Collections

The Bentley Historical Library houses the Michigan Historical collections, which documents the history of Michigan; and the University Archives and Records Program, which maintains the historical record of the University of Michigan. Founded in 1935 as the Michigan Historical Collections, directors of the library include Lewis G. Vander Velde, F. Clever Bald, Robert M. Warner, Francis X. Blouin, Jr., and Terrence J. McDonald. The records include administrative files, correspondence, meeting materials, files on exhibits, archived websites, images, audio-visual media, and documentation of special projects such as the Vatican Archives project.

The records of the Bentley Historical Library were received in six main accessions 1991, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2014. Together the records comprise 79 linear feet, plus two oversize boxes, and oversize folder, three flat file drawers, and more than 16 GB of data spanning the years 1935-2014. The researcher should consult the summary box list on page vii for a quick overview of the materials in the collection.

The vertical file contains clippings, pamphlets, reprints, and other miscellaneous materials relating to persons, places, organizations, and topical subjects relating to Michigan and the University of Michigan.

Certificates of Copyright and US Patents held by Central Michigan University.

Copyright and US Patents held by Central Michigan University (CMU) or people who worked for CMU and/or obtained patents with CMU support. One 2011 patent is Russian and in Russian. About .75 cubic feet of the collection is patents. The remainder of the collection, except for one legal-size folder, is Certificates of Copyright, with some applications, of CMU people, 1972-1979, 1981-1999 (Scattered) and 2000. Both the Certificates and Patents are printed forms with handwritten or typed information added. From 1985 forward the Patents include gold seals and ribbons. A few pieces of related correspondence are included with both the Patents and Certificates of Copyright. A legal-size folder with Application, Amendment, Fee Receipt from Bobby A. Howell and Erik W. Walles for Patent and Trademark (all copies), 1979, completes the collection. The collection is organized by size, alphabetically by format, and then chronologically. The collection is ongoing.

The organizational records include: an organizational history, account books, Christmas bird count reports, constitution and bylaws, meeting minutes with attachments (earlier years are in volumes), membership lists, miscellaneous, newsletters, newspaper and magazine clippings (copies), pamphlets, photographs, programs and property materials.

The organizational records include: an organizational history, account books, Christmas bird count reports, constitution and bylaws, meeting minutes with attachments (earlier years are in volumes), membership lists, miscellaneous, newsletters, newspaper, and magazine clippings (copies), pamphlets, photographs, programs, and property materials. The collection is organized by alphabetically and chronologically. The collection is ongoing.

A copy of William Theunissen’s Chippewa Valley Audubon Club, 1951-1992 history of the Club is separately cataloged in the Clarke.

Processing Note: Duplicate materials and acidic materials, which were copied, were returned to the donor as per the donor agreement.

The collection includes church brochures, historical materials, the building project, membership events, sermons, the children’s ministry, Vacation Bible School materials, special programs, general outreach, a partial copy of the church’s website, giving the church’s history, information about its ministers, and related links, annual and other reports, and CDs.

Collection of various brochures of the church describing the new building project, membership events, sermons, the children's ministry, summer camp, a woman's workshop program, and general outreach, a partial copy of the church's website, giving the church's history, information about its minister, May 2003 newsletter, general outreach information, and related links, Annual Reports, and CDs, however Vacation Bible School materials, including photographs, trading cards, CDS, and program materials, compose the majority of the collection. The collection is ongoing.

David Cope is a poet in the Objectivist tradition and the founder of Nada Press, a small press which publishes the literary magazine and other poetry. Cope, a University of Michigan graduate and lifelong Michigan resident, taught literature and writing at Grand Rapids Community College and Western Michigan University. The collection documents Cope's writing, editing, and to some extent teaching and other spheres of Cope's life, through correspondence, manuscripts, notes, printed material, photographs, and videotapes.

David Cope made his first donation of papers to the Special Collections Research Center in 1987. Since then he has continued to make frequent contributions. The David Cope Papers cover Cope's writing and correspondence from the 1970s to the present, as well as his editing and teaching activities. In addition to offering insight into Cope's work, the collection details some of the activities and thoughts of friends and fellow writers and poets; in particular, Allen Ginsberg, Jim Cohn, Antler, and Jeff Poniewaz. Not currently well-documented are the more personal aspects of Cope's life--especially his family life--except for those details made available through his writings and correspondence.

The David Cope Papers are divided into eight series: Correspondence and Name Files, Writings, Editing Materials, Teaching and Education Materials, Publicity Materials, Personal, Photographs, and Audio/Visual. A small selection of books from Cope's library have been removed from the collection and have been cataloged individually. They are shelved by call number in Special Collections and can be requested through the Library's catalog.

Reverend Eddie K. Edwards (1936-2004) was a Christian preacher and community activist in Detroit, Michigan. In 1976, he founded the Joy of Jesus faith-based nonprofit organization in Detroit. This organization sought to help Detroit residents—primarily neighborhoods and families experiencing poverty—through a summer camp and other programs, like the Ravendale Area Revitalization Project (R.A.R.E.). He was married to Dr. Mary D. Edwards, who was involved in Joy of Jesus and who currently serves as an author, life coach, and minister. The collection includes ten digital recordings of interviews and television programs featuring Rev. Eddie K. Edwards, Joy of Jesus publications, biographical information about Rev. Edwards, as well as papers related to the ministry of his wife, Dr. Mary D. Edwards.

