Search Constraints
Start Over You searched for: Repository Archives of Michigan Remove constraint Repository: Archives of MichiganSearch Results
Barnett Roads Collection, 1808-2006
14 cubic feet
This collection represents materials gathered by Leroy Barnett for his book, A Drive Down Memory Lane: The Named State and Federal highways of Michigan, published by Priscilla Press in 2004. The documents included in this accession were mainly derived from statute books, legislative journals, government records, transportation periodicals, newspapers, and period cartographic materials.
The contents of each folder include brief histories for each trunk line that bears a name and number. These histories formed the basis of A Drive Down Memory Lane. A very small part of the information contained in this collection was not used in the book, as the material related to highways that ultimately did not fall within the purview of the study.
Battle Creek Collection, 1860-1950
1 Slim Mss Box (0.5 cubic foot)
This collection consists of photographic prints and negatives, dating ca. 1860 to 1950. The collection of photographs was gathered together for a publication on the history of Battle Creek in photographs, produced as part of a series sponsored by Great Lakes Federal Savings. The photographs cover a wide variety of topics pertaining to the Battle Creek area. These topics include street scenes and buildings of various types around town, social activities, people and lake scenes. Also included are images of some of the more famous institutions and businesses in the area: the Battle Creek Sanitarium, the Kellogg Company and the Postum Company. The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject.
Bush Family Collection, 1835-1933
1.25 Cubic Feet
The collection represents three generations of the Bush family in Michigan. The arrangement reflects this, as it moves from the oldest generation to the youngest.
The first folder provides genealogical information on the Bush and Willard families (The Willard family was the family of Cynthia Melissa Willard Bush.). There are also two clippings from the Battle Creek newspaper containing biographical information on Sumner Orlando Bush and his son, Charles Sumner Bush. The next folders contain letters of Frederick Eli and Cynthia Melissa (Willard) Bush. This includes correspondence with the Bush sons, Bush family members, Willard family members, and friends.
Materials documenting Frederick Willard, Edwin Alvarez, Henry Eli, and Sumner Orlando follow the letters of the Bush parents (Frederick and Cynthia). The bulk of these are correspondence. The letters are grouped in folders according to recipient and arranged in order from the eldest son (Frederick Willard) to the youngest (Sumner). A tintype of Frederick Willard Bush (1858) is also included, (Box 2, Folder 1). The collection then moves to the next generation. Papers of Charles Sumner Bush, son of Sumner, are present toward the end.
Common subjects include family news (e.g., births, deaths, marriages, new jobs, college graduations), business and financial concerns (e.g., mortgages, family farms, insurance, possible career paths), current events (e.g., elections, slavery, the Civil War), health, the weather, and crop conditions. There are also reflections on spiritual concerns and on living life as a Christian.
The collection includes letters that the Bush sons and several others wrote while attending college. Frederick Willard, Henry and Sumner Bush all attended Olivet College and wrote of their experiences there. Willard also attended Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. The brothers received letters from friends and relatives in other colleges. The collection also contains a folder of letters to Frederick and Cynthia Bush from an Olivet College student identified as “Amanda.” (The precise nature of Amanda’s relationship to the Bushes is unclear. The letters do indicate that the family partially funded her scholarship to Olivet.) The college letters describe student life (e.g., classes, rooming conditions, and teachers).
The materials of four soldiers might be of interest to military researchers. Frederick and Samuel Willard (brothers to Cynthia Melissa Willard Bush) and Edwin Bush served in the Civil War, while Charles Sumner Bush served in World War I.
Frederick Willard was stationed in Louisiana during the Civil War. In his letters, he describes troop movements and morale and relates some general thoughts on the war (He describes Copperheads as “traitors” and writes of “defending our beloved country from slavery, disunion and tyranny.”). He also discusses the local environments, and in one letter (February 10, 1864), he describes the affects of the war on Louisiana. There are also two pre-War letters from Frederick. One is dated 1841 and the other is dated 1859. In the 1841 letter, he discusses a recent move and reflects on the recent death of President William Henry Harrison. In the 1859 letter, he reflects on the death of his sister, Lucena.
