Full text of "Report"
MICHIGAN.
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HISTORICAL COMMISSION
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
1914
LANSING, MICHIGAN.
WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRAWFORD CO., &TATE PRINTERS
1915
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M53L
MICHIGAN HISTORICAL COMMISSION
GOVERNOR WOODBRIDGE N. FERRIS,
ex officio, Big Rapids,
WILLIAM L. JENKS, President, Port Huron, May 22, 191G
RT. REV. FRANK A. O'BRIEN, LL. D.,
Vice-President, Kalamazoo, 1915
CLARENCE M. BURTON, M. A. Detroit, " 1917
LAWTON T. HEMANS, Mason, 1920
CLAUDE H. VAN TYNE, Ph. D. Ann Arbor, " 1918
EDWIN O. WOOD, Flint, " 1919
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
CHARLES MOORE, Secretary and Editor,
MINA HUMPHREY VARNUM, Assistant Editor,
MARIE B. FERREY, Curator of Museum.
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
MICHIGAN HISTORICAL COMMISSION
The Honorable WOODBRIDGE N. FERRIS,
Governor of Michigan.
Sir: The Michigan Historical Commission respectfully submit
their second annual report, in accordance with section numbered
nine of Act No. 271, Public Acts of 1913, by virtue of which act
the Commission exists.
During the past year the Commission has consisted of the fol-
lowing members:
WOODBRIDGE N. FERRIS, Governor of Michigan, exofficio.
WILLAM L. JENKS, President.
FRANK A. O'BRIEN, Vice-President.
CLARENCE M. BURTON.
LAWTON T. HEMANS.
CLAUDE H. VAN TYNE.
EDWIN O. WOOD.
The members of the Commission serve without compensation;
only their traveling expenses when attending meetings are paid.
On October 1, 1914, Dr. George Newman Fuller resigned as Sec-
retary and Editor and Charles Moore was elected ta that office.
THE NEED OF A BUILDING FOR RECORDS.
The Michigan Historical Commission are authorized and empow-
ered "to collect from the State, county, city, village and township
offices such records, files, documents, books and papers as are not
less than thirty years old, and are not in current use, and are, in
the opinion of the Commission, valuable only for historical pur-
poses."
The researches of the Commission have disclosed the fact that in
the State offices and throughout the State there are a great many
papers and documents of the highest value to all those who now
4 . SECOND ANNUAL REPORT.
are interested in the origins both of this commonwealth and also of
the people who have made it what it is. The demand for such infor-
mation increases with the years, as the children and grand-children
of the pioneer settlers take the places of their fathers, and as the
State receives new people, who must learn from history what others
had from tradition.
The Commission stands ready to carry out the foregoing portion
of its duties ; but unfortunately there is no place in which to house
and arrange the records when so gathered. Most of the states
east of the Mississippi Eiver have buildings designed to hold and
to make available the state records. Michigan has no such build-
ing. As a consequence many department records which have cost
the State tens of thousands of dollars, and the continuous use of
which is necessary, are packed away in storerooms and attics where
the use of them is lost and where they are in danger of destruction
by fire. The Commission itself already has valuable documents re-
lating to the history of the State, which cannot be made available;
and the same condition exists in the various counties.
The importance to the State itself of having a safe and available
place for the assembling and preservation of its records and
archives is obvious.
This is especially true of files of newspapers which have an his-
toric value of first importance. The researches of the Commission
reveal the fact that there is scarcely a county in the State in .which
this valuable form of historical material is not threatened with
loss and destruction. Already fire has broken into the files of
every one of the leading Detroit papers; and the reports received
show that the destruction of newspaper files is now going on
throughout Michigan.
The Commission, therefore, feels it their duty to present the con-
ditions in respect to the preservation of State archives, with the
view of hastening the time when Michigan shall follow other states
in constructing a building for its records.
In this connection it may be mentioned that Ohio has recently
completed, a simple, dignified and commodious building to con-
tain the material collected by the Ohio Archaeological and Historical
Society.
PUBLICATIONS
The thirty-ninth volume of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical
Collections is now in press. In this volume the prehistoric period
MICHIGAN HISTORICAL COMMISSION. 5
is represented by papers on the ancient copper-mines of Lake
Superior and on the aboriginal remains in the Saginaw Valley;
the Kevolutionary period is treated in a sketch of Patrick Sinclair,
who removed the British post from Mackinaw City to the Island;
there are more than twenty biographical sketches, including ex-
tended ones of Thomas W. Palmer, James McMillan, Will Carleton,
Ammi W. Wright, Father Pierz and Lady Hoeffren; there is
a critical study of the romances relating to pioneer life in Michigan
written by Mrs. Kirkland, who has a place in the history of Ameri-
can literature. The celebration of the Perry victory centennial is
related in an historical paper ; and the addresses of Governor Ferris
on that occasion as well as at the Peace Conference at Mackinac
are given. There is a paper on the Old Northwest Territory,
another on Dr. Douglass Hough ton; and several contributions on
the study of Michigan history in the public schools.
The volume also contains a finding-list covering the entire thirty-
nine volumes of the collections of the Michigan Pioneer and His-
torical Society. These collections contain documents that are being
used and quoted b^ the fast increasing body of students of the
history of the Old Northwest; and the finding-list will assist such
scholars and other users of the books until a complete consolidated
index can be prepared.
Altogether the volume is one of large scope and wide popular
interest as well as of historic value.
WORK IN PREPARATION
The Commission has secured the cooperation of the Michigan
State Library, the Library of Congress, the Library of Michigan
University and the libraries of the larger cities of the State, in the
work of preparing a bibliography of Michigan. The titles will
include :
Books relating in whole or in part to Michigan, whether history,
travels, fiction, or poetry.
Books written by Michigan authors.
State and city reports and other publications.
Speeches in Congress and the Legislature.
University and college publications.
Biographies.
Reports relating to mining, industries, government, and social
conditions.
The cards on which these titles appear will become a portion of
6 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT.
the permanent records of the Commission, and will be supple-
mented, from year to year, as new subjects and authors develop.
The Commission have been assured of hearty cooperation on the
part of librarians throughout the State.
The Library of Congress has furnished about 2,000 titles; and
the State Library has supplied about 2,500 titles. The work of
consolidating the titles so supplied is now in progress. When com-
pleted the list will be printed for submission to each cooperating
library for the addition of titles exclusively in such library, and for
the marking of those titles already in that library. In its final
form the work will show both the books pertaining in any way to
the State, and also the libraries in which any given book may be
found.
The Commission takes this occasion to express their obligation to
the Michigan State Library for hearty and unstinted helpfulness in
all lines of work. The Commission expressly desires to avoid dupli-
cation of work or resources; and to this end deposits in the State
Library all publications received by it, thus making use of the
facilities afforded by the efficient force of cataloguers in that
library.
MICHIGAN BIOGRAPHY.
In 1888 the Legislature authorized the publication of a volume of
Michigan Biographies compiled by Stephen D. Bingham. The
value of that work has been appreciated by newspaper-men and
by all persons who have occasion to write upon subjects connected
with the history of Michigan. The biographies, compiled largely
from the Michigan Manual, include all members of the successive
Legislatures and persons who have held the more important offices
under the State and Nation.
The task of revising this work and bringing it down to date is
in progress; and it will be finished as the amount of clerical labor
at the service of the Commission shall allow. In the original work
many biographies were lacking. Searches already instituted have
furnished the material for supplying a considerable number of
these sketches; and the Commission hope to reduce the number to
a minimum.
MAPS OP MICHIGAN.
A list of maps of the State from the earliest times is in course
of preparation. The beginning of such a list will be found in
Volume 39 of the Collections; and as complete a list as can be
MICHIGAN HISTORICAL COMMISSION. 7
made at this time will be published in the Michigan Bibliography.
The importance of a list of maps cannot be overestimated.
- MICHIGAN NEWSPAPERS.
The Commission has gathered information as to existing files of
Michigan newspapers in newspaper offices, in libraries, and in the
hands of private persons. While at the present time this list is in-
complete, nevertheless it contains much valuable information as to
these sources of local and State history. The completion and pub-
lication of the list will proceed as rapidly as the resources of the
Commission will permit.
MEMORIALS OF PERSONS AND EVENTS.
Each year shows a considerable addition to the memorials
erected by the State, by cities, and by patriotic societies to com-
memorate historic personages and events. The marking of historic
sites in Michigan is proceeding rapidly. It is desirable that a
list of all such commemorations be published, both as a matter of
record and as a stimulus. The Commission proposes to compile
and print such a list ; and in the preparation it requests the cooper-
ation of all patriotic societies and other bodies interested in this
commendable work. Photographs of monuments, statutes and
tablets will be thankfully received by the Commission.
COOPERATION WITH THE MICHIGAN PIONEER AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, organized March
11, 1874, is the successor of the Historical Society of Michigan,
which was founded in 1828 by Governor Lewis Cass, Henry K.
Schoolcraft, John Biddle, Charles C. Trowbridge, Maj. Henry
Whiting, Benjamin F. H. Witherell, Lucius Lyon and other patri-
otic citizens of Michigan Territory. They saw the wisdom both
of preserving for their successors the relations of men and women
then living, who had been witness of the events of the Pontiac War,
and, also, of recording the struggles through which they themselves
had passed in laying the foundations of American government in
Michigan. If these records had not been made at that time, there
would have been blank pages in the history of this State.
The Society has published, from time to time, documents of the
greatest value taken from French and English archives, such as
the Cadillac, the Bouquet and the Haldimand papers, to mention a
few of the more extensive collections.
8 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT.
Above all, the Society has kept alive, and has stimulated, the
widespread interest in, and study of local history in all portions
of the State. This has been accomplished by representation at
meetings of local historical societies, by a mid-winter meeting held
in some city which has extended its hospitality to the Society, and
by an annual meeting held in June in the Capitol. This work is
being continued under the direction of the President of the Society,
Mr. Clarence E. Bement of Lansing; and a mid-winter meeting is
being arranged at Muskegon.
Selections from among the papers presented at these meetings
are published from time to time under the title of the Michigan
Pioneer Collections. The number of volumes including the one
now in press is thirty-nine, besides two indexes. The secretary of
this Commission is ex offitio secretary of the Society.
COOPERATION WITH OTHEE STATES.
The Michigan Historical Commission has in its possession a re-
vised and corrected copy of the celebrated Margry Papers, compiled
by Pierre Margry, who originally began work in the French archives
at the instigation of Lewis Cass, of Michigan, while he was United
States Minister to France, during the administration of President
Andrew Jackson. These papers consist of transcriptions of selected
documents in the French archives relating to the discoveries along
the St. Lawrence, the Great Lakes and the Mississippi, particularly
those of La Salle. The United States government aided materially
in the publication of the original compilation ; but no translation of
the papers has appeared. Such a translation the Commission now
has available for publication.
During the past few years Waldo O. Leland, acting under the
direction of the Bureau of Historical Research of the Carnegie
Institution, has been preparing a complete calendar of documents
in the French archives relating to French discovery and occupa-
tion. The Michigan Commission, in common with like organiza-
tions in other States, has been a contributor to the fund for the
prosecution of Mr. Leland's researches. The publication of the
calendar will be paid for by the Carnegie Institution. It is pro-
posed, however, to make Mr. Leland's work effective by the publica-
tion of the documents themselves, including the Margry Papers
above adverted to.
Such publication can best be accomplished by the cooperation of
those States to which the various documents relate. To bring
about a combination of the historical organizations interested in
MICHIGAN HISTORICAL COMMISSION. 9
the work the Michigan Historical Commission is in consultation
with officers of the Carnegie Institution and the American Histori-
cal Association. Progress will be reported from time to time.
COOPERATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.
'Some of the most valuable work in Michigan history is done by
graduates who have carried with them into the profession of teach-
ing the love of historical studies begun during their college careers.
Occasionally graduate students studying for the higher degrees of
master of arts and doctor of philosophy prepare under competent
direction, both historical and literary, theses on topics relating
to the history of this State. From time to time these papers have
been published in the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collections.
