Search

Governing body of the Episcopal church in western Michigan, established in 1874; records include bishops' files, diocesan organization and committee files, photographs, scrapbooks, diocesan historian files.

The records of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan are a rich resource of material, not only for the programs and activities of the Episcopal Church in western Michigan, but also for their documentation of the role of the church in the life of the various communities served by the diocese.

Records from the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan first came to the Bentley Historical Library in 1972. Since then, the diocese has made several significant additions to their records. In 1999 the record group was reprocessed with the aim of drawing together like materials. The record group now consists of twenty-two separate series. These are: Bishop's Files, Chancellor, Treasurer, Diocesan Historiographer, Standing Committee Files, Miscellaneous Files, Diocesan Record Books, Publicity Files, Defunct Parish and Mission Churches Files, Diocesan Committee Files, Diocesan Organization Files, Diocesan Financial Records, Visual Materials, Sound Recordings, Scrapbooks, Western Michigan University (WMU) Ministry Files, Women's Organizations, Miscellaneous office and staff files Bulletins of Church Services, Church of Christ the King, Miscellaneous parish materials, and Miscellaneous diocesan materials.

Founder and president of the Starr Commonwealth for Boys in Albion, Michigan. The scrapbooks contain clippings, articles, and other printed matter relating to the work of Starr Commonwealth and the activities of its boys. There are also scattered original photographs.

The Floyd Starr scrapbooks were microfilmed in 1978 with the permission of Starr Commonwealth for Boys (SCB). After filming was completed the books were returned to Starr Commonwealth. The scrapbooks were microfilmed selectively, approximately ninety-five percent of the original material finding its way into this microfilm edition.

The scrapbooks were divided into three series for filming. The first series -- Floyd Starr Scrapbooks - consisted of twelve books containing material created between 1933 and 1963, as well as one additional book of fundraising material dated from 1958 to 1970. Arranged chronologically, this series was created as a conscious attempt to preserve the history of SCB, and the people associated with it. It ranges broadly in subject and type of material. The school itself, Floyd Starr personally, former students, staff members, benefactors, and even persons who at one time spent a few days at SCB are all subjects for inclusion. Newspaper clippings are the most common type of material found, but mimeographed material, photographs, manuscript items and even autographs all have found their way into these volumes.

A second series consists almost exclusively of newspaper articles written about Starr Commonwealth by Myrtle B. Brown, covering the years 1948 to 1962. Brown, in charge of the school's public relations department, was responsible for writing a weekly column for the Albion Evening Recorder describing activities at SCB.

Within the miscellaneous scrapbooks series, there is a volume created for the school's 35th anniversary in 1948. The other two volumes, covering the years 1947 to 1955, seem to have been maintained by the school's Women's Auxiliary. The group's function was fundraising, primarily by means of benefit fashion shows. Most of the material contained in these two books duplicates information found in the Floyd Starr series.

The collection also includes a few original items, mainly scattered photographs of Starr alone or with some of the Starr Commonwealth boys. There is also a mounted time-line of Starr Commonwealth history located in the Starr Room of the Bentley Historical Library.

Organization dedicated to outreach, education, and intervention for troubled youth located in Albion, Michigan. The collection includes materials related to Floyd Starr, Foundtaion's administrative and development records, historic and promotional photographs, analog and digital audio-visual recordings, marketing materials, as well as publications.

The Starr Commonwealth Records collection contains 150.4 linear feet (157 boxes), 1.65 GB, and 52 oversize boxes of the records from the main administrative office of the Starr Commonwealth organization. It also includes historical records from the Starr Commonwealth School for Boys and records from the organization's branch facilities located across Michigan and Ohio. The collection also contains a substantial amount of material related to Floyd Starr, the founder and first president of the organization. Materials include correspondence, records, publications, videocassettes, audiocassettes, digital files, photographs, scrapbooks. The collection highlights the life and work of Floyd Starr, the administrative work of Starr Commonwealth, and the impact of the organization on local communities in Michigan and Ohio.

The Starr Commonwealth records have been organized into seven series: the Floyd Starr series, the Visitors series, the Administrative records series, the Marketing records series, the Development records series, the Publications series, and the Visual materials and Artifacts series.

The Floyd Starr series contains correspondence, papers and audiovisual materials about the life of Starr Commonwealth's founder.

The Visitors series contains correspondence, speech transcripts, photographs, and clippings from the visits of influential individuals to Starr Commonwealth. The series highlights materials from the trips of George Washington Carver and Helen Keller to Starr Commonwealth to visit with the students and deliver inspiring speeches.

The Administrative records series contains records, notes, correspondence, clippings, audiovisual materials and photographs from the central administrative offices of Starr Commonwealth. The series also includes materials from the Starr Commonwealth Public Relations department and the Chapel-in-the-Woods religious facility on the Albion campus.

The Marketing records series contains records, photographs and audiovisual materials that illustrate publicity projects and strategies for the organization.

The Development records series contains records, publications, and photographs from fundraising and donor activities. These records highlight some of Starr Commonwealth's major fundraising strategies and activities.

The Publications series contains published materials produced by Starr's Albion, Van Wert and Columbus campuses. Publications include annual reports, student and faculty newsletters, student handbooks, and scholarly publications from Starr Commonwealth leadership.

The Visual Materials and Artifacts series contains a collection of scrapbooks, photographs, photograph albums, and slides. It also contains materials and artifacts from Bruecker Museum on the Albion campus. These materials provide a visual representation of the students, faculty, buildings and major events at Starr Commonwealth throughout its history.