By-laws, 1879, and Board of Directors’ Meeting Minutes, 1879-1881 (1 folder, legal-size).

Series 26) truly Miscellaneous Materials, consists solely of the Notary Public Certificate of Melancthan D. Woodford, 1876 (letter-size). His relationship to the collection is at present unknown.

Processing Notes: Howard grouped materials by format, record types (ex. Audits, Drafts, etc.), in numerical and chronological order, and by the name of the railroad, keeping loose papers together, usually tri-folded in office boxes. Oversized volumes were apparently filed in a similar manner, separately from the papers.

The collection is organized first by loose manuscript materials in boxes (letter-size records first, then legal-size records), and Oversized volumes. Within each of these size formats, materials are organized alphabetically by the names of railroad companies, then alphabetically by type of record, and then chronologically.

For example: Box 1: CandWM RR Accounts; Agreement; Books of Stock, 1895, 1896, 1898. Pay Roll Box 2: DLandNRR Accounts; Bills; Correspondence. Oversized Volumes: CandWMRy Accounts Pay Rolls; DLandNRR Accounts Pay Rolls Stock Certificates

Fire Damage: At some point, the building housing Howard’s records must have burned because many of the records are scorched. A substantial number of records in the collection are quite yellowed, brittle, and acidic. Some of the volume covers have bird poop on them, while others are detached from the volumes, as are some of the spine covers.

There is a lot of financial and business correspondence between Howard and C. L. Gunn, Esq., who was the Assist Treasurer of the CandWMRy, and U. B. Rogers, who was the Auditor of the CandWMRy, the DLandNRR, and the SVandSLRR. There is also some material related to Charles Merriam who was the Treasurer of the RR in Boston.

The collection includes a wide variety of business records, lumbering records, financial and shipping records, legal and tax records, estate records, and personal correspondence, diaries, and accounts.

Formats include a variety of paper and photographic materials. The account books have been inventoried only.

Please Note: 19 of the 78 volumes are moldy, are so indicated in the finding aid, and should be use with care by patrons.

A finding aid is available to assist patrons. It is divided into five units for each processor who processed the collection, and the last, sixth, unit includes volumes and oversized drawings. This collection was processed from January 2011-through January 2012 by Archivist M. Matyn and a series of supervised student volunteers and interns. Each student created a separate finding aid, minus the biography, of his/her work. R. Rodriguez’s finding aid was the first and includes the preliminary biography. A more complete biography is noted in the biography section of this finding aid. All of the images are in boxes processed by Veronica Rohr. This was a great effort and the students did a wonderful job. One Oversized folder of drawings and maps was found after processing in 2013 and processed by M. Matyn.

Rodriguez section Scope Notes: This collection, Boxes 1-4 and 1 Oversized folder, 1880-1881, 1895-1896, and undated, 2 cubic feet, consists primarily of Mr. Boyce’s lumber and salt company business correspondence and related materials divided into the following series: Business Correspondence, which includes, but is not limited, to sales slips, receipts, business statements, bank deposit slips, shipping slips, salt inspection slips from the Michigan Salt Inspector, various items dealing with Boyce’s steamers, railroad shipping slips, Michigan Central Railroad shipping slips, grocery receipts, post card advertisements, and other business correspondence. This series is divided into the following years, 1880, 1881, 1894, May-December 1895, January-March 1896, 1896, and undated. Personal Correspondence, which includes letters and bills from Helmouth Ladies College, London, Ontario for Jessie Boyce. Archie Boyce dental work bill, dental work bill. A letter to Mrs. Boyce from a Grand Rapids, Michigan tailor, 1896. Advertisements and Business flyers, 1895-1896. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. The oversized file is an advertisement for a saw company which includes pictures. Inventory, Paylogs undated, and other unnamed and undated receipts. Shipping Records-Lewis C. Slade May-October 1895. Western Union Telegrams, 1896. Treasurers of Osceola County 1895-1896. Letters from Sarah MacDonald, 1896. The letters from MacDonald are addressed to J. Boyce or J. Boyce and Sons and all ask for money, although it is unclear as to why.

Grose section Scope Notes: This collection, Boxes 5-9, 1891, 1897, 1899, 1914-1930, and undated, 2.5 cubic feet, consists primarily of Mr. Boyce’s business, legal, and financial correspondence and personal financial correspondence divided into the following series: Business Correspondence, which includes, but is not limited, to sales slips, receipts, business statements, bank deposit slips, shipping slips, various items dealing with Boyce’s steamers, railroad shipping slips, Michigan Central Railroad shipping slips, grocery receipts, post card advertisements, and other business correspondence. This series is divided into the following years, 1897, 1899, and undated and is organized alphabetically within each year. Boyce Personal Financial Correspondence, which includes letters, bills, receipts, cancelled checks and bank books, 1898, 1914-1930. These materials are organized into two alphabetical runs as per their original order. There are materials here related to Jessie Boyce, 1914-1928. There are also several bank accounts, materials relating to Kent Country Club, Grand Rapids organizations booklets in which the Boyces are listed. Of particular note is a Hauptman and Bradley branches of Michigan Central railroad map, 1891. Also of interest is an American Red Cross World War I Bureau of women’s Work, Knitting Instruction for wristlets, scarves, etc. for army men in the trenches, [1914-1918]. A “Petite Calendar” book for 1928 is found in Box 9 in the Grand Rapids National Bank folder.

Rohr section Scope Notes: This collection, Boxes 10-32 and 1 Oversized folder, 1872, 1947, and undated, 11.5 cubic feet (23 boxes), consists primarily of Mr. Boyce’s lumber and salt company business correspondence and related materials divided into the following series: Business Correspondence, which includes, but is not limited, to sales slips, receipts, business statements, bank deposit slips, salt inspection slips from the Michigan Salt Inspector, shipping slips and various items dealing with Boyce’s steamers, which is organized in the shipping records, railroad shipping slips, Michigan Central Railroad shipping slips, grocery receipts, and other business correspondence. Personal Correspondence, which includes sales slips, receipts, bank statements, grocery receipts, newspaper receipts, and insurance related letters. Various business advertisements and flyers, post card advertisements, some are very detailed. Business Receipts, Inventory, Pay logs undated, and other unnamed and undated receipts, Lumber Camp Records and Correspondence, Miscellaneous, Shipping Records are included. Of particular interest are: Box 1: Germain Piano Company, personal correspondence- 1899 Stallman Dresser Trunk, personal correspondence- 1899; Box 2: Shakespeare advertisement for window shades- undated Grand Rapids House- 1897, 1898; Box 3: Grand Rapids House- Arthur Sovereign, contractor- 1897; Box 4: Grand Rapids House- Arthur Sovereign, contractor- 1895; Box 5: Schooner George J. Boyce Trip Logs- 1895 Steamer Isabella J. Boyce Trip Logs- 1892 Roscommon Land taxes and county map- undated Grand Rapids House- Arthur Sovereign, contractor- 1897 Houghton Lake Lumber Company, Articles of Association- 1875 Michigan Central Railroad Ticket- 1897 Personal correspondence, Love Letter from Hellmuth College, London, Ontario- 1895; Box 6: “Topical Studies in American History” by John G. Allen- 1887 International Order of Odd Fellows correspondence- 1898, 1899 Knights of Pythias correspondence- 1895, 1899 Masonic Temple Association correspondence- 1898, 1900, undated Modern Woodmen of America correspondence- 1898, 1899, 1900 Family pictures- 1927, 1929, 1930, 1931, undated; Box 7: Family Finances- Celia Monseau, George Monseau- 1905, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, undated Family Finances- Josephine Monseau, Academy of the Sacred Heart- 1908, 1909, undated; Box 10: Jonathan Boyce Travel Information to England- 1894; Box 14: Jonathan Boyce Estate Papers- 1902, 1903- undated Houghton Lake Lumber Company, Finances- 1883; Box 16: Checkbook- 1881-1892 Inventory and Appraisal of Purchased Farm Land- undated Property and County Maps- Pine Timber from Missaukee County- undated Property Descriptions, Bay County- 1872, 1891; Box 18: Survey of Osceola County Trees, Map- undated; Box 23: Boyce Photographs- 1895- 1947, undated Oversized Folder, 1 of 1, Land and Property Maps, County of Roscommon, Land with River shown, undated

Martin section Scope Notes: This collection, Boxes 33-59, 1873-1937, and undated, 13.5 cubic feet (27 boxes), this collection consists primarily of Mr. Boyce’s lumber and salt company business correspondence and related materials divided into the following series: Business Correspondence, which includes, but is not limited, to sales slips, receipts, business statements, bank deposit slips, salt inspection slips from the Michigan Salt Inspector, shipping slips and various items dealing with Boyce’s steamers, which is organized in the shipping records, railroad shipping slips, Michigan Central Railroad shipping slips, grocery receipts, and other business correspondence. Personal Correspondence, which includes sales slips, receipts, bank statements,This collections 1-27 grocery receipts, newspaper receipts, and insurance related letters. Various business advertisements and flyers, post card advertisements, some are very detailed. Business Receipts, Inventory, Pay logs undated, and other unnamed and undated receipts, Lumber Camp Records and Correspondence, Miscellaneous, Shipping Records are included. Of Particular Interest are: Box 1: An undated letter to Mr. Boyce from Mr. Bauman in which it states that bodies have been removed from Mr. Boyce’s father’s lot in a Muskegon cemetery. Another letter to Mrs. Boyce from a R. A. Christian complains about the cost of rent being raised a whole dollar, July 19, 1900. Box 2: An undated letter of particular interest to Mr. Boyce from C. Sheck, in which it discusses Sheck’s dislike for the climate and people of the Southern States, as well as his racist views. Box 3: A letter from Curphey Lumber discussing a possible outbreak of yellow fever in August 1899. A letter from R.C. Winslow, M.D., dated August 2, 1899, explaining to Boyce a head injury sustained by a woodsman, in which the Doctor gave medical attention to but the woodsman still perished. The Doctor was requesting payment from Boyce for his services. Box 4: A letter from Mr. Oly Olson to Jonathan Boyce dated February 10, 1898 in which it discusses how Mr. Olson went to a cemetery to find that George Boyce had his parents bodies as well as some other family members bodies moved to a different cemetery, and that the only bodies left in the cemetery lot were that of Jonathon’s “wife and Ed”. Box 5: An eggnog recipe that looks like it came from a bottle label. There is a receipt for automobile repair for Miss. I. J. Boyce from October 1, 1913. There is also a receipt for payment for a newspaper subscription to the Grand Rapids Press by a Mr. Boyce between May and June 1937. Box 6: A quote for cotton and woolen waste, which are paper making materials from Frank E. Fitts Mfg. and Supply Co. on September 28, 1896. Box 7: Letters from a Mr. John McVicar, dated November 1883 and February 1884, discussing the selling of sheep, and how to care for the sheep in order to get more money for them when selling them. There were also numerous companies trying to get Mr. Boyce to buy life insurance from their companies so that Mr. Boyce’s family would be taken care of after his death. Box 8: A card dated April 16, 1902 from the DeMolai Commandery No. 5 calling all members to participate in assisting in Jonathon Boyce’s funeral and burial after his remains returned from England. This shows that Jonathon Boyce was an active masonic member and that he was being honored. Photos of a burned down house. A printing block for name cards. Box 9: Letters dated January and November 1892 from the company Voigt, Herpolsheimer, and Co. about work being done to a house including the installment of carpet and shades. Box 13: Blue Print with Letter for a Steam Jump Saw from A.F. Bartlett and Co., March 20, 1893 Box 15: Property deeds for land bought by Jonathan Boyce from the Jackson, Lansing, and Saginaw R.R. Co. that state that the R.R. Co. maintains right to lay down railroads through property and to maintain rails already on property. In oversized folder: A patent from the state of Michigan to Boyce stating that Boyce purchased property that was land set aside for a school. Received patent rather than deed because it was government property. Box 19: A letter dated April 10, 1896 from a person who wished to remain anonymous warning Boyce about a Frenchman who wanted a job at Boyce’s camp to pay Boyce back for a dirty trick that Boyce played on him. The writer warned Boyce not to hire this Frenchman or any Frenchmen for that matter. Box 20: Shipping trip records one of which has a list of the Crew members, their position of the ship, and their wages, dated May 8-19, 1894.