This collection documents the activism and ministry of Reverend Eddie K. Edwards and his wife, Dr. Mary D. Edwards. Manuscript materials are separated into two series documenting the work of both ministers.

Rev. Eddie Edwards' series contains Edwards's biographical information, letters received on the occasion of Rev. Edward's retirement, and memorial publications and articles. Of special interest is the 1996 publication "Re-Neighborhooding Revitalization Manual for the Re-Neighborhooding Detroit Program." The manual was based on the results of a survey conducted among the residents of a 38-block area of Ravendale community on the eastside of Detroit, near the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Also included are digital images of a Point of Light a ward, memorial for Rev. Edwards, and an "Others" Award from the Salvation Army.

Audio-visual materials include a documentary by broadcast journalist Mort Crim, an audio recording of an interview with Edwards by Evangelical radio host Al Kresta in "A Vision for our Detroit", a video recording of a sermon delivered by Edwards at the Second Chapel Hill Baptist Church in Detroit, a video recording of the first annual Friends of Joy of Jesus Banquet in 1991, an episode from the Christian Television Network (CTN Live!) featuring Edwards, a Detroit Public TV program entitled "A Neighborhood Redeemed", a Sue Marx film in which Edwards is presented the 1991 Winning Ways Award, and a few videos made by the church including an interview with Caroline Thomas and Bob Ivory, a "New Child Development Plan" as described by Edwards, and a program highlighting Joy of Jesus' plan for solving urban decay presented in "A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out".

Dr. Mary Edwards' series consists largely of her works published through Leaves of Gold consultancy, a publishing consultancy started by Dr. Edwards in 2007. Among those publications are her autobiography, meditations and ministry materials, and collections of prose and poetry tied to her Widows with Wisdom work. Her papers also include a collection of her writings that document the history of Joy of Jesus Ministries. Of special interest is the description of the 52-questions needs assessment survey that was prepared and conducted by Dr. Edwards. This project resulted in the 1996 "Re-Neighborhooding Revitalization Manual."

This collection is the incomplete organizational records of the Isabella County Historical Society.

This collection is the incomplete organizational records of the Isabella County Historical Society. The majority of the collection consists of scrapbook pages documenting their successful efforts to preserve, restore, and relocate the Isabella County Courthouse cupola, with many black and white and color photographs, 1972-2023; meeting minutes, for Board and membership, with treasurer’s reports, some attachments 2007-2022; and related foundational and tax documents, 1987-2021 (Scattered). The collection is organized alphabetically by folder heading, and then chronologically. The collection is in excellent physical condition. All the materials are letter-size or smaller. Researchers may be interested in a folder of earlier Society materials, 1958-1963, and undated, which is separately cataloged.

Processing Note: .25 cubic foot of miscellaneous financials and a few duplicates as well as two empty binders were returned to the donor as per the donor’s agreement.

The collection includes meeting minutes, photographs, clippings, publications, correspondence, and anniversary materials.

The collection includes records of monthly meetings of the LWV-MPA and organizational elections of league presidents and board membership roles. The collection is comprised of papers, pamphlets, board minutes, and meeting minutes. Folders within the collection hold photographs and newspaper clippings (copies) of LWV-MPA events and membership activity from the provisional grant in 1969 to 2012. Also included within the LWV-MPA collection are pamphlets and booklets published by the organization as well as correspondence from local and state politicians. Additions added beginning at the end of Box 4, 50th Anniversary Materials, 2019, and Meeting Minutes, 2010-. The collection is ongoing.

Processing Note: According to the donor agreement, all duplicates (.5 cubic ft.) were returned to the League of Women Voters.

The University of Michigan's Office of Academic Human Resources (AHR) provides human resource services for various university faculty and graduate student employees. Its staff are responsible for union contract issues and processes for academic employees as well as managing the tenure and promotion process for the Provost's office. The collection consists of hard copy and digital promotion casebooks for University of Michigan faculty and research staff at the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses. Also included are promotion guidelines and checklists.

The Office of Academic Human Resources Promotion Casebooks record group primarily consists of files on various tenure-track faculty members recommended by the leaders of colleges, schools, divisions, and institutes to the Board of Regents for promotion and/or tenure. Each individual's file typically includes the notification of the Regents' decision in the case, the promotion recommendation from the dean (or appropriate unit leader), a curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation, and related documentation. The records are arranged chronologically by academic year and then alphabetically by academic unit. Larger schools and colleges associated with the University of Michigan Ann Arbor's campus, such as the College of Engineering; College of Literature, Science and the Arts; and the Medical School, are often further subdivided by department or division. Files for the UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint campuses are usually located at the end of each year and are also subdivided as appropriate. Particularly for the later years, as the files become more voluminous, additional documentation may be present, such as examples of research or teaching evaluations. In some cases, there is some blurring of the academic year or a promotion file was held back. For those reasons, those seeking a particular file may be compelled to look in one or more years—and particularly consult the appropriate out of season casebooks—to locate the sought-after file. In addition to these casebooks, the record group also includes promotion and tenure guidelines and checklists for particular academic years.