Manuscript Collections

This collection consists of the Civil War diary of Sgt. Lorenzo A. Barker of Company D, 66th Illinois Veteran Volunteers, Western Sharpshooters, 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 15th Army Corps.

This collection contains the Army discharge papers of Reuben Stevens, dated Apr. 24, 1814; an affidavit for commissioned officer, for Amos D. Avery, dated May 23, 1863; the Army discharge papers of Amos D. Avery from Company I, 6th Michigan Heavy Artillery, dated Feb. 8, 1865; and explanatory information concerning Reuben Stevens.

Music Director Robert Pratt's oral history recounts his experiences with the choir from 1964 to 1973. The interview , which was done on June 26, 2008, is 90 minutes long.

This collection includes a set of blueprints documenting the design of the Ransom E. Olds mansion in Lansing, Michigan. They include elevations and floor plans. The drawings were conserved in 2005 at the Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan.

This collection contains personal correspondences from William Dalziel, who served in Co. A, 6th Michigan Cavalry. The letters are addressed to his sister. There is also one correspondence from John Dalziel. Transcripts of the letters are available.

This collection contains photographs from R.C. Leavenworth dated c. 1905-1998. A majority of Leavenworth's photographs are of commercial clients, particularly Oldsmobile and REO.

This collection contains an album of officers in Company C, 12th Michigan Infantry, as well as a poster of Company C and Company D of the 12th Michigan Infantry.

This collection consists of a typescript diary of James W. Hoffman, 3rd Michigan Cavalry, Company F, recording events from Apr. 21, 1861 to June 15, 1863; Hoffman's discharge papers (Jan. 18, 1864 and Feb 12,1866).

This collection consists of ALS from Thomas Larabell, Shenandoah Valley, August 27, 1862 to his wife (Larabell was in Company C., Fifth Regiment Michigan Infantry (Kearney's Division))

This collections consists of some material originally donated to the Michigan State Association of Colored Women's Clubs. The collection includes discharge certificate of Frister from Company G, 25th Regiment, U.S. Colored Infantry Volunteers, dated Dec. 8, 1865; pension certificates for Frister and wife and son; letters from William G. Cole, Company B, 5th U.S. Colored Troops, to Susan Cole, and dating from Feb. 1864 through 1865

Discharge papers for Richard Wende dated 1864 and 1866.

This collection consists of architectural drawings of the Michigan Central Station in Detroit, Michigan. The architects of the station were Warren and Wetmore architectural firm in partnership with Reed and Stem. Not all of the drawings within the collection have been digitized.

This collection consists of Civil War records, dating 1865-1899, of Joseph H. Savage. The collection includes his discharge papers from Company A, 10th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery (Feb. 27, 1865); a letter from the Pension Office (Apr. 18, 1881); a card from the Bureau of Pensions acknowledging his request for pension increase and a letter from the Bureau (June 6, 1899) informing him of the increase; a form notice from the Detroit pension agent instructing veterans on applying for new pension certificate; and a letter from the Bureau (June 20, 1899) rejecting his claim for a disability pension.

This collection contains personal correspondences from William H. Stedman, who served in Co. A, 23rd Michigan Infantry during the Civil War.

This collection contains correspondences of Solomon V. Munger, his wife Amanda Munger, and his son, Hiram Munger from 1862-1864. A majority of the correspondences are between Solomon and Amanda, but there are several that are written to Hiram and other family members.

This is a collection of approximately 60 Civil War letters written by Captain William A. Barnard of the 20th Michigan Infantry, from a period of 1861 to 1865. These letters contain much interesting information and description of the country, the battles and army life. Also in the collection is a program of the 1869 July Fourth celebration in Lansing, a letter from C.G. Conn referring to Captain Barnard, a photograph of the captain and his obituary notice.

This collection includes a diary of William H. Horton (1864) which includes a record of daily events through Aug. 28, 1864; infrequent entries through Oct., detailing mainly weather, picket duties, transfers, drills and inspections; a mention of the Battle of Mortonsford, Feb. 6, 1864, Spotsylvania, May 12, 1864; list of letters received and answered; expenditures at commissary; list of members of Company E, 26th Michigan Volunteers, including officers, privates, accounts of deaths, missing, promotions, and transfers; and a clothing account.

