Collections : [Central Michigan University Clarke Historical Library]

The collection includes meeting minutes, yearbooks, an interview, published materials, photographs, scrapbooks, and miscellaneous.

The Tau Chapter Papers include minutes of meetings; yearbooks; a tape-recorded interview with chapter founders, Helen Johnson and Ann-Louise Welch; and printed materials published by and relating to the state and international Delta Kappa Gamma organizations.

A 2014 addition to the collection, 1948-2002, and undated, 1 cubic foot (Boxes #3-4) includes mostly scrapbooks, including two CDs of scanned scrapbooks, photographs, some meeting minutes, printed materials, and miscellaneous items related to the local, state or national organization.

A 2015 addition to the collection, 1966, 2010, and undated 1 cubic foot (Boxes # 5-6) includes mostly handbooks, meeting minutes, annual reports, and pamphlets.

Processing Note: In 2015 approximately .25 cubic foot of duplicates was withdrawn from the collection.

The collection contains copies of exhibits that Planisek created on a wide variety of subjects that are related to local history including: shipwrecks, lighthouses, Mackinaw City history, and Emmet County history. The bulk of the Boxes 1-4 is information gathered on the Enbridge Energy line 5, which carries oil under the Straits of Mackinac. The 2020 Addition, Acc#76337, Boxes 4-11 and Oversized folders #2-3, focuses on the work by Sandy Planisek and Dick Moehl planning, creating, and running the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum on the decommissioned United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Mackinaw (WLGB-83), moored in Mackinaw City.

The collection, 1998, 2017, and undated contains copies of exhibits that Planisek created between 1998 and 2017. These displays cover a wide variety of subjects that are related to local history including: shipwrecks, lighthouses, Mackinaw City history, and Emmet County history. The bulk of the collection is information gathered on the Enbridge Energy line 5, which carries oil under the Straits of Mackinac. Planisek was decidedly anti-Enbridge. Contents of this collection included newspaper clippings, photographs, online articles, letters and pamphlets. A folder of biographical materials is also included. A later addition includes oral histories (on CDs), 2017: a recorded presentation by Bob Sweeney, Executive Secretary of the Mackinac Bridge Authority about the Mackinac Bridge; Jim Tamlyn about the A-frame used to un/load the Chief Wawatam railroad cars in Mackinaw City, and a CD of related images; and a joint interview about how the Michigan State House really used to work, with Patricia “Pan” Godchaux, who served 1997-2002, and Pan’s campaign manager, Susie Stafford. The collection is organized alphabetically and chronologically in the order in which it came to the Clarke.

The 2020 Addition, Acc#76337, Boxes 4-11 and Oversized folders #2-3, focuses on the work by Sandy Planisek and Dick Moehl planning, creating, and running the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum on the decommissioned United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Mackinaw (WLGB-83), moored in Mackinaw City. The ship was decommissioned in 2006. There are also materials related to the later working years of the WLGB-83 before it was decommissioned, and the new USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30). On the back of many of the photographs in the collection, the names and ranks of the ship’s crew are listed. Audiovisual materials including microcassette, Hi8, MiniDV, VHS, DVDs, CDs, and photographs are found throughout the addition. Oversized materials include a signed pennant and proposed master site plans. The addition is also organized alphabetically and chronologically. All boxes in the Addition are .5 cubic foot boxes.

Researchers may be interested in related collections by Richard L. “Dick” Moehl, the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, and those related to Mackinaw area history which are also in the Clarke Historical Library.

Most of the text collection was originally received on four CDs. For the convenience of researchers, we printed off all the contents of the CDs and organized the papers. For reference to the CDs, each document has been labeled in the upper right-hand corner with a number that corresponds to the disc from which it came, in order to keep some resemblance of the original order of the collection. The original CDs are filed under miscellaneous materials in the Enbridge collection. In the 2020 Addition, six items were separately cataloged and 3 cubic feet was returned to the donor as per the donor agreement.

The collection consists of personnel files of Central Michigan University, 1939, 2003.

These are the Personnel Files of Central Michigan University (CMU) faculty and staff who died, retired, or otherwise separated from the university at least thirty years ago. According to the CMU Records Schedule, the records are kept by CMU. Faculty Personnel Services for thirty years, and then they are transferred to the Clarke. All social security numbers, health, and personal information have been removed as per agreement with FPS in June 2007.