The practice of publishing such papers stimulates the study of our
history and at the same time gives to the people of the State the
results of such study. The Commission, acting in conjunction with
the Department of History of Michigan University, stands ready
to publish the theses of students whose work in preparation for the
higher degrees has been in the subject of Michigan history and
whose work has been accepted. The same opportunities for publi-
cation are offered to like students in other colleges and universi-
ties, provided their papers are approved by the Commission.
The study of western history in institutions for higher education
is rapidly increasing. Even the oldest universities along the
Atlantic seaboard are now creating chairs of western history and
have entered the field to collect materials relating to the develop-
ment of the northwest. The Alleghany mountains no longer con-
fine their historical view.
The romantic and fascinating features of the beginnings of New
France appeal to all students of history; the dealings of England
with the country of the Great Lakes offers an interesting subject
of inquiry; but especial value attaches to the study of the founda-
tions of free institutions in a region beyond Colonial influences
a region essentially and typically American, the government of
which was the first territorial task undertaken by the United
States.
The Commission realizes the importance which attaches to
gathering and publishing the materials for such study as well as
the discussions of such materials; also, it feels the duty which
this State owes to the community to preserve and present the facts
relating to the development of our own portion of the Old North-
west. This duty is the more incumbent on us from the fact that
10 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT.
here in Michigan the choicest spirits from the east, and from for-
eign countries as well, planted in new soil institutions that have in
turn become the inspiration and the model for states which came
into the Union after us. The records of this work are valuable
not only to us but also to the communities from whence these early
settlers came to Michigan ; so that our publications supply the ma-
terials for other history besides our own.
COPIES OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO MICHIGAN.
Papers and maps of vital importance to Michigan writers are in
the Library of Congress, in the Smithsonian Institution, the Depart-
ment of State, in the Canadian archives, as well as in European
countries. It is the purpose of the Commission to have these papers
copied and to publish them from time to time, as the necessary
editorial work can be completed.
THE HISTORICAL MUSEUM.
The Historical Museum under the control of the Commission
occupies quarters on the fourth floor of the Capitol. The collec-
tions have far outgrown the facilities for effective display; and
the thousands of visitors who come each year are compelled to go
away without seeing more than a small portion of the valuable
and interesting collections. When a new building shall be con-
structed for the preservation of archives adequate space should be
provided for the Museum.
There is as yet no comprehensive catalogue of the articles in the
Museum. Indeed the rapidity with which accessions are being
gathered has tended to delay cataloguing work. The wealth of
material illustrating pioneer life in Michigan is now so great as
to make indispensable a carefully prepared descriptive list. Such
a list would not only make the present collection available but it
would also prevent duplications, a .thing heartily to be desired, be-
cause no building however extensive could hold all the objects
being offered. The principle should prevail that only objects hav-
ing value in illustrating the archaeology, the settlement and develop-
ment of Michigan, together with such as have that sentimental
value which attaches to the belongings of distinguished personages,
should find place in the Museum.
The great value of the collections emphasizes the necessity of
making those collections available.
MICHIGAN HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
11
DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS.
On its organization in 1913 the Commission found on hand a con-
siderable number of volumes of the Collections which had not been
sent to the libraries in the State. By inquiry the Commission ob-
tained the list of Collections sent to the various libraries and
began the task of completing the sets. Since October 1, the total
number of volumes sent out is 2007.
All libraries of schools and other educational institutions, all
city and Grange libraries having more than 500 volumes, are enti-
tled to receive the volumes on application. Loans of the collections
are made to smaller libraries with the understanding that in case
a library is discontinued the volumes will be returned.
The demand for the volumes from libraries both in Michigan and
in other states is increasing.
FINANCIAL.
It was the intention of the Legislature of 1913 to provide for the
payment of the salaries of the permanent clerical force from the
general fund and to allow the Commission $5,000 a year for ex-
penses of obtaining and preparing material for publication and
for collections. The Attorney General, however, construed the law
so as to limit the entire amount for these two objects to $5,000.
The Commission therefore ask to have the intention of the pre-
vious Legislature carried into effect, so as to provide for the neces-
sary work already laid out.
