"History of Deliveries and Sales, Grand Rapids Milk Marketing Area", 1950
Scope and Contents
The papers of Robert P. Stephenson consist of alphabetically arranged subject files about the dairy industry. The company files contain product brochures information from specific vendors. Some company files contain correspondence relating to quotes on equipment costs. The class notes files contain notes Stephenson made and handouts from his time as a student at Michigan State University. Also included are class materials from other universities. Because Stephenson was an alumnus of Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) many of the items in the papers are related to MSU, including reports authored by MSU faculty and Cooperative Extension materials. There is a limited amount of information related to Grocers’ Dairy. Included are articles that feature Grocers’ Dairy or Stephenson. Most of the information is related to the automation of the Grocers’ Dairy plants or bulk milk. Also included is “Robert’s Legacy a Scrapbook of Remembrances Employment with Grocers’ Dairy” giving an autobiographical account of Stephenson’s time at Grocers’ Dairy. Stephenson’s papers contain very little personal information. However, his resume gives information on his education, career, and medical history. Also included in the collection is the video “The Bulk Tank Story in Western Michigan” by Robert P. Stephenson. The video is home movies shot by Stephenson and Bob Jones and put on a video cassette tape. The movies are in color and have no sound. The sections of the movies are roughly identified in “Robert's Legacy: A Scrapbook of Remembrances Employment with Grocers’ Dairy.” The movies show bulk tank systems on farms including barns, tanks, and pipes systems; farmers working; milking; milk trucks; cleaning; and a milk truck picking up milk from a farm. There is also a section of a tank being installed; a MSU display warning against dirty vacuum lines; and exterior shots of commercial dairy plants. In addition, there are non-dairy related parts including a fishing trip to Canada and scenes from unidentified cities. There is also a segment of Atlantic City showing old hotels such as the Breakers and the Traymore, as well as the boardwalk.
Dates
- Creation: 1950
Creator
- From the Record Group: Stephenson, Robert P. (1913-2003) (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Record Group: 5.8 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
From the Record Group: English
Repository Details
Part of the University Archives and Historical Collections Repository
Conrad Hall
943 Conrad Road, Room 101
East Lansing MI 48824 US
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu