Morley Brothers (firm: Saginaw, Mich.) Papers, 1833, 2009, undated
6.5 cubic ft. (in 13 boxes, 3 Oversized volumes)
The collection was process by different groups of student processors over years. Series 1 Papers, 1833, 1976, undated, 3.5 cubic ft. (in 7 boxes, 2 Ov. v.); Series 2 Papers, 1833, 2009, undated, 6.5 cubic ft. (in 13 boxes, 3 Ov. v.).
Series 2 includes materials mostly in English, but some are in German or Russian, which is noted in the Box and Folder Listing.
In Series 2 notable correspondence includes Rep. J.W. Fordney, Governor Chase S. Osborn, President Herbert Hoover and letters and Christmas cards to and from World War II servicemen. Material also covers Reuben Hitchcock Morley’s murder in China, the city of Saginaw, various institutions within the city and other companies owned by Morley relatives in the United States. Newspaper clippings (copies) include articles related to Saginaw, the Morley Brothers, the fire of 1934 and the Morley Family.
There are photographs in Series 2 Box 4 of the Morley Brothers at DuMont Television, an early manufacturer of televisions.
Personal Correspondence of various family members is found in Series 2 Boxes 5-10. Of note here are charming, homemade notes to Santa created by children Abigail, Charles, Mary and Paul Morley, Jr., undated. The notes are handwritten or printed, signed, on red cardboard and decorated with drawings and stickers.
Series 2 Box 6 includes correspondence between Paul Morley and the British Embassy, 1916.
Series 2 Box 8 includes correspondence from between P.F.H. Morley and the editor of the Horseless Age, the “first Motor Vehicle Journal in the English language.” Correspondence notes that Morley had troubles with his gasoline engine and inquired about a fuel source called “energine”. In Box 8 there is also correspondence between Paul Morley recommending possible donors to support The National Home Finding Society for Colored Children (copies, originals), 1916. Correspondence in Box 8 about the New York Times is about the purchase of a subscription for Fred Ecton and complaints about a late paper.
Series 2 Box 11 includes materials of the Menominee Hardware Company which was either owned or co-owned by the Morleys. Box 11 also includes correspondence between the Morley Brothers and the U.S. War Department, 1919, noting how they are trying to hire veterans, and War Department requests for Morley to complete a questionnaire re: company war efforts. It appears that they supplied war products.
Series 2 Box 12 includes Morley Brothers Patents, 1886-1956. Several of these patents were purchased by the Morleys, while the rest of the folders concerns trademarks.
Series 2 includes one Oversized Folder with a Goodridge Bros. photograph of a house with four children, a man and a horse. The photographers, notable African-Americans, are identified on the back of the image.
Series 2 Processing Note: During processing approximately 5 cubic feet of materials, mostly duplicates or materials which were copied and the copies retained, were withdrawn from the collection. In addition, approximately 2 cubic feet of general Saginaw history materials, general Michigan photographs and postcards were added to the Michigan vertical files, Michigan photographs or Michigan postcards collections in the Clarke. Published materials of a substantial nature in both series were separately cataloged.