White Section Scope Notes: This collection, Boxes 60-93 and 4 Oversized folders, 1874, 1956, and undated, 17 cubic feet (34 boxes), This collection consists primarily of Mr. Boyce’s lumber and salt company business correspondence and related materials divided into the following series: Business Correspondence, which includes, but is not limited, to sales slips, receipts, business statements, bank deposit slips, shipping slips, salt inspection slips from the Michigan Salt Inspector, various items dealing with Boyce’s steamers, railroad shipping slips, Michigan Central Railroad shipping slips, grocery receipts, post card advertisements, and other business correspondence. Box 1: This series is divided into the following years, July through December 1897-1899, and undated, and includes: Advertisements and Business flyers, December 1898, February-November 1899, and undated. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Boyce Grand Rapids House, which includes receipts for materials, advertisements for materials. Of particular note is letters from contractors to Mr. Boyce refusing to pay his bill charging them for the extra time it took to complete their services. Also of interest is the correspondence between Mr. Boyce and lead contractor Arthur Sovereign.Inventory, Pay logs, etc., 1897 Shipping Records, August – December 1897 Western Union Telegrams, 1897 Box 2: This series is divided into the following years, 1895, May through December 1896, 1897 and undated. Of particular interest in 1896 Boyce was having trouble with both the F.W. Wheeler and Co and Toledo Lumber and Manufacturing Co. and their inability to pay their accounts. In the case of F.W. Wheeler and Co. a note of theirs was given to a Mr. Fred C. Ross, this note was then sold to Jonathan Boyce who in turn sold the note to Mr. C.C. Billinghurst, this note was unable to be cashed due to lack of funds on behalf of the F.W. Wheeler and Co. Further correspondence also shows that Mr. C.C. Billinghurst was also in involved with the Toledo Lumber and Manufacturing unpaid account and protested note. Other materials include: Advertisements and Business flyers, December 1898, February-November 1899, and undated. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Inventory, Pay logs, etc. 1896 Shipping Records, November Miscellaneous- Correspondence shows that Jonathan Boyce had a conflict with the Buffalo Car manufacturing Co., they state that Boyce sent them low quality wood. The company even hired their own inspector to prove this and state that they will only pay for the pieces that our of good quality in the stock, the rest is Boyce’s responsibility. Box 3: This series is divided into the following years, 1892, 1893, 1894, January through November 1895 and undated. Of particular interest in letter from Archie Boyce to his father Jonathan Boyce he describes that the area where the lumber camps were the weather was particularly dry and the camps were being threatened with wild fires. Advertisements and Business flyers, December 1898, February-November 1899, and undated. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Of particular interest is the advertisement for the Great Western Smelting Refining Co. which has an amusing ad featuring a story and comic illustrations. Boyce Business Receipts – Of particular interest is a bound account book of Jonathan Boyce’s for John Tennant, the grocer from which he bought his supplies from. The account log shows items bought such as syrup, salt, coffee boiler, vinegar and much more. Other materials include Inventory, Pay logs, etc., 1895, and Shipping Records, January-April 1895. Box 4: This series is divided into the following years 1894, February through September 1895 and undated. Of particular interest in 1895 Boyce was having a dispute with D.S. Pate and Co. over the price of mull cull lumber. Boyce says the price is $5.50 while D.S. Pate and Co. says that they had reached an agreement for $5.00. Advertisements and Business flyers, December 1898, February-November 1899, and undated. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Personal Correspondence – It appears Boyce was attempting to bail a John McEachem out of a corrections facility. Also of interest is that an Isabella Boyce seems to have returned to Grand Rapids from Liverpool, England based on ship customs invoice from the United States Express Company and shipping invoice from Geo. W. Wheatley and Co. Other materials include: Boyce Business Receipts; Inventory, Pay logs, etc., 1895; Legal Correspondence – Of particular interest in 1895 in the case of Alfred M. King vs. Boyce, the court rendered a judgment in favor of Powers and Boyce had to pay him $ 34.75 for one and half month’s work.; Shipping Records, July-September 1895. Box 5: This series is divided into the following years 1896, January-April 1897 and Undated. Of particular interest in January 25, 1897 there is a letter from Archie Boyce to his father talking about the horses at the lumber camp; Discussing how well they are doing and that they are going to be hooking them up to sleighs soon.Legal Correspondence – Of particular interest in 1897 Boyce was trying to appeal a decision made by the courts in the case of Schroeder vs. Boyce. Also in 1897, the law office of Palmer, McDonald and Palmer are claiming collection against Jonathan Boyce of $69.50 for damages done by Boyce’s ship “G.J. Boyce” to the steamer “Chief Justice Wai’e”. Michigan Central Railroad Co. – In 1897 Boyce was refusing to pay for damages done to one of their cars that had been broken due to a tree falling on it. Other materials include: Advertisements and Business flyers, Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed; Boyce Business Receipts; Inventory, Pay logs, etc. , 1897; Personal Correspondence; Shipping Records, July-September 1897.Box 6: This series is divided into the following years 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1943 and 1952.Personal Correspondence – In 1943, the city of Grand Rapids stated that the houses owned by Jessie L. Boyce located on 334 and 342 Division Ave. did not conform to ordinance of Grand Rapids and that if it did not conform within ten days she would be cited with penalty charges. The house on 334 Division Ave. was cited as condemned.” Once in again in 1952, Jessie L. Boyce was cited by the city of Grand Rapids for not following city ordinance for the house on 334 Division Ave. and the house was considered an unsanitary dwelling. Boyce, South Division Street Widening Case – In 1924, Isabella J. Boyce was part of a committee opposed to the widening of Division Avenue south between Fulton and Wealthy Street. In 1926, the city was stopped from widening Division Avenue. and Isabella J. Boyce had to pay $420 in attorney fees. In 1925, the Board of Assessors of the city of Grand Rapids was preparing assessment roll for the estimated expense of paving Division Ave. from Monroe to Wealthy Street; along with the widening of the section of the street by taking 12 feet off the front end of the property on the east side of the street. In 1927, the city attorney had been instructed to commence condemnation proceedings to acquire the necessary property for the widening of Division. In 1928, widening process was approved and to begin work in August; Isabella had to give up 12 feet of her property. Box 7: This series is divided into the following years 1898, 1899 and Undated. Of particular interest there is a rumor that Jonathan Boyce is planning to build a beet sugar factory in Essexville according to correspondence from The Engineering Record. Advertisements and Business flyers, October-September 1899. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Other materials include: Boyce Business Receipts; Inventory, Pay logs, etc., 1898-1899, Legal Correspondence ; Personal Correspondence; Michigan Central Railroad Co.; Shipping Records, September 1899. Box 8: This series is divided into the following years 1900. Of particular interest in 1900 Jonathan Boyce’s lumber mill burned down according to insurance records and letter from A.R. Roquette. Advertisements and Business flyers, January- October 1900. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Other materials include: Boyce Business Receipts; Inventory, Pay logs, etc. ,1900; Legal Correspondence; Personal Correspondence – In 1900 Jonathan Boyce was planning a trip to London; Michigan Central Railroad Co.; Shipping Records, September 1900 – In 1900 Jonathan Boyce sold his vessel the “Isabella Boyce.” Box 9: This series is divided into the following years 1909, 1910, 1911, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928 and undated. Boyce Personal Correspondence – In 1925 Isabella J. Boyce received a letter from University of Michigan informing her that her son Gordon was being put on probation list due to the unsatisfactory character of his work. Also in that year Isabella J. Boyce’s other son, Jonathan, was starting school at University of Michigan. In 1925, Gordon Boyce had a root canal, a crown and a gold filling done by a dentist. (Box 30) In 1926, Isabella J. Boyce received a letter from her son Gordon telling her that he would be withdrawing from his classes at University of Michigan and would return back to his studies the following summer; this was due to the advice given to him from the dean on the basis on his unsatisfactory performance. Boyce Personal Receipts – Personal check receipt book from Isabella J. Boyce. Miniature check receipt book from Isabella J. Boyce in 1920 and 1921. Box 10: This series is divided into the following years 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895 and undated. Of particular interest in 1894 the Rock Island Lumber and MFG. Co. sent Jonathan Boyce a copy of their staff and yearly wages and asked in turn for Boyce’s wage records so that they could check that their wages were in line with the rest of the industry. Advertisements and Business flyers, October-November 1894. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Michigan Central Railroad Co. – In 1897 Boyce was refusing to pay for damages done to one of their cars that had been broken due to a tree falling on it. Other materials included: Boyce Business Receipts; Legal Correspondence; Personal Correspondence; Boyce Shipping Records; Michigan Central Railroad Co. .Box 11: This series is divided into the following years 1894, 1895 and undated. Of particular interest in 1894 Jonathan Boyce received a sidewalk notice from the council chamber in the village of Essexville, stating that the sidewalk on the east side of Cangstart Street in front of his lot was in dangerous condition and he had seven days to repair it. Boyce Shipping Records – Of particular interest in 1895 the vessel “Isabella” sprung a leak and caused the corn stock on the ship to be wet. The leak came from a careless engineer who left the valves of the seacock open, which froze during the winter and burst. Other materials include: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Advertisement, Flyers; Boyce Legal Correspondence; Boyce Western Union Telegraphs. Box 12: This series is divided into the following years 1892, 1893, 1895 and undated. Advertisements and Business flyers, January- October 1900. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Other materials include: Boyce Business Receipts; Inventory, Pay logs, etc.- For 1893 there is a lumber cut season records for that season; Legal Correspondence; Michigan Central Railroad Co.; Shipping Records. Personal Correspondence – In 1892 Jonathan Boyce was considering buying a house from a H.W. McCormick. This deal would include his residence, barn and three lots on the corner of Centre Ave. and Birney Street. (No city is specified in this correspondence) Box 13: This series is divided into the following years 1895 and undated, and includes: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Advertisement, Flyers; Boyce, John Pilditch, Tuscola County House – In 1895 Jonathan Boyce was having a house, farm and various sheds built in Wisner Township, Tuscola County. Detailed log of the carpenters and joiners labor on the construction; Boyce Legal Correspondence; Boyce Shipping Records; Boyce Western Union Telegraphs. Box 14: This series is divided into the following years 1895 and undated, and includes: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Advertisement, Flyers; Boyce Legal Correspondence – In 1895 Jonathan Boyce was seeking to force payment on a Mr. Smith for $152.04 in damages; Boyce Shipping Records; Boyce Western Union Telegraphs. Box 15: This series is divided into the following years 1895 and undated. Of particular interest in 1895 Jonathan Boyce received a letter from the sheriff 's office in Ogemaw County stating that there was a stray team about six miles from town and that a man claiming to be an employee of Boyce’s came to claim the team. The Sheriff wanted to know if the employee was in fact his and what Boyce planned to do about the situation. Also in 1895 an employee of Jonathan Boyce by the name of Ernest Wicks, who worked at one of his lumber camps, got his leg broken due to a kick from a horse. He sent a letter to Boyce asking for his wages and the collection of money that had been gathered by the boys at the lumber camp. Also included are: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Advertisement, Flyers; Boyce Legal Correspondence; Boyce Shipping Records; Boyce Western Union Telegraphs. Box 16: This series is divided into the following years 1892 and undated, and includes: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Postal Telegraph-Cable Co. materials. Box 17: This series is divided into the following years 1892 and undated. Of particular interest in 1892 Archie Boyce sent a letter to his father, Jonathan Boyce, telling him that since they only have one train available to them they have a whole team waiting around with nothing to do. Archie suggests that his father should contact the railroad people about getting more trains out to the lumber camp. He also talks about a very sick horse he has at the camp. (Box 43?) Also included are: Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Legal Correspondence; Boyce