Samuel Willard enlisted sometime in 1862. He saw action at Gettysburg in July 1863. Afterward, he suffered poor health and seems to have been hospitalized for the remainder of the war. He stayed in hospitals in Annapolis, Maryland; Louisville, Kentucky; and Madison, Indiana. In his letters, Samuel relates war news (the 1864 surrender of Fort Sumter, for example), and discusses troop movements and morale. He often comments on the hospitals in which he stayed. In one letter (July 30, 1863), he describes his experience at the Battle of Gettysburg. In another (October 30, 1863), he mentions a funeral for Confederate prisoners. There is also one post-War letter, dated 1867. In it, Samuel describes the weather and discusses some family news.
Edwin Bush enlisted in Company E, 17th Michigan Infantry on August 12, 1862. He saw action at Antietam and at Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky. His unit returned east in 1864. Edwin was shot during the siege of Petersburg, Virginia and died of his wounds on June 18, 1864. In his letters, Edwin describes marches, guard duty, troop morale, the food and various aspects of Army life. He comments on battles and on other troops and some officers (including Generals McClellan and Burnside). He mentions war news and other current events (e.g., Congressional elections).
Charles Sumner Bush, son of Sumner Orlando and Vernellie Daley Bush, was a World War I veteran. Bush, who enlisted at Camp Custer on November 26, 1917, served in the Motor Transport Corps 373, and was promoted to sergeant within a few weeks of enlisting (December 3, 1917). In April, he was transferred to the American Mission Reserve Mallet, American Expeditionary Force. He served overseas in France from February 27, 1918 to June 19, 1919. Bush mustered out of the service on June 25, 1919. His papers contain a black and white photograph of Mrs. Sarah (Rector) Hyslop, whom Charles Sumner married in 1923. The diary, kept by Charles Sumner Bush in 1918, documents his battlefield experiences in France, soldier camps, traveling in Army truck convoys, the weather and terrain, local reaction to American troops, and the Spanish flu epidemic. Also included is a copy of Special Orders No. 50 dating December 3, 1918. This order is signed by Frank O. Robinson, 1st Lt., MTC, USA, Comdg” and lists battles in which Robinson’s unit engaged. While individual names are not listed in the order, it appears that Bush engaged in the 1918 battles outlined by Lieutenant Robinson (e.g., Second Battle of the Somme, Second Battle of the Marne, Third Battle of the Somme, etc.)
The collection ends with a folder of ephemera and a computer disk. The ephemera date from the 19th century and include leaflets and some unidentified handwritten financial information. The disk contains electronic copies of seven transcriptions of letters in this collection. (Printed copies of these transcriptions are filed in the collection with their respective original letters.)
Christian and Frederick Bush collection, 1863, 1893.
2 folders (.2 cubic foot)
This collection consists of original correspondence, typed transcriptions of that correspondence, and a compact disk of digitally scanned images of the same correspondence.
The letters date 1863, except for one, which dates 1898. C.L. Leach wrote the 1898 letter to George Bush, and in it Leach notes that he is married and lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Leach mentions people that he and George both know and asks George to write with any news.
Frederick wrote some of the 1863 letters, and Christian, Jr. wrote the others. They’re all addressed to their father, Christian, Sr., and their brother, George. The brothers reflect on the war and describe their experiences. They reveal a disdain for both abolitionists and African Americans and seem to regard the abolitionists as a main cause of the war. The brothers describe some of their combat experiences. Gettysburg is among the battles described by Frederick. (Christian was apparently in the hospital at the time.) The brothers provide opinions about other enlisted men and officers, and on the progress of the war. They seemed to often feel that generals were too slow to attack. The brothers sometimes commented on medical care, their health and the weather, and expressed longings to return home.
David Caterino Collection, 1906-1986
10 cubic feet
Record group RG 98-106 consists of a variety of materials relating to Michigan Governor Kim Sigler (1944-1953), Justice Leland W. Carr and family (1906-1979) and Letha and Howard W. Sober (ca. 1918-1986). Included are photographs, correspondence, and other ephemera. For more details, see each series description.
Family Memorabilia, 1845-1982
Mary Pennington and her family were very interested in their family history. This series includes various materials that document multiple generations, such as diaries, ledger books, and legal records. The diaries in this collection span the mid-nineteenth century through the early 1980s. The early diaries describe daily chores on the family farm, weather conditions, and events such as lectures and town outings. Later ones also describe daily life, but in addition, include logs of college life, vacations and “I Am” activities. Personal items of the family such as poems, drawings, clippings, and publications are in this series as well. Also included are genealogical notes and charts compiled by Mary Pennington
Glen Allen Papers, 1885, 1889, 1900-2010 (majority within 1928-2001)
25.25 linear feet
Glenn Allen Papers, 1959-1973
14 manuscript boxes, 1 slim mss. box (7.25 cubic feet)
These records document the career of Glenn S. Allen, beginning with his work as a delegate to the Michigan Constitutional Convention (1961-1962), through his service as budget director to Michigan Governor George Romney (1963-1968) and legal advisor to Governor William Milliken (1970-1974). The majority of the documentation is financial, and includes correspondence, reports, and budget analyses.
