Parkhill Family Papers, 1875-1979, and undated

Central Michigan University Clarke Historical Library

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Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA

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Restrictions:: Parkhill Family Papers are open for research.

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Summary

Creator:: Parkhill Family.
Abstract:: The papers consist mostly of Louise Parkhill MacGillivray's family correspondence, and family diaries, a journal of vacations at Lake Superior, legal papers, examples of necrophotography, and other materials. Also included is a scrapbook about the affair of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, 1936. Oversized folders include Mount Pleasant High School diploma of Louise E. Parkhill, 1918, and sixteen pages from Louise E. Parkhill MacGillivray’s photograph album, 1913, 1918-1920, undated [1913-1919, 1923] with one page containing the 1960 obituary of Eleanor Parkhill, Louise’s mother.
Extent:: 1 cubic foot (in 2 boxes, 2 Oversized folders)
Language:: English
Authors:: Collection processed and finding aid created by B. Miles; Marian Matyn

Background

Scope and Content:

The collection consists mostly of family correspondence to and from Louise, concerning family news and social or business matters, 1879-1979 and undated; diaries of Louise and other relatives, 1875-1960 (scattered); a journal of vacations at Lake Superior, 1971-1974; legal papers; genealogical materials; photographs, some of which document dead relatives in their coffins (necrophotography); and miscellaneous. The Letterbook of Burt L. Parkhill, 1894, was later made into a scrapbook of information about the affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson in 1936. Oversized folders include Oversized Folder 1 Mount Pleasant High School diploma of Louise E. Parkhill, 1918, measures 16 x 21 inches on paper, signed by George E. Ganiard, Hannah S. Vowles and C.S. Larzelere, among others. The lower left edge is damaged. Oversized folder #2 includes sixteen pages from Louise E. Parkhill MacGillivray’s photograph album, 1913, 1918-1920, undated [1913-1919, 1923] with one page containing the 1960 obituary of Eleanor Parkhill, Louise’s mother.

The scrapbook pages are in chronological order. Each page measures approximately 12x16 inches. All pages have edge damage and some acidification. Each page has numerous black and white photographs glued on and handwritten notes. Some people, locations, and dates are identified. Undated photographs were dated from CMU publications. The 1913 photographs include identified members of the all-girl MGG Club, including Louise. Two pages of Spring-Summer 1918 photographs she titled “Up the Chippewa” are of friends, and family, including her identified sister, Vera, canoeing and enjoying the Chippewa River and each other’s company. There is one page of photographs of family and friends dated March 29, 1919. There is one page of photographs of family and friends dated April 3, 1919 titled “Down on the Farm,” meaning at home. No farm specific photographs are included. There is one page titled The [Ice] Storm of April 23, [1919] which refers to a well-documented local area ice storm. There is only one photograph of the ice, while the rest on the page are of family and friends. One photograph is titled “Mama and Bunty (the rooster), showing a woman holding a rooster. There is one page of the CNS Operetta “Little Snow White”, in which Louisa starred as Little Snow White, feature portraits of the cast in full costume, with several individual identified individual portraits, all identified. Louise was described as having “endeared herself to all with her pleasing voice and manner” (Central Normal Bulletin, May 1919). There are two pages of August 27, 1919 photographs showing Louise and friends, or family, visiting and swimming at Epworth Heights, a private Methodist summer community located near Ludington. There is one page of the Normalonians, a CSN performance group, presenting “A Night in Romany” with Louise and company in costume. This performance was announced in Central Normal Life, January 29, 1920 with Louise noted as a returning member, and it was performed on March 5, 1920 (Central Normal Life, March 9, 1920). There is one page of “a Rose” pageant with several of Louise and company in costume. “The Rose Maiden,” in which Louise had a solo role, was announced in Central Normal Life, December 8, 1920.) Based on the summery outside photographs, it was likely performed in late May 1920. There is one page that is a mix of undated photographs. There are several of Louise in mortarboard and gown. She is listed in the CNS commencement program of June 1920, thus dating those photographs. The remaining photographs are of young men and women, some in costumes, who are identified. Their names match those who performed the Music Dept.’s “Chimes of Nomrandy” opera in June 1919, thus dating those photographs (CN Bulletin, June 1919). Three pages of undated [1923] photographs show Louisa in a commencement mortarboard, gown, and academic robe in Ann Arbor. There are photographs of the Washtenaw County Court House and the University of Michigan’s Hill Auditorium and Angel Hall. There is one photograph of Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. The obituary is for Louise’s mother, Mrs. Eleanor Parkhill who died at age 97 in Mount Pleasant in July 1960. The widow of the late Burt L. Parkhill, Eleanor was survived by her children: George B., Louise P.[arkhill] MacGillivray, and Miriam P. Affeldt.

Biographical / Historical:

Biography:

Eleanor (Shults) Parkhill was born in New Bremen, New York, on November 24, 1862, the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. James Shults. Rev. Shults was a Lutheran minister. In 1885, Eleanor married Burt L. Parkhill and they moved to Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Together, they had four children: Vera Parkhill Kleckner (1886-1948); George Burt Parkhill (1890-1967); Miriam Parkhill Affeldt (1896-1967); and Louise Parkhill MacGillivray (1900- ). Louise graduated from Central State Normal School, now Central Michigan University (CMU) in 1918. (This information is from the collection, and George Burt Parkhill’s death date was found using the Social Security Death Index [SSDI].)

Louise E. Parkhill MacGillivray (June 16, 1900-December 17, 1979) was the daughter of Burt L. and Eleanor Parkhill. Louise’s older siblings were Vera S., George, and Miriam. They lived in Mount Pleasant. Louise graduated from Central State Normal School (CSNS), later Central Michigan University, in June 1920 with a teaching life certificate, but returned in October 1920 to obtain classes towards an A.B. degree (Chippewa 1920 yearbook and Central Normal Life, October 19, 1920). While at CSNS Louise was a member of the Lucy A. Sloan Literary Society, beginning in 1919, and serving as treasurer. She was also a member of the Normalonians, Glee Club, Normal Chorus, Girls Social League. In 1919 she joined the newest campus organizations, the Normalonians, a singing and dancing performance group. Louise is reported in numerous CN Bulletins and CNLife as singing and performing, 1919-1920.

Louise married Shirely D. McGillivray (1899-1988) on December 5, 1920 in Alma. After the 1920 [Christmas] holidays, Louise was reported to have returned to Detroit with her sister, Vera, to teach there. (This is in a historical column in Central Normal Life, January 25, 1922). He was a student at Mount Pleasant High School in 1918, where he likely met Louise. In the 1921 Chippewa, Louise hyphenated her surname to Parkhill-MacGillivray while listed as a continuing Sloan club member. Her and Shirley’s son, Robert George, lived for three hours on April 25, 1921.

In 1923 Louise graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Education. (U of M Regents’ Proceedings, email from Bentley, May 17, 2024.)

By WWII, Shirley and Louise had divorced and he listed Mrs. Vera M. MacGillivray as his contact on his draft card. She is also listed as his spouse on their tombstone. This is not Louise’s sister, Vera S., but rather Vera Marie Anderson Patchel MacGillivray (1901-1994). Louise’s parents and siblings all died between 1928 and 1967. Louise is buried in Mount Pleasant. (This information is from the 1920-1921 Chippewas, 1919 Central Normal Bulletins, 1919-1922 Central Normal Life newspaper, June 1920 CNS commencement program, ancestry.com, and the U of M Regents’ Proceedings, from the UM Bentley Historical Library.)

Acquisition Information:

no Acc#, MS#Pp-03

Arrangement: