Collections

Television production and post-production company located in Oak Park, Michigan. The record group consists primarily of albums containing photographs, correspondence, clippings and other materials documenting GTN, its facilities, staff, and projects.

The record group consists of five series: Administrative Records, History/Background, Organizational Albums, Visual Materials, and Sound Recordings. The record group primary strength lays in documenting a Detroit-based television company's daily activities.

This collection contains sketches, manuscripts, printed music and writings by George Cacioppo, American composer, founder of the ONCE group, and faculty member at the University of Michigan.

The collection contains sketches, manuscripts, printed music and writings by George Cacioppo, as well as correspondence (business and family), press clippings, programs and ONCE Festival memorabilia. The materials were arranged in logical sequence rather than "original order" so that research and performance of the materials would be facilitated. Details of the series arrangement have been provided below. Books and music by others have been removed from the collection, but lists of these materials have been retained. Many of Cacioppo's manuscripts were reproduced in different ways. The term "reproductions" was used in the finding aid to refer to ozalid copies and photocopies. Duplicates of the reproductions were removed.

This collection contains letters written to George H. S. Driver from family members and friends between May 31, 1860, and February 1865, during his service with the 23rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, Co. F, of Annapolis, and while he was on board the Union ship Highlander. Also included are two lists of food stores for the Highlander, and one photograph of a soldier holding a cap with a Co. F, 23rd Regiment insignia.

This collection consists of approximately 107 letters, one notarized document regarding a financial transaction from S. Driver & Sons, two lists of food stores for the vessel Highlander, and one photograph of a soldier holding a cap with the Co. F, 23rd Reg. insignia on it. The March 2, 1862, letter contains a small sketch of a robin. Four of the envelopes are embossed: two with "D.B. Brooks & Brother, Publishers & Booksellers, Stationery & Music, Salem, Mass." and two with "Revere Bank, Boston." Enclosed with the letters are several newspaper clippings and some strands of cat fur from a family pet.

The letters were written to George H. S. Driver from family members and friends between May 31, 1860, and February 1865, during his service with the 23rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, Co. F., while he was stationed in Annapolis, and when he was on board the Union ship Highlander. The collection contains one partial letter written by George himself, during his Civil War service. The remaining letters were addressed to him in Boston between the fall of 1862 and 1865. The most frequent family correspondents were George's half sister Helen [Driver] Brooks, his parents, his younger brother Samuel, and his sister Susan. His seven-year-old nephew Stephen D. Brooks wrote several short letters. George also received letters from several friends, but most frequently from Ned R. Bigelow in Salem.

These letters, written to a Union soldier early in the Civil War from his parents and siblings, combine an optimistic view of the war with practical parental advice about problems that their son had obviously shared with them. His father advised him not to express his views about officers or "the strictness of the soldier's life" (December 17, 1861). "As to your Officers you must remember they are all about as green in actual service, as yourself, they have got the trade to learn, and allowance must be made for them" (December 22, 1861). The letters from his mother and older sister Helen are often religious in nature, urging him to use his military service to foster Christian values in his fellow soldiers. They stress that he has two distinct duties -- one to his country, and one to God. Letters from his younger brother Sam are breezy youthful letters describing local news, from ice skating conditions on the nearby pond, to the murder of a local woman (April 3, 1862). Sam went into great detail about the "chamber pot" incident at a local fire (December 31, 1861; January 1, 1862) and passed on the shocking rumor that water for "our soldiers" has been put into used "Kerocene oil casks" (February 14, 1862). Sam recounted having his photograph taken for a teacher's album, complaining that it made his face look fat (February 4, 1862; March 1, 1862).