Governor Kim Sigler Materials
The bulk of the materials in this series deal with the years after Sigler was Governor of Michigan (post 1948). Much of the correspondence reflects how many business and personal activities Sigler engaged in. Piloting his own plane, he was very mobile. He was a featured speaker for many clubs and organizations. These letters reflect how much business was mixed with pleasure for gentlemen of his social and economic status. There is documentation describing flying trips to North and Central America. On a more personal note, his wife had multiple sclerosis and there is material showing his research into this topic. The newspaper clippings document Sigler’s gubernatorial campaign and his time in office (1946-1948). Photographs in this series are both personal and political.
J. William Gorski Collection, 1909, 1920, 1954-55, 1964, 1972-2002 (majority within 1972-2001)
24 manuscript boxes and 1 oversize folder (12 cubic feet)
The J. William Gorski Collection documents Polish communities and Polish Catholics in Michigan and Ontario. Materials include photographs, slides, church bulletins, publications, some correspondence and newspaper clippings. The collection contains a number of photographs of Detroit and Hamtramck. Most of the churches documented are Roman Catholic or Polish National Catholic Churches. In addition to slides and photographs, Gorski also scanned most of the visual material documenting Wayne County and the 1907 Polish Business Directory of Detroit. These disks are part of the collection. The collection is arranged into 2 series: Subject Files (Michigan and Ontario), 1909-2001 and Publications, 1984-2001.
The collection includes reproductions of older materials. In such cases, the date of the reproduction – rather than the date of the original – is used.
Lansing City Assessor Cards, 1937-c1995
99 Manuscript Boxes (.5)
RG 2007-18 contains assessor cards prepared by the Lansing City Assessor. They span 1937 to the early 1990s. Each card includes the owner’s name, street address, land sketch, total valuation by year, building dimensions, building appraisal, building description, building sketch, and building permits. They are arranged alphabetically by subdivision name and lot number.
Lizzie Dravenstatt Papers, 1870-1928 (majority within 1897-1928)
.5 cubic feet
The diaries (Series 1) begin in 1870 when Lizzie was 14 years old. After 1871, there is a gap in the diaries until 1897, when she again wrote about her daily activities. The diaries chronicle daily life in a rural society. She details the chores done each day, such as cooking, cleaning, and sewing. Dravenstatt also tells of the routines of her husband and son concerning the farming activities. Her dedication to her family and friends is evident in the frequent visits with them and her dedication to attending weddings and funerals. The church was also a major topic in the diaries; a large amount of Dravenstatt’s social activities involved the Eagle Methodist Church.
Dravenstatt additionally tells of new events in her time. She bought and used her first stove December 31, 1904. The family’s first automobile was bought May 6, 1910.
Not only does Dravenstatt discuss her own personal activities, but also events that affected her society. She frequently attended Temperance meetings and tells of measles and flu outbreaks in her local communities. Of particular interest are the entries that detail the coming of a Medicine Show (July 28, 1901) and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show (June 11, 1902 and August 7, 1908).
The account books (Series 2) detail the purchases of the Dravenstatt family. In many of the earlier diaries, they are included in the back rather than being in a separate volume. Dravenstatt wrote down nearly everything she bought, from insurance to ice cream. A transcribed copy of the ledgers (Series 4), done by Patricia Sanford Brown, is included in the collection.
The Autograph book (Series 3) belonged to Lizzie Dravenstatt’s son, Roy Dravenstatt. The book includes signatures and poems by local friends and family.
Mary Pennington Collection, 1845-2001 (majority within 1864-1964)
40 cubic feet. Boxed material: 29 mss; 6 slim mss; 8 oversize; 3 shoe; 1 HOL box. Non-boxed material: one framed portrait
Pearl Sarno Collection, 1856-2005 (majority within 1870-1995)
17 mss boxes and 5 oversize folders (10 cubic feet)
Pearl Sarno Personal Papers, 1904-2002
This series documents the history of Covert and Van Buren County, Michigan and the activities of the Sarno – Hendricks family. Most of the photographs are not dated. These depict Covert student groups and clearly document the racially integrated makeup of the classrooms. Box 17 includes panoramic and rolled photographs of Covert school students for the years 1927-1935. Other photographs include portraits of unidentified individuals and depictions of Covert houses and Bale’s peach orchard. Photographs depicting Hendricks family members and the Van Buren County Historical Society Museum are filed within this series.
Most postcards depict scenes of Covert and other Southwest Michigan towns. There are street scenes, a photo of a Benton Harbor farmer’s market and images of individual buildings, including post offices, schools, hospitals, banks and stores.
Pearl Sarno served on the Covert Bicentennial Committee and her collection reflects 1976 Bicentennial events: outdoor movies, parades, Chautauquas, exhibits and school essay contests, among others. A related folder documents the Covert Library Historical marker, which was placed by the Michigan History Division (Michigan Department of State) in 1976.
Sarno was also active in the Van Buren County Historical Society. Historical Society materials (1965-1992) include a copy its constitution, meeting minutes, correspondence, membership lists, grant applications, newspaper clippings and news bulletins. The items provide information on local history and document Society activities: elections, building preservation and restoration projects, museum operations and events such as picnics and yard sales. The photographs depict Society buildings and exhibits.
The “Hendricks Family” file (1904-1905) contains family documents of Pearl Hendricks Sarno. These include postcards and other correspondence, a motor vehicle certificate, business cards, cradle roll certificates and floor plans for an unidentified building that appears to be a house or some other form of residence. Some photographs of individuals are not identified. The correspondence covers several topics, including deaths, family reunions and vacations.
The collection contains a couple unpublished Covert histories. An unknown author wrote one of these at an undetermined date. However, Pearl Sarno’s introduction to A Look at Covert’s Heritage (Pearl Sarno, Editor. Covert, Michigan: Covert Bicentennial Committee, 1976) references a 1952 unpublished history by Covert resident John R. Spelman. Spelman’s history would seem to be the unidentified one. The work discusses Covert businesses, Native Americans, railroads, early roads and some early residents. The second unpublished history is a copy of Anna-Lisa Cox’s 2002 thesis, submitted to the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Cox focuses on Covert’s history of racial integration. This research formed the basis of her 2006 book, A Stronger Kinship (New York: Little, Brown and Company).
The documentation includes seven highway maps and four plats. One of the highway maps is hand drawn on the back of a railroad bond and labeled “Highway Map of Deerfield Township,” (circa 1870s?). It provides some land ownership information. Three other highway maps depict a grid of the township. They are undated and also provide some land ownership information. Lastly, the series includes three highway maps dating from the last half the Twentieth Century, a photocopy of a land ownership plat (1873), a 1963 land ownership plat and two undated hand-drawn plats that show some land owner names, but are not complete.
Records of Department of Treasury: Property Tax Division, 1936-1942; 1954-1957
223 ft., 8 in.
Series 1 of record group RG 72-76 consists of the rural property inventories from the State Department of Treasury, Property Tax Division, for the state of Michigan for the years ca. 1936-1942 as established by the State Tax Commission in cooperation with the Works Progress Administration. 8 1/2 x 10 1/4 inch data cards contain information describing the land; buildings; fences; crops; woodlands; means of communication; sources of heat and light; number of school districts; legal land descriptions; village or township location; name and address of person assessed; and amount of acreage within certain classifications. Sketches of houses and general land areas are included. Valuations placed by the Board of Review are occasionally included. Records are arranged alphabetically by name of township, then numerically by section number. Not complete for all counties included.
Series 2 of record group RG 72-76 consists of records of analysis of equalized valuations from the State Department of Treasury, Property Tax Division, for the state of Michigan for the years 1954-1957. The records offer a variety of information relating to the assessment and valuation of personal and real property in the state of Michigan, and are grouped into several categories: statistical analysis (STC 3); appraisal record card (STC 2); appraisal record card for commercial properties (STC 11); acreage (STC 13); real and personal property statement (no form number); and farm personal inventory (no form number). Records relate to cities and villages as well as rural areas. Records are arranged alphabetically by name of county and township, city, village or assessment district.
Records of the Michigan Military Establishment, 1838-1920
352 cubic ft., 11 inches; 242 Volume; 273 prints, 47 microfilm reels
RG 59-14 contains documents and records relating to the Michigan Military Establishment and the Adjutant General's Office. Specifically, this collection includes: service records (descriptive rolls, regimental service records, officer records, enlistment records, and health records), post-service records of former soldiers, reports, minutes of various organizations related to the Michigan Military Establishment, correspondence, general and special orders, educational material, publications, and photographs.
Series 1: Rural Property Inventory, c1936-1942
Unbound cars identified as form number 31A, Michigan State Tax Commission, W.P.A. Project S-110. Describes land, buildings, fences, crops, wood and forest timber, means of communication, and head and light. Arranged alphabetically by name of township, then numerically by section number. No index. Not complete for all counties included.
Offers year of inventory; number of school district; legal description; code; name of village, township, and county wherein located; name and post office address of individual assessed; together with amount of acreage within certain classifications. Classifications are: "A" Agricultural; "B" Special Agricultural; "C" Swamp; "D" Commercial Orchard, Vineyards, and Berries; "E" Forest and Timber Area, Farm Woodlot and Cut-Over; and "Other" sugar bush, road, marsh, lake, waste, and recreational.
Sketches of house and general land area are included. Building description includes type; year built or remodeled; dimensions in linear and cubic feet; condition and type of foundation, exterior roof, floor and utilities. Remarks may refer to stanchions and fixtures. Buildings of lesser importance such as cribs, poultry houses, garages, fruit storage and the like are described by brief narrative. Farm fences are described by kind and condition of fence posts. The "Woodlot and Forest Timber Tally" offers type, board feet, cord, stem cut, and density. V
Series 1: Service Records, 1838-1920
This series includes service records of the various parts of the Michigan Military Establishment spanning from 1838 to 1920. They are divided into five subseries: Descriptive Records, Service Records, Officer Records, Enlistment Records, and Health Records. Note that these records not only document Michigan soldier's involvement in American conflicts such as the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War I, but also include service during times of peace as well.
Subject Files, 1885, 1922-2001, 2010
Some of the earliest items document Allen’s high school years at Western State High School. This charter school was operated by Western State Normal School. Western State Normal School later became Western Michigan University, and the high school was renamed University High School. Western State High School materials include several folders of course notes and essays, grouped by pertinent course name, a 1930 student handbook and directory, a 1931 yearbook, a 1932 commencement program and a list of students from Allen’s graduating class of 1932. Some correspondence documents Allen’s search for an institution of higher learning. For at least one summer of his high school years, Allen attended the National High School Orchestra and Band Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. The Interlochen documentation includes correspondence with parents, camp report card, and publications.
In the 1930s, Allen attended Amherst College, Kalamazoo College and then Columbia Law School. Many of his activities for these years are documented in correspondence files. A separate Kalamazoo College file includes course transcripts, report cards, a brochure on the college, a brochure on the Sigma Rho Sigma fraternity (of which Allen was a member), a Sigma Rho Sigma dance card, a Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity membership card, a 1934 commencement program, a 1936 commencement invitation and lyrics of homecoming songs.
Allen’s World War II experiences are documented mainly through correspondence. Allen family members constitute most of the correspondents. In the letters, Allen provides detailed accounts of his wartime service. He describes his experiences in domestic army camps and in the European Theatre of Operations. He is often unable to provide specific information (such as his exact whereabouts or troop movements) due to wartime censorship. However, he does often comment at length on his general surroundings and his encounters with European civilians and other military personnel. He sometimes muses at length on the war’s progress and/or speculates on future events. During the war, Allen served as an assistant Judge Advocate to the Third Army’s 94th Division. He sometimes comments on his job duties, but usually not at length. Allen ran for a Kalamazoo city commissioner seat in 1945, when he was still stationed in Europe. Some contemporary materials allude to this situation.
Allen served as Kalamazoo mayor in the years 1951-1959. This series includes letters of congratulations on his 1951 election victory. A folder labeled “Mayor of Kalamazoo” includes a copy of Allen’s 1951 inaugural address, an undated “Statement Concerning City Plan for Township Sewage,” a 1955 paper entitled “The Problem of the Medically Indigent in Kalamazoo,” some statistics on the 1951 Kalamazoo city election, a schedule for the 1959 Kalamazoo Mall dedication and a letter (written in French) from the mayor of Ville de Chateaubriant, France.
From 1961 to 1973, Allen served as a Michigan constitutional convention (or “Con Con”) delegate, then as State Controller, State Budget Director and a legal advisor in Governor William G. Milliken’s administration (1969-1981). This series contains few documents from this period. Con Con materials include an immediate (1962) retrospective article by Allen, a convention handbook copy that contains Allen’s handwritten notes and some reunion and retrospective materials from later years. Files on “State Controller” and “State Budget Director” consist mainly of speeches and essays, with some financial information and a position description also included. The general correspondence files for these years document some of Allen’s personal activities
In 1973, Governor William Milliken appointed Allen to the Court of Appeals. His term began in 1974, and he remained in the Court of Appeals until his retirement in 1987. A Court of Appeals correspondence file contains letters on several topics. These include personnel matters, financial matters, professional conferences and speeches. In some letters, Allen discusses court cases and legal issues with fellow legal professionals and scholars. Other files in this series document Allen’s 1980 reelection campaign and 1983-1984 discussions on court redistricting legislation. The file labeled “Reports and Meeting Minutes” contains statistics on filings and dispositions.
The Albert Merritt Ewert Collection, 1890-1984 (majority within 1916-1961)
8 cubic feet
Description: The Albert Merritt Ewert Collection documents Ewert’s remarkable life. Materials span from the 1890’s to 1984.
Subject Files include correspondence, newsletters, artwork (paintings, sketches and artifacts), church bulletins, a scrapbook, journals, typed poems and story manuscripts, and original sheet music. Items are grouped into folders, with folder titles reflecting subject content. The folders are arranged into a general chronological order. (Ewert moved frequently for much of his life. One could often discern approximate dates for an item by identifying Ewert’s location at the time. The biographical sketch above may sometimes aid researchers in providing greater context.)
The collection begins with some biographical information. The biographical file contains correspondence regarding Ewert’s 1962 State of Wyoming delayed birth certificate application. Also present are a few general outlines of Ewert’s life and career, and notes from an oral history interview. Ewert’s granddaughter, Cathy Ewert (now Cathy Ewert Benson), conducted the interview with her grandfather in 1971.
Materials of undetermined date – mostly artwork, poems and stories by Ewert –appear toward the front of the collection. Artwork consists of pencil sketches and pastel drawings, most of which depict nature scenes. The stories are fiction and feature a naïve, well-meaning protagonist named "King Friend." King Friend encounters various individuals and attempts to befriend them, often experiencing negative consequences as a result. The stories, with their philosophical nature, provide some insight into Ewert’s worldview.
The collection contains some of Ewert’s original sheet music. Many songs are hymns, but Ewert also wrote secular-themed tunes such as "Arapahoe War Dance." Appendix I contains a complete list.
Ewert served as Michigan State Prison Chaplain in 1933-1934. Materials from that time include church bulletins, a copy of a sermon by Ewert, correspondence between Ewert and Governor William Comstock and copies of radio addresses that Ewert delivered from the prison. The manuscript of Ewert’s "Little Red Book" contains advice for inmates. A folder of correspondence documents reactions to a conference that Ewert held on April 5, 1934. Scholars, attorneys and corrections officials were invited to attend, and Ewert explained his theories on prison reform. (His plan contained some controversial elements, including the idea that judges shouldn't be allowed to set the lengths of sentences. For a description of his views, see the inmate newsletter The Spectator, which is included in this collection.)
Some items reflect inmates’ points of view. These include correspondence by inmates to Rev. Ewert (Ewert’s responses are sometimes included, as well.). The folder labeled "Progressive Club Meeting" contains inmate ideas on prison reform (Ewert talked to them at the Progressive Club Meeting and invited them to submit their views.). An issue of the inmate newsletter The Spectator features Ewert and his thoughts on the penal system.
The collection also contains inmate artwork. These include pencil sketches and a Mothers Day card created by inmates for Anna Mabel Beard Ewert. There is also a scrapbook that inmates created for Rev. Ewert. It documents much of Ewert’s life to that point. It is thus helpful for biographical information and also serves as a symbol of the inmates’ affection for their Chaplain. (NOTE: Prisoner-made artifacts can be found in Series 4.2. Photographs of Jackson Prison scenes can be found in Series 3.)
When Frank Murphy won the 1936 gubernatorial election, he formed a Study Commission on Administration of Prison and Parole. Ewert was among those appointed. The Commission was charged with planning a new corrections system for Michigan. Study Commission materials include correspondence, meeting minutes and reports. The items address issues such as administrative organization, needed personnel, needed legislation and likely expenses.
