Manuscript Collections

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 documents of, or relating to James D. Elderkin. The collection includes his enlistment papers as principal musician of the 4th Regiment of Infantry Band dated 1849; his re-enlistment certificate as leader of the 5th Michigan Infantry Regimental Band dated 1862; his discharge certificate as Fife Major, First (3 months) from the Michigan Infantry Volunteers, dated 1861; a receipt from the Library of Congress for Biographical sketches and anecdotes of a soldier of three wars, written by himself / by James D. Elderkin, dated May 1, 1899; a notice of issue and fees of the Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Pensions for 1863; a letter to Elderkin from Thomas R. McConnell, Dec. 27, 1853, commending him for his service; and the muster out roll of the 5th Regiment Infantry band, dated Aug. 9, 1862.

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 the Civil War diary of Sherlock H. Lincoln, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, recording daily events and clothing received for the years 1861-1865.

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.