The entire family was sympathetic to the plight of the slaves: Helen took tea with a blind, black lecturer on slave life, Mr. Johnson of "N.B." (December 11, 1861); George's mother sent a care package to "the poor contrabands at Fortress Monroe" (December 17, 1861); his grandmother sent him a newspaper clipping about the iron collars used on slaves (April 13, 1862); and his father urged him to "become the instrument of salvation to [the darkies]" (November 26, 1861). In the only letter written by George himself, he strongly denounced slavery (December 1861): "As to slavery I hope it too will be done away with. Whenever I see or talk with any slaves my blood boils with indignation to think that such a system is allowed in a free country. I hope and pray that slavery will be abolished simultaneously with the war. I have advised slaves to run away and tell them I am fighting for their freedom." References were made to the capture of Mason and Slidell (November 20, 21, 26, & December 5, 1861), and to fear of the Merrimac: "Our Government have been asleep on this subject, but we are awake now, and are building lots of iron clad steamers" (April 13, 1862). Two letters describe, in great detail, the military funeral for Sam Brooks, who returned home wounded, and died two weeks later (April 3 and 7, 1862).

George H. Coomer wrote this manuscript about the "lively whaling scene" experienced by a sailor in California and the Santa Barbara Islands, possibly around the 1880s. The "scene" is purported to be a second-hand account told by Coomer's friend, and it may or may not be fiction. The volume also contains a vignette about the whaling vessel Minerva.

George H. Coomer wrote this manuscript about the "lively whaling scene" experienced by a sailor in California and the Santa Barbara Islands, possibly around the 1880s. The "scene" is purported to be a second-hand account told by Coomer's friend, and it may or may not be fiction. The volume also contains a vignette about the whaling vessel Minerva.

George H. Forsyth (1901-1991) was an archeologist, architectural, and art historian who led archeological expeditions to Angers, France, Mount Sinai, Egypt, and countries in the Near East including Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Forsyth was a professor at the University of Michigan, chairman of the History of Art Department and director of the Kelsey Museum. The collection is comprised of personal materials, teaching materials, and extensive documentation of George's personal travel and archeological expeditions to Europe and the Near East such as correspondence, field notes, and visual materials.

The George H. Forsyth papers primarily document Forsyth's career. The collection includes personal materials, biographical information, daybooks, family photographs, teaching and lecture notes, and extensive documentation of George's personal travel and archeological expeditions to Europe and the Near East. Material related to expeditions includes field notebooks, photographs, negatives, architectural drawings, correspondence, and manuscripts of various publication activities.

George Forsyth died prior to completing the publication of his landmark drawings of Saint Catherine's Monastery (Mount Sinai, Egypt). Publication efforts were continued posthumously by his wife, Dr. Ilene H. Forsyth, an art historian and professor at the University of Michigan.

Researchers should note that a scrapbook in this collection contains visual material with racist content; specific information is included at the item level.

This notebook was used to record purchases of books and other materials while publisher George Merriam visited locations like Southwick, Granville, Sandisfield, Tyringham, and Great Barrington, Massachusetts, in 1839.

Merriam sometimes included comments about the towns, schools, and types of books wanted. For example, he declared Granville as "a very un-business-like place--where can they get books." He also occasionally included notes on clients, encounters with people, and business transactions.

Retired Naval officer George Richard Boush kept this diary, account book, and notebook between 1887 and 1889, while in Washington, D.C. Boush recorded his daily activities and wrote reflections on spiritual matters, including notes on lectures he attended by Spiritualists, Christian Scientists, Theosophists, and others. The diary/journal-like portion covers part of 1889 and includes content on trips to local markets and parks, visits, and news of navy acquaintances. He made notes on Swedenborgianism, Warren Felt Evans and New Thought, clairvoyance, and vegetarianism. He also added around 10 pages of genealogical notes.

Noted publications/Theosophical works quoted by Boush include The Esoteric: A Magazine of Advanced & Practical Esoteric Thought, The Buddhist Ray (a periodical), and The Primitive Mental Cure (Warren Felt Evans, 1885). Purchases Boush made at a local market include chicken, potatoes, strawberries, and other food items.