A related folder contains a report of the Subcommittee of the Committee on Prison, Parole and Probation (Ewert served on this Subcommittee.) The report provides detailed cost estimates for a state probation system. It also contains statistical data on probationers and corrections professionals, including probation officers, county welfare agents and circuit judges.
In 1937, Governor Murphy established the Michigan Department of Corrections. He appointed Ewert Deputy Assistant Director of Probation. In 1949, Ewert was promoted Director of Probation, and he held this position until his retirement in 1952. Correspondence, reports, newsletters, newspaper clippings and publications represent Ewert’s years with the Department of Corrections. "Work journals" document his daily activities, as he routinely noted appointments and travel destinations. A 1938 Department booklet provides a history of the then-new Department of Corrections and of corrections practices in Michigan. Ewert retired in 1951 and died in 1984. His post-retirement days are documented largely through correspondence and newspaper clippings. A 1958 guest register contains signatures from Albert and Mabel Ewert’s fiftieth wedding anniversary celebrations. Obituaries and condolence letters document the 1961 death of Anna Mabel Beard. A 1981 letter from Michigan Governor William Milliken congratulates Ewert on his 95th birthday. A copy of a death certificate, condolence letters, newspaper obituaries and a memoir by Ewert’s grandson, David, document Ewert’s death in 1984.
A second subseries consists of materials of Anna Mabel Beard Ewert and her daughter, Kathleen Ewert Lourim. Anna Mabel Beard Ewert’s journals date from 1943-1946, 1953-1954, 1956 and 1960-1961. The 1943-1946 journals contain the most detailed entries, with Mabel often noting the weather conditions and commenting on daily activities. Later volumes primarily contain calendars and note appointments. Occasionally, loose correspondence was filed with the journals. This correspondence remains, in order to preserve the context. Most of it concerns rentals of the Ewert’s vacation cabins. However, there are also two 1954 letters from William Lourim, the Ewert’s son-in-law. Lourim comments on weather conditions and on recent family activities.
Items of Kathleen Ewert Lourim all pertain to Lourim’s work environment. She was employed in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources from 1943 to 1969. A scrapbook consists almost completely of photographs – all depicting scenes and individuals from the Department. Also present are a photocopy of Lourim’s 1943 Employee Information form, a 1966 article and photograph of the DNR softball team, and letters congratulating Lourim on her 1969 retirement. Finally, there is an n.d. cartoon by DNR cartoonist Ozz Warbach. The cartoon features a likeness of Lourim and depicts her working at her desk. Books Owned by the Ewert Family include Bibles, prayer books and other religious publications. A few secular works include a book of poetry, a joke book (titled Best of the World’s Good Stories) and a book entitled Choice Readings, which contains random essays and speeches selected to improve one’s skills in elocution. Some books are signed by the owner and dated. Occasionally, an additional note appears, often explaining how the owner acquired the book or how the book was used. Books are filed in individual folders and arranged chronologically by signature date, when such a date exists. When not, the publication or copyright date is used instead.
Photographs span the years 1890-1984. These are grouped into folders according to subject and arranged in roughly chronological order. Folders consisting only of n.d. photos are filed at the front of the series. There are many portraits of Albert Merritt Ewert and photos depicting Ewert family members. Researchers may wish to consult the biographical sketch above when attempting to place items in context. When viewing Ewert family photos, it is also helpful to note that Albert and Anna Mabel Ewert’s daughter, Kathleen, was born in 1912 and their son, Quentin, was born in 1915. The approximate ages of the children can sometimes aid in estimating the date of a photo.
Besides the photos of Ewert and his family, the series also contains images of Michigan prisons, inmates and Corrections officials (including prison wardens). One folder contains photos dating from 1933-1934, when Ewert served as Chaplain at Michigan State Prison in Jackson. These photos depict Ewert’s office and staff, the Prison library and a memorial service. There are also signed portraits of inmates, including a portrait of a prison musical band. Other prison photos likely date from about 1938, when the Department of Corrections was formed. Some were published in a 1938 booklet by the then-new Department (A copy of this booklet appears with the photos in Box 11, Folder 4.). Prison photos depict inmates in cells, at work in prison factories and in inmate softball teams. There are also photos of Prison administrative buildings. Finally, one folder depicts Ewert and co-workers in a Department of Corrections office at various points during Ewert’s time with the Department.
