Collections : [University of Michigan Special Collections Research Center]

Photographs, correspondence, ephemera, and trophies relating to the Thompson family of Detroit. While most of the material relates to the elder Thompsons (Mamie L. and W.A.) and their work with the NAACP, there is also a scrapbook highlighting the accomplishments of their son, Arthur L. Thompson, the first black medical officer in the Navy. Highlights include both formal portraits and informal family snapshots, correspondence related to the NAACP (including a signed letter from Walter White), and trophies the elder Thompsons received in recognition of their service. Most material dates from the 1920s-40s, with smaller amounts of material up to the 1960s.

The collection is approximately 2.25 linear feet. The bulk of the collection is photographs, both in albums and loose, totaling more than 400 photos. Some are posed, formal shots and others are informal snapshots or Polaroids taken between the 1920s and the late 1960s. A small number of photos (presumably of the Thomspsons' ancestors) predate the 1920s. The photos mostly depict the home lives and recreation of the Thompsons and friends. Awards recognize the Thompsons' contributions to the NAACP and fundraising efforts. Correspondence and newspaper clippings are limited to one sparse folder apiece, and again mainly concern the activities of the Detroit branch of the NAACP. Also included is the guest book for an "Interracial Fellowship party" hosted by the Thompsons in December of 1950 and a scrapbook documenting their son's military career.

The Mirisola Mirisola Papers collection consists of 5 boxes and comprises materials produced during the first 15 years of his career (1989 – 2004). An inventory of the collection was made available by the author.

This collection includes five letters, both handwritten and typed, between American playwright Marion Short and her publisher, Edgar S. Werner and Co. The correspodnence discusses selling copies of her works, "A Legend of Bubble Land" and "An Orchard Romance" as well as depicting Short's growth of her career as demands and taste change with the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Details provided by Whitmore Rare Books.

Five letters of correspondence between American playwright Marion Short and her publisher, Edgar S. Werner and Co. The letters span between 1896 and 1928 and show an evolution of Short's career and ability to adapt as a businesswoman. Notable areas of research include: LGBTQ+ studies, women's business collaborations, women's literary collaborations, the history of theater and film in the US, the role of early women in film, and the rise of women in publishing after suffrage. Since this collection is one folder, it is housed with other single folder collections.

Details provided by Whitmore Rare Books.

The Martin Sostre Collection (1923-2013; bulk 1967-1976) consists of correspondence, flyers, drawings, newspaper clippings, court records, pamphlets, newsletters, photographs, and handwritten notes pertaining to activist Martin Sostre. The collection contains original material created by Sostre, as well as material collected by others while he was incarcerated.

The Martin Sostre Collection (1923-2013; bulk 1967-1976) consists of correspondence, flyers, newsletters, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, articles, photographs, court documents, legal notes, and original drawings. Series 1, the Martin Sostre Papers, contains materials created by Sostre; these include drawings, legal documents with handwritten notes, published letters and articles, photographs, familial certificates, and newsletters Sostre wrote or edited, and documents on behavioral modification in prisons. Series 2, Correspondence, contains newsletters, informational mailings, petitions, and correspondence from various chapters of the Martin Sostre Defense Committee. Series 3, Flyers, contains demonstration and promotional flyers. Series 4, Court Records, contains affidavits, depositions, and court proceedings related to Martin Sostre. Series 5, Articles, contains newspaper clippings and photocopies, and other written material such as case studies, a thesis, and magazine articles.