A small number of newspaper clippings are pasted into the front of the volume: one dated December 26, 1887, is about a child prodigy in calculation, and another dated December 21, 188[7?], regards French Spoilation claims.

The Lord George Sackville Germain papers contain the political and military correspondence of Germain, British military officer and secretary of state for North America during the American Revolution. In addition to official letters and reports, the collection comprises copies of secret military dispatches, reports and extracts detailing the activities of the commanders and colonial governors of North America, and a copybook of letters between American diplomat Benjamin Franklin, Massachusetts Governor Thomas Pownall, and Boston reverend Samuel Cooper. In addition to this finding aid, the Clements Library has created three other research aids: The Subject Index and Contributor List provides access to events, people, places, and topics discussed in the Correspondence and Documents series (Volumes 1-16). This index also contains a list of contributors. The Volume Guide includes notes on the contents for 22 volumes in the collection. The Guide to Volumes 17-21 provides lists of the documents in each of these volumes.

The Lord George Sackville Germain papers (6 linear feet) contain the political and military correspondence of Germain, British military officer and secretary of state for North America from 1775 to 1782. Though the papers document Germain's entire public career, the bulk of the material relates to his role overseeing the military during the American Revolution. In addition to official letters and reports, the collection is also comprised of copies of secret military dispatches, reports and extracts detailing the activities of the commanders and colonial governors of North America, and a copy book of letters between American diplomat Benjamin Franklin, Massachusetts Governor Thomas Pownall, and Boston reverend Samuel Cooper.

The Correspondence and Documents series (4.5 linear feet) contains drafts and retained copies of letters from Germain and official incoming letters and documents sent to Germain during his years of military and public service. The collection includes little related to Germain's personal life.

The series holds some correspondence relating to Germain's early military career, including ten letters he wrote to his father while serving in the War of Austrian Succession. Though only a few items relate to Germain's service at Minden, present are several letters written and received by Germain in Germany in 1759, and French and Indian War-era letters from politicians and military leaders such as Pitt, Temple, Holland, Mansfield, Bute, Newcastle, Charles Townshend, Grenville, and Ligonier. Of special interest are the letters of Lord Jeffery Amherst and General Wolfe's account of the fall of Louisbourg and the military in Canada. Germain held no high office between the French and Indian war and the American Revolution but he kept in close contact with Sir John Irwin, with whom he discussed politics and current events.

The bulk of the collection covers Germain's tenure as secretary of state to the colonies (1775-1782), and provides a thorough account of his public policy decision-making process. As American secretary, Germain maintained voluminous correspondence with ministers and officials in England, particularly secretaries of state Lord Suffolk and Lord Stormont, Undersecretary William Eden, and Solicitor General Alexander Wedderburn. Germain also received regular updates from Richard Cumberland, whom Germain sent to Madrid to negotiate peace with Spain.

As a key overseer of the British war effort, Germain had direct communication with the commanders-in-chief in America and their immediate subordinates, as well as with the naval commanders. Included are letters from Thomas Gage, William Howe, Richard Howe, John Burgoyne, Henry Clinton, Charles Cornwallis, John Vaughan, Guy Carleton, and Frederick Haldimand. He communicated frequently with the British governors in Nova Scotia, Canada, and Florida, and with Governor Henry Hamilton at Detroit. As France, Spain, and the Netherlands entered the war, much of his attention turned to naval action and trade (sugar and slaves) in the West Indies. He also dealt with the Carlisle peace commissioners, various merchants, and loyalists, such as Jonathan Boucher, physicist-adventurer Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford. The series concludes with 58 undated letters, largely written during the Revolution.