This collection consists of one diary arranged as one series: 1. Civil War diary, 1861-64. Kept by John L. Rolison as he participated in the war. Entries concern descriptions of the weather, the living conditions, and activities of the unit.

This collection contains a pamphlet of "The Boys in Blue" published in Clare, Michigan. The collection also contains a Ribbon from the Eighth Annual Michigan Encampment.

This collection consists of materials relating to the Patterson family, many items relating to William J. Evans. It includes a circular on soldier's bounty; an application for pension; an officers certificate of disability; a declaration for original invalid pension.

This collection consists of a record of the battle at Gilgal Church in which the 19th Michigan Infantry participated. Includes official reports, extracts from diaries, and list of casualties.

This collection contains papers of the Baker family of Lansing, Michigan. Materials include correspondence, memoirs, scrapbooks, photographs, and published and unpublished biographies and family histories. Family members most prominently represented in the collection are Luther Byron Baker (1830-1896), his son Luther Henry Baker (1872-1944), his grandson Maurice Jacobs Baker (1903-1971) and his great grandson Luther Henry Bud Baker (1931-2008). Luther Byron Baker, familiarly known as Byron, served in the First District of Columbia Cavalry during the Civil War. In April 1865, he participated in the manhunt for Abraham Lincolns assassin, John Wilkes Booth. He was present at Garretts barn when Booth was shot and Booths accomplice, David Herold, surrendered. Afterward, he was present at the interment of Booths body. The collection contains letters and other materials documenting Byrons Civil War service, his pre-Civil War time at Oberlin College (1851-1853), his post-Civil War years in Lansing, Michigan and his 1889-1894 traveling lectures on the John Wilkes Booth manhunt. Later materials document the lives of Byrons descendants and other family members. Letters and scrapbooks document Luther Henry Bakers time as a student at Michigan Agricultural College, his career as a school principal, his courtship of his future wife and his time as East Lansing City Councilman (1912-1916) and Mayor (1925-1928). Maurice Jacobs Baker explains his political views and reflects on current events in two essays from the 1930s, while other materials pertain to his job as a trade publications editor. Materials of Luther Henry Bud Baker document his time as a grade school student, his time as a Michigan State College student, his United States Army service and his career publishing trade magazines (He inherited this business from his father.). Letters from spouses, siblings and cousins round out the collection, and family histories and biographies provide information on Baker ancestors and connected families.

This collection consists of one letter dated May 7, 1865. The letter is from Robert Wilson to his sister and talks about his status and updates her on his unit's progression. He briefly mentions visiting Chapel Hill, North Carolina and the University of North Carolina. He also mentions the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the impact he had on the country.

This collection consists of a letter from B.S. Barkes, Feb. 23, 1863 to Mr. and Mrs. Delsey Benjamin.

This collection consists a mixture of materials relating to William Anderson's experience during the Civil War. Most of the collection contains personal correspondences, but other records in the collection document Anderson's brief internment in Libby Prison, Virginia through a series of newspaper articles published by The Plainwell news, in 1903, and a postcard of Libby Prison, which dates ca. 1900? This collection also contains Anderson's pension papers (1875-1900), a small photograph of the 19th Michigan Infantry drummers, and information on reunions of the 19th Infantry (1891, 1895). Other miscellaneous records include broadsides and information about land deals and homestead opportunities for Civil War veterans (1865-1899). Also includes a photocopy of Recollections of grandfather Monteith's manner of living (14 pages) and Memoranda of family history (35 pages). These short articles were written by Churchill Roberts (ca. 1890).

This collection consists of correspondence between Rebecca Button and her husband, Lorenzo, and son, Frank. Both men served in the Civil War. The majority of the letters were written by Frank. Also includes letters from Button to Mrs. T.F. Giblin and Mrs. Frank Button, concerning family history (1907). Other documents found in this collection: two unsigned and undated poems, an undated newspaper article concerning the 14th Michigan Infantry, a land deed (1897) owned by Thomas Giblin and an account book (1871) kept by Frank Button.