A Personnel File may include: appointment letters/contracts; approvals/denials relating to personnel matters, reappointment/promotion/tenure, sabbatical/leave records, salary notices, reduced assignments; commendations (CMU related); curriculum vitae (resume); disciplinary documentation; personnel transaction forms; transcripts; clippings (copies); obituary notices; or photographs. The collection is physically in very good condition. In some cases acidic copies of materials were photocopied and the originals were withdrawn from the collection.

The Personnel Files are filed alphabetically by surname, and then by first name. Most of the records date from the 1970s and 1980s.

Processing Note:

The collection consists of two series: the papers of Joan Memering, including biographical materials, Cambodia Project materials and related materials, Central Michigan University(CMU) materials, and newspaper articles, most of which she researched and wrote; and the papers of her husband, Dean Memering, documenting his career teaching in CMU's English Department, and his biographical materials .

The collection is divided into the following series: Willard D. “Dean” Memering papers (.5 cubic ft., 1 box); and Joan Shipers Memering papers, 1969-2006 (Scatterd) and undated is the rest of the collection.

Dean’s papers, 1971-2006 (Scattered), and undated, mainly document his teaching experience in the Department of English at CMU, and his Biographical Materials. Biographical Materials for both Memerings includes obituaries, resumes, photographs, and other relevant materials.

Joan’s papers are divided into the following series: Biographical Materials (1 folder); Cambodia Project Materials and Cambodia Related Materials, 1978-2003, and undated (approximately 5 cubic ft. in 9 boxes, 1 folder); CMU Materials, 1983-1992 (Scattered), and undated (.25 cubic ft. in 1 box); and Newspaper Articles, 1975-1995 (Scattered, copies (.25 cubic ft. in 1 box). At the end of the collection there is a folder about Polish refugees coming to Mount Pleasant that includes two newspaper articles (copies) and a photograph [1982].

Of prime interest to researchers are the Cambodia Project Materials, 1978-2003, and undated. These include: Joan’s notes, drafts of oral interviews she conducted with Cambodian refugees, the transcriptions of the taped interviews, some of the tapes, notecards, and drafts and outlines of chapters she wrote for her book, as well as notes on Cambodian vocabulary, family names, and history chronologies of Cambodia. The transcriptions and notes painfully and vividly document the horrors of Cambodia during the 1970s, the horrific suffering of its people, and the various traumas and challenges faced by the refugees. Cambodians who were interviewed by Joan included men [Train] Chit, Meng Leng [Phou], Heng Suy Keang, and a woman, Nay or Ing May. Photographs of the refugees and their families during the 1982-2003, and undated are also included although many are unidentified.

Also in this series is the only extant documentation of the Mid-Michigan Refugee Action Committee, Joan’s notebook with various loose attachments and correspondence includes a list of the churches in Mount Pleasant who sponsored refugees in 1979 and information about the refugees. Richard C. Train and Family were sponsored by St. Mary’s University Parish; an unidentified couple by the Millbrook United Methodist Church; the Heng Suy Keang family by the First Church of Christ; the Gau Cheng Sun family by the First United Methodist Church; and the Lim Chhun Fa family by Sacred Heart Parish.

Another item of interest in the series is the English/Chinese/Khmer Translation Phrase Book, undated. It was designed for practical use in everyday communication for the new refugees. Also, there is material of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services program (1 folder), with which Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mount Pleasant was involved. They sponsored refugees before 1979.

The Cambodia Related Materials, 1969-2003 (Scattered) and undated, include Joan’s research notes and materials which she compiled from a variety of secondary sources on Indochina including the Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER), Indochina Issues, Indochina Newsletter, and the Phon Penh Post, maps of Southeast Asia, and various BBC Broadcasts re: Cambodia. Joan’s correspondence, to/from/or about Cambodian refugees and or about her book is also found here.

Also of interest in this series is a term paper entitled “My Father: the Refugee” by Michael Phou, son of Meng Leng Phou, with a CD and letter to his “Aunt Joan”, 2003. Michael visited Joan to find out more about his father’s life from her notes, transcriptions, and tapes. In his paper, Michael describes how the Memerings were considered family members by Meng Leng Phou’s extended family because of all that they had done to help his family come to and adjust to life in America. Meng Leng had eventually settled in California, but the bonds between the two families remained very strong. Michael’s paper clearly documents that prior to conducting his research about Meng Leng, he did not understand what his father had endured and was quite horrified and saddened to discover the truth while he was also very proud of his father’s ability to adapt to American culture and speak flawless English.

The Newspaper Articles Joan wrote, 1975-1995 (Scattered, copies), include some articles about Cambodian refugees, Vietnam, and many other diverse local topics. There are also some clippings she collected about Cambodia/ns and Vietnam/ese or Vietnam veterans that she did not write but obviously used for research purposes.

Box 12 includes Oral History Transcriptions of Joan’s interviews with Train Chit, organized into four typed volumes, 1982-1983.

Processing Notes: Most of the collection has a musty smell. While no signs of mold were found during processing, researchers with allergies or asthma should be careful while using the collections.Duplicates and materials of peripheral value were returned to the donor. Books written by Dean and about Cambodia in the collection were separately cataloged.

Organizational records of Michigan Music Teachers' Association (MMTA).

The collection includes meeting minutes of the annual conventions and spring/fall meetings, 1952-1986, and Board of Directors, 1951-1990; a constitution, bylaws, and a code of ethics, undated; financial and treasurer’s reports, 1952-1987; general correspondence, 1952-1986, and state convention correspondence, 1973; lists of certified teachers, undated, and members, 1956-1966; photographs; and other materials related to teaching music, Interlochen National Music Camp, music contests, and school recognition awards. Later additions include conference materials, musical scores, piano teachers’ guides, and information on commissioned composers.

The Oversized volumes include Convention Signature Books, 1916 and 1919 (in Treasurer’s Book, 1903-1919), 1917-1929, and 1930-1934; Minutes and Reports, 1919-1951; Scrapbooks, 1867, 1985 (8 v.); Treasurer’s Books, 1903-1919, 1913-1928; and Treasurer’s Dues Collections Books, 1913-1928, 1929-1931.

The 2015 addition added samples of voice and piano examinations, ensembles, festivals, and state convention materials, 1970, 1989-2014.

The 2021 addition added Webpage, Domain creation/update emails, 2009, 2018 (in Box 11).

Processing Note: MMTA published directories, the fall convention programs, and Michigan Music Teacher, a periodical, were removed from the collection and separately cataloged. In the 2015 addition, only samples of voice and piano examinations were retained.

The collection includes: correspondence, meeting minutes, committee reports, scrapbooks, photographs and negatives, and printed materials of the organization, and items relating to the Michigan State Federation of Women's Clubs. The collection is ongoing.

The Mount Pleasant Woman’s Club organizational records consist of materials from 1894 forward which document the activities of this community organization. The collection was originally subdivided into three series, Minutes, General Administration, and Scrapbooks.

The Minutes series contains Club meeting minutes from 1894 to 1996, and 1999-2003, which are part of the Recording Secretary’s Files. Both sets of minutes are arranged chronologically. These provide the richest source of information on club activities throughout the years. They are nearly complete with only two gaps, 1902-1905 and 1916-1917. Information from these time periods can be found in Scrapbook 1. Some of the bound volumes of minutes contain membership lists, attendance records, bills and receipts.

The General Administration series consists of materials from 1896 to 1998 which primarily document activities of club committees and divisions. Types of materials found here include: reports, committee minutes, histories of the Club, Mount Pleasant Community Calendars, the constitution and bylaws, correspondence, newspaper and magazine clippings, annual programs, certificates, awards, and a photograph. Major topics of this subgroup include; Club House Committee, Health Division, Home and Garden Division, and the Michigan State Federation of Women’s Clubs. A wide variety of information is present in the subgroup, but tends to be quite scattered and not comprehensive.

The Scrapbooks series includes Scrapbooks which primarily contain newspaper clippings, and may include annual and specific meeting programs, reports, bylaws, photographs and recipes. It appears that the books were created by several different sources and seem to form a couple of different roughly chronological series: Volumes 1-5 cover the years 1895 to 1960 and Volumes 6-8 span the years 1939 to 1960. Volumes 9 and 10 are special cases; 9 contains only annual programs, while 10 is primarily made up of photographs which document a wide variety of Mount Pleasant area topics. Subjects covered in volume 10 include: schools, farming, barns, sports, agricultural extension service, oil and gas, girl scouts, Central Michigan College, churches, and recipes.

Several printed works pertaining specifically to the Michigan State Federation of Women’s Clubs were transferred from this collection to the Clarke book collection.

Portions of this collection were microfilmed by the Clarke Historical Library in 1994. The master negatives are on file in the microfilming department of CHL.

Additions to the collection since 1994 include various administrative materials, meeting minutes, guest books, photographic materials, and more oversized Scrapbooks, 1984-1990, 1993-1994, 1994-2007 (4 Oversized volumes) and 1997-2006.

Most of the collection is in very good condition. The exceptions to this are a few scrapbooks and the guest book with wooden covers, the pages of which are quite acidic.

The records include GLLKa's Board of Directors meeting minutes, lists of members, reports, correspondence, subject Files, oral history interviews, materials related to efforts to get Mackinaw declared a National Lighthouse Museum site, materials related to the Great Lakes Lighthouse Museum, and oversized materials.

The collection includes GLLKA’s Board of Directors’ Meeting Minutes, Lists of members, Annual and other Financial Reports; Correspondence, including general correspondence, correspondence re: the St. Helena Light Station, Books-In-Print, and various historical institutions; Subject Files, document the project grant for the oral histories, interview forms, information about persons who were interviewed, and the various publications and other endeavors of GLLKA. Actual interview cassette tapes are in two small boxes.

The 2007 addition (Boxes 10-15) is predominantly minutes, reference materials, plans, and subject Files for the National Lighthouse Museum proposal. Oversized materials include various Michigan House of Representatives Concurrent Resolutions, 1995, drawings of Great Lakes Lighthouses and their locations that GLLKA has created and distributed, and the Ninth Law of Congress, an Act to Establish and for the Support of Lighthouses, Beacons, Buoys, and Public Piers, approved in 1789 (20th c. copy and transcription). Scrapbooks, 1943, 1999 (3 cubic ft.), a video, pin, and bumper sticker complete the collection.

The 2008 addition (Boxes 17-21 and Oversized folders #5-6) consists mainly of GLLKA general materials, notebooks; Great Lakes Lighthouse Museum, Board of Directors and Committees Meeting Minutes, 1997-1998 (Scattered), Newspaper Clippings (copies), and other reference materials, and St. Helena Lighthouse Restoration Project Materials and Photographs. Box#21 (slide box) consists of colored slides, 1997-1998, arranged alphabetically by topic.

Abbreviations used in the collection are reproduced in the box and folder listing.

The collection is ongoing.

Copies of GLLKA’s publications are available in the Clarke Historical Library.

This artificial collection includes articles by or about Hemingway, movie posters, photographs, and 4 reels of film, manuscript letters, printed and miscellaneous materials about Ernest Hemingway and his books, diaries of Ernest's uncle, George R. Hemingway, and the organizational records of the Michigan Hemingway Society.

Materials by and about Ernest Hemingway in the collection include numerous periodicals with Articles by or about Hemingway, his books, and movies based on his books; numerous Movie Posters; other Posters of Hemingway, his homes, books, or exhibits about him; Photographs (copies), mostly from movies based on his books and some from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library; the (Film) ‘Adventures of a Young Man’, undated (4 reels); Manuscript Correspondence, five Letters written by Hemingway, one to Jim Gamble, April 18 and 27, 1919, one to Howell G. Jenkins, undated [summer 1919]; one to Ernest's father, Dr. Clarence Hemingway, Oct. 28, 1919, one to his mother, Mrs. Grace H. Hemingway, Nov. 12, 1919; and one to his son, J. H. N. Hemingway, dated 2 Feb. 1960, as well as copies of two letters written by Hemingway to Owen Wister dated March 1 and 11, 1929 (the originals are in the Library of Congress). Brochures; Advertisements; Exhibit Brochures; Postcards; Auction Catalogs; Sheet Music; Miscellaneous materials. Biographical Information (copies) and 52 Framed Items for exhibits, including posters, photographs, and other materials.

The letter written by Ernest to “Dear Dad”, dated October 28 9is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity by Ernest Hemingway Mainland dated June 25, 2007. The letter is typed with a signature and handwritten P.S. There are notations on the bottom of the letter “Rec’d 10/31/[1]919 and ans.[wered] 11/1/[1]919 CH [Clarence Hemingway]. The letter is two pages on one sheet of paper, which is folded in half, p. 1 is on top and p. 2 is underneath and upside down compared to p. 1. In the letter, Ernest notes he had a hard trip up the Missouri to Petoskey, when he traveled to Boyne City to visit Wesley, and that with his “typer” he is leaving Thursday for Petoskey. Ernest also notes that he is working on the “Woppian Way” and has read several books. (Note: This letter is housed separately from the rest of the collection.)

Of particular interest is the letter (original six p., and a copy) written by Hemingway on April 18 and 27, 1919 to his friend Jim Gamble, the Proctor and Gamble heir, detailing his desire to write even though submissions for publication were rejected, his dashed hopes for marriage, his hunger for recognition, his love of northern Michigan and trout fishing, and notes about people whose company he enjoyed while staying at Windemere Cottage, near Petoskey, Michigan. During this time, Hemingway was recovering from war wounds and a broken heart. The letter is typed with his signature. Included with the letter are copies of two Hemingway letters to Owen Wister, March 1 (6 p.) and 11 (5 p.), 1929, copied from the Library of Congress, and a letter to Henry M. Watts from Theodore Voorhees, December 11, 1979, concerning the copied letters. (Note: This letter is housed separately from the rest of the collection.)

Also, of note for its’ Michigan fishing connection and because it inspired his short story Big Two-Hearted River, is a six-page letter on blue paper written by Ernest Hemingway and signed “Hem. Hollow Bone Stein”, undated. The date of summer 1919 was written by an unidentified person, on a plain white envelope, which is not the original mailed envelope. In the letter Ernest describes a recent fishing trip to Seney, Michigan, he enjoyed with his friends Jack “Jock” Pentecost and Al Walker, the many large trout they caught on the Fox and Black rivers, being near Pictured Rocks, shooting a deer but not killing it, and fishing with friends Bill, Kate, Jack, and Jack Kate’s aunt, “Madam” Mrs. Joseph William Charles, that Ernest hopes to fish with additional friends in the same area next summer, and that he only has five dollars. (Note: This letter is housed separately from the rest of the collection.)

The letter (original two p. and envelope) written by Hemingway on November 11, 1919, mailed the following day, to his mother, Mrs. Grace H. Hemingway in Oak Park, Illinois, from Petoskey, Michigan. In this letter, Ernest notes how he has been very ill with a bad sore throat, notes Armistice Day, his prayers for the dead, complains of President Wilson robbing the “wops” and mentions Fiume. [Fiume was given to Yugoslavia from Italy.]He notes it is a lovely day, the linotypers are on strike so eastern magazines are not accepting articles, that he sent an article to the Post, that he is reading and working a lot, mentions the Bumps, and sends love to his family. (Note: This letter is housed separately from the rest of the collection.)

The letter from Ernest at Finca Vigia, Cuba, is addressed to his son “Dear Bum,” J. H. N. Hemingway in San Francisco, dated 8 February 1960. It is the only handwritten letter and is accompanied by the envelope, which is also handwritten. In the letter Ernest thanks Bun for his letter, and asks him to check on Christmas gifts, which have not yet arrived, and several addresses. Ernest notes he is very busy working on a piece about bull fights and Death in the Afternoon. He also notes that Mary’s arm is improving with massage and therapy.

Diaries (12), 1938, 1951, of George R. Hemingway, Ernest’s uncle, are also included in the collection. George worked as a representative of the Charlevoix Country Nursery and lived, with his wife, Anna, in East Jordan, Michigan. (This information is from the collection.)

The organizational records, 1990-present, of the Michigan Hemingway Society, including Articles of Incorporations, By-laws, goals and objectives, celebration and conference materials, meeting minutes, financial statements, and other related materials, complete the collection.

While the majority of the collection is in English, some of the movie posters are in French, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Polish, and other languages. The collection is ongoing.

A later addition (Acc# 73683) is three folders donated by Pat Davis. These include 2012 copies of six photographs or postcards of Horton Bay, mainly buildings and scenic views, Correspondence to Wesley about Ernest and Marcelline being in school, 1905, and to Mrs. Dilworth, announcing Ernest’s engagement, 1921, and sheet music, Song of Welcome, by Grace Hall-Hemingway, 1905. Also included is an announcement card that Dr. Clarence E. Hemingway moved his office to 221 Grove Avenue, 1905.The last folder includes newspaper clippings (copies) of Pat Davis, Dilworth House, and how life when Hemingway was there.

A later addition (Acc##77048) is The Woppian Way, A Story, which Ernest typed and then edited by hand in ink and pencil in the summer of 1919 in Michigan. It is believed to be his first attempt at serious fiction, one of his earliest attempts to drawn on real experiences, and is considered a transition story. The story is about an Italian-American prizefighter called Neroni who assumes the nom de guerre of Pickles McCarty. The four leaves are in bad shape, damaged by stains, perhaps mold, with holes, and p. 2 is in two pieces. A three page (copy) of a 1977 news article cites lines from the story which do not appear on these pages. Due to the damage level, the originals are housed in clear, archival photograph sleeves, and color-copies have been included for researchers.