Shipping Records; Boyce Telegrams. Box 18: This series is divided into the following years 1892, 1893 and undated. Of particular interest is a letter dated December 15,1892, Archie Boyce sent to his father, Jonathan Boyce, telling him about how he received new horses at camp. Also that he requests more whips from the man that previously brought him some with the horses. Also included are: Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Legal Correspondence; Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Shipping Records. Box 19: This series is divided into the following years 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895 and undated. Of particular interest in 1892, Jonathan Boyce was sent a bill from the American Casualty Insurance and Security Co. for $57.87 pertaining to doctor’s bills for seven injured employees. Also in 1893, there is a newspaper clipping form the Morning Patriot discussing the new Union Lumber Company of Jackson and that they had purchased the Plummer Lumber Mill. Also included are: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Legal Correspondence. Box 20: This series is divided into the following years 1893 and 1894, and includes: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Legal Correspondence; Boyce Postal Telegraph-Cable Co. – Of particular interest in 1894 Jonathan Boyce sold his schooner “Levi.” Box 21: This series is divided into the following years 1874, 1877, 1878, 1879 and undated, and includes: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts. Boyce Legal Correspondence – In 1878 Jonathan Boyce bought land in Roscommon County from a Robert D. Robinson for $500.00. Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad Company – In 1874 Jonathan Boyce was forced to give up land to the railroad company due to land grants given by the state of Michigan to aid Box 22: This series is divided into the following years 1881, 1882 and undated. Of particular interest in 1882 Jonathan Boyce bought parcels of land in Denton Township, Roscommon County, for $40,000. Boyce Auditor General’s Report – List of all the tracts of land owned by Jonathan Boyce in Roscommon County and the amount he paid in taxes on those properties in 1881. Also included are: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Legal Correspondence. Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad Company – In 1882 Jonathan Boyce bought land from Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad Company for $28,056. Box 23: This series is divided into the following years 1890, 1891, 1892 and 1893. Boyce Grove Farm – In 1890 Jonathan Boyce bought Grove Farm in Tivethall, St. Margret in Norfolk, England from John Aldous. Boyce Insurance on Grove Farm – In December 1891 Jonathan Boyce paid 2,000 pounds to The Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance Co. for Grove Farm he bought the previous year. The insurance covered property including the farmhouse, dairy, scullery, a range of poultry houses, stable, hay barn, range of bullock sheds, range of wagon and cart barns, turnip house, piggeries, and five tenant cottages. Boyce shipping Records – Jonathan Boyce’s schooner “Levi Grant” was in a collision with a tug “Tom Brown”, which had one large dump scow in tow. The collision caused broken planks, rails, anchor stocks and stanchion besides other damages. Boyce Legal Correspondence – Jonathan Boyce bought parcels of land in Roscommon County from Matthew Wilson for $15,000 in May 1892. Box 24: This series is divided into the following years 1893 and undated. Boyce American Casualty Insurance and Security Company- In 1893 Jonathan Boyce took out a $50,000 insurance policy with American Casualty Insurance and Security Company. Also in October of 1893 Jonathan Boyce paid John Suyder $10.20 due to injuries sustained on August 31, 1893. Also he paid Ed Tackle $5.53 for injuries sustained on September 18, 1893. These payouts were recorded on Proof of Loss insurance paper under the American Casualty Insurance and Security Company policy. Boyce Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society – In 1893 Jonathan Boyce took out a $1,500 fire insurance policy on the equipment in the schooner “Levia Grant” while it was stored in a building at Number 215 Franklin Street at Michigan City, Indiana. The policy covered equipment such as sails, cordage running gear tow and running lines, cabin furniture cooking utensils, crockery, compasses and color blocks. Also included are: Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Business Correspondence; Boyce Legal Correspondence . Box 25: This series is divided into the following years 1895 and 1896. Also included are: Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Business Correspondence; Boyce Shipping Records. Boyce Legal Correspondence – It appears that Jonathan Boyce and Geo. Boyce were having a dispute over land in Roscommon County. In October 29, 1895 the court partitioned the land between the two parties. Box 26: This series is divided into the following years 1898, 1899 and undated. Boyce Chicago Insurance Company – In 1898 Jonathan Boyce took out a $1,000 insurance policy from the Chicago Insurance Company on the schooner “Geo. J. Boyce.” The policy also covered the schooner’s hull, body, tackle, apparel, engines, steam pumps, gauges and connections, machinery, furniture, small boats, general outfit and equipment. Boyce Legal Correspondence – In 1899 Jonathan Boyce signed a contract with the Michigan Salt Association that stated that he would solely make/provide salt for the association. Also included are: Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Business Correspondence. Box 27: This series is divided into the following years 1878-1956 and undated, and includes: Jonathan Boyce Deeds; Jonathan Boyce Check Book; Jonathan Boyce Estate Papers; Jonathan Boyce Receipts; Jonathan Boyce Tax Receipts. Box 28: This series is divided into the following years 1912-1961 and undated, and includes: J. Gordon Boyce Diary; J. Gordon Boyce, Financial Ledger; Jessie L. Boyce Valier Corporations. J. Gordon Boyce Birthday Greetings Book with the following birthdays: Mrs. J. Boyce, March 17. Chauney Todd, June 8. J. Gordon Boyce, June 29, 1906. Ruth A. Winegar, August 3. Jessie L. Boyce, October 31. Comstock Russell, December 6, 1907. Box 29: This series is divided into the following years 1890 and 1891, Boyce, Bills, Receipts and Cancelled Checks. Box 30: This series is divided into the following years 1892, 1894 and 1895, Boyce, Bills, Receipts and Cancelled Checks. Box 31: This series is divided into the following years 1896, 1897, 1898 and 1899, Boyce, Bills, Receipts and Cancelled Checks. Box 32 This series is divided into the following years 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897 and undated. Also included are: Boyce, I. J. Boyce Ship Trip Book; Boyce Shipping Records; Boyce, Schooner Jessie L. Boyce Ship Supplies Book. Box 33: This series is divided into the following years 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889 and 1893, Boyce, Check Receipt Booklets.