The receipts and expenditures paid from the appropriation for
the fiscal j^ea'r from July 1, 1913 to June 30, 1914 have been as
follows :
Salaries of staff officers
Travelling expenses
Office supplies
Express, freight and cartage
Telephone and telegraph . .
Miscellaneous .
$3,696 70
351 05
44 38
52 30
31 73
834 73
Total from appropriation
$5,006 89
12 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT.
GIFTS AND ACCESSIONS.
The Michigan Historical Commission acknowledges, with grate-
ful appreciation, gifts during the year 1914, from the following
donors.
DR. A. W. ADAMS, Bellevue.
MRS. FRANK L. ADAMS, Mason.
. MRS. FLORENCE L. BABBITT,, Ypsilanti.
MRS. BENDER, Caro.
MR. A. B. BIBBINS, Baltimore, Md.
MRS. G. M. BLAKESLEEI, Lansing.
MRS. SARAH BRISBIN, Lansing.
MRS. MAYTON J. BUCK, Lansing.
MR. CLINTON LEACH CHALLFONT, Springfield, Mo.
MRS. JANE CLARK, Clinton.
MRS. RACHEL RANDOLPH, Sunfield.
MR. A. CURTIS.
MR. DANIELS, St. Johns.
MR. DUNHAM, Lansing.
MR. JOSEPH H. EDINGER, Hillsdale.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Capitol.
MR. AND MRS. EVERET W. FERGUSON, Almont.
MRS. G. W. FREER.
MR. L. H. FRENCH, Kalamazoo County.
MRS. THOMAS HECKER.
DR. HARRIS, Lansing.
MRS. T. C. HARVEY, Hastings-on-Hudson, N. Y.
MR. AND MRS. JOHN S. HOOKER, Lowell.
MRS. CAROLINE S. HUMPHREY, Adrian.
MRS. CHARLES HUMPHREY, Adrian.
COL. L. H. IVES, Mason.
MRS. JOHN JEFFERS, Saginaw.
MRS. EMILY ROCKWELL JOHNSON.
MRS. JULIA KEITH, Grosse Isle.
MRS. JANE KINNEY, Port Huron.
MRS. W. L. McCuLLouGH, Ypsilanti.
MRS. AMANDA H. MEAD.
MRS. T. L. P. MILES, Lansing.
MR. JAMES COOKE MILLS, Saginaw.
MR. CHARLES MOORE, Detroit.
MRS. E STELLA MORTON, Almont.
MRS. SIMCOE MUNSHAW, Paris Township, Kent County.
MRS. M. M. PERRY, Lowell.
MICHIGAN HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
MR. STUART H. PERRY, Adrian.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION,, Capitol.
MR. AND MRS. ALFRED REID-, Lansing.
MR. WILLIAM R. REYNOLDS,, Lansing.
MRS. E. ROWE, Birmingham.
MR. JAMES SATTERLEE;, Lansing.
REV. FR. INNOCENT SCHLUCTER, Harbor Springs.
MRS. ELEANOR SHIELDS.
MR. S. L. SMITH, Detroit.
HON. S. W. SMITH, Pontiac.
MRS. A. W. SNOOKS, Ann Arbor.
MR. DANIEL E. SOPER, Chattanooga, Tenn.
MRS. MARY C. SPENCER, Lansing.
MR. AND MRS. BYRON STARK.
MR. CALVIN H. CARR.
MRS. MARY H. STONE, Saginaw.
MRS. ALICE STRAYER.
MRS. T. H. TAYLOR, Almont.
MR. GEORGE S. TERREY, Dry den.
HON. COLEMAN C. VAUGHAN, St. Johns.
Miss WALKER, Flint.
MR. FRANK R. WARNER, Lansing.
MR. WILLIAMS, Lowell.
WOMEN'S CLUB, Saline.
MRS. EMMA L. WREN.
MRS. DOROTHEA MASON WRIGHT, Newark, N. J.
MRS. FRANK CORION, Lake City.
MRS. A. W. SNOOKS, Ann Arbor.
13
F Michigan. Historical Commission
561 Report
M52
1914
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