Film ID Number: 67522-1: Format: 16mm, color, optical sound. Size: 1300 ft Physical information: .045” shrinkage. By Katie Zwick and Matt Hood, fall 2019. Overview of scenes: Leader includes old-style countdown. Professional titles. Strong red tint. Miscellaneous information: Copy of 1962 20th Century Fox production of Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man, Part 1. Description taken from imdb.com on 10/7/19 – An immature young man from Middle America grows to manhood after a cross-country journey and his military service in WWI. Stars Paul Newman, Diane Baker, and features Sharon Tate. A Jerry Wald production. Miscellaneous note: Some sound has been clipped out, red dye color fade/ deterioration throughout film.

Film ID Number: 67522-2: Format: 16mm, color, optical sound. Size: 1350 ft Physical information: .045” shrinkage. By Katie Zwick and Matt Hood, fall 2019. Overview of scenes: Leader includes old-style countdown. Professional titles. Strong red tint. Miscellaneous information: Copy of 1962 20th Century Fox production of Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man, Part 2. Description taken from imdb.com on 10/7/19 – An immature young man from Middle America grows to manhood after a cross-country journey and his military service in WWI. Stars Paul Newman, Diane Baker, and features Sharon Tate. A Jerry Wald production. Miscellaneous note: Some sound has been clipped out, red dye color fade/ deterioration throughout film.

Film ID Number: 67522-3: Format: 16mm, color, optical sound. Size: 1300 ft Physical information: .05” shrinkage. By Katie Zwick and Matt Hood, fall 2019. Overview of scenes: Leader includes old-style countdown. Professional titles. Strong red tint. Miscellaneous information: Copy of 1962 20th Century Fox production of Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man. Part 3. Description taken from imdb.com on 10/7/19 – An immature young man from Middle America grows to manhood after a cross-country journey and his military service in WWI. Stars Paul Newman, Diane Baker, and features Sharon Tate. A Jerry Wald production. Miscellaneous note: Some sound has been clipped out, red dye color fade/ deterioration throughout film.

Film ID Number: 67522-4: Format: 16mm, color, optical sound. Size: 1300 ft Physical information: .048” shrinkage. By Katie Zwick and Matt Hood, fall 2019. Overview of scenes: Leader includes old-style countdown. Professional titles. Strong red tint. Miscellaneous information: Copy of 1962 20th Century Fox production of Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man, Part 4. Description taken from imdb.com on 10/7/19 – An immature young man from Middle America grows to manhood after a cross-country journey and his military service in WWI. Stars Paul Newman, Diane Baker, and features Sharon Tate. A Jerry Wald production. Miscellaneous note: Some sound has been clipped out, red dye color fade/ deterioration throughout film.

User Note: The collection has a decidedly musty to lightly moldy smell and patrons with allergies or breathing problems should use the collection with care.

Processing Note: Most of the books in the collection are cataloged. Those few books for which no catalog record could be found were added to this manuscript collection. Later Oversized additions will be added at the end of the collection. Note: For encoding purposes the film canisters are listed as Box #8.

Miscellaneous collection of his research materials, drafts of books, speeches, biographical materials, and photographic materials of John Cumming.

The collection reflects Cumming’s many interests and activities as Director of the Clarke, historian, author, researcher, bibliophile, printer, and collector. The collection document Mount Pleasant, Isabella County, Auburn, and Oakland County (Michigan) history, as well as his special interests, including Abel Bingham, the Gold Rush, and (Strangite) Mormons. There are drafts of his books and articles, speeches, and biographical materials. Photographic materials are also included. Most of the material in the collection is undated. Materials have been processed by Acc# to facilitate research by the donor. Boxes 1-6, Oversized folder, Acc#5261, 52991, 71-41; Boxes 7-8, Acc# 53561; Boxes 9-10, Acc#67488 and 67600; Box 11, unaccessioned materials from January 2007; Boxes 12-16, Acc#72398.

Processing Note: Duplicates were removed from the collection. A list of items merged into other, existing collections, where they were more apt to be used by researchers, is in the donor’s file.

Published items were separately cataloged and housed in the Clarke.