White section Scope and Contents Notes: This collection, Boxes 60-94 and 4 Oversized folders 1874, 1956 and undated, 17 cubic feet (34 boxes). This collection consists primarily of Mr. Boyce’s lumber and salt company business correspondence and related materials divided into the following series, chronologically and alphabetically: Business Correspondence, which includes, but is not limited, to sales slips, receipts, business statements, bank deposit slips, shipping slips, salt inspection slips from the Michigan Salt Inspector, various items dealing with Boyce’s steamers, railroad shipping slips, Michigan Central Railroad shipping slips, grocery receipts, post card advertisements, and other business correspondence. Box 1: This series is divided into the following years, July through December 1897-1899, and undated, and includes: Advertisements and Business flyers, December 1898, February-November 1899, and undated. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Boyce Grand Rapids House, which includes receipts for materials, advertisements for materials. Of particular note is letters from contractors to Mr. Boyce refusing to pay his bill charging them for the extra time it took to complete their services. Also of interest is the correspondence between Mr. Boyce and lead contractor Arthur Sovereign. Inventory, Pay logs, etc., 1897 Shipping Records, August – December 1897 Western Union Telegrams, 1897 Box 2: This series is divided into the following years, 1895, May through December 1896, 1897 and undated. Of particular interest in 1896 Boyce was having trouble with both the F.W. Wheeler and Co and Toledo Lumber and Manufacturing Co. and their inability to pay their accounts. In the case of F.W. Wheeler and Co. a note of theirs was given to a Mr. Fred C. Ross, this note was then sold to Jonathan Boyce who in turn sold the note to Mr. C.C. Billinghurst, this note was unable to be cashed due to lack of funds on behalf of the F.W. Wheeler and Co. Further correspondence also shows that Mr. C.C. Billinghurst was also in involved with the Toledo Lumber and Manufacturing unpaid account and protested note. Other materials include: Advertisements and Business flyers, December 1898, February-November 1899, and undated. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Inventory, Pay logs, etc. 1896 Shipping Records, November Miscellaneous- Correspondence shows that Jonathan Boyce had a conflict with the Buffalo Car manufacturing Co., they state that Boyce sent them low quality wood. The company even hired their own inspector to prove this and state that they will only pay for the pieces that our of good quality in the stock, the rest is Boyce’s responsibility. Box 3: This series is divided into the following years, 1892, 1893, 1894, January through November 1895 and undated. Of particular interest in letter from Archie Boyce to his father Jonathan Boyce he describes that the area where the lumber camps were the weather was particularly dry and the camps were being threatened with wild fires.Advertisements and Business flyers, December 1898, February-November 1899, and undated. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Of particular interest is the advertisement for the Great Western Smelting Refining Co. which has an amusing ad featuring a story and comic illustrations. Boyce Business Receipts – Of particular interest is a bound account book of Jonathan Boyce’s for John Tennant, the grocer from which he bought his supplies from. The account log shows items bought such as syrup, salt, coffee boiler, vinegar and much more. Other materials include Inventory, Pay logs, etc., 1895, and Shipping Records, January-April 1895.Box 4: This series is divided into the following years 1894, February through September 1895 and undated. Of particular interest in 1895 Boyce was having a dispute with D.S. Pate and Co. over the price of mull cull lumber. Boyce says the price is $5.50 while D.S. Pate and Co. says that they had reached an agreement for $5.00. Advertisements and Business flyers, December 1898, February-November 1899, and undated. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Personal Correspondence – It appears Boyce was attempting to bail a John McEachem out of a corrections facility. Also of interest is that an Isabella Boyce seems to have returned to Grand Rapids from Liverpool, England based on ship customs invoice from the United States Express Company and shipping invoice from Geo. W. Wheatley and Co. Other materials include: Boyce Business Receipts; Inventory, Pay logs, etc., 1895; Legal Correspondence – Of particular interest in 1895 in the case of Alfred M. King vs. Boyce, the court rendered a judgment in favor of Powers and Boyce had to pay him $ 34.75 for one and half month’s work.; Shipping Records, July-September 1895. Box 5: This series is divided into the following years 1896, January-April 1897 and Undated. Of particular interest in January 25, 1897 there is a letter from Archie Boyce to his father talking about the horses at the lumber camp; Discussing how well they are doing and that they are going to be hooking them up to sleighs soon. Legal Correspondence – Of particular interest in 1897 Boyce was trying to appeal a decision made by the courts in the case of Schroeder vs. Boyce. Also in 1897, the law office of Palmer, McDonald and Palmer are claiming collection against Jonathan Boyce of $69.50 for damages done by Boyce’s ship “G.J. Boyce” to the steamer “Chief Justice Wai’e”. Michigan Central Railroad Co. – In 1897 Boyce was refusing to pay for damages done to one of their cars that had been broken due to a tree falling on it. Other materials include: Advertisements and Business flyers, Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed; Boyce Business Receipts; Inventory, Pay logs, etc. , 1897; Personal Correspondence; Shipping Records, July-September 1897. Box 6: This series is divided into the following years 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1943 and 1952. Personal Correspondence – In 1943, the city of Grand Rapids stated that the houses owned by Jessie L. Boyce located on 334 and 342 Division Ave. did not conform to ordinance of Grand Rapids and that if it did not conform within ten days she would be cited with penalty charges. The house on 334 Division Ave. was cited as “condemned.” Once in again in 1952, Jessie L. Boyce was cited by the city of Grand Rapids for not following city ordinance for the house on 334 Division Ave. and the house was considered an unsanitary dwelling. Boyce, South Division Street Widening Case – In 1924, Isabella J. Boyce was part of a committee opposed to the widening of Division Avenue south between Fulton and Wealthy Street. In 1926, the city was stopped from widening Division Avenue. and Isabella J. Boyce had to pay $420 in attorney fees. In 1925, the Board of Assessors of the city of Grand Rapids was preparing assessment roll for the estimated expense of paving Division Ave. from Monroe to Wealthy Street; along with the widening of the section of the street by taking 12 feet off the front end of the property on the east side of the street. In 1927, the city attorney had been instructed to commence condemnation proceedings to acquire the necessary property for the widening of Division. In 1928, widening process was approved and to begin work in August; Isabella had to give up 12 feet of her property. Box 7: This series is divided into the following years 1898, 1899 and Undated. Of particular interest there is a rumor that Jonathan Boyce is planning to build a beet sugar factory in Essexville according to correspondence from The Engineering Record. Advertisements and Business flyers, October-September 1899. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Other materials include: Boyce Business Receipts; Inventory, Pay logs, etc., 1898-1899, Legal Correspondence ; Personal Correspondence; Michigan Central Railroad Co.; Shipping Records, September 1899. Box 8: This series is divided into the following years 1900. Of particular interest in 1900 Jonathan Boyce’s lumber mill burned down according to insurance records and letter from A.R. Roquette. Advertisements and Business flyers, January- October 1900. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Other materials include: Boyce Business Receipts; Inventory, Pay logs, etc. ,1900; Legal Correspondence; Personal Correspondence – In 1900 Jonathan Boyce was planning a trip to London; Michigan Central Railroad Co.; Shipping Records, September 1900 – In 1900 Jonathan Boyce sold his vessel the “Isabella Boyce.” Box 9: This series is divided into the following years 1909, 1910, 1911, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928 and undated. Boyce Personal Correspondence – In 1925 Isabella J. Boyce received a letter from University of Michigan informing her that her son Gordon was being put on probation list due to the unsatisfactory character of his work. Also in that year Isabella J. Boyce’s other son, Jonathan, was starting school at University of Michigan. In 1925, Gordon Boyce had a root canal, a crown and a gold filling done by a dentist. (Box 30) In 1926, Isabella J. Boyce received a letter from her son Gordon telling her that he would be withdrawing from his classes at University of Michigan and would return back to his studies the following summer; this was due to the advice given to him from the dean on the basis on his unsatisfactory performance. Boyce Personal Receipts – Personal check receipt book from Isabella J. Boyce. Miniature check receipt book from Isabella J. Boyce in 1920 and 1921. Box 10: This series is divided into the following years 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895 and undated. Of particular interest in 1894 the Rock Island Lumber and MFG. Co. sent Jonathan Boyce a copy of their staff and yearly wages and asked in turn for Boyce’s wage records so that they could check that their wages were in line with the rest of the industry. Advertisements and Business flyers, October-November 1894. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Michigan Central Railroad Co. – In 1897 Boyce was refusing to pay for damages done to one of their cars that had been broken due to a tree falling on it. Other materials included: Boyce Business Receipts; Legal Correspondence; Personal Correspondence; Boyce Shipping Records; Michigan Central Railroad Co. Box 11: This series is divided into the following years 1894, 1895 and undated. Of particular interest in 1894 Jonathan Boyce received a sidewalk notice from the council chamber in the village of Essexville, stating that the sidewalk on the east side of Cangstart Street in front of his lot was in dangerous condition and he had seven days to repair it. Boyce Shipping Records – Of particular interest in 1895 the vessel “Isabella” sprung a leak and caused the corn stock on the ship to be wet. The leak came from a careless engineer who left the valves of the seacock open, which froze during the winter and burst. Other materials include: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Advertisement, Flyers; Boyce Legal Correspondence; Boyce Western Union Telegraphs. Box 12: This series is divided into the following years 1892, 1893, 1895 and undated. Advertisements and Business flyers, January- October 1900. Various business advertisements and flyers some are very detailed. Other materials include: Boyce Business Receipts; Inventory, Pay logs, etc.- For 1893 there is a lumber cut season records for that season; Legal Correspondence; Michigan Central Railroad Co.; Shipping Records. Personal Correspondence – In 1892 Jonathan Boyce was considering buying a house from a H.W. McCormick. This deal would include his residence, barn and three lots on the corner of Centre Ave. and Birney Street. (No city is specified in this correspondence) Box 13: This series is divided into the following years 1895 and undated, and includes: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Advertisement, Flyers; Boyce, John Pilditch, Tuscola County House – In 1895 Jonathan Boyce was having a house, farm and various sheds built in Wisner Township, Tuscola County. Detailed log of the carpenters and joiners labor on the construction; Boyce Legal Correspondence; Boyce Shipping Records; Boyce Western Union Telegraphs. Box 14: This series is divided into the following years 1895 and undated, and includes: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Advertisement, Flyers; Boyce Legal Correspondence – In 1895 Jonathan Boyce was seeking to force payment on a Mr. Smith for $152.04 in damages; Boyce Shipping Records; Boyce Western Union Telegraphs. Box 15: This series is divided into the following years 1895 and undated. Of particular interest in 1895 Jonathan Boyce received a letter from the sheriff’s office in Ogemaw County stating that there was a stray team about six miles from town and that a man claiming to be an employee of Boyce’s came to claim the team. The Sheriff wanted to know if the employee was in fact his and what Boyce planned to do about the situation. Also in 1895 an employee of Jonathan Boyce by the name of Ernest Wicks, who worked at one of his lumber camps, got his leg broken due to a kick from a horse. He sent a letter to Boyce asking for his wages and the collection of money that had been gathered by the boys at the lumber camp. Also included are: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Advertisement, Flyers; Boyce Legal Correspondence; Boyce Shipping Records; Boyce Western Union Telegraphs. Box 16: This series is divided into the following years 1892 and undated, and includes: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Postal Telegraph-Cable Co. materials.Box 17: This series is divided into the following years 1892 and undated. Of particular interest in 1892 Archie Boyce sent a letter to his father, Jonathan Boyce, telling him that since they only have one train available to them they have a whole team waiting around with nothing to do. Archie suggests that his father should contact the railroad people about getting more trains out to the lumber camp. He also talks about a very sick horse he has at the camp. (Box 43) Also included are: Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Legal Correspondence; Boyce Shipping Records; Boyce Telegrams.Box 18: This series is divided into the following years 1892, 1893 and undated. Of particular interest is a letter dated December 15,1892, Archie Boyce sent to his father, Jonathan Boyce, telling him about how he received new horses at camp. Also that he requests more whips from the man that previously brought him some with the horses. Also included are: Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Legal Correspondence; Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Shipping Records.Box 19: This series is divided into the following years 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895 and undated. Of particular interest in 1892, Jonathan Boyce was sent a bill from the American Casualty Insurance and Security Co. for $57.87 pertaining to doctor’s bills for seven injured employees. Also in 1893, there is a newspaper clipping form the Morning Patriot discussing the new Union Lumber Company of Jackson and that they had purchased the Plummer Lumber Mill. Also included are: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Legal Correspondence. Box 20: This series is divided into the following years 1893 and 1894, and includes: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Legal Correspondence; Boyce Postal Telegraph-Cable Co. – Of particular interest in 1894 Jonathan Boyce sold his schooner “Levi.” Box 21: This series is divided into the following years 1874, 1877, 1878, 1879 and undated, and includes: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts. Boyce Legal Correspondence – In 1878 Jonathan Boyce bought land in Roscommon County from a Robert D. Robinson for $500.00. Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad Company – In 1874 Jonathan Boyce was forced to give up land to the railroad company due to land grants given by the state of Michigan to aid Box 22: This series is divided into the following years 1881, 1882 and undated. Of particular interest in 1882 Jonathan Boyce bought parcels of land in Denton Township, Roscommon County, for $40,000. Boyce Auditor General’s Report – List of all the tracts of land owned by Jonathan Boyce in Roscommon County and the amount he paid in taxes on those properties in 1881.Also included are: Boyce Personal Correspondence; Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Legal Correspondence.Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad Company – In 1882 Jonathan Boyce bought land from Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad Company for $28,056. Box 23: This series is divided into the following years 1890, 1891, 1892 and 1893. Boyce Grove Farm – In 1890 Jonathan Boyce bought Grove Farm in Tivethall, St. Margret in Norfolk, England from John Aldous. Boyce Insurance on Grove Farm – In December 1891 Jonathan Boyce paid 2,000 pounds to The Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance Co. for Grove Farm he bought the previous year. The insurance covered property including the farmhouse, dairy, scullery, a range of poultry houses, stable, hay barn, range of bullock sheds, range of wagon and cart barns, turnip house, piggeries, and five tenant cottages. Boyce shipping Records – Jonathan Boyce’s schooner “Levi Grant” was in a collision with a tug “Tom Brown”, which had one large dump scow in tow. The collision caused broken planks, rails, anchor stocks and stanchion besides other damages. Boyce Legal Correspondence – Jonathan Boyce bought parcels of land in Roscommon County from Matthew Wilson for $15,000 in May 1892. Box 24: This series is divided into the following years 1893 and undated. Boyce American Casualty Insurance and Security Company- In 1893 Jonathan Boyce took out a $50,000 insurance policy with American Casualty Insurance and Security Company. Also in October of 1893 Jonathan Boyce paid John Suyder $10.20 due to injuries sustained on August 31, 1893. Also he paid Ed Tackle $5.53 for injuries sustained on September 18, 1893. These payouts were recorded on Proof of Loss insurance paper under the American Casualty Insurance and Security Company policy. Boyce Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society – In 1893 Jonathan Boyce took out a $1,500 fire insurance policy on the equipment in the schooner “Levia Grant” while it was stored in a building at Number 215 Franklin Street at Michigan City, Indiana. The policy covered equipment such as sails, cordage running gear tow and running lines, cabin furniture cooking utensils, crockery, compasses and color blocks. Also included are: Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Business Correspondence; Boyce Legal Correspondence. Box 25: This series is divided into the following years 1895 and 1896. Also included are: Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Business Correspondence; Boyce Shipping Records.Boyce Legal Correspondence – It appears that Jonathan Boyce and Geo. Boyce were having a dispute over land in Roscommon County. In October 29, 1895 the court partitioned the land between the two parties. Box 26: This series is divided into the following years 1898, 1899 and undated. Boyce Chicago Insurance Company – In 1898 Jonathan Boyce took out a $1,000 insurance policy from the Chicago Insurance Company on the schooner “Geo. J. Boyce.” The policy also covered the schooner’s hull, body, tackle, apparel, engines, steam pumps, gauges and connections, machinery, furniture, small boats, general outfit and equipment. Boyce Legal Correspondence – In 1899 Jonathan Boyce signed a contract with the Michigan Salt Association that stated that he would solely make/provide salt for the association. Also included are: Boyce Business Receipts; Boyce Business Correspondence.Box 27: This series is divided into the following years 1878-1956 and undated, and includes: Jonathan Boyce Deeds; Jonathan Boyce Check Book; Jonathan Boyce Estate Papers; Jonathan Boyce Receipts; Jonathan Boyce Tax Receipts.Box 28: This series is divided into the following years 1912-1961 and undated, and includes: J. Gordon Boyce Diary; J. Gordon Boyce, Financial Ledger; Jessie L. Boyce Valier Corporations. J. Gordon Boyce Birthday Greetings Book with the following birthdays: Mrs. J. Boyce, March 17. Chauney Todd, June 8. J. Gordon Boyce, June 29, 1906. Ruth A. Winegar, August 3. Jessie L. Boyce, October 31. Comstock Russell, December 6, 1907.Boxes 29-33 are mostly financial records, mostly cancelled checks, bills, and receipts. Box 29 has years 1890 and 1891, Box 30 has years 1892, 1894 and 1895, Box 31 has years 1896, 1897, 1898 and 1899, Box 32 has years 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897 and undated. Also included are: Boyce, I. J. Boyce Ship Trip Book; Boyce Shipping Records; Boyce, Schooner Jessie L. Boyce Ship Supplies Book. Box 33 has years 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889 and 1893.

