Rolland Harper Maybee Papers, 1835, 1970, and undated

Central Michigan University Clarke Historical Library

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Restrictions:: Rolland Harper Maybee Papers are open for research.

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Summary

Creator:: Maybee, Rolland Harper, 1901-
Abstract:: This collection consists of a wide range of materials including biographical information, manuscripts, research and notes, and correspondence of Professor Maybee's (including Central Michigan University (CMU) Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Historical Society, personal, and student academics). Two boxes of the collection consist of papers and correspondence from Professor C.S. Larzelere, also of CMU.
Extent:: approximately 8 cubic feet (in 17 boxes, 4 Oversized folders)
Language:: English
Authors:: Collection processed and finding aid created by B. Benson, T. Graves, A. Grose, M. Matyn

Background

Scope and Content:

This collection consists of a wide range of materials including biographical information, manuscripts, research and notes, and correspondence (including Central Michigan University (CMU) Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Historical Society, personal, and student academics). The collection is widely related to the history of Michigan and the history of Central Michigan University. Correspondence with President Dwight D. Eisenhower and correspondence between H.L. Menckin and Mr. Leighly can be found in box 2 of the collection. Telegrams from the following people can be found in box 8: Richard Nixon, Congressman Elford A. Cederberg, Governor G. Mennen Williams, and Arthur S. Flemming (Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare). Box 4 of the collection holds a Correspondence from Henry Miller, and Box 6 has newspaper clippings related to Senator Robert Griffin, and alumni of CMU.

1 (Boxes 11-12). Oversized folder 4 includes his and related certificates and diplomas, 1835, 1925. This collection was processed by three student processors: Anjali Grose, Tressa Graves, Bronwyn Mroz Benson.

Materials processed by Anjali Grose largely include correspondence related to: the Central Michigan University (CMU) Department of Social Sciences; the Michigan Historical Society Trustees and Committees; the Michigan Historical Society about state conferences; student academic; and personal information. Other materials processed by A. Grose include a collection of glass slides used for educational purposes (most of these slides were withdrawn); research and a rough draft of a paper on Father Nouvel; newspaper clippings (copies) on R.H. Maybee, H.C. Maybee, and B. Maybee; programs for the memorial services of R.H. Maybee and H.C. Maybee; photographs and related correspondence; miscellaneous research, notes, and sources; and the scrapbook materials found in Box 9.

Materials processed by Bronwyn Benson include Maybee’s Master’s Thesis, the manuscripts for his publications and speeches, the transcripts of sources he used for his research, and a newspaper article relating to a mystery rock Maybee was researching; correspondence from Dwight Eisenhower and H. L. Mencken; documents relating to CMU including the dictation discs and reel-to-reel tapes, and the architectural plans for a possible new building; and the documents pertaining to Claude S. Larzelere and his wife including speeches, teaching notes, and diplomas.

Materials processed by Tressa Graves include biographical information pertaining to Maybee’s research, information on Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School, United States Navy V12 program at CMU during World War II and various data related to the surrounding area and CMU. Other materials included the telegrams from Richard Nixon, Congressman Elford A. Cederberg, Governor G. Mennen Williams, and Arthur S. Flemming, updated information on the Prof. Charles Bellows’ desk (up until the new Maybee information it was presumed to be Charles Grawn’s), Claude S. Larzelere’s certificates and diplomas, and a letter from Henry Miller. Besides the significant materials, most of the materials that were processed were withdrawn.

What did others process? Other materials found include two 16mm films, seven glass slides used for educational purposes, photographs, four Reel-to-Reel tapes, pamphlets and catalogues from a scrapbook on CMU. Notecards are organized by size into 5 boxes (Boxes 13-17) pertaining to research by R.H. Maybee and CMU faculty members, and oversize materials including Federal Census data for Isabella County, Michigan, CMU account books, and others.

Oversized folders 1-3 include materials collected by Maybee, a proposal by architects, undated; notes on CMU accounts, 1894-1923; and notes on Rolland Township, Isabella County, Michigan Federal Census data, 1860.

In addition to this collection, papers of Claude S. Larzelere and publications by both Maybee and Larzelere are separately cataloged and housed in the Clarke Historical Library. Maybee also wrote an article on David Ward which was published in Michigan History (32, 1, March 1948). Copies of Maybee's notes on CMU history may also be found in the Central Michigan University 75th Anniversary collection in the Clarke.

Processing Note: A total of 24 cubic feet was withdrawn from this collection including duplicates, published items, reading materials, generic correspondence, generic applications, resumes, interview materials, and student papers.

Biographical / Historical:

Biography:

Maybee: Rolland Harper Maybee was born on January 6, 1901 in Ypsilanti, Michigan to Harper C. Maybee (1876-1954) and Blanche Maybee (1879-1970). He had three brothers: Allen, Harper Jr., and Eugene Maybee. Rolland attended high school in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He began his college education at Western Michigan University before attending Columbia University, New York for his A.B., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in history. Maybee taught high school history for two years in Holland, Michigan, then came to Central Michigan University (CMU) in 1927 as an instructor in history. He took a sabbatical leave from 1935 to 1936 for research, and then continued to teach as a visiting lecturer at Columbia College, New York. In 1937, Maybee returned to CMU and again became an instructor in history before being promoted to Professor of history in 1942. He was named Chairman of the Department of Social Sciences in 1946 and held that position until resigning in 1960 in order to fully devote himself to teaching. Maybee served as President of the Michigan Historical Society. As such in May 1956 he revised the Isabella County Historical Society which, although organized in 1942, had been inactive for some time. (This information is from CMLife May 18, 1956.) Maybee married Myrtle (Gates) Maybee (1903-1996) and adopted a son, Richard G. Maybee in 1943. Rolland Maybee passed away on June 10, 1976 in New Port Richie, Florida. (This information is from the collection.)

Larzelere: Claude S. Larzelere was born on January 20, 1866, in Delaware County, Iowa. His family later lived in Quincy, Michigan, where he graduated from high school. Larzelere graduated from the State Normal School in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1889. He was superintendent of schools in Lowell, Michigan, for four years following his graduation. In 1895, Larzelere earned a B.A. from the University of Michigan. He then became superintendent of schools in Jefferson, Ohio, a position in which he served for four years. In 1900, Larzelere earned a M.A. from Harvard. He came to the Central State Normal College, later Central Michigan University (CMU), in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, to teach history the same year. Larzelere taught at CMU until he retired in June 1939.

He wrote and was noted for his books on Michigan history and Michigan government. Two of his textbooks were used by the Michigan public school system, “The Government of Michigan,” and “The Story of Michigan.” Copies of both of these books are available in the Clarke Historical Library.

Larzelere was active in Mount Pleasant civic affairs, serving on the board of education, city council, city charter commission, and the chamber of commerce. He was a member of the local rotary club and director of the Exchange Savings Bank.

In 1891, Larzelere married Lorena Barber (January 18, 1864-August 28, 1941). She was from Algansee Township, Branch County, Michigan. Together, they had two sons, Ronald D. and Keith. Professor Larzelere died on January 20, 1946, his 80th birthday. Larzelere (Residence) Hall at CMU is named in his honor. (This information is from a collection of his papers which are separately cataloged and housed in the Clarke Historical Library.)

Acquisition Information: