University Archives
Melinda Isler, Archivist
FLITE 438
1010 Campus Drive
Big Rapids MI 49307
(231) 591-3731
[email protected]
Association of Michigan Collegiate Faculties Records. 1970-1999. 4.5 cubic feet.
The Association of Michigan Collegiate Faculties was an assembly of faculty representatives from Michigan state colleges and universities. The records include correspondence, legislative records, meeting records, newsletters, reports and other subject files.
Auxiliary of the Michigan Optometric Association Records. 1959-1976. 2.0 cubic feet.
The auxiliary was a spousal committee that provided assistance, guidance and support to Michigan optometrists. The records in the collection consist of scrapbooks.
Big Rapids Pioneer (2005) Collection. 2005. 4.5 cubic feet.
In 2005, Big Rapids (Mich.) celebrated its sesquicentennial. As part of the celebration, the local newspaper ran ads of events and special articles relating to local history and celebratory events. Unbound copies of the local newspaper were kept for this year.
Big Rapids Township (Michigan) Records. 1905-1966. 7.0 cubic feet.
This accession includes records from both the Township Clerk and the Township Treasurer. The records are unbound and a mixture of original correspondence files and clerk copies. Several records relate to the building of roads in the county including bonds (1931-1932), commissioner's orders (1919-1935), Mecosta County Road Commission records (1917-1960), and road building proposals (1918-1932). Other records include birth records (1911-1914), burial transit permits (1945-1946), chattel mortgages (1904-1933), fire protection agreements (1929-1966), insurance policies (1926-1949), petitions (1954-1964), township hall building (1905) and township board records (1905-1957). The Treasurer records consist primarily of receipts and tax reports. There was a tax vote file (19713) and tax collection reports (1924-1960). Also there are highway/road orders (1914-1935.) These records are on deposit from the State Archives of Michigan.
Big Rapids Womens Club (Michigan) Records. 1940; 1971-2004. 9.5 cubic feet.
The Big Rapids General Federation of Women's Clubs chapter (1913-2003) is an organization which exemplifies women's leadership and service throughout the Big Rapids area. Records include some administrative material such as minutes but are primarily scrapbooks which contain a mixture of programs, press clippings and photographs.
City of Big Rapids (Michigan) Records. 1877-1967. 142 cubic feet.
The historical records of the City of Big Rapids are primarily those of the City Treasurer including cash books and tax rolls. There are also limited other records including minutes, ordinances and a water rent book.
Ferris, Mary E.- Papers. 1920-1940. 0.2 cubic feet.
This collection consists of a variety of papers belonging to Mary E. Ferris, second wife of Phelps Fitch Ferris. The majority of the collection consists of correspondence from her family and bills relating to the settling of the estate.
Grant Township (Michigan) Records. 1890-1970 10.0 cubic feet.
This accession includes assessment rolls. These records are on deposit from the State Archives of Michigan.
Howe, Chauncey J.- Papers. 1909-1974. 6.0 cubic feet.
Chauncey J. Howe, O.D., F.A.A.O. (b. 1895), was a practicing optometrist and active member of Michigan optometrist associations from 1917-1972. He served on the Michigan Optometric Association and Michigan State Board of Examiners. The papers include materials relating to his association activities, and education as an optometrist.
Kussmaul, Dorothy Thorne- Scrapbook. 1935-1939. 0.1 cubic feet
This collection consists of the scrapbook Dorothy Thorne '36 kept of her student days at Ferris Institute, and her involvement during her first secretarial position in the Ferris Institute office.
Michigan Health Sciences Libraries Association Records. 1971-2002. 15 cubic feet.
The Michigan Health Sciences Libraries Association's purpose is to promote excellence in health sciences librarianship. The collection contains the records of the organization and regional organizations and is a mixture of correspondence, minutes, membership and program materials.
Michigan Highlights Publication. 1975-1981. 0.2 cubic feet.
This publication served as the quarterly journal for the Michigan Medical Records Association. It included: a presidents message, organizational information and chapter reports. The collection contains an incomplete run of the publication.
Miller, Mildred Ahlgren- Papers. 1915-1916. 0.4 cubic feet.
Mildred Ahlgren Miller was an active member of the Big Rapids educational community for over 30 years. She served as principal or instructor in nearly every district school. Miller had graduated from the Ferris Institute kindergarten and early education course in 1917. The papers consist of notes and projects completed as part of her coursework.
National Council of Teachers of English Collection. 1989-2004. 1.5 cubic feet.
This collection consists of programs from both the organization's general annual conference and the Conference on College Composition and Communication. These conventions were attended by Ferris faculty members.
Timme, Abigail Smith- Papers. 1889-1999. 1.7 cubic feet.
Abigail Smith Timme (1890-1986) was born in Manistee, Michigan. A 1912 secretarial graduate of Ferris Institute (Big Rapids, Mich.), Timme worked at the Berkey and Gay Furniture Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During the war, Timme moved to Washington D.C. and served on the staff of several high ranking officials. After the war, she took a position with Continental Casualty Company, where she met her husband Ernst G. Timme. Timme worked with her husband on development projects and was a strong supporter of Ferris. Much of the collection is photographs although there is limited correspondence and objects.
West Michigan Cemeteries Project Collection. 1972-1987. 1. 5cubic feet.
This collection contains information relating to cemeteries in Grand Traverse, Mecosta, and Ionia counties in Michigan as compiled by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The cemeteries of Mecosta County were each plotted out individually, with each gravestone being recorded by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In Ionia County the Palo Cemetery was researched by an unknown individual, and includes census information from several years, and brief biographies of several individuals buried in the cemetery. The Grand Traverse Area Genealogical Society compiled documentation of two cemeteries and consists of legalrecords.
Women of the Ku Klux Klan (Ionia, Michigan) Records. 1929-1930. 0.4 cubic feet.
These records, compiled by a commander of the Kloverleaf Klan, no. 3, Ionia, Michigan consist of form letters and pamphlets produced by the larger Michigan and national organizations. There are no membership lists, minutes or details of the activities of that particular chapter.
Woodbridge N. Ferris Dissertation Collection. 1968-1974. 0.4 cubic feet.
In preparation for a dissertation on Woodbridge N. Ferris, Morris Tabor conducted research at Ferris State College, including several oral histories of former employees. Professor Charles Bond transcribed several of these interviews and retained copies. This collection consists of partial transcriptions for interviews, and notes taken by Tabor.
Woodbridge N. Ferris Memorial Dinner Records. 1973-1980. 0.4 cubic feet.
The Mecosta County Democratic Party sponsored a Woodbridge N. Ferris Memorial fundraising dinner from 1973-1980. Named after a local Democrat who served as governor, the dinner featured speeches by current and aspiring politicians. The records include programs.