Artifacts are divided into two subseries. The first consists of personal artifacts of Albert Merritt Ewert. Most of these are not dated, although some dates can be inferred. For example, Ewert’s Army belt likely dates from the 1920’s, when he served as a chaplain with the Michigan National Guard. Ewert’s Deputy Assistant Director of Probation badge likely dates from about 1938, when he first assumed that office.
The second subseries consists of artifacts made by prison inmates. These date from 1933-1934, when Ewert served as Chaplain of Michigan State Prison. Artifacts include book ends, a wooden box, a compass and a photo frame.
William Bandemer Papers, 1917-1919
2 slim manuscript boxes, .5 cubic feet
This collection spans the duration of William Bandemer’s participation in World War I. The papers are divided into two series: one comprising documents (mostly letters) and the other consisting of photographs taken during the war. Within each series, the material is arranged chronologically.
The correspondence begins with Bandemer’s letter informing his family of his enlistment in the Army. The first folder in the collection describes camp life, mostly concerning Fort Devens in Massachusetts. He illustrates everyday life at Fort Devens, including food, lodging, training exercises, and chores. Of particular interest are two letters: one telling of a measles outbreak and the other of a fire in the camp.
The second folder begins with Bandemer’s first letter from France. He describes the trip over from the United States. In the majority of the correspondence, he tells of daily life, such as living conditions and the weather. He also shares his impressions of shelling and the amount of action he saw in the war, including shelling and gassing attacks. The letters also describe his frustration with receiving few letters from his family because of mail delays and include his general reactions to family news. Near the end of the war, Bandemer details the surrender of Turkey (2 Nov 1918), liberated Italian prisoners (17 Nov 1918) and his reaction to German propaganda (10 Nov 1918).
After the war ended (November 11, 1918), Bandemer stayed in France until February 1919. These letters provide descriptions of post-World War I France, including descriptions of towns reduced to rubble. Of particular interest are two Christmas Cards designed specifically by his regiment (1 Dec 1918 and 8 Dec 1918). In other letter, he details his travels through France to reach a port for departure and his ensuing trip home.
William Bandemer did not write two letters in the collection. One informs him of his father’s death (7 Aug 1918). The other is from a family friend serving in WWI telling Bandemer’s mother of his visit with William (25 Jun 1918). They are integrated in the collection chronologically. The final folder in the collection is a loan request made by Bandemer after the war.
The photographs span all of Bandemer’s involvement in the war (1917-1919). Included are two portrait photographs of him, dated 1913 and 1920 respectively. Many of the photographs are difficult to date and identify, but estimates have been made. Because of this, the photographs were kept in original order in the hopes that researchers could piece it together themselves. Most of the pictures are from Camp Devens in Massachusetts and France. One folder includes pictures of Bandemer’s family in Saginaw, Michigan, taken during the war.
1.1 Descriptive Records, 1838-1911
Subseries 1.1 provides biographical information of the soldiers who served between 1838 and 1911. They are arranged by regiment, but the bulk of the records include a name index. Of particular interest is the descriptive roll of substitute service men (item 1.1.6) and deserters during the civil war (item 1.1.7)
Subject Files. Michigan – Outstate
The photographs and slides typically depict individuals, businesses and scenes from cemeteries and churches. Individuals include members of specific families and prominent people in Polish American communities. Cemetery scenes include depictions of tombstones. Photographs and slides relating to churches depict both the exterior and interior of the buildings and often include images of stained glass windows. In some cases, prints of photographs and pages from church anniversary books are present. Every attempt was made to preserve the original order of photographs and slides (Thus, slides may not necessarily be filed in alphabetical order.). Publications include area phonebooks and newsletters and journals relating to local history, genealogy and Polish Americans. One notable publication is The Eaglet. J. William Gorski served as Editor-in-Chief of this journal, published by the Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan. The journal featured articles on Polish genealogy, biography and local history. Specific Polish families, churches and communities were often examined. Issues of The Eaglet are filed with the church or town being documented.
1.1.1 Descriptive Rolls of Units Comprising Michigan Military Establishment, 1838-1911
Descriptive rolls to "Militia, "State Troops," and "National Guard." Show name, rank, date and place of enlistment, enlistment officer, term, date and place of muster, physical description, town, and county quota credit, and history.