Processing Note: The collection overall is in good physical condition. FIve very acidic or fragile items were photocopied and the originals were withdrawn from the collection. Please Note: 19 of the 78 volumes are moldy, are so indicated in the finding aid, and should be use with care by patrons. At an earlier date someone roughly organized the collection chronologically. A handwritten note suggests that the collection was donated by J. Gordon Boyce, grandson of Jonathan Boyce, with his sister, Jessie, in 1966 or later.

Collection of research materials on Michigan topics, mostly photocopies, notes, drafts of articles, and correspondence.

The collection consists mostly of photocopies of newspaper articles, magazine articles, information from websites, the Congressional Record, and chapters from reference and other books, on topics of interest to Barnett. Also included are his correspondence and email to various institutions and people asking for information and material, his notes, and typed articles he wrote on various topics. Topics documented in depth include: Ash, Center Line, John Farmer, Upper Peninsula railroads, Magnet Truck, Michigan railroads, the Mackinac Bridge, music and singers who sang songs about Michigan and or cars, the longstanding oleo versus margarine debates and laws, Michigan Central Railroad Co. Head Lights (a publication), Michigan jazz, traffic lights, with biographical materials on W.L. Potts, and Detroit, Mackinac and Marquette Railroad Co. maps (oversized transparencies). The materials (photocopies)on Headlights or Headlight Flashes includes: an advertising publication of the Company, which describes the comfort of traveling via the Company's trains and provides city histories with biographies of important families and individuals, as well as photographs of those people, expensive homes, businesses, public buildings, and pastoral scenes. Towns described include: Michigan City (Ind.), 1894; and the Mich. cities of: Albion, 1895; Pontiac, 1897; Benton Harbor and Flint, 1896; and Saint Joseph, 1898. Also included are microfilmed newspaper articles (photocopies), in which the Headlights of various cities were advertised, 1895-1896 and 1941, and 1997-2000 typed transcripts of other similar newspaper advertisements, 1895-1898. Additional subjects include: Agricultural Demonstration Trains of Michigan State University, 1906-1937; buying Michigan, 1795-1796; counties, name changes/considered creation of new counties; the history of county names; dandelions [as an emergency source of post-World War II rubber]; highway lighthouses [precursors to traffic lights]; lynchings; prisoners building Michigan roads during the 1920s; reflectors (roadside); roadside parks [Michigan had the first]; stagecoaches; broadcasting; homestead lands; Hollywood; the Port Huron and Milwaukee Railroad; Sabbath blue laws; Ludington (Mich.); swamp lands; centroids; Iron Range and Huron Bay Rialroad; ferries; population centers; Oldsmar, Florida; David Ward, Deward (Mich.); the Detroit and Charlevoix Railroad Company; Cigar Industry in Detroit, including strikes, unions, and women employees; Cigar Store Indians; crops of Flax and Gingseng and flax industries in Michigan prisons; Michigan Indians mentioned in county histories; Michigan Road Construction Train; Michigan World War I fruit and olive pit gathering campaign to create gas masks; Ragweed and hay fever and the Northern Hay Fever Resort Association, Topinabee, and the Western Hay Fever Association of the U.S., headquartered in Petoskey; General Philip H. Sheridan 's warhorse Rienzi; St. Mary's Falls Ship Canal Company and its subsidiary units, the Canal Mineral Land Company and the Michigan Pine Land Association; and Windmills in Detroit. Also included is a draft of a book by Graydon M. Meints on lumber baron David Ward that Barnett reviewed. The major topics found in 2021 Addition, Boxes 63-75, include: American Tract Society, Bloomers, Colporteur, Graphite Mining in Michigan, Medical Quacks, Michigan Iron and Land Company, Samuel Geil Maps of Michigan, and Whipping (Military corporal punishment). The 2022 Addition, Boxes 76-79, includes the major topics of Vigilance Committees against German Americans during World War I and Ski Trains. Other topics include: Buffalo Bill Train Accident, Carbon Works in Detroit, Detroit’s Streetlight Towers, Grand Duke Alexis A Romanov Visits Detroit, ‘Hello Girls’ [U.S. Army Signal Corps, World War I], Lindbergh in Michigan, Michigan World War II Veterans Bonus, Wetzel (Antrim County, MI, village), Bomb Mackinaw (which were 1925 practice maneuver plans to prevent enemies from crossing into the straits by dropping bombs from airplanes), and Crawfish. The collection is ongoing.

Processing Note: Abbreviations used by Barnett on folder labels were used and copied by Clarke processors exactly. Acidic materials were copied in 2014.