This collection consists of three documents arranged as one series: 1. Military documents, 1864-65. This series contains William Hogue's discharge papers, dated at Port Hudson, Louisiana, Feb. 22, 1864, and New Orleans, Louisiana, Aug. 20, 1865. Also included is a furlough for Hogue dated at Kalamazoo, Mich. on March 24, 1864.

This collection contains a photograph of survivors of the 4th Michigan Infantry at a reunion in Hillsdale, Michigan, June 22, 1925. The veterans range in age from 77-87 years old. Attendees included F. Marion Hunt, Henry Noyes, J.L. Hull, Herbert D. Bryan, Orlando C. Nash, Charles Hartson, George Brown, Albert W. Veness, Benjamin E. Westfall, John Dillon, and Albert L. Morsman.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of papers of the Clark Preston family. The collection includes correspondence, dating 1862-1866, which includes essays concerning the Civil War, holidays, and loss of friends.

The Robert Richardson collection consists of Civil War documents donated by Mr. Richardson to the Archives of Michigan on Nov. 2, 1990. The collection consists of one folder arranged in one series: 1. Muster rolls, 11th Michigan Cavalry, Company G and Company K, June, 1864-September, 1865. These documents list the name and rank of each soldier in the company, when and where he joined, the company, his last pay, and comments including who has been hospitalized, taken prisoner, killed in action or deserted. Also included on the form are the remarks made by the Inspector and Mustering Officer regarding the condition of the company.

Ernst Floeter is a former German soldier who served as a Prisoner of War of the United States during World War II. He is interviewed by Bob Garrett of the Archives of Michigan. 

This collection consists of 7 letters. There are 4 letters from John C. Wheaton, 136th New York Infantry, June 6, 1863-Jan. 28, 1865, to his sister, Avis Wheaton Owen, containing some especially interesting comments on looting; a letter from John C. Wheaton, June 12, 1865, to his sister, Avis Wheaton Owen, commenting on civilian life; and a letter from R. Wheaton, April 23, 1865, to his sister, Avis Wheaton Owen, commenting on John C. Wheaton and other members of the family. The final letter is dated June 12, 1865 from John Wheaton to Avis Wheaton Owen.

The George L. Dart papers contain records illustrating the military service of George Leonard Dart in the United States Navy during the Second World War from 1944-1945. The material primarily focuses on George's military training prior to his deployment to the Pacific Theater on the USS Aaron Ward. However, the collection also highlights his experience at sea and the news following his death in May 1945. The collection is primarily correspondence from George to his wife, Lena Dart, and their two daughters. From the start of his naval training in April 1944 to his death in May 1945, George writes almost daily to his family in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Subjects include military experiences, news from home, military training, life in the navy and camp activities. Other material types include postcards, photographs, financial records, death records, military honors and condolences and publications.

This collection consists of the 1864 Civil War diary of William A. Dewey of Leslie, Mich. Dewey entered service in Company A, 20th Michigan Infantry. He was commisioned a 2nd lieutenant, July 31, 1862 and made a captain on Dec. 30, 1862. He mustered, April 25, 1863 and was killed in action near Petersberg, Va., June 18, 1864.

Letters and envelopes from Ainslie to his wife, Mary Ann Lowrie Ainslie, in Waterford, describing his life as a soldier during the Civil War, chiefly in Kentucky and Tennessee; together with obituaries from local newspapers relating to Mary Ainslie's death.

This small accession consists of 9 letters - 8 from John S. Potter to family members from November 1862-September 1863 and one from the Quartermaster General dated January 1869. Potter's letters are very descriptive - he writes of the landscape of the south, how the railroad is built, his opinions of the war, deserters, wealthy citizens of Kentucky, a soldier's funeral, and the betrayal of officers. He also describes how the "black troops are used as sappers and miners" and the sentiments towards African Americans in the south, both by southerners and by commanding officers.

This collection contains images of the interior and exterior of various structures designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki, as well his models of certain projects..