Additional materials generated in his capacity as Director of the Clarke are found in the Clarke Historical Library Organizational Records.

A collection of slides from Cumming is separately cataloged.

The collection documents the organizational history and activities of the MCSA and consists of White House Conference materials, correspondence, reports, programs, syllabi, scrapbooks, newsletters, directories, histories, maps, booklets, photographs, and other materials.

The collection documents all aspects of the history and activities of MCSA, both at the state and local level, from 1920 through 2003. Correspondence, reports, programs, syllabi, scrapbooks, materials of disbanded clubs, newsletters, directories, histories, maps, booklets, and materials of conference, convention, and planning program meetings, as well as White House Conference materials, and miscellaneous items compose the collection. A few earlier items, 1913 and 1917, from MCSA’s parent organization, the Child Conservation League of America, are also included.

Materials are organized alphabetically by type or title and then chronologically within each series. Materials of the Child Conservation League and the MI Federation Child Conservation League precede that of the MCSA.

The larger series within the collection include: Correspondence; Materials of Disbanded Clubs; Executive Committee Materials; History Materials; Programs of Local MCSA Clubs, and Scrapbooks.

Various types of Correspondence, approximately.5 cubic foot, are found in the collection. General correspondence, which was distributed to members and club presidents, 1920-1938, 1952-1992, and 1997; Correspondence before and after the Nov. 1983 Spring Planning Meeting, 1983 (Examples); Correspondence with an Executive Board Members, 1964-1969 (Example); and Correspondence of MCSA Presidents, 1967-1968, 1973-1980, 1982-1989 complete this series.

Materials of Disbanded Clubs, approximately .5 cubic foot, consists mainly of initial letters of inquiry and application to join MCSA, constitutions, lists of charter members, official club charters, and correspondence noting that the club disbanded.

The materials of the Executive Committee, approximately one cubic foot, include meeting agendas, minutes, and reports by officers, including the President, 1st-4th vice presidents, treasurer, secretary, historian, program chairs, etc., 1949-1951 and 1953-1998.

History Materials, approximately .5 cubic foot, include volumes documenting the early history of the MCSA in notes and meeting minutes, with attached programs, clippings, reports, a constitution, and some newsletters, 1928-1962. Two printed anniversary histories of the MCSA, 1920-1970 and 1920-1990, are also included in this series.

The Programs of Local MCSA Clubs is the largest series in the collection, approximately 2 cubic feet, which documents the histories and activities of the local clubs, 1944-1979 and 1986-2003. Prizes were awarded for the most unique and beautiful programs. Some of the programs are quite lovely and unique.

Scrapbooks, 1970-1998, 1.25 cubic feet, include photographs, clippings, notes, publications, and miscellaneous items. Most of the scrapbooks are letter-sized, except for one oversized volume, 1990-1991.

The Syllabi, once a main component of MCSA as both as a work project and educational resource, were used to educate mothers about children and various issues involved with child rearing, education, and development. Different themes or topics were selected for each year’s new syllabus. Clubs and individuals researched and wrote different parts, or units, of each syllabus. Copies of the completed syllabus were mailed to each club. Syllabi in the collection, approximately .5 cubic foot, date from 1945 through 1998.

Two other particularly interesting, although small, series are found in the collection. One of these series documents MCSA’s predecessor organizations. The Child Conservation League of America is documented by its constitution, 1913, two annual programs, 1922 and 1924, and two publications, 1913 and undated. The MI Federation Child Conservation League is documented by Bulletins, 1923-1924; a program, 1922; and two historical volumes of annual convention reports and lists of delegates, 1924-1929; and the Executive Council Meeting Minutes, Reports, Programs, and Clippings, 1921/1922-1928.

The other series of note consists mostly of published materials documenting MCSA’s interests and participation in the White House Conference on Children and Youth. Mrs. Lyle Price of MCSA was officially invited to attend the 1950 conference and created a scrapbook documenting her experience. Related publications, 1950-1951, 1960, and undated, are also included.

Processing Notes: During processing approximately 10 cubic feet of materials was withdrawn from the collection. The majority of these materials were duplicates, particularly of newsletters, officer and annual reports, and Executive Board or other meeting minutes, and massive amounts of generic correspondence, miscellaneous notes, cancelled checks, receipts, and FYI and reading materials from other organizations. A large number of brochures of Michigan hotels and resorts were added to the MI vertical file collection. Also, a 10 volume set of books, Foundation stones of success, was cataloged separately from the collection.