Manuscript Collections

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 several documents relating to the military career of Alonzo Hunt, including his commission signed by Governor Austin Blair, his resignation from the military, and a 1912 application for a pension.

This collection contains a manumission for Frank Demas, who was 28 years old.

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

 This collection consists of documents of Lyman H. Hutton. The collection includes the discharge papers of Hutton from the 188th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, dated Sept. 21, 1865; his discharge papers from the "Squirrel Hunters", dated Sept. 1862; a resolution of appreciation to Hutton for service in the "Squirrel Hunters", dated March 4, 1863; and a pension certificate issued to Hutton, dated Jan. 8, 1903.

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 consists of a letter from W.H. Woodcock to Mary Stroud, July 13, 1862, relating to the war.

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 collection consists of letters from Samuel Matthews, Third Michigan Infantry, Company G, from various camps and battlegrounds, to his brother and sister, May 29, 1861-June 11, 1864.

Discharge paper of George Vedder, private, Company B, Third Regiment of Michigan Infantry Volunteers, May 25, 1866. 

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 the Civil War discharge papers of Walter Carr, 14th Michigan Infantry and a one volume record of the 14th Michigan Infantry Volunteers.

This collection spans the duration of William Bandemer's participation in World War I. The papers are divided into two series, one comprising his letters home, 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 life in the forts in the United States, most of which depicts Fort Devens in Massachusetts. He illustrates everyday life at the Fort, including food, lodging, training exercises, and chores. Of particular interest are two letters telling of a measles outbreak and a fire in the camp. The second folder begins with Bandemer's first letter from France. He describes the trip over from the U.S. In his correspondence, he tells of daily life, including the 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). Bandemer stayed in France until February 1919 and the 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 and 8 Dec 1918). He details his travels through France to reach a port for departure and the ensuing trip home. 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). 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. Many of the photographs are difficult to date and identify, but estimates have been made. Most of the pictures are from Camp Devens and France. One folder includes pictures of Bandemer's family in Saginaw, Michigan, taken after the war.

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 a letter from F.D. Curtis, dated July 31, 1898, concerning the Spanish-American War.

This collection contains letters and cased photographs of the family of Ebenezer and Abigail Beardslee. The collection primarily consists of letters written by Moses A. Beardslee, who served in the 22nd Michigan Infantry, Company D, during the American Civil War. The collection also contains a few letters from Ebenezer Beardslee, as well as his draft substitution papers. Finally, the collection contains cased photographs of the Beardslee family, including of Moses Beardslee in his Union Army uniform.

 This collection contains general orders, newspaper clippings, publications, and other memorabilia from the Civil War.

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 one diary arranged as one series: 1. Diary, 1863. Bound diary kept by Jeffery W. Perry for the year 1863. Predominantly discusses the weather but with some brief comments about events in Perry's camp and the war in general. In the back of the diary is a list of dates on which he wrote letters and to whom he wrote, plus a brief ledger of expenses.

 This collection contains 17 letters from Daniel Halbert, Company H, Sixth Michigan Infantry, 1862-1866, to his cousin, Maria Halbert. Three of the letters were written upon his return to civilian life, and describe his attendance at Albion Commercial College.