• 1757: "Considerations on the present State of the Military Operations in North America"
• January 20, 1775: Thoughts on the Dispute between Great Britain and Her Colonies, by Brook Watson
• July 29, 1775: Report on the occupation of Charlestown Heights, written by William Howe
• August 20, 1775: Military report by General John Burgoyne
• October 18, 1775: An early "Constitution" created by the Provincial Congress of North Carolina, declaring independence and laying out the groundwork for a cooperative government among the colonies, containing 13 articles
• December 29, 1775: "Reflections on the Dispute with the Colonies by Apollos Morris," containing a history or empires and discussion of the problem
• [1775]: Report by John Shuttleworth on the British and American forces throughout North America: artillery, arms, and navy
• [1775]: "Advantages of lord Cornwallis's Expedition going rather to Chesapeake Bay than to the Carolinas," by Sir John Dalrymple
• January 12, 1776: Letter from Lord Ellibank who proposed returning Canada to the French as the most effective means of reducing the rest of our colonies
• January 17, 1776: Proposal for growing vegetables for the British troops in North America - radishes, red spinach, lettuce, cabbage, and potatoes etc.
• July 4, 1776: Contemporary manuscript copy of the Declaration of Independence created for Germain
• August 10, 13, 1776: Reports on the campaign in New York from William Howe, stationed at Staten Island
• 1776: Peace commission instructions from Germain
• February 28, 1777: "Thoughts for conducting the War from the Side of Canada"
• March 18, 1777: "Political Remarks on the present state of affairs in respect to the Rebellion in America, and the danger of its involving us in a War in Europe"
• April 2, 1777: William Howe's 3rd plan of military operations in North America
• 1777: "A State of the Circumstances in Philadelphia"
• March 8, 1778: A description of Germain's southern strategy sent to Henry Clinton
• March 24, 1778: "Plan for taking of French and Spanish Islands," by John Drummond
• May [26], 1778: Extract from Burgoyne's speech to the House of Commons concerning the Battle of Saratoga
• August 24, 1778: British spy Dr. John Berkenhout's "Journal of an Excursion from New York to Philadelphia in the Year 1778," reporting on Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Rush, and others
• February-July 1779: "A Short Journal and Remarks of Transactions, that happened at Grenada & other parts of the West Indies"
• March 31, 1779: Two copies of letters from George Washington to Henry Clinton, enclosed in Clinton to Germain, no. 46, April 2, 1779
• 1779: "Hints for the Management of an intended Enquiry: an assessment of the War with America," including reports on the state of the military and intelligence looking into Howe's decisions: such as "Why did he not attack Washington at Valley Forge" and "Why did he not pursue Washington's Army after the Defeat at Brandywine,” and General Grey's "evidence and opinions and extracts from Howe's letters used at the inquiry"
• March 8, 1780: "Sketch of a System by which the rebellious Colonies in America might be reduced to Obedience in two Campaigns, which offers a strategic plan for engaging the rebels"
• July 25, 1780: Extracts from General Horatio Gates' orderly book, headquarters at Buffalo Ford July 25-August 15, with details on divisions from Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia
• August 10, 1780: Petition from Ethan Allen and others from Vermont, concerning their unhappiness with the Continental Congress and their desire to form an independent British province, by John Griffiths
• August 21, 1780: Reports from General Charles Cornwallis on the victory at Charleston and the Battle of Hanging Rock
• October 1780: Copy of a letter by Alexander Hamilton discussing and describing the capture and trial of John André, and Arnold and Washington's involvement in the incident
• October 1781: Reports on the battle and surrender of Yorktown and the siege of Chesapeake Bay
• January 13 and 15, 24, 1782: Letters from Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Thompson, A New Hampshire Loyalist in the British cavalry, stationed in South Carolina, describing fighting at the end of the war

The Secret Military Dispatches volume (429 pages) is comprised of 246 secret dispatches and orders sent by Germain to political and military leaders between 1775 and 1782. In these, Germain discussed military strategy for the British army and navy in America and the West Indies with Henry Clinton, John Dalling, John Grant, Frederick Haldimand, John Vaughan, and the Lords of the Admiralty, among other officers and governors. One letter is housed separately in Volume 23, a retained copy of George Germain's letter to William Howe, January 5, 1776.

The Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Pownall, and Samuel Cooper letter book (296 pages) contains copies of 68 letters from Benjamin Franklin, Governor of Massachusetts Thomas Pownall, and Reverend Samuel Cooper of Boston. These communicate both British and American points of view of the developing unrest in the colonies between 1769 and 1774. Throughout the volume, Franklin and Pownall wrote from London while Cooper wrote from Boston; each voiced their unique perspective on political and civil conflicts between England and America.

The Undated Reports series (39 items) consists of undated documents found in Germain's papers relating to trade, customs, government finances, Irish policies, military strategy proposals, assessments on the outcome of military engagements, conditions on the ground in various colonies, the state of West Indian islands, and the role of the French and Spanish in the American Revolution.

The Supplements series (40 items) is comprised of documents submitted to Germain to keep him informed about the conditions and developments of the American conflict. Many contain added commentary aimed to inform and influence his decision-making. The documents include reports and compiled summaries of correspondence and military dispatches related to operations throughout North America.

In addition to this finding aid, the Clements Library has created three other research aids: The Subject Index and Contributor List provides access to events, people, places, and topics discussed in the Correspondence and Documents series (Volumes 1-16). This index also contains a list of contributors. The Volume Guide includes notes on the contents for 22 volumes in the collection. The Guide to Volumes 17-21 provides lists of the documents in each of these volumes.

This collection consists of physics professor and anarchist George Salzman's manuscripts, writings, correspondence, photographs, teaching materials, and ephemera.

This collection consists of physics professor and anarchist George Salzman's manuscripts, writings, correspondence, photographs, teaching materials, and ephemera. Salzman organized his papers around various themes, places, and organizations of importance to him, which is reflected in the labels he used.

The majority of papers fall under three general categories: Salzman's teaching materials for Science for Humane Survival, writings and ephemera related to Mexico, and essays from and correspondence pertaining to Salzman's website.

Salzman's teaching materials consist of slides, diagrams, and lecture notes that he used to teach Science for Humane Survival. Most of these were created during the mid-70s.

The papers about Mexico comprise ephemera from various indigenous activist groups, including the Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca (APPO), formed during the 2006 uprising, and the Zapatistas. Salzman took part in the Zapatistas' 2001 march across Mexico for indigenous rights, which he touches on in some of his correspondence. He documented the 2006 Oaxacan uprisings in detail, saving pictures, logging the dates and times of important incidents, and writing descriptions and analysis of the events as he understood them. In addition to these documents, Salzman collected various essays, manuscripts, and ephemera about environmental protection in Oaxaca and Mexico more generally. These materials span from the late 1990s to roughly 2008.

The essays from Salzman's website were penned by a variety of writers and cover a range of subjects related to anarchism, revolution, environmentalism, and identity. Featured heavily are essays about the Israel-Palestine conflict written by Israeli peace activist Uri Avnery. These materials span from the mid 90s to roughly 2008.

Other materials of note include Salzman's correspondence with fellow anarchist, James Herod; records of Salzman's donations to various institions and causes; and photos of Salzman's home in Oaxaca.

University of Michigan graduate (BFA '74, MA '76, and Ph.D. '88) and artist, art historian, and educator with an emphasis in Latino art. Materials include artwork as well as research, teaching, and professional topical files.

The George Vargas papers present a look at the interests, work, and activities of artist and historian George Vargas. The material is dated from approximately 1933-2016 and includes topical files, artwork, and correspondence.

The strength of the collection is found in the numerous lectures written by Vargas, which reveal the depth of his research, the original artwork, and the broader view of multi-cultural and, particularly, Latino art activities in Michigan. Also of note are his extensive files of artists that were of interest to him as well as his own papers and publications.

The researcher should note that many items in the collection overlap various series. As a result, researchers should—in addition to reviewing multiple series—be sure to look for the "see also" notes that help identify some of these overlaps.