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An orthopedic surgeon in the United States Army, author, inventor, and University of Michigan alumnus (B.S. and M.D. 1899). Corbusier served in the China Relief Expedition, the Philippines Campaign, the Mexican Border War, and World War I. The collection contains biographical information, correspondence, writings by Corbusier, collected articles and clippings, photographs and glass plate lantern slides, loose scrapbook materials, and a photo album. Materials document Corbusier's experiences during the China Relief Expedition, the Mexican Border War, the Philippines Campaign, and World War I. The collection also contains a small amount of materials focusing on his time as a student at the University of Michigan, as well as to his medical and military careers.

The papers of Harold Dunbar Corbusier include a range of materials focusing on his medical and military career with the United States Army Medical Corps and the Medical Department of the U.S. Army Reserves between 1900 and ca. 1945.

The Biographical series included his biography, a diary reflecting on his childhood experiences at Fort Mackinac in Michigan, a typed manuscript highlighting his experiences during the Boxer Rebellion in China. Also included here are his professional publications and collected articles, event programs and invitations.

The Correspondence series primarily includes letters to his then fiancé Louise Shepard, as well as letters from military and governmental departments, hospitals, and other military and medical associations. images The Visual Materials series includes glass plate slides and a photo album with images of Chinese landmarks and troops from the eight nations fighting against the Boxers. Also included are photographs mostly focusing on the China and Philippines campaigns, and loose scrapbook materials (mostly clippings) focusing on China and Asia in general.

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 made up of correspondence related to Stephen M. Klima and his wife, Mary Samut Klima. Stephen Klima reported on his experiences with the United States Army's 16th Infantry Regiment at various camps in the United States and in North Africa. Mary Klima continued to write letters to her husband after he was reported killed in action in April 1943, and many items pertain to her bereavement and widow's allowances.

This collection is made up of the World War II-era correspondence of Stephen M. Klima and his wife, Mary Samut Klima. Stephen Klima reported on his experiences with the United States Army's 16th Infantry Regiment at camps in the United States and in North Africa. Mary Klima continued to write letters to her husband after he was reported killed in action in April 1943, and many items pertain to her bereavement and widow's allowances.

The Personal Correspondence series (approximately 1.75 linear feet) comprises the bulk of the collection. The majority is personal letters to and between Mary Samut and Stephen Klima (January 26, 1939-January 7, 1952). Items include manuscript and typed letters, telegrams, V-mail, and picture postcards.

The earliest letters are incoming correspondence to Mary Samut from several acquaintances and, after July 1940, from Stephen Klima, her friend, fiancé, and husband. He wrote about his work with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Nevada, Idaho, and Oregon until January 1941, when he enlisted in the United States Army. Klima, who served with Company F of the 16th Infantry Regiment for his entire military career, described his experiences at Fort Wadsworth, New York; Fort Devens, Massachusetts; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Camp Blanding, Florida; Fort Benning, Georgia; Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania; and in England and North Africa. He commented on their romantic relationship, his feelings about being separated from his wife and young son, training and military life, travel, and local people (particularly in England). He repeatedly encouraged Mary not to worry about him. His final letter is dated March 15, 1943; he was reported missing in action a short time later.

From March 3, 1943-February 12, 1944, Mary Klima continued to write to her husband. Though she acknowledged that he had been formally reported dead, she believed that he would one day receive her letters and write back. She provided updates about their son, discussed her religious and social activities, and shared her hope for her husband's return. The envelopes from this period have stamps from military post offices indicating that Klima had been reported as killed in action.

Mary Samut Klima received letters from friends and family members throughout and after the war. Joan O'Hara (later Nelson), one of Mary's most frequent and consistent correspondents, wrote about her life in New York, California, and Pennsylvania. Her letters from the late 1940s and early 1950s largely pertain to her family life and her daughter Linda. Klima's other correspondents included military personnel, such as John C. Kulman (Company G, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines), Michael Desko (Company B, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment), and Donald J. Crocker (Naval Air Technical Training Center, Chicago, Illinois). These men reported on their experiences in the military and usually signed their letters affectionately; Desko wished her luck in her romantic endeavors. Mary's brother Edward ("Eddie") wrote about his training with Company B of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (82nd Airborne Division) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in 1946. Enclosures include photographs and a matchbook (July 26, 1944).

The Military Correspondence series (approximately 0.25 linear feet) consists of typed and manuscript letters that Mary Klima received from organizations including the United States War Department, United States Army Finance Office, American Red Cross, American Legion, and Army Relief Society. Many items are responses to Mary's repeated requests for information about her husband, who was reported missing in action in late March 1943 and killed in action in April 1943. Other materials concern her pension and her husband's medals.

The Ephemera and Printed Items series (approximately 0.25 linear feet) is primarily comprised of greeting cards for Christmas, Easter, birthdays, and other occasions. Other items include a newspaper clipping with a humorous essay about World War I army service, Mary's manuscript notes begging for censors to let it pass through the mail, an advertisement and order form for a history of the United States Army's 1st Division, and a humorous permit allowing Stephen Klima to associate freely with both men and women.

This collection is made up of correspondence and documents related to the Southwest Territory and Mississippi Territory. The materials concern subjects such as governance and law, militia units, property ownership and finance, slavery, and Native American tribes. The collection includes post-statehood letters by Andrew Jackson and other prominent politicians and military figures.

This collection is made up of correspondence and documents related to the Southwest Territory and Mississippi Territory. The materials concern subjects such as governance and law, militia units, property ownership and finance, slavery, and Native American tribes. The collection includes post-statehood letters by Andrew Jackson and other prominent politicians and military figures. See the Detailed Box and Folder Listing for information about each item in the collection.