Manuscript Collections

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 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 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 miscellaneous Civil War materials, mostly of Capt. Charles D. Lyon. Includes the enlistment papers of Alfred Henry Slocum (Feb. 6, 1862); a letter from Brady E. Backus, Jan. 2, 1862, to Capt. Charles D. Lyon; a letter from W.B. Morrison, Jan. 15, 1862, to Charles D. Lyon; an invoice of ordnance and stores turned over by Capt. Charles D. Lyon, May 4, 1862; list of stores lost at Seven Days Battle, Oct. 1, 1862; copy of portion of orders for Capt. Lyon to report for duty at St. Louis, Mo.; and a railroad pass dated July 5, 1864.

This collection consists of various items (1838-1865) of, or relating to the United States Christian Commission and its war work. Also includes an act dated 1838 providing for relief for the Detroit and Pontiac Railroad Company.

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 several photostatic letters from George C. Gordon, Company I, 24th Michigan Infantry, to his wife, covering the period from Oct. 11, 1862 to May 31, 1865, and contain comments on battles, camp life and military politics. The collection also contains a program of the sixth annual re-union of the 24th Michigan Infantry held in Detroit, Dec. 14, 1874 and a photostatic letter from Mary Cooper, Secretary of the Leesville Patrons of Husbandry, Leesville, April 24, 1877 to George C. Gordon requesting him to address the Patrons.

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 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.

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

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 manumission for Frank Demas, who was 28 years old.

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